Honolulu Condos

The 33rd annual Nā Hōkū Hano-hano Music Awards - Hawai'i's version of the Grammys for locally produced music - commenced last night at the Hawai'i Convention Center, with long-time industry favorites and newly beloved performers being recognized for their contributions to the local music scene.

I watched live coverage on Television, over 2 1/2 hours, and was so humbled by the beautiful music and the display of hawaiian culture with so much pride and joy.  It was held at the Honolulu Convention Center, just blocks from where I live in Waikiki.  Tickets were available, and it would have been fun to go, but seeing it on television was good too.

Amy Hānaiali'i walked away this year with her 16th Nā Hōkū award for best album of the year, for her 2009 album "Friends and Family of Hawai'i," a collaborative album, which features duets with notable local male musicians such as Henry Kapono, John Cruz and Nathan Awe'au, as well as a duet with country music star Willie Nelson.

"It's such an honor to have even been nominated," Hānaiali'i said. "Being nominated for a Hōkū means as much to me as being nominated for a Grammy. This album means so much to me because I had the opportunity to work with so many talented men. It just has a great strong male presence about it. I just feel so honored."

Hānaiali'i was nominated for five awards last night.

The biggest awards of the evening went to Mailani for female vocalist, Uncle Willie K for male vocalist, Jeff Peterson for slack key album of the year, Ho'okena for group of the year, and Uluwehi Guerrero for Hawaiian album of the year.

New-on-the-scene artist Anuhea got the prize for most promising new artist, as well as the award for best contemporary album, for her self-titled debut album.

"I feel especially honored because the Nā Hōkūs are awarded by my musical peers, and to get the award for promising new artist makes me want to continue to do my best, and keep on keeping on," Anuhea said.

'Ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro received two awards - for best instrumental album for "Live," as well as the people's choice award for favorite entertainer of the year.

The ceremony kicked off with a Hollywood-style red carpet event, which included all of the fanfare that is expected of an awards show - fast-paced interviews, style chatter (Kapulanakehau Tamure of Na Palapalai wore a dramatic Sig Zane dress with a regal flair) and plenty of flash photography.

The ceremony itself was a sold-out, black-tie affair, punctuated by shrieks of support from fans, friends and family members cheering their favorite artists.

This year's ceremony for the first time was preceded by a four-day Hawaiian music festival, the Nā Hōkū O Hawai'i Music Festival. Proceeds financed an upgrade to the television broadcast of the awards ceremony.

International recording artists Mick Fleetwood and Kenny Loggins were guests at the festival and performed at the awards ceremony - along with a long roster of award nominees, such as Mailani, Nesian Nine, Anuhea, Hanaiali'i, Hapa and Henry Kapono.

One of the highlights was a collaborative rendition of reggae artist Matisyahu's peace anthem, "One Day," performed with an Island twist by Shimabukuro, Fleetwood, Loggins and Hapa's Barry Flanagan.

The Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts awarded 20 Na Hōkū awards during the ceremony.

As we have been learning, there are many Hawaiian proverbs and sayings that have been fun learning and even more entertaining trying to speak and pronounce correctly, but more importantly convey real wisdom and spiritual value. 

 Here is another one of my favorites.

Uwe Ka Lani, Ola Ka Honua.

Which translates as:

When the sky weeps, the earth lives..

When the heavens weep, the earth lives.  Sky father comes down to mother earth and to her peaks.  The mist is the seed.  So heavy rains come from father and mother earth fruits. 

Everything goes back to love,  much love...love...love.

For more cultural information about Hawaii, please feel free to visit our website, Honolulu Condos..

As we have been learning, there are many Hawaiian proverbs and sayings that have been fun learning and even more entertaining trying to speak and pronounce correctly, but more importantly convey real wisdom and spiritual value. 

Here is another one of my favorites.

Wae Aku I Ka Lani

Which translates as:

Let the selecting be done in heaven.

Nobody is sure if it is the weather, the beauty of the islands, or the spirit of aloha that accounts for the Hawaiian's laidback attitude towards life.

The outlook is simple:  if it didn't happen today, it was not meant to happen.  Maybe another task is made clearer and that is more important for the time-being.  People live and enjoy life as nature intended.

For more cultural information about Hawaii, please feel free to visit our website, Honolulu Condos..

As we have been learning, there are many Hawaiian proverbs and sayings that have been fun learning and even more entertaining trying to speak and pronounce correctly, but more importantly convey real wisdom and spiritual value. 

Here is another one of my favorites.

'A'ohe Lokomaika'i I Nele I Ke Pana'i.

Which translates as:

No kind deed has ever lacked its reward.

An opportunity to help another is a gift.  To Live with Aloha is to have a giving nature.  Give for the pleasure of giving, do not expect something in return.

Hawaiians are known for their generosity, hospitality and sharing nature.  When Westerners first arrived on the Islands by ship, Hawaiians gave them food, drink and gifts to welcome the foreigners to their shores.  It was a natural response.

Today Hawaiians still believe that no matter who comes to your door, you should offer a smile, drink, food, a seat or even a place to sleep - there is nobody you do not help.

In days gone by if children didn't come home at night parents did not worry, as they knew they would be sleeping at a friend or family member's home.  A Hawaiian woman once told a story that her grandmother (tutu) would think nothing of having fourteen children sleep over at a time!

For more cultural information about Hawaii, please feel free to visit our website, Honolulu Condos..

As we have been learning, there are many Hawaiian proverbs and sayings that have been fun learning and even more entertaining trying to speak and pronounce correctly, but more importantly convey real wisdom and spiritual value. 

Here is another one of my favorites.

No Kekahi O Kakou Ka Pilikia, Malaila Pu Kakou A Pau.

Which translates as:

Should one of us get into trouble, we will all go that way.

(Adversity to one is adversity to all.) 

For more cultural information about Hawaii, please feel free to visit our website, Honolulu Condos..

As we have been learning, there are many Hawaiian proverbs and sayings that have been fun learning and even more entertaining trying to speak and pronounce correctly, but more importantly convey real wisdom and spiritual value. 

Here is another one of my favorites.

Ka Hana A Ka Makua, O Ka Hana No Ia A Keiki.

Which translates as:

What parents do, children will do.

For more cultural information about Hawaii, please feel free to visit our website, Honolulu Condos..

There are many Hawaiian proverbs and sayings that have been fun learning and even more entertaining trying to speak and pronounce correctly, but more importantly convey real wisdom and spiritual value. 

Here is another one of my favorites.

E Lei Kau, E Lei Ho'oilo I Ke Aloha.

Which translates as:

Love is worn like a wreath through the summers and the winters.

In Hawaii beauty is living with aloha, not an outwardly judgment of a person's body.  When Hawaiians use earth essences to cleanse and adorn themselves - flowers in the hair, oils to massage, salt scrubs to cleanse, leaves and flower leis as adornments - it is never to cover or add to themselves, but rather to become closer to and a part of their environment.......to be one with nature.....to have aloha 'aina.

For more cultural information about Hawaii, please feel free to visit our website, Honolulu Condos.

There are many Hawaiian proverbs and sayings that have been fun learning and even more entertaining trying to speak and pronounce correctly, but more importantly convey real wisdom and spiritual value. 

Here is another one of my favorites (especially because I enjoy eating):

E 'Ai I Ka Mea I Loa'a.

Which translates as:

What you have, eat. (Be satisfied with what you have.)

You may often hear in Hawaii, "We don't eat until we are full, we eat until we are tired!"  Food is a gift from the earth, so to share food with family, at luau, or with strangers is sacred.  The mana (spiritual energy) of the land goes inside people to continue the exchange of life energy.

For more cultural information about Hawaii, please feel free to visit our website, Honolulu Condos.

Mahalo for reading

There are many Hawaiian proverbs and sayings that have been fun learning and even more entertaining trying to speak and pronounce correctly, but more importantly convey real wisdom and spiritual value. 

Here is another one of my favorites:

Ho'okahi No La'au Lapa'au O Ka Mihi.

Which translates as:

The first remedy is foregiveness.

The first medicine is forgiveness.  Before anyone of us can heal ourselves we need to have forgiveness.  We need to have pono (balance).  If we cannot forgive ourselves, we cannot heal others, we cannot heal anyone.

For more cultural information about Hawaii, please feel free to visit our website, Honolulu Condos.

Mahalo for reading.

"Aloha Spirit"  You have probably heard about Hawaii's "Aloha Spirit," but what is it exactly? In the Hawaiian language, "aloha" may mean love, affection, compassion, mercy, sympathy, pity, kindness or grace. These sentiments make it a lovely common greeting and expression of farewell. The idea of aloha is so important in Hawaii that the "Aloha Spirit" is even part of State law. The statute reads in part:

"Aloha Spirit" is the coordination of mind and heart within each person. It brings each person to the self. Each person must think and emote good feelings to others. In the contemplation and presence of the life force, "Aloha," the following unuhi laula loa may be used:

Akahai, kindness to be expressed with tenderness;
Lokahi, unity, to be expressed with harmony;
Oluolu, agreeable, to be expressed with pleasantness;
Haahaa, humility, to be expressed with modesty;
Ahonui, patience, to be expressed with perseverance.

These are traits of character that express the charm, warmth and sincerity of Hawaii's people. It was the working philosophy of native Hawaiians and was presented as a gift to the people of Hawaii.

"Aloha" is more than a word of greeting or farewell or a salutation. "Aloha" means mutual regard and affection and extends warmth in caring with no obligation in return.

"Aloha" is the essence of relationships in which each person is important to every other person for collective existence.

"Aloha" means to hear what is not said, to see what cannot be seen and to know the unknowable.

In exercising their power on behalf of the people and in fulfillment of their responsibilities, obligations and service to the people, the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government may contemplate and reside with the life force and give consideration to the "Aloha Spirit."

I hope you will embrace the spirit of aloha in your everyday lives; for it is not a gift only for those who visit our beautiful island, it is a gift which can be shared throughout the world.

Come Live Aloha in Hawaii Island-and pass it on!

For more information about Hawaiian culture please visit our website about Honolulu and Honolulu Condos for sale. 

Mahalo for reading.