WAIKIKI, OAHU, HAWAII — The 35th Annual Na Hoku Hanohano Awards presented by the Hawai?i Academy of Recording Artists was held on Sunday, May 27, at the Hawai?i Convention Center to a sold-out ballroom and broadcast live on Hawaii television station KFVE.
One group with a very close affiliation to Outrigger Hotels and Resorts took top honors at this year?s Na Hoku Hanohano Awards program. Matthew Sproat, Kale Hannahs and David Kamakahi of Waipuna won Group of the Year honors, Island Music Album of the Year for ?E Ho?i Mai? and Single of the Year for ??Ainahau.? Matt Sproat is not only a talented member of Waipuna, who has performed at Kani Ka Pila Grille at the Outrigger Reef on the Beach; he also has been a talented and valued member of the Outrigger Reef ?ohana as guest service representative for the past 17 years!
According to Luana Maitland, events and activities manager and music director for Kani Ka Pila Grille, ?Kani Ka Pila Grille at the Outrigger Reef on the Beach is dedicated to traditional Hawaiian music. Kanikapila, which translates to, ?Let?s Play Music,? is Kani Ka Pila Grille?s brand and our promise. As such, we take pride in featuring the island?s top Hawaiian musicians, like Waipuna.?
Others artists who entertain at Kani Ka Pila Grille and received awards are:
- Hi?ikua ? Haku Mele for ?Ku?u Hoa Hi?ikua?
- Lehua Kalima ? Contemporary Album of Year for ?Rising in Love?
- Kuana Torres Kahele ? Male Vocalist of Year, Hawaiian Album of Year for ?Kaunaloa,? Song of Year for ?Na Vaqueros,? Liner Notes and Album of Year for ?Kaunaloa.?
?Our congratulations also go out to Kani Ka Pila Grille artists and Na Hoku Hanohano finalists Mailani Makainai, Robert Cazimero, Henry Kapono, Kawena Mechler, Raiatea Helm and Patrick Landeza,? Maitland added.
Kani Ka Pila Grille, located poolside at the Outrigger Reef on the Beach, is open daily from 6:30 am to 10?pm serving delicious meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Every evening, live music by legendary Hawaiian entertainers is showcased from 6 to 9 pm. For reservations, call 808-924-4990.
[box]About Outrigger Enterprises Group
Outrigger Enterprises Group is one of the largest and fastest growing privately-held leisure lodging and hospitality companies in the Asia Pacific and Oceania regions and continues to expand its presence throughout the area. A family-owned company with 65 years of hospitality experience, Outrigger runs a highly-successful, multi-branded line of hotels, condominiums and vacation resort properties, including Outrigger? Hotels & Resorts, OHANA? Hotels & Resorts, Embassy Suites?, Best Western?, and Wyndham Vacation Ownership?. Currently, Outrigger operates and/or has under development 45 properties with close to 11,000 rooms located in Hawaii; Australia; Guam; Fiji; Bali; Thailand; Vietnam; and Hainan Island, China. Outrigger Enterprises Group also operates and develops hotel properties and hospitality-related retail and real estate opportunities for partners in Hawaii, the Pacific, and Asia. For on-line information, log on at www.outriggerenterprisesgroup.com and www.outrigger.com.[/box]