The Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts has announced the final ballot nominees for the 2026 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, formally setting up this year’s race ahead of the awards ceremony on July 11 at the Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort. The final ballot spans major categories including Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Single of the Year, artist awards and a wide range of genre-based honors, with several established names and rising acts earning multiple nominations.
Among the most talked-about races, the Album of the Year category features six finalists: Drifting On Island Time by Kalae Camarillo, Ei Nei, Look At Us by Ei Nei, Ku’u Lei Lokelani by Anthony Pfluke, Manaiakalani by Kamalei Kawaa, Mele Punana Leo by Various Artists, and Strictly Originals by Ekolu. The category reflects the diversity of Hawaii’s music scene, bringing together contemporary island sounds, Hawaiian-language work and projects from both veteran and emerging artists.
Several nominees appear across multiple categories, making them early standouts on this year’s ballot. Kalae Camarillo is in the running in album, single and male vocalist-related recognition, while Ei Nei, Ekolu, Anthony Pfluke and Kamalei Kawaa also secured repeated appearances across major fields. That broad presence suggests a highly competitive final round as industry voters prepare to decide the winners.
In other top categories, Drifting On Island Time, Forever Blessed, Hawaii Forever, Hawaiian Honey and Ui Hooa are competing for Single of the Year. Song of the Year finalists include Ahe Nani ka La’i o Puna, Drifting On Island Time, E Ola Kakou, Forever Blessed and Hawaii Forever. The vocal performance categories are also closely watched this year, with Charly, Kimi Miner, Maggie Herron, Maka Gallinger and Sarah Bethany nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year, while Anthony Pfluke, Henry Kapono, Izik, Kalae Camarillo and Kamalei Kawaa are in contention for Male Vocalist of the Year.
The final ballot also underlines the breadth of the islands’ recording industry. Beyond the flagship awards, the 2026 lineup includes nominees in Hawaiian Music Album of the Year, Hawaiian Slack Key Album of the Year, Reggae Album of the Year, Hip Hop Album of the Year, Jazz Album of the Year, Metal Album of the Year, Rock Album of the Year, Religious Album of the Year and several video and composition categories.
Ahead of the main ceremony, HARA has already confirmed several major honorees for the 2026 season. This year’s Legacy Awards will be presented posthumously to Abigail Laau and David John “DJ” Pratt of Kalapana. Lifetime Achievement Award recipients for 2026 are Henry Kapono Kaaihue, Ledward Kaapana, Kealii Reichel, Na Leo Pilimehana, and Leon & Malia. Those recognitions add further significance to an awards year that is expected to draw strong attention from Hawaii’s music community.
For readers following this year’s contenders, the final ballot nominees are listed below:
Album of the Year (Producers & Artists Award)
Drifting On Island Time — Kalae Camarillo
Ei Nei, Look At Us — Ei Nei
Ku’u Lei Lokelani — Anthony Pfluke
Manaiakalani — Kamalei Kawaa
Mele Punana Leo — Various Artists
Strictly Originals — Ekolu
EP (Extended Play) of the Year
All To You — C4 Worship
Just to Love You — C4 Worship
Ku’u Hawaii — Kimi Miner
Lookin For Love — Kahiau Lam Ho
Summertime — Henry Kapono
Hawaiian EP of the Year
Hanohano Hanaunau — Baba Tavares
Hoomaka — Kahiau Lam Ho
Kahiliaulani — David Kaio
Ukulele Virtuoso — Jonathan Hoomanawanui
Single of the Year
Drifting On Island Time — Kalae Camarillo
Forever Blessed — Ekolu
Hawaii Forever — Ei Nei
Hawaiian Honey — Kalae + Kalena
Ui Hooa — Natalie Ai Kamauu
Hawaiian Single of the Year
Ahe Nani ka La’i o Puna — Kainani Kahaunaele & Kaniaulono Hapai feat. Kalehua Onitai, Keao Morales and Pakoa Morales
E Ola Kakou — Kamaka Camarillo & Anthony Pfluke
Ka Wa Makahiki — Ei Nei
Ku’u Hawaii — Kimi Miner
Ku’u Makamaka — Milie Lyman
Christmas Single of the Year
All Alone on Christmas — Kahiau Lam Ho
Christmas Christmas Time is Here — Kalae + Kalena & Zeo Worship
The Angels Cried — Kenny Tagavilla & Sandy Essman
Winter Things — Brittni Paiva
You Make It Feel Like Christmas — Ekolu
Music Video of the Year
Christmas Christmas Time is Here — Kalae + Kalena & Zeo Worship
Hawaiian Honey — Kalae + Kalena
Loyal Man — Kamaka Camarillo & Anthony Pfluke
Ui Hooa — Natalie Ai Kamauu
You Deserve Me — Chardonnay & High Watah
Hawaiian Music Video of the Year
E Ola Kakou — Kamaka Camarillo & Anthony Pfluke
Ka Pule A Ka Haku — Zeo Worship
Ku’u Hawaii — Kimi Miner
Manaiakalani — Kamalei Kawaa
Pua Melie — Gregory Juan
Instrumental Composition of the Year
Happiness — Maggie Herron
Laulea — Jeff Peterson
Milie — Herb Ohta, Jr.
Pikake Princess (Instrumental) — Taimane
Sunrise At Kumukahi — Kenneth Makuakane
Song of the Year
Ahe Nani ka La’i o Puna
Drifting On Island Time
E Ola Kakou
Forever Blessed
Hawaii Forever
Female Vocalist of the Year
Charly
Kimi Miner
Maggie Herron
Maka Gallinger
Sarah Bethany
Male Vocalist of the Year
Anthony Pfluke
Henry Kapono
Izik
Kalae Camarillo
Kamalei Kawaa
Group of the Year
Ei Nei
Ekolu
High Watah
launiu
Sons of Yeshua & Nalu Kay
Most Promising Artist(s) of the Year
Ahe Milie
Baba Tavares
Makana Arce
launiu
Rickey Kamai
Alternative Album of the Year
Imua — Big Chief Thunder
KW — Izik
Kupukupu — Kupukupu
Shine — Kamuela Kahoano
Surrender — Clara Stegall
Anthology of the Year
A Tin Idol Christmas: Volume One — Various Artists
Jeff Rasmussen Anthology Through The Years — Jeff Rasmussen
Kalapana 50th Anniversary – Timeless Voyage — Kalapana
Makuakane (God In Me) — Kenneth Makuakane
Ukulele Jazz Collection Volume 1 — Abe Lagrimas Jr.
Compilation Album of the Year
All the Things I Leave You (Patawid) OST — Various Artists
Mele Punana Leo — Various Artists
Music Tech: The Christmas Album Vol. 1 — Music Tech
Contemporary Acoustic Album of the Year
Ku’u Lei Lokelani — Anthony Pfluke
My Father’s Land — Kenneth Makuakane
The Life Of A Song — Kenny Tagavilla & Sandy Essman
Where’ve You Been — Danny Johnson
Contemporary Album of the Year
Drifting On Island Time — Kalae Camarillo
Nahenahe Vibez — Sons of Yeshua
Prelude — PARTYFOUL
Queen of Hearts — Lovejack
The Woman In Me — Charly
Hawaiian Music Album of the Year
Ka Leo Hou — Makana Arce
Manaiakalani — Kamalei Kawaa
launiu — launiu
Popoloheno – Songs of Resilience & Joy — Various Artists
Hawaiian Slack Key Album of the Year
E Kahe Mele — Darrell Aquino
Hoene — Sonny Lim
Slack Key Serenade — Jeff Peterson
Hip Hop Album of the Year
DREAMZTAPE — PK DREAMZ
Ma Ka Hana Ka Ike — Super Groupers & Punahele
The New Untouchables — Paniolo Prince & Queen Maile
Instrumental Album of the Year
He Kaikamahine O Kekahi Moku — T.J. Keanu Tario
Kakahiaka — Jonah Davis
Over The Open Fields — Jacob Staron
Songs For Mayumi — Gerard K. Gonsalves
Ukulele Story — Herb Ohta, Jr.
Island Music Album of the Year
Ei Nei, Look At Us — Ei Nei
Kalohonani — Michael Keale
Pookela — Pookela
This Island Life — Matt Krahula
Waikiki to Rarotonga — Darrell Aquino and Christy Leinaala Lassiter
Jazz Album of the Year
Almost Home — Groovology
Echoes Of A Decade — Absolute Joy Hawaii
Enchantment Under the Kiawe Tree: Live @ House Without A Key — The WAITIKI7
Exotica Reborn: In Studio and Live @ House Without A Key — The WAITIKI7
Yesterdays Lives — Maggie Herron
Metal Album of the Year
Disaster Squad — Disaster Squad
Madame Pele — Storm
Misfortune Teller — Anxiety Suite
Reggae Album of the Year
Livin Love — Billy Cruz
Represent — Kawao
Revolution — Maka Gallinger
Strictly Originals — Ekolu
Today Better Than Yesterday — Human Era
Watah Boys, Vol. 1 — High Watah
Religious Album of the Year
I Give My Praise To You — Ben Borthwick
Illuminate — Sarah Bethany
Legacy 2025 — Abby Brilhante
LIVE — Zeo Worship
Me Ka Fiyah — Tania Manaba
Rock Album of the Year
A Tribute To Van Halen — Tin Idols
Life Tips on Dumpster Diving — Kauz of Affliction
Uncovered — Average Joes
With the final ballot now public, attention will turn to which of this year’s leading nominees can convert momentum into wins on awards night. From veteran Hawaiian music figures to newer artists breaking through in island, reggae, contemporary and acoustic categories, the 2026 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards lineup points to a broad and competitive year for Hawaii’s recording industry.
