The Honolulu Advertiser’s Derek Paiva offers a very comprehensive preview of tonight’s Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards. I agree with Alan Yamamoto’s assessment – there are no clearcut favorites in any major category. I’ll be watching from home tonight, and for those of you who live out of state, a reminder that the show will be streamed over the Internet. I’ll try to post the winners as they are announced here, for those poor souls (like myself) who are stuck with dialup. Check the “Comments” thread for news as the show progresses.

The 29th Annual Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards will be held at the Hilton Hawaiian Villages Coral Ballroom, and be broadcast live by K5, The Home Team. The show will be broadcast live Wednesday May 31, 2006 from 7:30PM to 10:PM. A re-telecast will be aired Sunday June 4, 2006 from 9:30 PM to 1200 AM.

The show will be also be streamed live over the Internet. Mahalo to Lea Cook for passing on the info.

Things have been hectic around here recently, as a few of you may have noticed. We’ve had the end of the school year, finals, and I had to give the keynote speech at a language and technology conference in Honolulu yesterday. Things should be returning to normal, and I’ll be able to post news items more regularly. Here are a couple of items of note:

The Barefoot Natives CD release is just a few days away, May 23. I previewed one cut on my last podcast, and will have another in this weekend’s podcast. The Barefoot Bash is scheduled for June 11 in Lahaina, and tickets are now available online. In addition to the Barefoot Natives, the Mākaha Sons, Hapa, Gypsy Pacific and Henry Kapono will be performing.

I’ve also learned about an exciting new release which celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Hōkūleʻa. It is entitled “Hōkūle‘a – The Legacy”. I’ve heard cuts from it, and will preview one cut in this weekend’s podcast as well. It features a wide range of talents, composers and performers alike, and is a fitting tribute to the vessel and society that has inspired several generations. The CD will be released in June or July.

I was checking out Kenneth Makuakāne’s Xanga website, and it sounds like he’s making nice progress on his upcoming solo CD.

Investors, musicians, writers, game designers, directors, and producers of performing arts products will benefit from a four-hour seminar from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. followed up by free private consultations on Friday, May 26th at the Maui Research and Technology Center in Kihei. Attorney George Darby and David Fisher of the Small Business Development Center will be going over legal issues that are critical for performing arts businesses in general, and in particular are relevant to taking advantage of Hawaii’s generous tax credits for performing arts products. This is sponsored by the Maui Small Business Development Center. The fee is $25. To register go to http://hsbdcn.ecenterdirect.com/ or call 808-875-2402.

Finally, the 2006 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards will take place on May 31, 2006 in the Coral Ballroom of the Hilton Hawaiian Village. I don’t know if tickets are still available, call Bonnie at 235-9424 for information.