HONOLULU – Hawaiian music is doing swimmingly with listeners, and now it’s is ready to catch the big one: the Grammy. The genre will have its own category for the first time next year if the National Academy of Arts & Sciences approves.

Great news, long time coming. If you’ve ever wondered “who sings that great mix of Over the Rainbow and Wonderful World,” that’s
“Iz” Kamikawiwo’ole, a Hawaiian artist who died a few years ago.

I was so lucky to have gone to a live show at the Northwest Folklife Festival that featured some Hawaiian Slack Key Masters.
I’m not sure if some of the live music I heard made it onto this CD, but there’s a good chance.