Photographer's Notes:"Raiatea
is what you call a true voice. And a true voice comes
from a true spirit, a true heart and a true person. It's
when you feel the voice not necessarily hear it .
Experience.. Raiatea"
Raiatea Helm
Raiatea Mokihane Maile Helm made history in 2006 as
Hawai‘i’s first female vocalist to ever receive a Grammy
Nomination for her sophomore CD “Sweet and Lovely.” Just 21
years old, she was one of the youngest performers to attend
the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California. It
is a remarkable achievement when you consider that she comes
from the tiny island of Moloka‘i, Hawai‘i, a mere wisp of
volcanic land in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
The Arts and Leisure Desk of the New York Times (February 5,
2006) ran a story that listed Grammy Nominated artists who
had produced remarkable work but who might be overshadowed
by the pop and glitz of industry icons. The NYT wrote of
Raiatea Helm, “[She] sings in the high-voiced throwback leo
ki‘eki‘e style without a hint of kitsch. Her second album,
“Sweet and Lovely” is poised and utterly elegant.”
Raiatea Helm’s recent appearance onto the national music
scene with her Grammy Nomination was a natural progression
of her growth within the Hawaiian music scene. Her debut
recording, “Far Away Heaven,” captured the prestigious
Female Vocalist of the Year and Most Promising Artist awards
from the 2003 Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Artists (HARA).
Raiatea Helm continued her award-winning tradition two years
later with the release of her second album “Sweet and
Lovely.” (Raiatea Helm Records) At the 2005 Hawai‘i Academy
of Recording Artists awards ceremony, she was recognized
again as Female Vocalist and also received the coveted award
of Favorite Entertainer of the Year. With the additional
awards for technical merit in Engineering (Dave Tucciarone)
and Graphic Design (Mele McPherson), “Sweet and Lovely”
received six Na Hoku Hanohano Awards. Few performers of any
age can lay claim to such an accomplishment.
As her reputation flourished, Raiatea Helm’s concert
appearances have taken her to venues across the United
States, Japan and Asia. She has performed with legends of
Hawaiian music: The Cazimero Brothers, The Makaha Sons,
Keali‘i Reichel, Ho‘okena, Auntie Genoa Keawe,
Ledward Ka‘apana, and the list
continues to grow.
