I was just informed that my friend Duke Ching won the steel guitar catagory award for this year. I believe the list of winners is at hawaiimusicawards.com. Hope I have that address correct Duke lives in Highland California, and is a former director in the HSGA, and performs each year at the HSGA Joliet convention, and at the Aloha Int'l Steel Guitar Club convention in Winchester, In.
Good on him - was a tough category this year, what with both Henry Kaleialoha Allen & Duke Kaleolani Ching having albums in competition; I reviewed 'em together last fall - online at http://www.northwesthawaiitimes.com/Music/greggsept08.htm