I love kiho'alu! The nahenahe music that soothes, then energizes with its distinct plucking techniques — I'm a huge fan of slack key.

Ledward Ka'apana, John Keawe, George Kahumoku, Dennis Kamakahi, Keola Beamer, Daniel Ho, Owana Salazar, Brittni Paiva, all the Pahinuis — I have their tapes and CDs and play them often.

When the Grammys announced a new category of Hawaiian music in 2005, we were thrilled. At last — recognition of our favorite music. I come home to Hilo often, but in Seattle, where I live and work, Hawaiian music is not much appreciated.

I was ecstatic when kiho'alu won the first Grammy in 2005. I was fine with the second award in 2006. But a few weeks ago when the Hawaiian Grammy went to yet another slack key compilation, I got worried.

As much as I love this music, I'm suspicious. Do those who vote for the Grammys know anything about Hawaiian music beyond slack key? Must Hawaiian musicians record only kiho'alu to be in contention for a Grammy? It reminds me how easy it is for American megaforces to drive what goes on in these islands.

You'd think by now we'd be used to it. Maybe we are, and maybe that's why I'm disturbed. So let me now step back from the world of music to look at the larger picture.

Ever since the overthrow of Queen Lili'uokalani in 1893 and U.S. annexation in 1898, Hawai'i has been evolving into a place that reflects American values. Certain practices — such as citizens voting for leaders — are good, but if we want the Islands to retain its own values and unique qualities, then we must recognize and counteract those outside influences that hurt our island life.

Some of these are obvious: fast food franchises that affect our eating habits and retail warehouses that drive out small businesses. Influx of the wealthy in search of sun and sand results in high prices in the housing market, turning us into a society of the rich and the poor. But we are already aware how these influences contribute to changes in the physical and cultural landscape of these islands and are looking for ways to mitigate them.

Some of the threats however, are not so obvious. With American annexation came public schools where English was mandated and the Hawaiian language forbidden. Today we recognize the importance of native languages. But at the turn of the last century, who gave much thought to the ramifications such a prohibition would have on life in Hawai'i?

This is an example of the double-edged sword that comes with being the 50th state: The introduction of public education was a good thing for the people of Hawai'i, but the prohibition of the Hawaiian language was bad. If language is how we view the world, then imagine the damage done when you board up the main window that served a people so well for generations, and force them to look through another smaller and foreign one.

And now I return to the Grammy, for it also is a double-edged sword. What musician wouldn't enjoy the fame and fortune that accompanies a Grammy? But the recognition thus far of only slack key by the National Academy of Recording Artists and Sciences can be dangerous to these islands. With this new focus on kiho'alu, other kinds of Hawaiian music may no longer be perceived as relevant; slack key with its Mainland-designated status could now become the new "standard" in Hawai'i. Eventually, other island sounds could be looked upon as music that gets you nowhere. This happened before, when English dominated and all things Hawaiian fell by the wayside. The energy now spent trying to recover lost traditions could have been avoided had Hawaiian not been so eclipsed by American English.

Hawaiian music is an integral part of these islands and the recognition of kiho'alu artists is long overdue. But if getting a Grammy is important and if slack key is the only way to get one, then this could change our entire music scene. And once again, it will be the forces from elsewhere, smothering island traditions.

Cultural change is inevitable and many positive things are already occurring to help shape what we think the future should look like, such as immersion schools where the Hawaiian language is being revived and the attempt to ban "big box" stores.

But we must also be mindful of those outside influences that are more insidious in their assault on island ways. Discerning and dealing with negative forces is a big job, but it is a crucial one if we want to pass on to grandchildren and great-grandchildren, the values of these islands and the way of life that we love.

Rochelle delaCruz, who was born and raised in Hilo, teaches English at Seattle Community College and edits and publishes Northwest Hawai'i Times, a community newspaper for Hawai'i transplants in the Pacific Northwest. She wrote this commentary for The Advertiser.