In The New York Times's 2006 list of Grammy Nominated artists who had produced stunning work but who were likely to be over looked as celebrity public relations machines pushed the glitz of industry icons, it wrote that Raiatea Helm "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 community. Her debut recording, Far Away Heaven, captured the Female Vocalist of the Year and Most Promising Artist Awards from the 2003 Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Artists (HARA). Two years later, with the release of her second CD Sweet and Lovely, Helm was again recognized as HARA Female Vocalist of the Year and also received the Favorite Entertainer of the Year Award. With the additional acknowledgement for technical merit in Engineering (Dave Tucciarone) and Graphic Design (Mele McPherson), she now claims six Na Hoku Hanohano Awards.
Helm’s virtuoso recordings and performances have already launched her onto the international music scene with extensive concert appearances throughout Japan and Asia. Domestically, she has appeared at venues stretching from New York City to San Francisco. Her appeal continues to flourish across all age groups and reaches across geographical boundaries as she collaborates with legends of Hawaiian music: The Brothers Cazimero, The Makaha Sons, Keali‘i Reichel, Ho‘okena, Auntie Genoa Keawe, and Ledward Ka‘apana.