html helper: ul()

[eluser]fdog[/eluser]
I want to generate an ul using the HTML helper. I need to add a class attribute to an li.

desired output:

Code:

<ul>
    <li class="current_page_item">
        <a href="#">home</a>
    </li>
    <li>
        <a href="#">photos</a>
    </li>
    <li>
        <a href="#">about</a>
    </li>
</ul>

current controller:

Code:

$menu = array(
          'home',
          'photos',
          'about',
         );

$attributes = array(
                    'class' => 'current_page_item'
                   );

Is there a way to pass $attributes to a li instead of the whole ul?