| General | |
|---|---|
| Format | Singing competition |
| Host | Kamehameha Schools |
| Venue | Neal Blaisdell Center |
| Participants | Kamehameha Schools Kapālama high school students |
| Upcoming Contest | |
| Date | March 16, 2012 (92nd) |
| Most Recent Contest | |
| Date | March 18, 2011 (91st) |
| Theme | Aunty Irmgard Farden Aluli: A Musical Journey |
| Charles E. King Cup | Class of 2011 |
| New England Mothers' Cup | Class of 2011 |
| George Alanson Andrus Cup | Class of 2011 |
| 2011 Website | |
The Kamehameha Schools Song Contest is an annual choral music competition between the grades 9-12 graduating classes of the Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Campus. The contest is televised live throughout the state of Hawaii on KGMB. It is also webcast live on the school's website and has previously been simulcast on the radio statewide, most recently on KUMU. The 91st competition, honoring the music of Aunty Irmgard Farden Aluli, was held on March 18, 2011.[1]
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The first Song Contest (then called the Inter-class Song Competition) was held on May 26, 1921 at the original Kamehameha School for Boys. It was started to perpetuate the memory of George Alanson Andrus, a music teacher at the School.[2] Each class from grades 5-9 presented four Hawaiian songs: an original song (up until 1935), a choice song selected by the class, a prize song selected by the music department of the school (up until 1972), and the school song. Each class also selected a song leader to direct the class in rehearsal and performance.[3]
One year after the Boys in 1922, the Kamehameha School for Girls held its inaugural Song Contest on the steps of the Main Hall of the Girls’ School (located opposite of the current Farrington High School), while the Boys' contest was held on the steps of Bishop Museum.[4] When Kamehameha moved to its current location at Kapālama Heights in 1931, the contests were moved to the newly-built auditorium. The first combined contest took place in 1952 in Kekūhaupiʻo, the new fieldhouse.[5] In 1964, the contest was moved to the Neal Blaisdell Center (formerly the Honolulu International Auditorium), and it continues to be held there today. In 1966, the hōʻike, an exhibition of Hawaiian music and hula performed by students, was added to the program while the judges' scores were being tallied.
Beginning in 1953, Song Contest has been simulcast on the radio statewide; the Contest made its television debut in 1968. Beginning in 2000, Song Contest has also been webcast live on the school's website. Kamehameha Schools briefly sold audio of the performances on iTunes and DVDs of the entire program from 2007 to 2009.
Miss Laura Brown, Director of Music at Kamehameha 1926–1947, stated that "the objectives of the song contest are to build up the repertoire of the best in Hawaiian music for the cultural heritage of any student who attends Kamehameha; to develop leadership, cooperation and good class spirit; and to give students the use of their singing voices and to give them pleasure in singing as a means of expression."[6] Participation in Song Contest is a graduation requirement for all students at Kamehameha Schools' Kapālama High School.
The current format of Song Contest involves three areas of a cappella choral competition: men, women, and coeducational. Each grade (9-12) sings a coed piece. Additionally, the sophomores, juniors, and seniors sing individual men's and women's pieces. The men's competition is held first in odd-numbered years (e.g., 2009), while the women's competition is first in even-numbered years. The coed competition always occurs last. Five prominent community members judge the competition for language and musical performance. There are two language and two music judges, as well as an overall judge who judges both categories. Both categories are worth 50% of a class' overall score; scores are used to determine which performance receives each award.
Following the singing competitions, the entire student body performs school songs, including the school fight song Imua Kamehameha, Kamehameha Waltz, and Kamehameha March. The latter two songs alternate each year. The hōʻike, an exhibition of Hawaiian music and hula performed by students, follows. After the hō‘ike, classes are presented with awards for the singing competitions, and the evening closes with the student body singing Sons of Hawaii, the school's alma mater.
The following awards are presented after the hōʻike and are awarded based on the judges' scores.[6]
The 92nd annual Kamehameha Schools Song Contest will be held on March 16, 2012. 2012 marks a very auspicious celebration for the Kamehameha Schools family as we honor the 125-year vision of a princess and the amazing vitality of her people. This year we celebrate 125 years of Ke Ali‘i Bernice Pauahi Bishop’s legacy and Kamehameha's mission of enhancing the capability and well-being of Native Hawaiians through education. We know that through our mission, we are creating a future that is vibrant and thriving for our people. The theme for this years song contest is, “Ho‘ōla Lāhui, Ho‘oulu Pae ‘Āina – Vibrant People, Thriving Lands,” reflecting Pauahi’s enduring legacy. The choral song selections will feature new mele composed in honor of Pauahi and the lands that Kamehameha Schools owns.
| Song Contest 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| The 2011 competition, entitled "Aunty Irmgard Farden Aluli: A Musical Journey," was held on March 18, 2011 and featured songs in tribute to one of Hawai‘i's most beloved and prolific composers. The storied life of Aunty Irmgard reveals a woman who understood the power of song to capture the profound beauty of her world. The songs featured in this year's Song Contest are like entries in a journal — they are postcards that recount the highlights of a musical journey for all to enjoy.
The senior men of 2011 opened the men's competition with Momi Aʻo Kuʻu Puʻuwai by Moses Naehu, a song talking about a couple and their courtship meetings near Pauoa Valley. The junior men of 2012 then performed Aloha Kahoʻolawe, a song recounting the majesty of Kahoʻolawe. The sophomore men of 2013 ended the men's competition with Kaleionehu, a song written for Aunty Irmgard's older sister, Diana Kaleionehu Farden Fernandez. The junior women of 2012 opened the women's competition with E Pili Mai ʻOe Iʻau, a song which speaks of the strong bond between two people in love. The sophomore women of 2013 then performed Kulaʻiapahia, a song describing "a star of the heavens." The senior women of 2011 ended the women's competition with Pua Mōhala I Ka Wēkiu, which speaks of the fragrant flower of a favorite chief. The freshman class of 2014 opened the co-ed competition with Puamana, which tells the beauty of the Farden family's seaside estate in Lahaina, Maui. The senior class of 2011 followed with E Maliu Mai, Aunty Irmgard's matrimonial masterpiece. The junior class of 2012 sang For A Peaceful World, a heartfelt anthem considered to be Aunty Irmgard's most inspirational composition. The sophomore class of 2013 closed the competition with Ka Pua O Kina, a song about composer Charles Cash's grandmother and her four sisters. Results
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| 2010 Competition | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| The 2010 competition, entitled "Ola Mau Nā Mele Makamae ‘O Kamehameha: Enduring Kamehameha Classics," was held on March 19, 2010 and featured songs that have become popular after being performed at past Song Contests or by the Kamehameha Schools' Concert Glee Club.
The junior women of 2011 opened the competition with Molokaʻi Nui A Hina by Matthew Kane, a song admiring the beauty of Molokaʻi. The sophomore women of 2012 then performed Kawohikūkapulani, a song by Helen Desha Beamer expressing a mother's love for her child. The senior women of 2010 ended the women's competition with Ka ʻAnoʻi, a song by Charles E. King reminding one to keep one's love close. The junior men of 2011 opened the men's competition, performing Kaʻililauokekoa by Henry Waiaʻu, a song talking about a man's search for Kaʻililauokekoa in the region of Pihanakalani. The senior men of 2010 then performed Hole Waimea, a traditional song. The sophomore men of 2012 ended the men's competition with ʻŪlili Ē, a traditional song about the sandpiper and golden plover. The junior class of 2011 opened the co-ed competition with He Wahine Holo Lio, a traditional song about Queen Emma and her horsemanship. The senior class of 2010 followed with Maikaʻi Ka Makani O Kohala, a love song by William Sheldon and David Nape set in Kohala. The freshman class of 2013 made their Song Contest debut with the love song Roselani by W.J. Coelho. The sophomore class of 2012 closed the competition with Kuʻu Pua I Paoakalani, a song by Queen Liliuokalani about the flowers of Paoakalani. Results
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| 2009 Competition [8] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| The 2009 Song Contest was held in honor of John Kameaaloha Almeida, a composer of more than 200 Hawaiian songs who was popularly known as the "Dean of Hawaiian Music". The Contest was held on 20 March 2009 and featured songs composed by Almeida.
The senior men of the class of 2009 performed Iesū Me Ke Kanaka Waiwai, arranged by Les Ceballos, a hymn about the rich man parable in Mark 10 of the Bible. Their performance earned them the George Alanson Andrus Cup for best men's performance and the Helen Desha Beamer Award for best musical performance. The sophomore men of the class of 2011 performed ʻĀ ʻOia!, arranged by Aaron J. Salā, and the junior men of the class of 2010 performed Kiss Me Love, arranged by Aaron D. Mahi. The junior women performed Lovely Sunrise Haleakalā, arranged by Aaron D. Mahi, and won the Richard Lyman, Jr. Trophy for best use of the Hawaiian language as well as the New England Mothers' Cup for best women's performance. The junior women's director, C. Kaʻaiʻōhelo McAfee-Torco, won the Louise Aʻoe McGregor Award for outstanding student director. The sophomore women performed Roselani Blossoms, arranged by Bowe Souza, and the senior women performed ʻO Koʻu Aloha Iā ʻOe, arranged by Robert Cazimero. The sophomore class won the Charles E. King Cup with their performance of Kuʻu Ipo Pua Rose, arranged by Herbert Mahelona. The freshman class of 2012 performed Hoʻoheno Kēia No Beauty, also known as the "Beauty Hula", arranged by Les Ceballos. The junior class performed Green Carnation, arranged by Les Ceballos, and the senior class performed Maile Swing, arranged by Aaron J. Salā.
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| 2008 Competition [9] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2008 Song Contest, held on March 14, 2008, was entitled "Ola Ka ‘Ōlelo ‘Ōiwi O Ka ‘Āina: Celebrating Hawaiian Language Revitalization" and reflected on the thirtieth anniversary of the 1978 Hawaii State Constitutional Convention, where Hawaiian became one of the two official languages of the state of Hawaii. The 2008 competition featured songs by ten contemporary Hawaiian composers. The sophomore women of the class of 2010 performed Aloha Koʻolau by Dennis Kamakahi and arranged by Aaron D. Mahi. They won the Richard Lyman, Jr. Trophy for best use of language and the New England Mothers' Cup for best women's performance. The junior women of the class of 2009 performed Ka Hīnano O Puna by Kainani Kahaunaele and arranged by Herbert Mahelona, and the senior women of the class of 2008 performed Aloha Hawaiʻi Kuʻu One Hānau by Frank Hewett and arranged by Aaron J. Salā. The junior men performed Kulāiwi by Larry Kimura and arranged by Les Ceballos. They won the George Alanson Andrus Cup for best men's performance and the Helen Desha Beamer Award for best musical performance. The sophomore men performed Ehuehu Mai Nei ʻO Mānoa by Kīhei de Silva and arranged by Aaron J. Salā, and the senior men performed Napoʻona Mahina, composed and arranged by Manu Boyd. The sophomore class won the Charles E. King Cup for best co-ed performance with Ka Nohona Pili Kai by Kealiʻi Reichel and Puakea Nogelmeier, with arrangement by Les Ceballos. The freshman class of 2011 performed Pua ʻAla Aumoe by Jean ʻIleialoha Beniamina and arranged by Herbert Mahelona. The junior class performed Ke ʻAla ʻEhu Kai O Hāna by Kaumakaiwa Kanakaʻole and arranged by Aaron J. Salā, and the senior class performed He ʻOlu, a song composed by Kamehameha Schools' high school principal, Julian Ako, with arrangement by Les Ceballos. The Louise Aʻoe McGregor Award for outstanding student director was awarded to Zachary Lum, sophomore co-ed director, and Kahala Rowe, senior women's director.
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| 2007 Competition | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| The 2007 Song Contest was entitled "Mary Kawena Pukui: A Celebration of Story and Song." The Song Contest honored well-known Hawaiian scholar Mary Kawena Pukui. She co-wrote Hawaiian Dictionary and various other books. The competition featured songs composed or co-composed by Mary Kawena Pukui.
The sophomore women of the class of 2009 won the New England Mothers' Cup for best women's performance with He Aloha Kuʻu Ipo, arranged by Aaron J. Salā. They also tied for the Richard Lyman, Jr. Trophy for best use of Hawaiian language with the class of 2007. The junior women of the class of 2008 performed Pua ʻĀhihi, arranged by Robert Cazimero, and the senior women of the class of 2007 performed Ka Lehua I Milia, arranged by Les Ceballos. The senior men won the George Alanson Andrus Cup for best men's performance with Pō Laʻilaʻi, arranged by Les Ceballos. The sophomore men presented Nā Hoa Heʻe Nalu, arranged by Kyle Mahi Mori, and the junior men performed E Koaʻe Ē, arranged by Aaron J. Salā. With their rendition of Pua Līlīlehua, arranged by Robert Cazimero, the senior class won two awards: the Helen Desha Beamer Award for best musical performance, the Charles E. King Cup for best co-ed performance. They also tied with the sophomore women for the Richard Lyman, Jr. Trophy for best use of the Hawaiian language. The junior class performed Kaʻū Nui, arranged by Les Ceballos. The sophomore class performed Hanauma, arranged by Aaron J. Salā, and the freshman class of 2010 performed Kuʻu Sweetie, arranged by Randie K. Fong. Zachary Lum, the freshman class' director, tied for the Louise Aʻoe McGregor Award for outstanding student director with Kaʻena Galdeira, the senior class' director.
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| 2006 Competition | ||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2006 Song Contest was entitled "Celebrating the Music of Lena Machado." Known as the Songbird of Hawai‘i, Lena Machado was one of the legendary singers of Hawaiian music. Many of her famous compositions are still known today, such as "Mom", "Pōhai Ke Aloha", and "E Ku'u Baby Hot Cha Cha". The 2006 competition featured songs composed by Lena Machado:
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| 2005 Competition | ||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2005 Song Contest was entitled "Songs of the Early 20th Century." At this time Hawaiian music was suppressed and on-going work is being done to revitalize the songs of this era. Many of the well-known composers from this era are honored. The 2005 competition featured songs composed by Hawaiian artists of the Early 20th century:
Mock Song Contest Results
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| 2004 Competition | ||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2004 Song Contest was entitled "The Musical Contributions of Leila Hohu Kiaha." Leila Hohu Kiaha has been a long-time arranger for the Kamehameha Schools Song Contest and has been referred to and known by students as Aunty Leila. Aunty Leila has arranged dozens of arrangements specifically for this competition and was honored at this event. The 2004 competition featured songs arranged by Leila Hohu Kiaha for the Kamehameha Schools Song Contest:
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| 2003 Competition | ||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2003 Song Contest was entitled "Na Mele Pana," or "songs of beloved places." The competition showcased songs about the many amazing sites seen on the eight different islands in Hawai'i Nei.
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| 2002 Competition |
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The 2002 Song Contest was entitled "Hawaiian Folk Songs". The competition showcased songs that incorporated contemporary and traditional folk Hawaiian songs. Many songs spoke of places across the islands such as Le‘ahi (Diamond Head), Hilo, Maunawili, and Moanalua.
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| 2001 Competition |
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The 2001 Song Contest was entitled "Nā Hīmeni O Ka Ekalesia" or "Songs of the Church". This competition showcased songs that have been sung across Hawaiian Churches for generations. All of these songs are very important to particular Hawaiian churches which is how they were chosen by each individual class director.
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Every year since the 1970s, the freshman class is given a list of available colors to choose from. The color they choose will be their class color for their whole high school career and is used at special events, mainly for the Song Contest competition. Each of the main Hawaiian Islands are represented by one of these colors (Except for Ni'ihau since white, the island's color, is already a school color). The options are Red, Pink, Yellow, Gray, Green, Orange, and Purple. (Orange was not on option until it was added to the ballot for the freshmen class of the 2006-2007 school year. Prior to the true Orange selected by the Class of 2010, classes selected an Orange shade of Goldenrod which combined yellow and orange. In 2006, the distinction between Yellow and Orange was made. Note: The Class of 2010 has been the only class to be offered White as a class color choice.)
| Class | Color | # of Divisional Awards (Men, Women, Coed) | # of Total Awards† | Senior Sweep* | Notes (All statistics date from 1921) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | GREEN | 0 | 0 | Currently freshmen. | |
| 2014 | YELLOW | 0 | 0 | Currently sophomores. | |
| 2013 | RED | 0 | 0 | Currently juniors. | |
| 2012 | PURPLE | 0 | 0 | Currently seniors. | |
| 2011 | GREEN | 4 | 8 /22† | Yes | Sophomore coed (5th of 5); Most awards received in a single competition (7†) |
| 2010 | ORANGE | 6 | 14 /22 | Yes | Womens' sweep (7th of 7); Director sweep (2nd of 2; Lum, McAfee-Torco); Sophomore coed (4th of 5); Language three-peat; Most awards received overall (14) |
| 2009 | RED | 4 | 9 /22 | No | Freshmen coed (4th of 4); Music three-peat |
| 2008 | PINK | 0 | 3 /22 | No | |
| 2007 | GREEN | 3 | 9 /22 | No | Sophomore coed (3rd of 5); Most awards received by a coed (6) |
| 2006 | PURPLE | 3 | 4 /22 | No | Sophomore coed (2nd of 5) |
| 2005 | RED | 4 | 7 /22 | No | |
| 2004 | GOLDENROD | 1 | 4 /22 | No | |
| 2003 | PINK | 3 | 9 /22† | No | |
| 2002 | GRAY | 4 | 7 /22 | No | Freshmen coed (3rd of 4); Sophomore mens' (5th of 5) |
| 2001 | RED | 5 | 10 /22 | Yes | Womens' sweep (6th of 7, first since Class of 1954); Most awards received by a womens' (6) |
| 2000 | PURPLE | 1 | 4 /22 | No | |
| 1999 | GOLDENROD | 1 | 2 /22 | No | |
| 1998 | GREEN | 4 | 9 /22† | Yes* | Freshmen coed (2nd of 4) |
| 1997 | RED | 4 | 7 /22 | Yes | |
| 1996 | GRAY | 2 | 6 /22† | No | |
| 1995 | PURPLE | 5 | 10 /21 | No | Most awards received by a mens' (5); Sophomore womens' (first since Class of 1954) |
| 1994 | GREEN | 3 | 8 /20 | No | |
| 1993 | RED | 1 | 3 /19 | No | |
| 1992 | GRAY | 3 | 5 /18 | No | |
| 1991 | PINK | 2 | 7 /17 | No | First director sweep (of 2; Ho) |
| 1990 | GREEN | 3 | 5 /16 | Yes* | |
| 1989 | RED | 3 | 5 /15 | Yes | |
| 1988 | PURPLE | 3 | 3 /14 | Yes* | |
| 1987 | PINK | 3 | 5 /14 | Yes | |
| 1986 | GREEN | 3 | 3 /14 | Yes* | |
| 1985 | RED | 6 | 8 /14 | Yes | Junior sweep (2nd of 2); Only class to sweep twice |
| 1984 | GOLDENROD | 3 | 4 /14 | No | Sophomore mens' (4th of 5, first since Class of 1945) |
| 1983 | PURPLE | 1 | 2 /14 | No | |
| 1982 | GREEN | 5 | 5 /14 | Yes* | |
| 1981 | RED | 3 | 5 /14 | No | |
| 1980 | GOLDENROD | 2 | 2 /14 | No | |
| 1979 | PURPLE | 4 | 5 /14 | Yes | |
| 1978 | GREEN | 3 | 5 /14 | No | First freshmen coed (of 4) |
| 1977 | RED | 5 | 5 /14 | Yes* | |
| 1976 | PURPLE | 4 | 5 /14 | No | First sophomore coed (of 5) |
| 1975 | BLUE | 1 | 4 /14† | No | |
| 1974 | ??? | 4 | 6 /13 | No | First junior sweep (of 2) |