Kamehameha Schools Song Contest

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Kamehameha Schools Song Contest
General
Format Singing competition
Host Kamehameha Schools
Venue Neal Blaisdell Center
Participants Kamehameha Schools Kapālama High School Students
Kamehameha Song Contest 2013
Date March 22, 2013 (93rd)
Theme He Lei Poina ‘Ole Ke Keiki: A Beloved Child is a Lei Never Forgotten

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 93rd competition, "He Lei Poina ‘Ole Ke Keiki: A Beloved Child is a Lei Never Forgotten," was held on Friday March 22, 2013.[1]

Contents

History [edit]

Program from the first song contest of the School for Boys, on May 26, 1921
Program from the first song contest of the School for Boys, on May 26, 1921

The first Song Contest (then called the Inter-class Sing 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 ʻike, 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 2010.

Purpose [edit]

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.

Format [edit]

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.[7]

Following the singing competitions, the entire student body performs school songs, including the school fight song Imua Kamehameha, Kamehameha Waltz, and Kamehameha March. The use of the latter two songs alternate each year. The ʻike, 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.

List of awards [edit]

The following awards are presented after the hōʻike and are awarded based on the judges' scores.[6]

  • The Louise Aʻoe McGregor Award, named for a member of the first graduating class of the School for Girls in 1897, was first presented in 1972. It recognizes the student director who has made the most significant contribution to the class in organizational ability, leadership, assistance to others, and persistence.
  • The Richard Lyman Jr., ʻŌlelo Makuahine Award, recognizes excellence in the use of the Hawaiian language within a song. Mr. Lyman, a Kamehameha Schools trustee from 1959 to 1988, was keenly interested in the preservation of Hawaiian language and culture.
  • The George Alanson Andrus Cup, the Kamehameha Schools Boys’ Award, George Alanson Andrus Cup was first presented in 1921. Named for the former director of music at Kamehameha School for Boys, Andrus inspired the idea of an annual song contest, and a cup was offered as an incentive in the competition.
  • The New England Mothers' Cup, the year 1922 marked the first year that both the Kamehameha boys and girls held song contests. Mrs. E. G. Scoville, a visitor to the Islands from Watertown, Connecticut, was so impressed with the singing of the Kamehameha girls that she donated the New England Mothers’ Cup for the School for Girls competition.
  • The Helen Desha Beamer Award, the Helen Desha Beamer Award recognizes the best musical performance. Donated by the Kamehameha Alumni Association, the award honors the substantial contributions of Helen Desha Beamer to the lexicon of Hawaiian music. Helen Desha Beamer was a 1900 graduate of the Kamehameha School for Girls.
  • The Charles E. King Cup, an additional trophy that was offered by the Trustees in honor of Charles Edward King, an 1891 graduate of the School for Boys. The trophy is awarded to the class winning the combined class competition.

Kamehameha Song Contest Competitions [edit]

This Year's Competition [edit]

2013 Competition [1]
The 93rd annual Kamehameha Schools Song Contest was held on Friday, March 22, 2013. The theme for the 2013 Song Contest was, “He Lei Poina ‘Ole Ke Keiki: A Beloved Child is a Lei Never Forgotten.”

The words lei (garland) and pua (flower), can poetically refer to children. Although Pauahi did not have keiki of her own, her aloha and concern for her people moved her to create the Kamehameha Schools for the children of the Lāhui Hawai‘i, her Native Hawaiian people. As we look to the future, as Pauahi did over 125 years ago, we focus on the youth.

This year's songs reflect the deep aloha that mākua and kūpuna—parent and grandparent generations—have for their pua. Just as a child clings to its mother, so too does a beloved lei adorn the wearer. Each of this year’s song contest mele was composed as a loving makana for a child. Some are well known while others are making their debut. Like Pauahi’s never ending aloha for her people, these beautiful mele continue to express the composer’s love, hopes and dreams for a precious child. Please enjoy the 93rd annual Kamehameha Schools Song Contest, featuring the theme He Lei Poina ‘Ole Ke Keiki – A beloved child is a lei never forgotten..

The sophomore boys of 2015 began the men's competition with their song, Ka Pua U'i. The senior boys of 2013 sang next, with their winning rendition of He Punahele Nō ʻOe, capturing the George Alanson Andrus cup for the second year in a row. The junior boys of 2014 ended the men's competition with their song, Pua Hīnano.

The junior girls of 2014 opened the women's competition with their song, Pua Mōhala. The sophomore girls of 2015 sang next, with their song Kuʻu Aloha E. The senior girls of 2013 ended the women's competition with their song, Māpuana Kuʻu Aloha, winning them the New England Mother's Cup as well as Helen Desha Beamer award for best musical performance. Senior girls' director Cali Kinimaka also tied for the Louise Aoe Macgregor leadership award.

The coed competition began with the sophomore class of 2015 singing, He Inoa No Kaʻiulani, and sophomore leader Dezarae Le'i tied for the Louise Aoe Macgregor leadership award, winning it for the second year in a row. The junior class of 2014 went next with their song, Nēnē Hanu ʻAʻala . The freshman class of 2016 made their debut performance of No Ka Lei Tuberose Ke Aloha. The senior class ended the 2013 competition with their co-ed prize winning song, My Sweet Sweeting, winning the Charles E. King Cup for best coed performance and the Richard Lyman, Jr. Trophy for best use of Hawaiian language two years in a row.

Men's Competition:

  • Senior Men of 2013 - He Punahele Nō ʻOe
  • Junior Men of 2014 - Pua Hīnano
  • Sophomore Men of 2015 - Ka Pua Uʻi

Women's Competition:

  • Senior Women of 2013 - Māpuana Kuʻu Aloha
  • Junior Women of 2014 - Pua Mōhala
  • Sophomore Women of 2015 - Kuʻu Aloha E

Co-Ed Competition:

  • Senior Class of 2013 - My Sweet Sweeting
  • Junior Class of 2014 - Nēnē Hanu ʻAʻala
  • Sophomore Class of 2015 - He Inoa No Kaʻiulani
  • Freshmen Class of 2016 - No Ka Lei Tuberose Ke Aloha

Results [edit]

2013 Song Contest Competition Scores
Competition Class of 2013 Class of 2014 Class of 2015 Class of 2016
Women's 186 177 172 N/A
Men's 181 177 131 N/A
Coed 185 177 173 162
  • Louise Aoe McGregor Award: Cali Kinimaka (Senior Women 2013) and Dezarae Le'i (Sophomore Co-ed 2015)
  • Richard Lyman, Jr. Trophy: Senior Class of 2013
  • New England Mothers' Cup: Senior Women of 2013
  • George Alanson Andrus Cup: Senior Men of 2013
  • Helen Desha Beamer Award: Senior Women of 2013
  • Charles E. King Cup: Senior Class of 2013

Prior Competitions [edit]

Kamehameha Song Contest Statistics [edit]

Class Colors & Historical Data [edit]

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.)[13]

indicates that a class tied for an award with itself, so said award is counted twice.
* indicates a senior sweep that did NOT include the McGregor award.
Table of Song Contest Statistics [14]
Class Color Divisional Awards # of Total Awards Senior Sweep* Notes (All statistics date from 1921)
Women Men Coed
2016 PURPLE 0 0 0 0 /22 Currently freshmen.
2015 GREEN 0 0 0 2 /22 Currently sophomores.
2014 YELLOW 0 0 0 0 /22 Currently juniors.
2013 RED 1 2 2 9 /22 Yes Currently seniors.
2012 PURPLE 1 0 0 3 /22 No
2011 GREEN 1 1 2 8 /22 Yes Most awards received in a single competition (7); Sophomore coed (5th of 5)
2010 ORANGE 3 1 2 14 /22 Yes Most awards received overall (14); Women's sweep (7th of 7); Language three-peat (2nd of 2); Most awards received as sophomores (4), Sophomore coed (4th of 5)
2009 RED 1 2 1 9 /22 No Most awards received as freshmen (3, tied with Class of 1998); Only music three-peat; Freshmen coed (4th of 4)
2008 PINK 0 0 0 3 /22 No No divisional award (first since Class of 1943)
2007 GREEN 0 1 2 9 /22 No Most awards received by a coed (6); Sophomore coed (3rd of 5)
2006 PURPLE 1 1 1 4 /22 No Sophomore coed (2nd of 5)
2005 RED 2 2 0 7 /22 No
2004 GOLDENROD 0 1 0 4 /22 No
2003 PINK 1 1 1 9 /22 No
2002 GRAY 1 1 2 7 /22 No Freshmen coed (3rd of 4); Sophomore men's (5th of 5)
2001 RED 3 1 1 10 /22 Yes Most awards received by a women's (6); Only perfect-scoring song (senior women); Women's sweep (6th of 7, first since Class of 1954)
2000 PURPLE 0 0 1 4 /22 No
1999 GOLDENROD 0 1 0 2 /22 No
1998 GREEN 1 1 2 9 /22 Yes* Most awards received as freshmen (3, tied with Class of 2009); Freshmen coed (2nd of 4)
1997 RED 2 1 1 7 /22 Yes
1996 GRAY 0 1 1 6 /22 No
1995 PURPLE 2 2 1 10 /21 No Most awards received by a men's (5); Sophomore women's (first since Class of 1954)
1994 GREEN 1 1 1 8 /20 No Most awards received as juniors (5)
1993 RED 1 0 0 3 /19 No
1992 GRAY 0 2 1 5 /18 No
1991 PINK 1 0 1 7 /17 No Director sweep (Ho)
1990 GREEN 1 1 1 5 /16 Yes*
1989 RED 1 1 1 5 /15 Yes
1988 PURPLE 1 1 1 3 /14 Yes* Language three-peat (1st of 2)
1987 PINK 1 1 1 5 /14 Yes
1986 GREEN 1 1 1 3 /14 Yes*
1985 RED 2 2 2 8 /14 Yes Junior sweep (2nd of 2); Only class to sweep twice
1984 GOLDENROD 0 2 1 4 /14 No Sophomore men's (4th of 5, first since Class of 1945)
1983 PURPLE 1 0 0 2 /14 No
1982 GREEN 1 2 2 5 /14 Yes*
1981 RED 1 1 1 5 /14 No
1980 GOLDENROD 1 0 1 2 /14 No
1979 PURPLE 1 2 1 5 /14 Yes
1978 GREEN 1 0 2 5 /14 No First freshmen coed (of 4)
1977 RED 2 1 2 5 /14 Yes*
1976 PURPLE 1 2 1 5 /14 No First sophomore coed (of 5)
1975 BLUE 1 0 0 4 /14 No
1974 BLUE 1 2 1 6 /13 No First junior sweep (of 2)

Wins by Grade Level [edit]

Competition Wins by Grade Level [15]
Competition Senior Junior Sophomore Freshman
Women's (since 1922) 61 18 13 N/A
Men's (since 1921) 57 22 5 N/A
Coed (since 1967) 28 11 5 4

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b "93rd Annual Song Contest". Kamehameha Schools. Retrieved 2013-03-22. 
  2. ^ "KS Archives". Kamehameha Schools. Retrieved 2011-01-18. 
  3. ^ "KS Archives". Kamehameha Schools. Retrieved 2011-01-18. 
  4. ^ "2010 Song Contest Program". Kamehameha Schools. Retrieved 2011-01-18. 
  5. ^ Hawaiian Holiday. 1961-03-05 http://kapalama.ksbe.edu/archives/historical/songcontest/1961hist.php |url= missing title (help). Retrieved 2011-01-18. 
  6. ^ a b 2008 Song Contest Program, page 23
  7. ^ "Hoʻokūkū Hīmeni » Judging". Hoʻokūkū Hīmeni. Retrieved 2013-03-22. 
  8. ^ "92nd Annual Song Contest". Kamehameha Schools. Retrieved 2013-03-22. 
  9. ^ "91st Annual Song Contest". Kamehameha Schools. Retrieved 2013-03-22. 
  10. ^ "90th Annual Song Contest". Kamehameha Schools. Retrieved 2013-03-22. 
  11. ^ "89th Annual Song Contest". Kamehameha Schools. Retrieved 2013-03-22. 
  12. ^ "88th Annual Song Contest". Kamehameha Schools. Retrieved 2008-12-14. 
  13. ^ "Hoʻokūkū Hīmeni » Class Colors". Hoʻokūkū Hīmeni. Retrieved 2013-03-22. 
  14. ^ "Hoʻokūkū Hīmeni » Songs by Classes". Hoʻokūkū Hīmeni. Retrieved 2013-03-22. 
  15. ^ "Hoʻokūkū Hīmeni » Records". Hoʻokūkū Hīmeni. Retrieved 2013-03-22. 

External links [edit]