Kamehameha Schools Song Contest
Encyclopedia
The Kamehameha Schools Song Contest is an annual choral music competition between the grades 9-12 graduating classes of the Kamehameha Schools
Kamehameha Schools
Kamehameha Schools , formerly called Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate , is a private co-educational college-preparatory institution that specializes in Native Hawaiian language and cultural education. It is located in Hawaii and operates three campuses: Kapālama , Pukalani , and Keaau...

 Kapālama Campus. The contest is televised live throughout the state of Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...

 on KGMB
KGMB
KGMB is the CBS-affiliated television station for the state of Hawaii that is licensed to Honolulu. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 23 from a transmitter in Palehua....

. It is also webcast
Webcast
A webcast is a media presentation distributed over the Internet using streaming media technology to distribute a single content source to many simultaneous listeners/viewers. A webcast may either be distributed live or on demand...

 live on the school's website and has previously been simulcast
Simulcast
Simulcast, shorthand for "simultaneous broadcast", refers to programs or events broadcast across more than one medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at the same time. For example, Absolute Radio is simulcast on both AM and on satellite radio, and the BBC's Prom concerts are often...

 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.

History

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. Each class from grades 5-9 presented four Hawaiian
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...

 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.

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
Farrington High School
Governor Wallace Rider Farrington High School is a public secondary school located in the Kalihi district of Honolulu on the island of Oahu, Hawaii....

), while the Boys' contest was held on the steps of Bishop Museum
Bishop Museum
The Bishop Museum , is a museum of history and science in the historic Kalihi district of Honolulu on the Hawaiian island of O'ahu...

. 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 Kekūhaupio, the new fieldhouse. 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 hōike, an exhibition of Hawaiian music
Music of Hawaii
The music of Hawaii includes an array of traditional and popular styles, ranging from native Hawaiian folk music to modern rock and hip hop. Hawaii's musical contributions to the music of the United States are out of proportion to the state's small size. Styles like slack-key guitar are well-known...

 and hula
Hula
Hula is a dance form accompanied by chant or song . It was developed in the Hawaiian Islands by the Polynesians who originally settled there. The hula dramatizes or portrays the words of the oli or mele in a visual dance form....

 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
Webcast
A webcast is a media presentation distributed over the Internet using streaming media technology to distribute a single content source to many simultaneous listeners/viewers. A webcast may either be distributed live or on demand...

 live on the school's website. Kamehameha Schools briefly sold audio of the performances on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....

 and DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....

s of the entire program from 2007 to 2009.

Purpose

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." Participation in Song Contest is a graduation requirement for all students at Kamehameha Schools' Kapālama High School.

Format

The current format of Song Contest involves three areas of a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...

 choral competition: men, women, and coeducational. Each grade (9-12) sings a coed piece. Additionally, the sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...

s, juniors
Eleventh grade
Eleventh Grade is the eleventh, and for some countries final, grade of secondary schools. Students are typically 16 or 17 years of age, depending on the country and the students' birthdays.-Brazil:...

, and seniors
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...

 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
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...

 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
Fight song
A fight song is primarily an American and Canadian sports term, referring to a song associated with a team. In both professional and amateur sports, fight songs are a popular way for fans to cheer for their team...

 Imua Kamehameha, Kamehameha Waltz, and Kamehameha March. The latter two songs alternate each year. The hōike, an exhibition of Hawaiian music
Music of Hawaii
The music of Hawaii includes an array of traditional and popular styles, ranging from native Hawaiian folk music to modern rock and hip hop. Hawaii's musical contributions to the music of the United States are out of proportion to the state's small size. Styles like slack-key guitar are well-known...

 and hula
Hula
Hula is a dance form accompanied by chant or song . It was developed in the Hawaiian Islands by the Polynesians who originally settled there. The hula dramatizes or portrays the words of the oli or mele in a visual dance form....

 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
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...

.

List of awards

The following awards are presented after the hōike and are awarded based on the judges' scores.
  • The Louise Aoe 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., Ōlelo 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.

2012 Competition

The 92nd annual Kamehameha Song Contest will be held on March 17, 2012. The theme of the contest will celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Kamehameha Schools.

Most Recent Competition

Song Contest 2011
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 Ao Kuu Puuwai by Moses Naehu, a song talking about a couple and their courtship meetings near Pauoa Valley
Pauoa, Hawaii
Pauoa Valley is an unincorporated town on the island of Oahu in north-central Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States. Pauoa Elementary School is located in this area along with the neighboring schools of Kawananakoa Middle and Roosevelt High School....

. The junior men of 2012 then performed Aloha Kahoolawe, a song recounting the majesty of Kahoolawe
Kahoolawe
Kahoolawe is the smallest of the eight main volcanic islands in the Hawaiian Islands. Kahoolawe is located about seven miles southwest of Maui and also southeast of Lanai, and it is long by wide, with a total land area of . The highest point on Kahoolawe is the crater of Lua Makika at the...

. 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 Oe Iau, a song which speaks of the strong bond between two people in love. The sophomore women of 2013 then performed Kulaiapahia, 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
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...

. 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

2011 Song Contest Competition Scores
Competition Class of 2011 Class of 2012 Class of 2013 Class of 2014
Women's 197 185 169 N/A
Men's 178 176 149 N/A
Coed 201 177 173 177

  • Louise Aoe McGregor Award for Best Director: Miyamoto Wilson (2011 Women)
  • Richard Lyman, Jr. Trophy for Excellence in Hawaiian Language: Class of 2011, Women of 2011
  • New England Mothers' Cup for Best in the Girls Division: Women of 2011
  • George Alanson Andrus Cup for Best in the Boys Division: Men of 2011
  • Helen Desha Beamer Award for Best Musical Performance: Class of 2011
  • Charles E. King Cup for Best in the Co-Ed Division: Class of 2011

Prior Competitions











Class Colors

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.)
: 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 Historic Results
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 Sophomore coed (5th of 5); Most awards received in a single competition (7)
2010 ORANGE 6 14 /22 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 Freshmen coed (4th of 4); Music three-peat
2008 PINK 0 3 /22
2007 GREEN 3 9 /22 Sophomore coed (3rd of 5); Most awards received by a coed (6)
2006 PURPLE 3 4 /22 Sophomore coed (2nd of 5)
2005 RED 4 7 /22
2004 GOLDENROD 1 4 /22
2003 PINK 3 9 /22
2002 GRAY 4 7 /22 Freshmen coed (3rd of 4); Sophomore mens' (5th of 5)
2001 RED 5 10 /22 Womens' sweep (6th of 7, first since Class of 1954); Most awards received by a womens' (6)
2000 PURPLE 1 4 /22
1999 GOLDENROD 1 2 /22
1998 GREEN 4 9 /22 Freshmen coed (2nd of 4)
1997 RED 4 7 /22
1996 GRAY 2 6 /22
1995 PURPLE 5 10 /21 Most awards received by a mens' (5); Sophomore womens' (first since Class of 1954)
1994 GREEN 3 8 /20
1993 RED 1 3 /19
1992 GRAY 3 5 /18
1991 PINK 2 7 /17 First director sweep (of 2; Ho)
1990 GREEN 3 5 /16
1989 RED 3 5 /15
1988 PURPLE 3 3 /14
1987 PINK 3 5 /14
1986 GREEN 3 3 /14
1985 RED 6 8 /14 Junior sweep (2nd of 2); Only class to sweep twice
1984 GOLDENROD 3 4 /14 Sophomore mens' (4th of 5, first since Class of 1945)
1983 PURPLE 1 2 /14
1982 GREEN 5 5 /14
1981 RED 3 5 /14
1980 GOLDENROD 2 2 /14
1979 PURPLE 4 5 /14
1978 GREEN 3 5 /14 First freshmen coed (of 4)
1977 RED 5 5 /14
1976 PURPLE 4 5 /14 First sophomore coed (of 5)
1975 BLUE 1 4 /14
1974 ??? 4 6 /13 First junior sweep (of 2)

External links

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