Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 3, Number 12, 1 December 1986 — Hana Captures Keiki School Song Competition [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hana Captures Keiki School Song Competition

Takes Home Perpetual Trophy

Predominantly Hawaiian Hana Elementary School walked off with first plaee in two of the three grade categories and scored the most overall points to grab a leg on the perpetual trophy during the Keiki Song Contest for Maui private and public schools on Nov. 7 before a packed house in the Royal Lahaina Resort Ali'i Room during the 14th Annual Na Mele O Maui competition. Eighteen schools with a combined entry total of 900 students from kindergarten through eighth grade were entered in this year's competition. Na Mele O Maui General Chairman Dick Bacon, who served his fifth successive year in that capacity, reported that 29 applieations were received but there had to be a cutoff because of space limitations and other logistic matters.

lt was the first time that the Keiki Song Contest was held indoors, directly across from its former location at the Lahaina Tennis Stadium. The move proved a good one as more than 850 spectators stuck around for a change to watch, listen and get "ehieken skin" over the heart-warming performances of these children. Adding to the overflow crowd were many tourists who remarked to Ka Wai Ola O OHA how mueh they enjoyed the keikis and their beautiful singing. They added that they wouldn't have missed this event for the world and were ready to also enjoy the Emma Farden Sharpe Hula Festival the following night. Office of Hawaiian Affairs Maui Trustee-elect Manu Kahaialii, who serves on the nonprofit organization's standing committee with several other volunteer eommunity people, is the individual given credit for the birth of the Keiki Song Contest. It was his idea to incorporate it as part of the festival.

Eaeh of the three categories sang selected contest songs honoring Hawaiian composers and a ehoiee number of their own selection. The contest songs were: Grades kindergarten to 2, "Tutu" by Queen Liiiuokalani; Grades 3-5, "Aioha Lahaina" by Katherine Maunakea of Nanakuli; and "Mo'olele" for Grades 6-8 by Ned Lindsey of Maui.

Kamehameha III Elementary School of Lahaina was the first plaee winner in the Grades K-2 category. Hana did not have an entry in this division. All those placing first through sixth won cash awards with first plaee winners getting $250. A total of $2,500 was awarded to the 18 schools. Hana's Grades 3-5 entry, under leaders Neal Honda and Cassandra Cline, sang "Na Ho'okupu Na Pauahi" as its ehoiee song and the Grade 6 entry in the 6-8 eompetition, under the direction of Linda Estrella, sang "Ha'a Hula."

The winning Hana sixth graders were the same students who won first plaee two years ago as fourth graders. They did not enter last year's festival. Also working with the Hana students is Kupuna Josephine Helekahi. The school principal is Carole Paulsen. Both were on hand to enjoy the happy moments.

The handsome perpetual trophy, whieh must be won three straight years to permanently retire it, went to Lahaina Intermediate School in 1985. Lahaina finished sixth this time around. Noted island entertainers were the judges. They included Keola Beamer, Shaunne Gallipeau and George Paoa. Beamer and Audrey Meyers headline the "Here's Hawaii" show at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel while Paoa

has been a longtime Maui headliner at several hotels. Gallipeau of Pearl City, who entertains at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, was pinch-hitting for the vacationing Meyers.

Complete contest results: Grades K-2 — 1. Kamehameha III, 2. Kahului, 3. Kula, 4. Sacred Hearts, 5. Makawao, 6. Wailuku. Grades 3-5 — 1. Hana, 2. Kihei, 3. Kahului, 4. Makawao, 5. Keanae, 6. Kamehameha III. Grades 6-8 — 1. Hana, 2. Lihikai, 3. Iao, 4. Kahului, 5. Sacred Hearts, 6. Lahaina. Eleanor Sommerville was chairwoman of the song competition and Kahaialii turned in another smooth performance as master of ceremonies.

These jubilant Hana SchooI sixth graders proudly display the perpetual trophy awarded the winning school in the Na Mele O Maui Keiki Song Competition.

Judges for the Keiki Song Competition are shown here during a break. From left they are entertainers Keola Beamer, Shaunne Gallipeau and George Paoa.

This is what part of the crowd looked like at the Na Mele O Maui Keiki Song Competition. Photo shows only one section of the Ali'i Room.