Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 12, 1 December 1987 — Ainahau O Kaleponi Wins ʻAha Mele [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Ainahau O Kaleponi Wins ʻAha Mele

Ainahau O Kaleponi Hawaiian Civic Club of Orange Cour 'y won first plaee in the 'Aha Mele competition of the 28 th Annual Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs convention Nov. 20 in the T riple Crown Ballroom of the Union Plaza Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas. Only four clubs competed in the annual song contest and two in adjudication. Waimea Hawaiian Civic Club of Hawaii, 1986 winner, finished second this time under first time chorale director Everett Knowles, husband of regular director Nora Knowles who was away on business in Australia.

The other competing clubs were Ahahui O Liliuokalani of Southern California under Moanaala Chang, and Central Maui, directed by Stephanie Crowell Stucky. Ainahau O Kaleponi's director was Jay Mannion, 1949 graduate of Roosevelt High School who is the county court clerk in Westminster, Calif. Asked by Ka Wai Ola O OHA after the contest if he was part Hawaiian, Mannion replied: "Only in the heart."

Mannion, who lives with his family in Tustin, Calif., said this was the fifth year of competition by his club and it is their first triumph. "We finished second a eouple of times and third onee but this is the first time on top for us. Our group worked hard and we are committed to this contest," he declared.

The contest song was "Pehea Ho'i Au" by Charles E. King with arrangements by Randie Fong of the music department at the Kamehameha Schools. Chairing the competition onee more was Nola Nahulu, also a member of the Kamehameha faculty and chorale director of the Pearl Harbor Hawaiian Civic Club whieh competed in the adjudication category with the Queen Emma club led by Debbie Kelsey. Haunani Apoliona, director of Alu Like O'ahu Island Center, was mistress of ceremonies. Kaleponi was awarded the Hawaiian Air Lines trophy while Waimea got the Governor John David Waihee III award. Both presentations were made by AOHCC President Benson W.K. Lee Sr.

This is the winning 'Aha Mele group from Ainahau O Kaleponi doing an encore following the competition. Award ean be seen directly in front of Director Jay Mannion.

Jay Mannion gets hug from Nola Nahulu.