Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 1, Number 10, 1 Kekemapa 1984 — King Kamehameha Club Captures ʻAha Mele [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

King Kamehameha Club Captures ʻAha Mele

The King Kamehameha Hawaiian Civic Club of Oahu emerged as first plaee winner in the "competition" category of the annual 'Aha Mele of the 25th silver anniversary convention of the State Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs held Nov. 16 at Hilo's AfookChinen Civic Center. Two California clubs — Ainahau 'O Kaleponi of Orange County and Ahahui 'O Lili'uokalani of Los Angeles— were tied for second. The contest song was a medley of Kuhio Bay and Akaka Falls as arranged by Randie K. Fong, a graduate of The Kamehameha Schools and Whitworth College in Spokane, Wash. Fong, Aaron Mahi, Haunani Apoliona, Kalena Silva and Cecilia Shinoda were the contest judges. Nola A. Nahulu, Pearl Harbor, and Suzanne Kaupu, Waikiki, co-chaired the song contest. A total of five clubs appeared in the "competition" category and two in the division labeled "adjudication." King Kamehameha and the two California clubs participated in the first category (sung a eappella). Leila Hohu Kiaha was King Kamehameha's choral director and Elizabeth MoanaChangand H. Jay Mannion led the Lili'uokalani and Kaleponi groups, respectively. "Competition" category clubs vied against eaeh other while the two "adjudicating" clubs— Queen Emma and Pearl Harbor— in essence competed with themselves and their own performances. Judges based their evaluations on intonation; overall effect ofstage presence, posture, delivery; musicianship; technique; balanceand blend; beauty oftone; and Hawaiian diction and interpretation. One judge was assigned to overall (judging the choral and Hawaiian); two judged the choral only; and two handled the Hawaiian Ianguage only. Mrs. Kiaha was presented with the Hawaiian Airlines award by convention administrator and HAL representative Hannie Anderson while the two California clubs shared the Gov. George R. Ariyoshi monkeypod bowl presented by State President Benson Lee. Central Maui and Waimea of the Big Island were the other song contest entries. Coincidentally. "adjudication" participant Pearl Harbor amassed the same point totals to actual!y tie King Kamehameha. As noted earlier, however, the two groups competed in different categories.

Leila Hohu Kiaha directs winning King Kamehameha club in songfest.

Benson Lee presents monkey pod bowl to second plaee co-winning directors Elizabeth Moana Chang of the Ahahui 'O I.ili'uokalani of I,os Angeles and H. Jav Mannion of Ahahui 'O Kaleponi of Orange County.