Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 2, Number 12, 1 December 1985 — California Club Places First in AOHCC ʻAha Mele on Maui [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

California Club Places First in AOHCC ʻAha Mele on Maui

'Ahahui O Lili'uokalani Hawaiian Civic of Southern California, chartered on Feb. 4, 1977, won first plaee in the 'Aha Mele or song contest of the 26th annual State Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs convention held Nov. 8 at the Maui Intercontinental Hotel in Wailea. Waimea of the Big Island was second and Queen Emma placed third. The contest song was Pa'oakalani with eaeh of the five competing clubs also having a ehoiee number. The Lili'uokalani club was led by chorale director Elizabeth Moanaala Chang, a 1955 graduate of Kaimuki High School who also attended BrighamYoung University Hawaii campus before graduating from Long Beach City College. She is a musician, fashion designer, orchestra director and beauty pageant coordinator. Her club's ehoiee song was Pua Malihini by Helen Desha Beamer and arranged by Robert Cazimero. The club president is Sam Rosero. Waimea's choral director is Nora Knowles, owner of Big Island Computer Center whose musical background was gained through" her East coast music education and being involved in the field for several years. The club's ehoiee s'ong was Waika, composed and arranged by the late Johnny Spcncer.

Debbie Kelsey, choir director at University High School, also serves as chora! director for the Queen Emma club. She is a 1967 graduate of Roosevelt High School and earned a degree in secondary education from the University of Hawaii in 1983. The club's ehoiee song was Roselani by W.J. Coelho and arranged by Leila Kiaha. Queen Emma's third plaee finish is noteworthy because the club had the smallest number of choral members — 14 women and four men — and yet their voices blended well enough to win an award. Only five clubs competed in this year's contest, making it one of the smallest fields at the annual convention. The other two clubs were Ainahau O Kaleponi of Orange County, Calif., and Central Maui. Choral diretors were H. Jay Mannion and Stephanie Starkey, respectively. Pearl Harbor Hawaiian Civic Club competed against itself in the adjudication division, singing the contest song and a ehoiee selection. The club's choral director is Nola Nahulu who also served as the 'Aha Mele director. Eaeh choral director was presented with a participation koa plaque by President Benson Lee.

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Members of the Ahahui O Lili'uokalani Hawaiian Civic ,Club of Gardena, Calif., won first plaee in 'Aha Mele on Maui. Chorale director is Elizabeth Moanaala Chang.