Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 12, 1 Kekemapa 1987 — Second Consecutive All-Winning Appearance [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Second Consecutive All-Winning Appearance

Hana Sweeps Maui School Keiki Song Competition

By Kenny Haina, Editor Ka Wai Ola O OHA Little Hana School's sixth graders, whieh traveled the farthest to get to Kaanapali, won first plaee in their Grade 6-8 division and took overall honors to sweep the 15th Annual Keiki School Song Competition Nov. 20 at the Westin Maui ballroom.

More than 2,000 people, many of them visitors who marveled at the performances of the competing ehildren, tried to get vantage views of the contest every whieh way they could. They filled every available space and then lined up against the walls and doorways throughout the three and one-half hour program. So packed was the room that Master of Ceremonies Manu Kahaiali'i periodically had to remind the crowd to leave the exit ways clear to conform to fire regulations. Kahaiali'i, who is the Maui Trustee for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Betsy Hinau are two of the original founders of the song competition. Hinau has been with it for 13 of the 15 years while Kahaiali'i also had interrupted service. The song contest, however, has been dear to the hearts of the two Hawaiians.

More than 600 of Maui s school chudren from kindergarten through eighth grade lifted their voices in harmony to kiek off what is labeled as the signature event of Na Mele O Maui whieh is held annually to fulfill a special need — to perpetuate and preserve the culture that is Hawaii's own through the music and dance shared with generations of families and friends. This year's song contest theme was "Na Ali'i Haku Mele" whieh spotlighted such royal composers as Queen Lydia Lili'uokalani, Princess Miriam Likelike and King David Kalakaua. The all-winning Hana sixth graders also dominated the competition last year while competing in the Grades 3-5 division. Linda Estrella, who teaches the sixth grade at Hana, again trained the students with the able assistance and advice of Kupuna Josephine Helekahi. This year's Hana entry in the 3-5 category finished in third plaee.

By winning over all honors, Hana onee more gets its name on the big Na Mele O Maui revolving trophy. A special category award this year was a prized ukulele from Kamaka Ukulele of Honolulu. It was won by Kahului School's second graders. San Kamaka Jr. and his wife, Jerry, had an exhibit of their instruments in the ballroom's lobby area. It was well-received and brought a steady stream of viewers. The Kamakas also were busy handling a steady flow of questions and inquiries.

Hinau, an entertainer in her own right who is mistress of ceremonies for the Sheraton Maui luaus, onee more chaired the song contest. She was again moved by the performances, observing that competition is getting keener every year. "Look at these second graders. Their voices sound so ripe, so rich already," she exclaimed. "They are just gorgeous." "These children are so beautiful. They are our only natural resource. I think this is so absolutely wonderful," Hinau concluded.

The Westin Maui also played a big part in the success of the contest. In addition to making its ballroom available, they set up a large buffet of giant hot dogs, ehili, rice, mixed fruit, extra large cookies, vegetables, milk and juice. It was a class effort by the Westin Maui staff. One waitress later observed how the help may have enjoyed the work more than the keikis. "It was such a delight watching them all wide-eyed in plush surround-

ings and being waited on. We really had a lot of fun," she remarked. Judges for the song contest were noted Maui entertainer Bessie DeMello; OHA Community Resource Specialist Stanley H. Ki'ope Raymond II; and former OHA CRS Georoina Shito.

In addition to the prize songs, all schools had a ehoiee selection. Results, including the prize songs: K-2 Competition He Inoa No Ka'iulani 1. Kahului Grade 2. 2. Kula Grade 2. 3. Kamehameha III Grade 1. 4. Sacred Hearts Kindergarten. 5. Kahului Kindergarten.

3-5 Competition Ainahau 1. Kihei Grade 4. 2. Lihikai Grade 5 and Makawao Grades 3, 4, 5 (tie). 3. Hana Grade 5. 4. Kahului Grade 3. 5. Kamehameha III Grade 3. 6. St. Anthony Grade 3.

6-8 Competition E Nihi Kahele 1. Hana Grade 6. 2. Kahului Grades 7, 8. 3. Iao Grade 8. 4. Sacred Hearts 7, 8 and Lahaina Intermediate Grades 6, 7, 8 (tie). All winners received monetary awards broken down as follows: lst, $200; 2nd, $150; 3rd, $125; 4th, $100; 5th and 6th, $75.

Kindergarteners from Sacred Hearts School lift their young voices in song.

This is the winning Hana School sixth graders whieh took overall honors.

John Karl, president of the sponsoring Kaanapaii Beach Operators Association, left, and Office of Hawaiian Affairs Maui T rustee Manu Kahaiali'i, who is the perennial master of ceremonies for the Na Mele O Maui Keiki Song Competition, hold up revolving trophy. A part of the Hana School sixth graders applaud move at left while teacher Linda Estrella and KBOA Secretary Sue Simon to Kahaiali'i's left admire trophy.

Charles and Nina Maxwell's boys from their Pukalani halau dance "Boy from Laupahoehoe."