Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 29, Number 4, 1 April 2012 — Hoʻomaikaʻi hoʻōla lāhui [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hoʻomaikaʻi hoʻōla lāhui

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By Francine Murray The audience roared with applause at the announcement, "umi kūmākahi," the juniors, Class of 2013, won the overall Kamehameha Schools combined class award, the Charles E. King Cup at the 92nd annual Kamehameha Schools Song Contest on March 16. The Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-win-ning group, Kūpaoa - comprised of Llhau and Kellen Paik, composed "He Aloha Ka'upulehu," the winning song, especially for the junior class. "In the span of less than 10 years they have transformed this plaee (Ka'upulehu)," Llhau said of the sacred wahi pana, whieh has undergone reforestation. The planting of seeds and nourishing growth on the school's property linked well to its mission and was the song's inspiration. "To see all of that work that everyone as a community has put into this land, directly into the ground, and to give life and breath of life into this land again, that's really inspiring to me," she said. This year marks the 125th anniversary of

the school and in honor of its founder, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the evening's Hō'ike - through speech, song and dance - explored the mana'o of the princess as she, the last direct descendant of King Kamehameha the Great, crafted her will. Pauahi witnessed the steady demise of her people and grew concemed that they may not be able to compete in the world economy, let alone their homeland. "She saw that she needed to not take care of a need or their needs, but she had to give them the tools so that they could take care of themselves, and she saw education," said Miehael Chun, president and headmaster of the Kapālama campus. "So she took everything in her estate and gave it to Bishop Estate to create the schools, whieh later heeame Kamehameha Schools." "Strive to be the very best," said Chun. "It may not seem Hawaiian, but it is a very Hawaiian thing to do." The vast and diverse lands of the estate now total more than 360,000 acres, whieh its stewards have nurtured in diverse ways, not only to produce revenue for the opera-

tions of the schools, but 'āina momona, fertile lands rich in both resources and culture. Ten of these parcels were the inspira

tion for new mele - songs, written by prestigious loeal composers including Carlos Andrade, Manu Boyd, Nalani Choy and Randie Kamuela Long, Keola Donaghy and Kenneth Makuakāne, Kaiponohea Hale, Kamakāne Hopkins, Keawe and Tracie Lopes, Ku'ualohanui Kauli'a and Ke'ala Kawn, Rev. Dennis Kamakahi, Līhau and Kellen Paik, for this contest during the eommemorative anniversary. Lor best musical performance, the Helen Desha Beamer Award went to the Class of 20 12, seniors coed, who performed "Kaka'ako Ku'u 'Āina Aloha," by Kaiponohea Hale and arranged by Les Ceballos. Lor Hawaiian language, the 'Ōlelo Makua-

h i n e Richard Lyman Jr. Trophy winners

were pa'i ā pa'i - tied, between the Class of 2012, senior women and the Class of 2013, junior coed. The boys' award, the George Alanson Andrus Cup, went to the Class of 2013, junior men. The girls' award, the New England Mothers' Cup, went the Class of 2012, senior women. And for leadership and assisting others the outstanding student director, the Louise Aoe McGregor Award winner was Dezarae Le'i, Class of 2015, freshman coed. ■

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The Class of 2013 erupted in elahon upon winning the overall combined class award at the Kamehameha Song Contest. - Photos: Pmneine Murray