42nd Annual Nā Mele O Maui 2015 Results

Kamehameha Schools Maui ʻŌpio Division (Grades 9-12) took top honors at the 42nd Annual Nā Mele O Maui Song Competition held on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2015, at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.  Capturing the highest score to win the Overall Award in addition to the Hawaiian Language Award and first place in the ʻOpio Division, the 9-12 grade Kamehameha Schools Maui students sang the division song, Ka Lehua ʻUla and their choice song, Waika.

Nā Mele O Maui 2015: Song Competition Results

Overall Winner: Kamehameha Schools Maui ʻOpio Division 9-12
Competition Song: Ka Lehua ʻUla
Choice Song: Waika
Teachers: Dale Nitta and Kalei ʻAʻarona-Lorenzo

Hawaiian Language Winner – Kamehameha Schools Maui ʻOpio Division 9-12
Competition Song: Ka Lehua ʻUla
Choice Song: Waika
Teachers: Dale Nitta and Kalei ʻAʻarona-Lorenzo

Division I (Grades K-1) Contest Song – He Wahine Uʻi

1st Place: Emmanuel Lutheran. Andrea Kaio. Old Plantation

2nd Place:  Pukalani Elementary. Debbie Hisashima. ʻUlupalakua

Division II (Grades 2-3) Contest Song – Nā Pua Lei ʻIlima

1st: Princess Nahiʻenaʻena. Lori Kaufman. Lei ʻOhu

2rd Place: Kahului Elementary.  Koren Sim & Many Kaya. Lei Hinahina

Division III (Grades 4-5) Contest Song – Kilakila O Maui

1st Place: Kamehameha Maui. Dane Lum Ho. Kīpahulu

2nd Place: Princess Nahiʻenaʻena. Sham Vierra & Kalele Kekauoha-Schultz. He Nani Mokihana

Division IV (Grades 6-8) Contest Song – Aloha Kauaʻi

1st Place: Kamehameha Schools Maui. Leimamo Nitta. Kauaʻi Beauty

‘Opio Division (Grades 9-12) Contest Song – Ka Lehua ʻUla

1st: Kamehameha Maui. Dale Nitta & Kalei ʻAʻarona-Lorenzo. Waika

Nā Mele O Maui 2015: Art Competition Results

Best of Show: Gunnar Turnball, Baldwin High School (Senior) / $100

Two-Dimensional Artwork / Division I – Grades 9 and 10

First Place – $100
Kerisyn Gilbert
Division I, Grade 9
Kamehameha Schools Maui
Teacher: Angie Abe

Second Place – $75
Kyana Nagasato
Division I, Grade 10
Kamehameha Schools Maui
Teacher: Angie Abe

Third Place – $50
Puili Villanueva
Division I, Grade 9
Kamehameha Schools Maui
Teacher: Angie Abe

Two-Dimensional Artwork / Division II – Grades 11 and 12

First Place – $100
Oriana Buika
Ephemeral Allure, Lasting Sentiment
Acrylic paint on wood
Senior, Baldwin High School
Teacher: Janet Sato

Second Place – $75
Sabrina Nassar
Pele’s Revenge
Mixed Media
Senior, Baldwin High School
Teacher: Janet Sato

Third Place – $50
Ashlynn Lauer
Nā Wahine
Watercolor
Senior, Baldwin High School
Teacher: Janet Sato

Three-Dimensional Artwork / Division II – Grades 11 and 12

First Place – $100
Gunnar Turnball
Burgeon
Ohia Wood
Senior, Baldwin High School
Teacher: Janet Sato

Second Place – $75
Kanilea Nomura
Silversword
Junior, Kamehameha Schools Maui
Teachers: Angie Abe

Third Place – $50
Haleigh Berko
Lahainaluna High School
Teacher: Jennifer Valenzuela

Sponsored by Kāʻanapali Beach Resort, Maui’s only county wide Hawaiian song and art competition is dedicated to cultural preservation and perpetuation of Hawaiian mele, language and arts.

“It was fabulous, wonderful to listen to, a joy to see, and I commend all the adults that support the children,” said Hōkūlani Holt, overall judge. “It (Nā Mele O Maui and singing Hawaiian songs) is who we are.”

“It was beautiful to hear the language of our kupuna being sung by the next generation,” said Pōmaikaʻi Krueger, language judge.

“They came very well prepared,” said Reiko NāLei Fukino, music judge. “Having judged for many years I was really surprised by the students in the K-1 Division. They were strong, they did really well, it was a great improvement.”

“Nā Mele O Maui offers Maui keiki an opportunity to learn different mele, as well as proper pronunciation of Hawaiian language in song, Hawaiian culture and they become more self confident too,” said Charlene Kaʻuhane, president, Nā Mele O Maui.

Classes from kindergarten to grade twelve participate in the song competition. Each class is required to perform two songs in Hawaiian. The first is the Contest Song chosen by the committee to fit the theme; there is a different song for each grade division. The second song is a Choice Song selected by participating classes to reflect the theme.

Classroom choirs are judged on musical competence, language proficiency and interpretation, stage presence, and all-around enthusiasm.

Prizes were awarded based on overall scores within grade level divisions. A combination of scores for the two songs determined the winner in each grade division and the overall winner of the entire competition.

Winning artwork by Maui High School students was presented and student artists were given cash prizes as part of the event. Art by Gunnar Turnball, senior, Baldwin High School was selected Best of Show and First Place in the Division II, Two-Dimensional Art category for the 2015 Nā Mele O Maui Student Art Competition.

Nā Mele O Maui continues through generous community support from the Kā‘anapali Beach Resort Association, AKAKŪ Maui Media, Kamehameha Schools Alumni Association – Maui Region, Mele ʻUkulele, and the many volunteers.

Akakū will air the 42nd Annual Nā Mele O Maui Song Competition on Christmas Day.

Kahului Elementary at Nā Mele O Maui 2015.

Kamehameha ʻŌpio Division.

Kamehameha 4-5.

Pōmaikaiʻi Elementary School, grades 4-5 perform with sign language.

Pōmaikaiʻi Elementary School, grades 4-5 perform with sign language.

Emmanuel Lutheran Division III, grades 4-5.

Pomaikaʻi Krueger, Hokūlani Holt, and Reiko Fukino and Daryl Fujiwara flank representatives from Kamehameha Schools Maui ʻOpio Division / Grades 9-12, Hawaiian Language, Overall and ʻOpio Division Winners. Photo credit: Steve Brinkman Photography