17th Annual Maui Youth Ukulele Contest Saturday

By Vanessa Wolf

Photo courtesy Wikipedia.

Outfit your little ukulele maestro in his or her aloha finest and get them over to Ka’anapali on Saturday morning.

The Hula Grill’s 17th Annual Maui Youth Ukulele Contest will showcase some of the island’s top amateur ukulele players and vocalists.

Entrants compete for great prizes and bragging rights.

Children from kindergarten through senior year of high school can participate in three solo divisions by school grade.

Each contestant must be a resident of Maui County (including Lanai and Molokai) and aloha attire is required.

All contestants will be judged on a brief introduction, ukulele performances (strumming, rhythm and picking), singing and stage presence, off stage attitude, originality and keeping within the six minute time limit. No electrical effect pedals or distortion boxes are allowed.

There is also a group division with a maximum of four contestants.

You must have at least one ukulele player in groups of two and two ukulele players in groups of three or four.

Groups may feature a mix of grade levels and Solo Division contestants may also enter in the Group Division.

“It’s hard to believe we’re in our 17th year hosting the Maui Youth Ukulele Contest,” said General Manager Orrin Cross. “Music is such a large part of Hawaii’s local culture and we’re proud to carry on this tradition with Maui’s youth.”

Check-in begins at 8:15 a.m. and will be followed by a keiki ukulele workshop with Uncle Kimo Hussey at 8:45 a.m.

The competition itself starts at 9:30 a.m.

There is a $15 entry fee for contestants which includes breakfast, lunch and a commemorative shirt.

Competitors should fill out an entry form or can call Hula Grill Ka’anapali at (808) 667-6636 for more information.

Have an idea for a fun, funny or thought-provoking story or topic? Get in touch: we want to hear from you. – Vanessa (@mauinow.com)