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46th Annual Nā Mele O Maui Song & Art Competition - Kaanapali Resort
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11 Dec 46th Annual Nā Mele O Maui Song & Art Competition

Posted at 12:25h in Cultural, Latest News, Signature Events by
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The 46th Annual Nā Mele O Maui Song & Art Competition was held Dec. 10, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm, at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.  Sponsored by Kāʻanapali Beach Resort Association, Maui’s only county wide Hawaiian song and art competition is dedicated to cultural preservation and perpetuation of Hawaiian mele, language and arts.

 

New this year, event organizers present two themes: One for Contest Songs and One for Choice Songs. The theme for the Contest Songs is “Mele Aloha ‘Aina”, patriotic songs about our beloved Hawai’i nei.  Each division was assigned a song.  See below. The second theme was “Lei Nāhonoapiilani”, which honors songs of West Maui. A new songbook was released Nov. 3, with a CD featuring the songs for this theme. Mele are both old and new. 
 Teachers were asked to choose, as their Choice Song, songs from this collection. Artwork will be inspired by the events, stories and places depicted in songs by both themes.

“We were excited to present two themes this year,” said Shelley Kekuna, “Ilima Sponsor and Vice President / Board of Director, Na Mele O Maui. “Every class did an amazing job, congratulations everyone – students, teachers, musicians, and parents.”

Classes from kindergarten to grade twelve will 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 song about West Maui a selected by participating classes to reflect the theme.

2019 Contest Songs – Mele Aloha ‘Aina:

  • K-1 
                 ’Oiwi’E
  • 2-3 
                 Kana’i Aupuni
  • 4-5 
                  Kulaiwi
  • 6-8 
                 Mālama Mau Hawai’i
  • 9-12 
                Ku Ha’aheo, E Ku’u Hawai’i

Classroom choirs are judged on musical competence, language proficiency and interpretation, stage presence, and all-around enthusiasm. Prizes are awarded based on overall scores within grade level divisions. A combination of scores for the two songs determines the winner in each grade division and the overall winner of the entire competition.

Emcee was Ekela Kaniaupio Crozier. Judges were Keola Donaghy, Overall Judge, Luana Kawaʻa, Language Judge, and Robin Kealiinohomoku-Kerr, Music Judge.

The 2019 Art Competition finalists were recognized. The winning artwork was on display. Art competition judges include Charlene Kaʻuhane, president, Na Mele O Maui, Steve Brinkman, photographer,  and Todd Campbell, woodcarver.

Nā Mele O Maui continues through generous community support from Kā‘anapali Beach Resort Association, AKAKŪ, Maui Arts & Cultural Center, The EACH Foundation, Kamehameha Schools Alumni Association – Maui Region and Mele Ukulele.

Many of Maui’s best entertainers, vocalists, musicians, kumu hula, and hālau hula present their collective aloha for the wahi pana of West Maui, through mele, hula, and storytelling. Featuring: Josh Tatofi, Nāpua Greig-Nakasone, Kamaka Kukona, ʻIliahi and Haunani Paredes, Uluwehi Guerrero, Cody Pueo Pata, Hoʻomanawanui Apo, Ikaika Blackburn, Trustee Hulu Lindsey, Mihana Souza, The keiki of Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi, Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka o Uka, Hālau o Ka Hanu Lehua, and Hālau Hula Kauluokalā.

Established in 1972 for the youth of Maui County, Nā Mele O Maui strives to foster education and enlightenment of Hawaiiʻs heritage. In 2002, the event was honored with the prestigious Kahili Award in the Hawai`i Visitors & Convention Bureau’s “Keep It Hawai‘i” annual awards program. Nā Mele O Maui helps instill pride in our youth by providing a rare opportunity for many of them to perform in public and compete for excellence with the support of the community. For more information, call Kā‘anapali Beach Resort Association, at 808-661-3271 or visit www.kaanapaliresort.com

 

2019 SONG COMPETITION WINNERS:

 

Overall Winner: Kamehameha Schools Maui (Grades 4-5)

  • Teachers: Clark Tuitele

 

Language Winner: Ke Kula Kaiapuni o Maui ma Pā‘ia (Grades 2-3)

  • Teachers: Kalei Kaniaupio-Crozier, Kulia Kaluau, Kah‘iola Harders, Ke‘ala Kaiwi, and Kai Mana Nakoa

 

Division Winners: 

  • Division 1 (Grades K – 1) Competition Song: ‘Oiwi E
    • 1st place – Kula Kaiapuni O Pā‘ia
      • Teachers: Kaleikaumaka Nauka and Kamaka‘eu Williams
      • Choice Song: Lele I Moku‘ula
    • 2nd Place – Emmanuel Lutheran 
      • Teachers: Andrea Kaio and Maile Sjostrand
      • Choice Song: Mauna Kahālāwai
  • Division 2  (Grades 2-3) Competition Song: Ka Na‘i Aupuni
    • 1st place – Ke Kula Kaiapuni o Maui ma Pā‘ia
      • Teachers: Kalei Kaniaupio-Crozier, Kulia Kaluau, Kaha‘iola Harders, Ke‘ala Kaiwi, and Kai Mana Nakoa
      • Choice Song: Mauna Kahālāwai
    • 2nd place – Ke Kula Ha‘aha‘a e Kamehameha I Maui
      • Teachers: ‘Alohi Delima
      • Choice Song: He Inoa no Ka‘iulani Leleiohoku
  • Division 3 (Grades 4 – 5) Competition Song: Kulāiwi
    • 1st place – Kamehameha Schools Maui
      • Teacher: Clark Tuitele
      • Choice Song: Aia Lihau Ko Lei Nani
    • 2nd place – Ke Kula Kaiapuni o Maui ma Pā‘ia
      • Teachers: Leinā‘ala Kuloloio Vedder and Kalei Oliver
      • Choice Song: Ho‘ona‘auao
  • Division 4 (Grades 6 – 8) Competition Song: Mālama Mau Hawaii
    • 1st place – Kamehameha Schools Maui
      • Teachers: Eva Palikiko, Kanani Franco, No‘eau Kalima, Kui Gapero
      • Choice Song: Lei Nāhonoapiilani
    • 2nd place – Ke Kula Kaiapuni ‘O Lahaina
      • Teachers: Kanoelani Steward and Kekaialoha Keahi
      • Choice Song: Mahalo Lahaina
  • ‘Opio Division  (Grades 9 – 12) Competition Song: E Ku‘u Hawaii
    • 1st place – 
      • Teachers: Dale Nitta, Kalei ‘A‘arona, Clark Tuitele
      • Choice Song: Nā Ali‘i Puolani
    • 2nd place – Lahainaluna High School 
      • Teachers: Ilima Greig-Hong, Lori Gomez-Karinen, Pomaika‘i Krueger
      • Choice Song: Hālona

 

2019 ART COMPETITION WINNERS:

 

Two Dimensional Art

  • 1st Place – Skylar Masuda (12th grade); H.P. Baldwin High School; Instructor – Janet Sato
  • 2nd Place – Schuyler Barcoma-Suyat (11th grade); Maui High School; Instructor – ?
  • 3rd Place (tie) – Kyla Mahinay (12th grade); H.P. Baldwin High School; Instructor – Janet Sato
  • 3rd Place (tie) – Malia Kaiahua-Sato; H.P. Baldwin High School; Instructor – Roselani Aiwohi
  • Honorable Mention – Owen Siminiski; H.P. Baldwin High School; Instructor – Roselani Aiwohi

 

Three Dimensional Art

  • 1st Place – Teija Tuitele (11th grade); Kamehameha Schools Maui; Instructor – Lori Guntzel
  • 2nd Place – Ka‘ililau Pu‘u (11th grade); Kamehameha Schools Maui; Instructor – Lori Guntzel

 

OVERALL WINNER

  • 1st Place – Skylar Masuda (12th grade); H.P. Baldwin High School; Instructor – Janet Sato

 

Na Mele O Maui sponsors include Ka’anapali Beach Resort Association, EACH Foundation, Maui Arts & Cultural Center, Kamehameha Schools Alumni Association – Maui Region, Maui Arts & Cultural Center, Mele Ukulele, and Akaku.

 

Photo Captions:

  • Photo #1 – Grades 4-5: 1st place – Kamehameha Schools Maui, (l-r) Judaio Banaay, Kumu Clarke Tuitele
  • Photo #2 – Grades 4-5: 2nd place – Ke Kula Kaiapuni o Maui ma Pā‘ia, (l-r) Kanaka‘aukai Phillips, Kanoa Kuailani, Kumu Kaliko Kaauamo

 

Thank you. 

Call 385-3530 if you need anything. 

Thanks, Charlene