May 1, 2026
The 106th Kamehameha Schools Song Contest saw the Class of 2027 take top honors as Kapālama haumāna filled the Neal S. Blaisdell Center on Friday night.
This year’s contest centered on the theme “Pauahi Nona Ka Lei: Songs Honoring Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop,” celebrating the life and enduring legacy of the founder of Kamehameha Schools. The evening marked a rare moment in Song Contest history, with the program dedicated entirely to Ke Aliʻi Pauahi. Each class took the stage to perform original mele, voices rising in harmony before a packed arena and thousands more watching through the annual broadcast.
From student composers and directors to the hundreds of classmates who took the stage, months of preparation led to the night’s performances. Following an unexpected weather postponement, their collective effort came together in a moving evening of mele reflecting the Hawaiian Kingdom that shaped Pauahi and the life she dedicated to serving her people.
Hoʻomaikaʻi!
Louise Aoe McGregor Award
Outstanding Student Director
Callie Onishi, Sophomore Co-ed
Mikaela Freitas, Junior Women
Richard Lyman, Jr. Trophy
‘Ōlelo Makuahine Award for outstanding use of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi
Kaiolohia Suliven, Junior Co-ed
George Alanson Andrus Cup
Boys’ Competition Award
Mataio Kanoho, Junior Men
New England Mothers’ Cup
Girls’ Competition Award
Mikaela Freitas, Junior Women
Helen Desha Beamer Award
Best Musical Performance
Mikaela Freitas, Junior Women
Charles Edward King Cup
Combined Class Award
Kaiolohia Suliven, Junior Co-ed
For many haumāna, the night marks a defining moment of their time at Kamehameha Schools. Standing next to their peers to celebrate their identity in a rich school tradition, they raised their voices in honor of Pauahi and the kuleana her legacy carries for the generations to come.
If you missed it, Hawaii News Now will rebroadcast the Song Contest on Wednesday, May 20 at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 23 at 6:30 p.m. on KHNL.