Mar. 10, 2023

The junior class took four of the seven awards at the 103rd annual Kamehameha Schools song contest Friday night at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center.

The theme of this year’s event was: Nā Mele Paniolo: Songs of the Hawaiian Cowboy.

The junior combined class earned top honors winning the New England Mothers Cup for outstanding performance in the girls division, the Charles E. King Cup, the combined class competition, and the Helen Desha Beamer outstanding musical performance. Their final award was the Louise Aoe McGregor Award (outstanding student director), Taitea Sunaoka.

The senior men won the George Alanson Andrus Cup (outstanding performance in the boys division) and the ‘Ōlelo Makuahine (Mother Tongue) Award (outstanding use of the Hawaiian language).

In addition along with Sunaoka, freshmen co-ed director Brennan Agcaoili also earned the award.

Encore presentations of the preshow and competition will take place on Saturday, March 18 at 2 p.m. on KHNL and on Friday, March 24, at 7 p.m. on KGMB.

The results:

The Louise Aoe McGregor Award (outstanding student director):
Winners: (TIE) Brennan Agcaoili (freshmen co-ed) and Taitea Sunaoka (Junior co-ed).

The Richard Lyman, Jr., ‘Ōlelo Makuahine (Mother Tongue) Award (outstanding use of the Hawaiian language):
Winner: Class of 2023 (Seniors)

George Alanson Andrus Cup (boy’s competition):
Winner: Class of 2023 (Seniors), Keahe‘ōlauniu Lopez (song director)

New England Mothers’ Cup (girl’s competition):
Winner: Class of 2024 (Juniors), Selah Fronda (song director)

Helen Desha Beamer Award (outstanding musical performance):
Winner: Class of 2024 (Juniors)

Charles Edward King Cup (combined class competition):
Winner: Class of 2024 (Juniors), Taitea Sunaoka (song director)

Breakdown of scores

Photos by Jacob Chinn. Additional photos are posted on the KS Facebook page.

Junior co-ed song director Taitea Sunaoka was one of two winners of the Louise Aoe McGregor Award for outstanding student director.

Brennan Agcaoili became only the ninth freshmen to win the Louise Aoe McGregor Award as outstanding student director.