Sept. 24, 2014

Contributed by Pakalani Bello

The following article was published recently on the award-winning KS Maui student news site “Ka Leo o Nā Koa,”  The Voice of the Warriors. Mahalo to KSM journalism adviser Kye Haina for helping us share the news.

Kamehameha Schools Maui celebrated the beginning of the 2014 homecoming week in school unity, cheering and clapping for the students participating in the Battle of the Bands in Keōpūolani Hale on Monday, September 22.

After an unceremonious start, followed by a lecture on the true meaning of spirit week, students settled in for an afternoon of music and video segments produced by the Whatʻs Up Warriors crew.

The Battle of the Bands is one of the many activities scheduled during homecoming week, all leading up to the homecoming game on Saturday.

To kick off the battle, the freshmen sang Not a Bad Thing by Justin Timberlake. This year, some of the senior band members helped out by playing the instruments for the purple class of 2018, who was unable to get and retain the proper number of band members to compete.

“I was really appreciative of them. They really helped us out a lot,” lead singer Makamae Aquino said. “They stepped up, and they cared for us.”

Many agreed that the senior helpers had great intentions and displayed the school and homecoming theme: E maikaʻi a paʻahana, which means to be “good and industrious.”

 “I thought it was a good idea because what homecoming is really about is class unity, and bringing everyone together,” senior band member Damien-Rodney Kuluhiwa said.

Second on stage were the sophomores. The red-hot band performed Pretty Hurts by Beyoncé and All About That Bass by Meghan Trainor. Not only did the sophomores sing, but the four leading ladies also swayed and bounced in time as well.

The juniors followed them. The class of 2016 is known for performing unique mash-ups. This year, the band, pretty in pink, sang Miley Cyrus’ Party In The USA, Bruno Mars’ Treasure and Don’t You Forget About Me by Simple Minds.

To conclude the battle, the seniors gave their final Battle of the Bands performance. As an introduction to their act, they opened with a short snippet of Started From the Bottom by Drake, then did a mash-up of Pitch Perfectʻs When I’m Gone, We Are Young by Fun, and Classic by MKTO. In their heart-warming hana hou, the senior band sang Let Her Go by Passenger and ended with Time Of Our Lives by Tyrone Wells.

Results for Battle of the Bands will be announced along with the results of all activities throughout this week during half time of the homecoming football game against Lāhainaluna on Saturday. Go, Warriors!

For a video of the Battle of the Bands, go to https://vimeo.com/106903945.

See more at: http://kaleoonakoa.org/student-life/2014/09/23/students-unite-at-2014-battle-of-the-bands/#sthash.pGUryn05.dpuf

Photos by Quinn Williams.

Senior singers (left) Jonathan Lum Lung, Destinee Murray, Kaala Foster, and Maile Sur perform for the last time on stage during Mondayʻs battle.

Class of 2016ʻs junior performers Hannah Patrick, Quincee Taguchi, and Sarah Ikioka sing their hearts out on stage.

The sophomore singers (left) Montana Vaught, Kaiulani Kawaa, and Uilani Gibbs bring vibrant colors to the stage in their performance on Monday.

Freshman singers (left) Keala Cabanilla and Makamae Aquino performed for their first time, with a little help from the senior band, at Battle of the Bands on Monday Sept. 22 at Keōpūolani Hale.