Mar. 15, 2024
The senior class swept through the awards at the 104th annual Kamehameha Schools Song Contest Friday night at the Neal Blaisdell Center.
The theme of this year’s event was “Noho Nō a Ho‘omana‘o A‘e” and honored legendary musician, composer and performer Bill Ali‘iloa Lincoln.
The senior combined class tied with the senior men for the ‘Ōlelo Makuahine award, which recognizes excellence in the use of Hawaiian language.
The senior boys won the George Alanson Andrus Cup for outstanding performance in the boys division, and the senior girls won the New England Mothers Cup for outstanding performance in the girls division. The senior combined class took home the remaining two singing awards: The Helen Desha Beamer Award for best musical performance and the Charles E. King Cup, the award in the combined class competition.
There was a tie for the Louise Aoe McGregor Award, which recognizes the outstanding student director. The award went to Emiole Ohai (junior boys’ director) and Taitea Sunaoka (senior co-ed director).
The pre-show and competition will be rebroadcast on Sunday, March 17, at 2 p.m. on KHNL and on Thursday, March 21, at 7 p.m. on KGMB.
Louise Aoe McGregor Award — Outstanding Student Director
Winner: (TIE)
Richard Lyman, Jr. Trophy — ‘Ōlelo Makuahine Award
Winner: (TIE)
George Alanson Andrus Cup — Boys’ Competition Award
New England Mothers’ Cup — Girls’ Competition Award
Helen Desha Beamer Award — Best Musical Performance
Charles E. King Cup — Combined Class Award
Senior co-ed song director Taitea Sunaoka was one of two winners of the Louise Aoe McGregor Award for outstanding student director. He was also one of two winners of the same award last year.
Credit: Photos by Jacob Chinn
Junior men’s director Emiole Ohai tied for the win of the Louise Aoe McGregor Award for outstanding student director Friday night.