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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, November 23, 2001

Na Mele 'O Maui song contest set for Dec. 7

Advertiser Staff

KA'ANAPALI, Maui — The children of Maui County will express their love for the Valley Isle through song at the 29th annual Na Mele 'O Maui Song Competition Dec. 7 at the Maui Marriott Resort & Ocean Club.

This year's contest theme is "Aloha 'Ia No Maui" — "For the Love of Maui."

Students in kindergarten through Grade 12 will represent their schools while performing two songs in the Hawaiian language. The student singers will be judged on language proficiency, musical competence, stage presence, cultural artistry and enthusiasm.

In addition to cash awards, a four-string 'ukulele will be awarded to the first-place winners, and the overall winner will receive a six-string Kamaka 'ukulele.

Judges for the student song competition are Hokulani Holt-Padilla, Sam Ako and Harry Brown. The event, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., will be broadcast live on Maui's KNUI AM 900 radio station.

A $2 donation is requested at the door, with proceeds going to the Na Mele 'O Maui Scholarship Trust Fund. Scholarships are awarded to Maui County high school graduates pursuing Hawaiian studies.

Na Mele 'O Maui also sponsors an art competition open to Maui County high school students. Judges are artists Ed Kayton, Jim Kingwell, Tom Metcalf and Phil Sabado, and Michael Takemoto from the Maui Community College art department.

The art will be on display at Maui Marriott Resort & Ocean Club in Ka'anapali from Tuesday to Dec. 9.

Na Mele 'O Maui was established in 1972. This year's sponsors are Maui County, Island Air, Maui Marriott Resort & Ocean Club, KNUI AM 900 and Ka'anapali Beach Resort Association.

Event information is available on the Web site or call (808) 661-3271 on Maui, or toll-free (866) FUN-N-SUN.