Born the year after the Kaua‘i Composers’ Contest and Concert had begun, 19-year-old composer Kale Kaui swept the awards and received the highest score overall from the judges and the Na Poe — People’s Choice Award from the audience. Before
Born the year after the Kaua‘i Composers’ Contest and Concert had begun, 19-year-old composer Kale Kaui swept the awards and received the highest score overall from the judges and the Na Poe — People’s Choice Award from the audience.
Before a standing-room-only crowd at the Radisson Kauai Beach Resort Monday night, Kaui’s compositions won first place in the Hawaiian category, with “Lei Papahi Henoheno,” performed by Gabby Malington, Ernest Carbonel and Chico Edralin. The composition also received the Gabriel I Hawaiian Language Award. In the youth category, Kaui’s song “Koke‘e Ika La‘i,” honored Uncle Larry Yadao and his lei-making, and also won the Performer’s Award.
“Encouraging and acknowledging such a young Hawaiian composer is exactly the reason the Kaua‘i Mokihana Festival was started 20 years ago,” founder Nathan Kalama said. “The songs our island’s composers play tonight will become the classic Hawaiian songs decades from now. Hawaiian music must evolve or die, and our festival promotes creative evolution.”
Kaui tied for the Commercial Potential Award with Joe Adric. Adric won first place in the Contemporary Hawaiian category with a performance of his own composition, “Where are You?” Michael Ohlen’s song “Sandy Beach” won second place, and Steve Farrell placed third with “Big City.”
The Open category had three entries with varied compositions. Composed by Sylvia Partridge and sung by Manulele, “Beautiful Child” placed first. Ohlen and his group performed “Sweet Heater,” and placed third. Second-place winner, Madeleine Brandli, accompanied herself on the keyboard, and sang “Love Walks With You,” which she dedicated to Kalama for his dedication and perseverance in continuing to present the Kaua‘i Composers’ Contest and Concert against great odds.
The Professional Category was the largest with six entries, and only one winner, who receives with the prize a $500 recording award. Winning first place, Richard Beach’s song “Pihea Lani” was written for his friend who lost his battle with cancer, and was an exquisite harmony of guitars, fiddle and bass with Ilima Rivera’s strong vocals.
Professional composer Jivan Francis Hertszog played the guitar and sang a melodic “Being the Sweetness,” followed by Scotty Shapiro performing “Philipina Girl.” Millicent Cummings composed “Island Rose,” and gave a passionate performance of a song inspired by Princess Ka‘iulani.
Brett Alan Rouse sang “Wishing Well,” accompanied by Kevin Johnson and Michael Arnold. The last group, a perennial favorite, performed “Joyce’s Song,” written by Sam Kitsch and Dawn Cantrell, written in waltz tempo for their father’s new wife. Jess Montgomery on steel guitar was outstanding and had the audience swaying with the rhythm.
Only Kaua‘i residents can compete in this contest. Carol Yotsuda was honored this evening for her founding support 20 years ago for the festival, said, “It is clear the songs came from the heart, honoring people and places that have great significance in the lives of the composers.”
The Kaua‘i Mokihana Festival is supported in part by many individuals, local businesses and Alexander & Baldwin (A&B) Foundation, Queen Lili‘uokalani Children’s Center, Taiko Maru, Hawaii Tourism Authority and the County of Kaua‘i.
The 20th Annual Kaua‘i Mokihana Festival continues through this Saturday, Sept. 25. A complete schedule can be found at the Web site: http://kauai.net/mokihana/schedule.html.
During the course of the night, Kalama was sharing the story of how this event started 20 years ago with his two Malie partners, Ekolu Panui and Larry Duhaylongsod, punctuated as always with hilarious anecdotes — his favorite is, of course, how about 50 people came to the first Composers’ Contest and Concert in the huge Lihu‘e Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall that can seat 1,111 people, and Malie made $5 profit.
Before the music began, he acknowledged with lei many, many individuals who supported Malie through the years to help bring his vision to life: Lou Lindsey, Bobbie Bulatao-Franklin, Jose Bulatao, Kalani Flores, Charlene Dyer, Lady Ipo Kahaunale, Ilei Beniamina, Marlys Matheus, Fran Nestel and many others, sharing stories of exactly how each person helped him.
During intermission, he introduced his board of directors dressed in red/pink mu‘umu‘u: Puna Kalama Dawson, Carol Bain, Puanani Rogers, Marlys Matheus, Jodi Hashimoto Ono, Rene Tokuda, Edee Bandmann and young Hokulani.
Ka‘iulani Edens was mistress of ceremonies, and Ray Duarte the sound man.
Judges included Ileialoha Beniamina, Charlene Dyer, Lady Ipo Kahaunaele and Fran Nestel, all of them were past composers’ contest winners and highly respected composers and performers.
