Four students in middle or high school competed as finalists in the inaugural Nā Pua Mele o Hawai‘i Song Contest, sharing the stage with their mentor Amy Hānaialiʻi at the Blue Note Hawaiʻi on Monday, Dec. 15. The first Nā Pua Mele o Hawai‘i Song Contest, presented by Mana Maoli and sponsored by Hilton Grand Vacations, spotlights the next generation of local talent.
‘Iliahi Ka’ōnohi was named the winner (Hilton Grand Vacations) 
Amy Hānaialii performed at the Blue Note Hawai'i, where she was joined on stage by four finalists for the inaugural Nā Pua Mele o Hawai‘i Song Contest. (Hilton Grand Vacations) 
Zoe Douglas of Waiakea High School won second place. (Hilton Grand Vacations) 
Timoteo Esene, of Kamehameha Schools – Kapālama, placed third. (Hilton Grand Vacations) 
Ikualono Jackson of the public charter school, Hālau Kū Māna, took fourth place and won $250. (Hilton Grand Vacations)
Middle school student ‘Iliahi Ka’ōnohi was named the winner. The singer, who has two singles coming out in January, has roots on the North Shore and attends Crimson Crest Middle School in Utah.
Mana Maoli is a nonprofit collective of educators, artists, musicians and cultural practitioners that offers music and multimedia opportunities to students across the islands.
Ka’ōnohi spoke with Aloha State Daily before she stepped on stage to perform at the Blue Note Hawaiʻi where Hānaiali’i was performing for audience members from around the world, including Japan and Korea, as well as cities across the United States.
“Amy Hānaiali’i — oh my gosh,” Ka’ōnohi said. “She's such an inspiration to me. She's — gosh, six Grammy nominations, 18 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards. I mean how does anybody get that? I'm just so honored that I'm even picked to be here. I'm just excited.”
Each of the finalists performed two songs and the audience helped vote for the winner. To find the students who took the stage this week, Mana Maoli partnered with Hawaiʻi Department of Education to reach out to all the schools across the state and asked them to recommend their most talented singers, who might want to participate in the contest, Keola Nakanishi, the nonprofit’s executive director, told ASD.
More than 60 submissions poured in. A selection committee narrowed contestants down to just 25 students using four criteria: voice and musicality, stage presence, lyrics and understanding of them, and overall performance. The contest’s judges included Hānaialiʻi, Patrick Makuakāne and Sean Na’auao.
“Hawaiʻi kids are super talented, and it's really amazing to kind of guide them a little bit in the industry, especially in the workshops,” Hānaialiʻi told ASD before the performance. “I'm a real strong believer of voice lessons and ear training and method and things like that, just help you along the journey of your career, not just a couple years, but a 30-year career.”
The top 20 artists participated in a workshop last week, where they got to work with Hānaiali’i and other mentors. Each of the finalists had a one-on-one with Hānaiali’i, who gave them ways to improve their music ahead of their performance in front of a live audience at the Blue Note Hawaiʻi.
“She taught us stage presence and breathing, which I really like,” Ka’ōnohi said. “She had us lie down on our backs and practice breathing exercises.”
In the audience at the Blue Note Hawaiʻi, Ka’ōnohi had her father, her auntie and uncle from Kahuluʻu, and Auntie Stacy from Sophia’s Lei Stand who designed her haku and lei, she said.
Ka’ōnohi took home the grand prize of $1,500, plus a recording session and a scholarship for voice lessons from a business or nonprofit of her choice. Follow Ka’ōnohi on Instagram and YouTube.
Zoe Douglas of Waiakea High School won second place and $1,000, plus a recording session and a scholarship for voice lessons.
Timoteo Esene, of Kamehameha Schools – Kapālama, placed third and won $500, plus a scholarship for voice lessons.
Ikualono Jackson of the public charter school, Hālau Kū Māna, took fourth place and won $250 plus a scholarship for voice lessons.
Watch one of Ka’ōnohi’s winning performances here:
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Katie Helland can be reached at katie@alohastatedaily.com.
