The 40th annual Na Mele O Maui Song & Art Competition will be held Friday at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.
Sponsored by the Ka'anapali Beach Resort, the Hawaiian song and art contest is dedicated to cultural preservation and perpetuation of Hawaiian mele, language and arts. This year's theme, Ka Ho'oilina Leo a Ho'opi'i Brothers, will showcase the vocal legacy of the late Solomon Ho'opi'i and brother Richard Ho'opi'i of Kahakuloa.
Artwork will be inspired by the events, stories and places depicted in songs by the Ho'opi'i Brothers, known for their robust style of falsetto singing.
In honor of this celebration, Richard Ho'opi'i will perform at the song contest, and Ho'opi'i family members will attend the free event. Donations will be accepted at the door.
Classes from kindergarten to the 12th grade will participate in the song competition. Each class is required to perform two songs in Hawaiian. The first is the contest song chosen by the committee to fit the theme. (There is a different song for each grade division.) The second song is a choice song selected by participating classes.
Classroom choirs are judged on musical competence, language proficiency and interpretation, stage presence and all-around enthusiasm.
Prizes are awarded based on overall scores within grade-level divisions. A combination of scores for the two songs determines the winner in each grade division and the overall winner of the competition.
This year's song competition judges are: Reiko Fukino, music judge; Papaikani'au Kai'anui, language; and Pueo Pata, overall judge.
The competition is expected to run from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The 2012 Art Competition finalists will be recognized during a special awards presentation. The winning artwork will be on display. Art competition judges include Steve Brinkman, photographer; Bonnie Friedman, arts/culture; and Todd Campbell, woodcarver.
For more information, call the Ka'anapali Beach Resort Association at 661-3271 or go online to kaanapaliresort.com.
