Congratulations to the Junior Class

The junior class dominated the 106th Annual Kamehameha Schools Song Contest on Friday, May 1, 2026, sweeping the majority of the top honors and securing the prestigious Charles E. King Cup.

Held at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena, the event featured student performances centered on the theme Pauahi Nona Ka Lei, a tribute to the life and legacy of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop.

Junior Class Secures Major Awards

The junior class earned the most significant accolades of the evening, winning five of the primary trophies. The results included:

• Charles E. King Cup (Combined Class Award): Junior Co-ed
• George Alanson Andrus Cup (Boys’ Competition Award): Junior Men
• New England Mothers’ Cup (Girls’ Competition Award): Junior Women
• Helen Desha Beamer Award (Best Musical Performance): Junior Women
• Richard Lyman, Jr. Trophy (‘Ōlelo Makuahine Award): Junior Class

The Louise Aoe McGregor Award for Outstanding Student Director resulted in a tie between Mikaela Freitas, the Junior Girls’ Director, and Callie Onishi, the Sophomore Co-ed Director.

Cultural Significance and Theme

The 106th annual contest focused on honoring Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop’s commitment to the education, culture, and sovereignty of the Hawaiian people. The competition serves as a platform for students to act as storytellers, preserving history and heritage through song.

For this year’s event, more than 100 students from across all grade levels collaborated with haku mele to compose four original pieces. These compositions were designed to reflect the spirit of Ea, described as the sacred breath of life and sovereignty.

Among the collaborators was composer Chad Takatsugi, who worked with the senior men on a composition titled Heino Poahi. Takatsugi stated that the goal of the collaboration was to create new music that ensures the name of Pauahi continues to be spoken by future generations of students.

Event Logistics and Broadcasts

The contest was originally scheduled for an earlier date but was postponed to May 1, 2026, due to severe weather conditions.

The event was broadcast live on K5 via Hawaii News Now. For viewers who missed the initial broadcast, encore presentations are scheduled for Wednesday, May 20, 2026, on KHNL and Saturday, May 23, 2026, on KGMB, both starting with a pre-show at 6:30 p.m. Followed by the competition at 7:30 p.m.