Battle of the Bands kicks off Spirit Week

Kaira-Lee+Davis%2C+Sarah+Ikioka+and+Mahie+Kama+sing+lead+vocals+for+the+sophomores+entry+in+the+Battle+of+the+Bands+competition%2C+Monday%2C+September+9.

Photo by Jaylin Kekiwi

Kaira-Lee Davis, Sarah Ikioka and Mahie Kama sing lead vocals for the sophomores’ entry in the Battle of the Bands competition, Monday, September 9.

By Jaylin Kekiwi, editor

PUKALANI – Spirit Week is upon us, with Monday marking the first day of the 2013 week leading up to the homecoming game. Though it was an “A” day, it was filled with B’s: Babies and the Battle of the Bands.

Monday’s dress-up day was “Baby Day.” Students dressed up as babies or toddlers. Popular outfits seemed to be brightly-colored onesies or regular pajamas.

If they didn’t feel like slipping into their sleepwear, students were also given the option to wear basic dress, wearing primarily-red shirts with jeans, which is what a large portion of the student body opted to do.

“I think [people did basic dress] because rules for costumes are really strict this year,” senior Matt Paschoal said. “It’s also easier to grab a shirt than plan out a whole costume.”

The event for the day was Battle of the Bands, held at Keōpūolani Hale. Groups from each class got up in front of the audience and sang for their peers.

The freshman group sang “Valerie,” sung originally by The Zutons and later covered by Amy Winehouse.

The sophomores sang “Make It Shine,” a song featured on Nickelodeon’s Victorious and sung by Victoria Justice.

The juniors sang a mash-up of several different songs, including, “Royals” by LORDE, “I Want It That Way” by The Backstreet Boys, “Wake Me Up When September Ends” by Green Day, and “Live While We’re Young” by the British band One Direction.

Seniors finished it off with “End of Time” by Beyonce.

In their hana hou performance of “It’s Almost Time,” an original song by senior Neʻula Aarona, baby pictures of the senior class played in a slideshow behind the singers.

“[Seniors] were definitely the inspiration for [‘It’s Almost Time’],” Aarona said. “It wasn’t too hard for me to write something because I know my class, I love my class, so I knew what I wanted to write.”

In between the song competitions Avinash Singh, student body president, and Malia Molina, student body vice-president, conducted Minute to Win It competitions and invited sports team captains to the microphone.

Winners will be announced at halftime at the homecoming football game on Saturday, September 14.

The next Spirit Week event, boys cheerleading, was held today during lunch at Keōpūolani Hale.