Haumāna host all-campus Christmas concert
Photo by Aaron Veincent
Mrs. Nitta conducts the audience for “Pō Laʻi Ē,” the last song of the night. The Christmas concert brought joy with the performances for both the haumāna and the audience.
The Kamehameha Schools Maui campus ʻohana came together Thursday, Dec. 14, to bring joy through mele, hula, and oli in the school’s annual Christmas concert.
Kula kiʻekiʻe’s Papa Hula, Papa Mele, Choir, Nā Papa ‘Ukulele, Nā Lani ‘Ehā, and Hawaiian Ensemble, along with kula waena and kula haʻahaʻa’s choirs performed.
The night was organized by all three campus’ kumu mele but was primarily kept in order by Mrs. Nitta, kula waena choir teacher.
Kumu Kalei, and Mr. and Mrs. Nitta play three mele for the kula waena choir.
“It’s been difficult with testing this week, but we prepared every day,” Mrs. Nitta said. “We wanted to do something besides our Nā Mele [contest] songs, so we quickly put together something for tonight.”
The concert fell during the week of final exams, but that did not keep the haumāna from putting on a show.
In preparation, the haumāna spent both class and after school times practicing in the hale.
In the end, the concert was an opportunity for the community and KS ʻohana to come together and celebrate Christmas.
The performance brought the joyous Christmas spirit to the crowd with mele like “Mary Did you Know?” by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene, “Winter Wonderland” by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith and “White Winter Hymnal” by Robin Pecknold.
Haumāna also performed more traditional mele including “Kuʻu Lei Hala” by Mary Kawena Pukuʻi, “Nani Koʻolau” by J. Kalapana and “Ka Pili Oha” by Tony Conjugacion.
Other than tradtional mele, ʻukulele, hula, and oli were also presented in songs such as “He Aloha O Kalauokekoa” by ʻEmalani, “He Lei No Liliʻuokalani” by Mrs. Nahaukapu and even “Hotel California” by The Eagles.
Kanakapelas sing acapella to “With a Song in my Heart.”
The night also consisted of a new performing group, the Kanakapelas, an a capella group consisting of KSM juniors, Brennan Mendez, Morgan West, Sariah Mossman, and Makaiao Lorenzo and King Kekaulike junior Makia Lorenzo, along with Kumu Kalei.
The new group sang the song “With a Song in my Heart” by Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart instrument-free.
Although they only sang one song, the group promises they’ll return next year.
“All I hope is for the audience to have fun,” Mrs. Nitta said, which is exactly what happened.
The overall performance from the students was wintry and comfortable, leading the audience to sing along to the songs as well.
To end the night, both the audience and haumāna sang “Pō Laʻi Ē” or “Silent Night.”
