Pauahi Nona Ka Lei
Songs Honoring Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop
A radiant celebration of our beloved Ke Ali‘i Pauahi, whose spirit and aloha blossom eternally in the hearts of Hawai‘i.
For the 106th Annual Song Contest, we gather as one ‘ohana to honor the life and legacy of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, and her enduring commitment to nurture generations of Hawaiians through education, knowledge, culture, and aloha ‘āina.
Her legacy is a living Ea— the sacred breath of life, sovereignty, and spirit that sustains our people and our ‘āina. Ea reminds us that her vision is not only alive but breathing in each of us, calling us to mālama the past while stepping forward with courage, humility, and aloha.
As our haumāna raise their voices in song, we declare our unwavering love and aloha for Ke Ali‘i Pauahi. Let our mele be a vibrant tribute that uplifts, connects, and motivates each of us to be guardians of her vision and legacy—strong in spirit, rich in aloha, and united as one.
Together, we celebrate Pauahi Nona Ka Lei—a timeless lei of love, blossoming eternally in our aloha for Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop and our Kamehameha Schools.
Learn more about Ke Ali‘i Pauahi’s charge
Ka Waiho‘olu‘u O Nā Papa
Mele
“When I spoke with Eric Lee he said he wrote Nou E Pauahi as a Kamehameha graduate himself from the Class of 1992 as his way to mahalo his class and Pauahi. He realized that even as his class moved on after graduation, their connection to Kamehameha and to each other never went away. He said, ‘Once you are a student of Pauahi, you are one forever.”
“I am especially grateful to Pauahi for all the amazing opportunities I wouldn’t have otherwise. In this Song Contest, I want to show the world that my school is a testament to the love and labor of our founder. Because of Pauahi’s dream for us, I am now ten steps closer to achieving my own dreams. Our voices will be heard, and what is a better way to honor her in such a time as this?”
“This year we have the amazing theme of getting to pay tribute to Pauahi and highlight every aspect of her. From her young days as a student, to her journals full of love for education, and the dream which created everything.”
“After learning more and more about my mele and grasping the idea of what I'm really doing, I now realize that I have a purpose in not only the contest, but mainly Hawaiian culture. This is to carry our sacred values, wahi, and mo‘olelo forward to the next generation. As my kumu said, mele is the only thing keeping these stories from being forgotten when the place no longer exists.”
“I believe it is important to perpetuate this tradition as generations before worked endlessly to make sure this tradition reached us. I also think perpetuating this tradition is important as we should upkeep something that Pauahi adorned endlessly as she enjoyed choral singing, piano, and music in general. Song Contest is also an enormous way to perpetuate mele Hawai‘i, ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i and cultural practices as it is watched by many.”
“The entire mele is ‘āina-based. Kumu Manu Boyd says Pauahi is a selfless ali‘i. She isn't the one to be the center of attention. Instead, she would feel more inspired if 200 of her pua honored not just her, but the land that inspired her vision. That's why this song is so unique.”
More than 100 Kamehameha High School students—from freshmen to seniors—came together to collaborate with esteemed haku mele to create four original compositions honoring Ke Ali‘i Bernice Pauahi Bishop. Over the course of a month, students engaged in rigorous, immersive training that deepened their understanding of Princess Pauahi through research and hands-on study of the foundational forms and techniques of haku mele. Their learning culminated in an intensive, all-day composing session, where—under the close mentorship of master Hawaiian composers—they crafted lyrics and melodies from start to finish. The result is four brand-new Mele Pauahi that celebrate our beloved Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, her boundless generosity, and her enduring aloha for her people. E Ola o Kalani! E Pauahilaninui!
“Through mele, people will never forget who we are, our places, our people, and our ea. This is how we breathe life into people who have passed and this is how we continue their legacy. We must perpetuate this tradition so the world will never forget the importance of these people and places. The love of Pauahi is boundless and through these mele, she will continue to be unforgettable.”
“It’s important to perpetuate this tradition because this event is stacked with generations of mana and effort of the ones who came before us, the ones who worked hard to ensure Pauahi’s legacy lived to reach us today. Overall, I can’t wait to be on the podium facing my class this year to serve them and Pauahi in the best way I can.”
“The audience should listen to the oli/kahea that we created for this mele. You can hear a small group chanting it in the beginning and end of the mele. The Haku Mele Cohort wanted to create an oli to show our strength and unity in this time of adversity. In the kahea, we are calling out to the people of Hawai‘i to stand together for Pauahi, and saying that her legacy will live on.”
“Through this timeless tradition, I’ve gained values like resilience, community, and pride. Dedication to lead my class, being able to sing as one with my classmates. Above all, preserving history through our stories that are told in the form of mele. Perpetuating this tradition not only keeps the timeline and memories of our kupuna alive but also pushes it forward to the future generations of Pauahi’s beloved children.”
Ola Pauahi, Ola Hawai‘i
Protecting the charge of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop
Na kaua e pale, me ka ihe — In battle we will defend, with weapons of sharp intellect
In this moment of challenge, we stand ready to defend what is dear to our people, our lands and our keiki. We will rise as pū‘ali koa, steadfast in pono, for Kamehameha, for Ke Ali‘i Pauahi, for Hawai‘i. E kūlike kākou! Stand together!.
Celebrate 106 years of Song Contest tradition with a gift
As haumāna, kumu and supporters prepare for the 106th Annual Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Song Contest, themed “Pauahi Nona Ka Lei: Songs Honoring Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop,” a limited-edition commemorative lapel pin is available for the first time.
- $20 – 1 commemorative pin
- $35 – 2 commemorative pins
- $50 – 4 commemorative pins
Mo‘olelo
The Song Contest is unique to Kamehameha — a tradition that has involved all students in musical competition for one hundred and six years. Miss Laura Brown, Director of Music at Kamehameha from 1926-1947, stated that “the objectives of the song contest are to build up the repertoire of the best in Hawaiian music for the cultural heritage of any student who attends Kamehameha; to develop leadership, cooperation and good class spirit; and to give students the use of their singing voices and to give them pleasure in singing as a means of expression.”
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