Hoʻokūkū Hīmeni

Each Song Contest is judged by five prominent figures in music and Hawaiian language. The judges score each song using a standard rubric of established criteria. At the end of the night, six coveted awards are presented to the groups with the best performances.

Judges

Two language judges critique the pronunciation, interpretation, and flow of each group's use of Hawaiian language. Two music judges critique the quality, dynamics, and intonation of each song's choral presentation. An overall judge critiques both categories. The judges' scores are tallied to determine the award winners.

Judges score each song individually, rather than as a group. Their scores are tallied outside the arena during the intermission and Hōʻike by two Kamehameha staff members – usually math teachers.

The highest scoring group in each category receives one of five coveted awards:

  • George Alanson Andrus Cup, for best men's performance
  • New England Mothers' Cup, for best women's performance
  • Charles E. King Cup, for best co-ed performance
  • Richard Lyman, Jr. ʻŌlelo Makuahine Award, for best use of the Hawaiian language
  • Helen Desha Beamer Award, for best musical performance

The sixth award, the Louise Aʻoe McGregor Award for outstanding student director, is the only award not based on the judges' scores.

See a list of past judges →

Scoring system

Under the current scoring system, which has been in place since 1990, a perfect score is 204 points. The scoring system has changed several times over the decades. Perfect scores under previous scoring systems include:

  • 204 points (1990–present)
  • 128 points (1982–1989)
  • 500 points (1969–1981)
  • 100 points (1964–1968)

This page describes the current 204-point scoring system.

For the coed, men's, and women's awards, each song's score is calculated by adding up the five judges' total scores. The four language and music judges can give a maximum of 36 points each. The overall judge can give a maximum of 60 points. Therefore, the maximum possible score is (36 × 4) + 60 = 204 points.

The calculation for the music and language awards is slightly different. The music score is calculated by adding up the music categories and the "overall impression" score from the 2 music judges and the overall judge. There are 4 music categories, each out of 6 points. The "overall impression" score is out of 12 points. Therefore, the music score for each judge is (4 × 6) + 12 = 36 points. There are three judges (the 2 music judges and the overall judge), so the maximum possible music score is 36 × 3 = 108 points.

The language score is calculated in the same way as the music score.

Sample score sheets

These are samples of the score sheets that judges use to evaluate songs. Each judge has space to write comments. Judges are also provided with the number of students in each vocal range.

Current score sheets

These sample score sheets are based on the actual sheets seen in 2023.

Judge: Overall
Total Possible Points: 60
Choral
1. Quality of sound
(tone)
6 5 4 3 2 1
2. Ensemble
(blend, balance)
6 5 4 3 2 1
3. Interpretation
(dynamics, tempo)
6 5 4 3 2 1
4. Intonation
(singing in tune)
6 5 4 3 2 1
Hawaiian Language
5. Ka puana ʻana
(Appropriate diction of sung lyrics)
6 5 4 3 2 1
6. Ka hoʻopuka pololei ʻana i ka puana hīmeni
(Appropriate phrasing of sung lyrics)
6 5 4 3 2 1
7. Ka hīmeni ʻana me ka maopopo
(Interpretation & understanding of sung lyrics)
6 5 4 3 2 1
8. Ka nahenahe i ka pepeiao
(Natural flow of sung lyrics)
6 5 4 3 2 1
Presentation
9. Overall impression 12 10 8 6 4 2

Judge: Language
Total Possible Points: 36
Hawaiian Language
1. Ka puana ʻana
(Appropriate diction of sung lyrics)
6 5 4 3 2 1
2. Ka hoʻopuka pololei ʻana i ka puana hīmeni
(Appropriate phrasing of sung lyrics)
6 5 4 3 2 1
3. Ka hīmeni ʻana me ka maopopo
(Interpretation & understanding of sung lyrics)
6 5 4 3 2 1
4. Ka nahenahe i ka pepeiao
(Natural flow of sung lyrics)
6 5 4 3 2 1
Presentation
5. Ka pā ʻana i ka naʻau
(Overall impression)
12 10 8 6 4 2

Judge: Music
Total Possible Points: 36
Choral
1. Quality of sound
(tone)
6 5 4 3 2 1
2. Ensemble
(blend, balance)
6 5 4 3 2 1
3. Interpretation
(dynamics, tempo)
6 5 4 3 2 1
4. Intonation
(singing in tune)
6 5 4 3 2 1
Presentation
5. Overall impression 12 10 8 6 4 2

Older score sheets

These older samples are based on the actual sheets that were used through at least 2013. The main difference from the current sheets is that there were previously only 2 language categories, each scored from 2–12 points (even numbers only).

Each song has its own score sheet. However, the tables below combine the scores for 3 songs to demonstrate how scores are added up.

Using the sample scores below, we can calculate the overall score, music score, and language score for each song. Assuming that the 2 music judges gave the exact same scores, and the 2 language judges gave the exact same scores, the total scores for each song are:

  • Men's song: 179/204 points overall, 101/108 points for music, and 90/108 points for language
  • Women's song: 192/204 points overall, 102/108 points for music, and 100/108 points for language
  • Coed song: 190/204 points overall, 94/108 points for music, and 108/108 points for language

Judge: Overall
Category Men Women Co-ed
Quality of sound (1-6)
tone
6 6 6
Ensemble (1-6)
blend, balance
5 5 6
Interpretation (1-6)
dynamics, tempo
4 6 5
Intonation (1-6)
singing in tune
6 5 5
Ka puana ʻana (2-12 even)
pronunciation and enunciation of words in singing, as opposed to speaking
10 8 12
Nahenahe i ka pepeiao (2-12 even)
overall flow and sound of lyrics as a whole
12 10 12
Overall impression (2-12 even) 12 10 12
Total 55/60 50/60 58/60

Judge: Language
Category Men Women Co-ed
Ka puana ʻana (2-12 even)
pronunciation and enunciation of words in singing, as opposed to speaking
10 12 12
Nahenahe i ka pepeiao (2-12 even)
overall flow and sound of lyrics as a whole
8 12 12
Overall impression (2-12 even) 10 12 12
Total 28/36 36/36 36/36

Judge: Music
Category Men Women Co-ed
Quality of sound (1-6)
tone
5 6 5
Ensemble (1-6)
blend, balance
6 6 5
Interpretation (1-6)
dynamics, tempo
5 5 5
Intonation (1-6)
singing in tune
6 6 5
Overall impression (2-12 even) 12 12 10
Total 34/36 35/36 30/36