Ho‘omaika‘i to the 2025 Winners!
SPARX Hawai‘i is a musical talent search throughout 4 Kaʻū-Keaʻau-Pāhoa schools to platform budding artists and encourage them to create their own path in life.
The SPARX Hawai‘i Music Contest is brought to you by ‘Aha Lamakū ‘Oia‘i‘o (ALO), a federal grant (Project No. S362A210096) administered by the Pacific Literacy Consortium, College of Education, University of Hawaii at Manoa.
The 2025 winners
They got an all-expense paid overnight trip to O‘ahu, mentoring from professionals in the local music scene, experiential learning on tours and being filmed by HISessions, they receive an award, a new Ko Aloha Ukulele, and statewide recognition!
Kahlen Fujiyama - All Of Me, Keaʻau Middle School
Dymend Rodrigues & Martin Cambra - Stay, Pāhoa High & Intermediate School
Kamahao Alcoran - Blue Moon Kaʻu High School
Chelbi Jo Baybayan Brown - Dreams to Dream
Singer/Songwriter Category:
Christian Retundo & Jasmine Moreno - Be My Baby, Kea‘au Middle School
Instrumentalist category:
Emilia Jenkins - Chasing Kou, Kea‘au Middle School
Nā Kumu Alakaʻi Pūlama
Stories of those who have created a unique path for themselves
HO‘OMAIKA‘I TO THE 2024 WINNERS!
Keaʻau High - KC Kalili
Runner up: Jadelyn Marie SolmerinPāhoa High & Intermediate - Jada Thomas
Runner up: Judah Horn and Nohua Scott
Kaʻū High School - Kendall Calumpit, Kaileo Broadfoot, Emil Soriano
Runner up: Kamahao Alcoran
Keaʻau Middle - Paxtin Goodhue-Souza
Runner up: Kahlen Fujiyama
HO‘OMAIKA‘I TO THE 2023 WINNERS!
Keaʻau High - Jared Saludares
Runner up: Xiaoshun (Maria) SunPāhoa High & Intermediate - Mona Reis
Runner up: Satya Kadarusman
Kaʻū High School - Kendall Haddock
Runner up: Waylen, Mariano, and Lokepa
Keaʻau Middle - Christian Retundo
Runner up: Jayden Kaʻaihue and Jedi
HO‘OMAIKA‘I TO THE 2022 WINNERS!
Keaʻau High - Sawyer Becher
Runner up: Catherine Nishida and Madelyn SmithPāhoa High & Intermediate - Makanalei Kuamoʻo
Runner up: Satya Kadarusman
Kaʻū High School - Ceceta Carlend and Kellyne Jackson
Runner up: David Zachary Ramos
Keaʻau Middle - Lilia Ramos-Sayas, Colt Hill, and Kyler Montifalcon Rodrigues
Runner up: Jayden Kaʻaihue
What’s your spark? Is it music?
Do you shine at kanikapila times in your garage?
Do you love singing?
Do your friends and family ever tell you you have a good voice or you’re so good at playing that ‘ukulele?
Do you dream of being a big-time musician one day?
Do you dream of your TikTok going viral?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, this may be a great opportunity for you.
This is a fun vocal and instrumental talent search connecting promising singers and musicians in the Kaʻū-Keaʻau-Pāhoa (KKP) area with an audience. We want to uplift the KKP community through the increased discovery of its talented musical artists.
What the SPARX Hawai‘i Music Contest offers…
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Exposure
In HISessions social networks, in order to share the talent of our contest winners to give them a public boost in their journey as artists on the music scene.
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Access
With the assistance of facilitators in each of the 4 KKP Complex Area schools, contestants can upload a video featuring their vocal and/or instrumental skills and passion for music.
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Experience
The SPARX Hawai‘i Music Contest can be a rewarding project for all participants to experience growth, community and enrichment.
We might be looking for someone exactly like YOU.
Looking for that big break opportunity?
As musicians and business entrepreneurs we understand the advantages of finding new opportunities in the music business. Most music contests reward only a very small percentage of contestants, leaving everyone else with nothing to show for their creative effort.
The SPARX Hawai‘i Music Contest is a distinctly different kind of music competition.
Community-Focused, School-Based: This contest is open to middle and high school students only within 4 KKP complex area schools. The support of the school and community is essential to the success of this contest. Teachers and administrators can help promote the contest, identify talent and encourage folks to enter. There will be technical assistance at each school for uploading video entries.
Fair and Limited Competition: Small pool of entrants. Amateur musicians only — no professionals allowed to enter.
More Chances To Win: 4 finalists will be selected from each of the 4 KKP schools, then from those finalists, 4 will be selected for the filming. This not only increases the odds of winning, it also ensures that each school is represented fairly.
NO Entry Fees: Unlike almost every other music competition, there is no fee to enter the SPARX Hawai‘i Music Contest. We deliberately want singers and musicians from the KKP complex area schools to be able to enter, without any financial barrier. This effort is sponsored by the ʻAha Lamakū ʻOiaʻiʻo (ALO) grant.
Bottom Line: The SPARX Hawai‘i Music Contest provides a rewarding experience for every musician who participates.