Prepare For Club Song Contest

Songwriters, pick up your pens: Ko’olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club will sponsor its 2014 Na Mele Ko’olaupoko Original Song Composers Competition Sept. 21, and entries are due by Aug. 14.

“We invite our community to use the inspiration of our beautiful moku (district) of Ko’olaupoko – from Kualoa to Waimanalo – to write new mele that speak of the people, places, spirit or anything else that can be commemorated in song,” stated Aunty Alice Hewett, club president.

Entries must be original compositions about some aspect of Ko’olaupoko that have not been recorded previously or commercially sold. Only one entry is allowed per applicant in one of three categories: amateur, professional and Hawaiian language. Deadline is 4:30 p.m. Aug. 14, and a CD/DVD recording of the song must be received by the same time Aug. 31.

Send or hand carry all materials to the club office, 46-005 Kawa St, Suite 104, Kaneohe, HI 96744 or electronically to malamapono744@aol.com.

The competition will be held Sept. 21 at Windward Mall, when every entry will be performed live by either its composer or a representative. Winners earn $1,000 for first place, $500 for second and $250 for third.

Entry forms are available in hard copy from the mall, Kaneohe Library and the civic club’s office, as well as online at koolaupokohcc.org.

For more information, call 235-8111 or email the civic club at malamapono744@aol.com.