Judging
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, awards are presented to the groups with the best performances.
Judges
The judges are accomplished experts in the fields of music and Hawaiian language. Each year's panel of judges is unique, though several individuals have served on more than one judging panel. Since the 1970s, more than 175 community members have served as a Song Contest judge.
Some judges are selected for their ties to that year's Song Contest theme. Occasionally, the entire judging panel may be composed of individuals with such a connection. For example, at the 2022 Song Contest, which celebrated Kamehameha's musical legacy, all five judges were previously teachers at Kamehameha; and at the 1995 Song Contest, which celebrated nā wāhine haku mele, all five judges were graduates of the Kamehameha School for Girls.
Two music judges evaluate the quality, dynamics, and intonation of each song's choral presentation. Two language judges evaluate the pronunciation, interpretation, and flow of each group's use of Hawaiian language. An overall judge evaluates both categories. The judges' scores are combined 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.
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.
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.
The music and language judges evaluate each song in 4 different areas, giving a score of 1–6 points in each area. They also give an "overall impression" score of 2–12 points (even numbers only). Each music and language judge can give up to (4 × 6) + 12 = 36 points.
The overall judge evaluates each song in both music and language, scoring 8 different areas from 1–6 points, plus an "overall impression" of 2–12 points (even). The overall judge can give up to (8 × 6) + 12 = 60 points.
For the co-ed, men's, and women's awards, points are calculated by simply adding up the five judges' scores. The highest possible score is (36 × 4) + 60 = 204 points.
Points for the music and language awards are calculated by adding the two music judges' scores (max. 36 points each), the overall judge's music category scores (max. 24 points), and the overall judge's "overall impression" score (max. 12 points). The highest possible score is (36 × 2) + 24 + 12 = 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). Now there are 4 criteria, each scored from 1–6 points.
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
- Co-ed 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 |