Kepa Revelle-Aikala wins Richard Ho‘opi‘i Leo Ki‘eki‘e Falsetto Contest
Pukalani vocalist takes top honors in a close competition celebrating Hawaiian falsetto and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi
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Kepa Revelle-Aikala of Pukalani took first place at the 24th annual Richard Ho'opi'i Leo Ki'eki'e Falsetto Contest on Saturday at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua.
The contest, held as part of the resort's 34th Celebration of the Arts, featured seven amateur vocalists and celebrated Hawaiian falsetto singing and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. It also honored the late Uncle Richard Ho'opi'i, a legendary falsetto singer, Nā Hōkū Hanohano and Grammy Award winner, National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellow and co-founder of the Ho'opi'i Brothers.
Revelle-Aikala won with his rendition of the Hawaiian classic "Kowali."
First place was tied in both the overall and ʻōlelo scores, with the music score serving as the tiebreaker.
"For first place, we actually had a tie in both the overall scores and the ʻōlelo scores, so the deciding factor came down to the music score with confirmation from our head judge," contest coordinator Daryl Fujiwara said. "It really speaks to where our language is today. So many of our keiki and young adults have been raised in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, and we're seeing that strength and confidence carried onto the stage through mele. That is something worth celebrating."
Revelle-Aikala is a Hawaiian-language communications specialist with the Maui County Office of Council Services. He works to bring the ʻike and moʻolelo preserved in Hawaiian-language newspapers back into everyday community life.
He also received the Hawaiian Language Award, presented by The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, and the Sheldon Keahiawakea Brown Music Award.
Kuhaʻokealiʻikauʻikamaʻamaʻama John Murray placed second, and Talan Kūaliʻi Akina-Chong finished third.
Kuhaʻokealiʻikauʻikamaʻamaʻama John Murray (center) celebrates after placing second in the 24th annual Richard Ho'opi'i Leo Ki'eki'e Falsetto Contest on Saturday at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua. Photo courtesy Festivals of Aloha
Talan Kūaliʻi Akina-Chong (center) celebrates after placing third in the 24th annual Richard Ho'opi'i Leo Ki'eki'e Falsetto Contest on Sept. 19 at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua. Photo courtesy Festivals of Aloha