United in Song and Mission
The resonant voices of 300 singers from grades 6 – 8 filled Dillingham Hall during the inaugural Kapuana Choral Festival, a celebration of Punahou’s Case Middle School Choral Program. “The Festival is a special way for us to share and celebrate through music what it means to be part of the Punahou community,” says Alicia Scanlan, head of the Junior School Music Department. The festival was inspired by Punahou’s new mission statement, which was unveiled in 2023, reinforcing the core values of discovery, purpose and inclusivity for the community.
The middle school choirs spent months rehearsing their songs, with their work culminating in two performances on May 10. According to Scanlan, one of the most memorable highlights of the concert was the world premiere of a newly commissioned piece of music, entitled “Ka Punahou” which was composed by Alec Schumacker.
The uplifting piece draws lyrics from Alaia Kinzer’s ’30 poem, which opens with the line “We are children of Ka Punahou” – and is also a central phrase in the School’s mission statement. The work evoked imagery of children seeking knowledge from Punahou’s ever-flowing spring. Kinzer recited her poem to the audience, setting the stage for the beautiful performance.
It was a joyous undertaking in which Junior School Principal Todd Chow-Hoy, Junior School Assistant Principal Chase Mitsuda ’98, Case Middle School Deans Rianne Graves-Grantham ’93, Kip Kuhn and Erin Regua, and music faculty members Michael Lippert and Amanda Lippert joined the students and choir teachers on stage to sing in the debut of the new work.
In addition to “Ka Punahou,” the choirs performed selections that aligned with Punahou’s five core values. These ranged from themes of “purpose and kuleana” to celebrating the School’s Hawaiian and Christian heritage. The performances also featured languages from Arabic to Bemba, showcasing the School’s commitment to inclusivity via “a mat that seats many.”
The concert was named by Kumu Lauren Chang ’01 Williams, who explained that “Puana” refers to the first notes or beginning of a song and the chorus. “Ka Puana” is also inspired by the ‘Ōlelo No‘eau, or Hawaiian proverb, “Ka puana a ka moe,” which speaks about the messages revealed through dreams. The term “Puana” parallels the word for flower, “pua,” poetically evoking the blooming of language and music from our lips in refrain.
“It was a team effort and deeply meaningful musical collaboration,” says Scanlan. The event was co-led by choir teachers Joanna Habermann, Mia Porreca, John Roberts; Kumu Hula Williams; with musical collaborators including accompanists Linda Asahina, Jenny Choi, Lena Wong and Arlene Koh ’93 on the violin. “We were proud of our community,” Scanlan says. “And proud of all of the hard work that the students put in. We could not be happier with their focus and commitment, as well as the warm support from the audience.”
– By Rachel Breitweser ’03 and Helen Chao-Casano