Nā Hōkū to perform holiday favorites
in the first Christmas concert of 2012
In what is being billed as the very first Christmas concert of 2012, the Star of the Sea School choir will perform a program of both secular and non-secular holiday favorites at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, February 2, in the Star of the Sea Church, in Wai`alae. The concert is part of Catholic Schools Week, and is free and open to the public.
"The choir sounded so good at performances during the recent holidays that we decided to do a concert for everyone," said Principal Carola Souza. "And why wait until December to do it? They're ready now, so we will do it now." In December, Nā Hōkū performances included concerts at Kāhala Mall and Koko Marina Shopping Center.
Mrs. Souza said there is also something special about being "first."
You'll see and hear 26 boys and girls from grades 4-8 at the 65-year-old Catholic School in Wai`alae wearing Santa hats and Christmas leis, playing bells and ipus. And you'll hear them singing such favorites as "Jingle Bells," "Jingle Bell Rock," "Silver Bells," all complete with bell accompaniment. The choir will be backed by a row of Hawaiian drummers -- each with an ipu -- on "Little Drummer Boy." They'll sing local Hawaiian favorites, including "Mele Kalikimaka," "Christmas Lū`au" and "Mele Kalikimaka iā Kākou."
One of the choir's trademark songs is a medley of "Stille Nacht" and "Silent Night," in an arrangement that features a soloists and ensembles from the choir taking the lead in German, Hawaiian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean and English.
"Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" "Here Comes Santa Claus," "Feliz Navidad" are among the other favorites.
Among the popular traditional non-secular songs, you'll hear "Joy To The World," "Deck The Halls" and "O Little Town of Bethlehem."
As always, choir members will open the concert with our state song, "Hawai`i Pono`ī," and close the concert with "Hawai`i Aloha," the most famous Hawaiian hymn, singing all three verses of both songs, "as they should be sung," says Keith Haugen, their director.
"After this Christmas concert, we'll regroup and work on new (non-Christmas) material to be ready for other concerts during the year," said Haugen. "This spring, watch for Nā Hōkū in your favorite shopping center."
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT KEITH HAUGEN AT STAR OF THE SEA SCHOOLS,
734-0208 OR ON HIS CELL PHONE, 951-4332. hakumele@aol.com