Prestigious Hawaiian falsetto singing competition celebrating traditional Hawaiian vocal traditions.
The 23rd Annual Richard Ho‘opi‘i Leo Kīkēkīe Falsetto Contest will fill the ballroom at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua on Saturday, September 20, 2025, honoring Hawai‘i’s cherished male falsetto tradition with an elegant evening of mele, culture, and friendly competition as part of Maui Nui’s Festivals of Aloha season. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the contest begins at 6:30 p.m., with applications and tickets managed through the Festivals of Aloha hub, which coordinates the countywide cultural series each September and October. This signature event uplifts amateur male soloists who perform leo kīkēkīe — Hawai‘i’s distinctive falsetto style — to preserve a living art form closely associated with the late, beloved Maui icon Uncle Richard Ho‘opi‘i, the contest’s founder and namesake.
Date, place, and how to attend
- Date and time: Saturday, Sept 20, 2025. Doors 5:30 p.m., contest 6:30 p.m..
- Venue: The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, which has become a celebrated home for the contest in recent years, adding sophistication to a deeply cultural night.
- Tickets and entries: Applications for amateur male soloists and ticket information are directed through festivalsofaloha.com; follow the official site and social channels for live links and any remaining availability as the date approaches.
What the contest celebrates
Founded by Uncle Richard Ho‘opi‘i of The Ho‘opi‘i Brothers, the contest was designed to provide a championship opportunity for amateur falsetto singers while creating a dynamic platform to perpetuate Hawai‘i’s unique falsetto traditions for future generations. Uncle Richard’s own stature in Hawaiian music — Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winner and Lifetime Achievement honoree, Grammy Award co-recipient, and National Endowment for the Arts Folk Heritage Fellow — continues to set the standard for musicianship, humility, and entertainment values the contest seeks to uphold each year.
Who can enter and how it works
The competition focuses on amateur male soloists and includes rules crafted to keep the emphasis on voice, mele, and cultural integrity. Past calls for entries have highlighted that contestants must be amateur male solo vocalists who have not released a solo album or won another falsetto championship, with accompanying oneself on ʻukulele or guitar encouraged and weighted positively by the judging rubric; contestants relying solely on backup musicians historically receive lower accompaniment scores to recognize the added difficulty of self-accompaniment while singing falsetto. The evening typically features multiple rounds of mele selections, Hawaiian language emphasis, musicianship, stage presence, and cultural protocol, with awards for top placements and special recognitions such as Hawaiian Language or Musicianship honors.
Legacy and recent champions
The Falsetto Contest has helped raise the profile of numerous Maui and Hawai‘i Island performers while energizing a new generation of singers. In 2024, Maui’s Antonio “Akoni” Robles won the 22nd annual contest at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua with a moving rendition of “Waikaloa,” earning top honors on a night that organizers said saw the strongest contestant turnout in years. Winners receive cash prizes and notable awards, often including premium instruments and performance opportunities in other Festivals of Aloha showcases, reinforcing the event’s role as both a cultural platform and an artistic springboard.
Within the Festivals of Aloha
The Falsetto Contest is a pillar of Maui County’s celebrated Festivals of Aloha, Maui Nui Style, a seven-week cultural program of pageantry, hula, mele, parades, street parties, and family activities across Maui, Lāna‘i, Moloka‘i, Hāna, and Wailea each September and October. In 2025, the theme “Hahai nō ka Ua i ka Ululā‘au – Rains Always Follow the Forests” honors the Year of Our Community Forests and connects heritage to stewardship, a spirit that infuses the contest’s dedication to preserving leo kīkēkīe through living practice and public celebration.
What to expect on the night
- Elegant setting: The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua’s ballroom setting enhances sound, lighting, and audience comfort, framing the intimate art of falsetto with the dignity it deserves.
- Cultural protocol: The program interweaves mele with Hawaiian language and cultural protocol, reflecting the contest’s commitment to authenticity and aloha.
- Community and aloha: The audience often includes kumu hula, musicians, kūpuna, and families from across Maui Nui and beyond, creating a supportive atmosphere where each contestant is encouraged as a steward of a cherished tradition.
Travel and planning tips
- Arrivals and parking: Kapalua is about 15–20 minutes north of Kāʻanapali and 25–30 minutes north of Lahaina; plan extra time for resort arrival and to enjoy pre-show networking and seating.
- Dress code: Smart island attire suits the ballroom setting; a light layer is helpful for hotel air-conditioning.
- Respect and protocol: Be mindful during Hawaiian language announcements, oli, or mele; silence phones and refrain from flash photography or videography if restricted for contestants’ comfort.
- Extend the weekend: Pair the Saturday contest with daytime Kā‘anapali or Kapalua coastal walks, a morning snorkel, or a Sunday visit to Wailuku or ʻĪao Valley, aligning with other Festivals of Aloha happenings the same month.
For prospective contestants
- Prepare early: Review entry criteria and deadlines on festivalsofaloha.com, select mele that suit your range and storytelling, and practice self-accompaniment if possible to maximize scoring potential.
- Cultural mentorship: Seek guidance from Hawaiian language teachers or cultural practitioners to refine pronunciation, kaona (poetic meaning), and stage protocol — these details resonate with judges and audience alike.
- Stage craft: Focus on breath control, clarity at higher tessitura, and pacing that prioritizes diction and emotion over speed; the best falsetto performances carry both technical brilliance and heartfelt connection.
Why this contest matters
Leo kīkēkīe is one of Hawai‘i’s most distinctive vocal traditions. By centering amateur male soloists and showcasing their voices at a marquee hotel ballroom within a countywide cultural festival, this event ensures that falsetto is not just archived but actively lived, learned, and loved in the present. The partnership between Festivals of Aloha and community sponsors has also produced recordings such as “Hawaiian Falsetto Vol. 1,” which won multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards and serves as both a legacy document and an inspiration for new entrants.
Verified details at a glance
- Event: 23rd Annual Richard Ho‘opi‘i Leo Kīkēkīe Falsetto Contest.
- Date and time: Saturday, Sept 20, 2025; doors 5:30 p.m., contest 6:30 p.m..
- Place: The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua.
- Tickets and entries: Via festivalsofaloha.com; follow official channels for updates and availability.
- Mission: A championship platform for amateur male falsetto singers and the preservation of Hawai‘i’s unique leo kīkēkīe tradition, founded by Uncle Richard Ho‘opi‘i.
Celebrate the soaring beauty of Hawaiian falsetto where it belongs — live, among friends, kūpuna, and cultural practitioners who keep this voice alive. Reserve seats for Sept 20 at The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, encourage a talented friend to enter, and be part of an unforgettable night that honors Uncle Richard’s legacy while inspiring the next generation to lift their voices in aloha.