WEST HAWAII TODAY | BIG ISLAND ENTERTAINMENT SCENE FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2017 | 7 DRAWING CROWDS As Hawaiian Idol marks 14 years showcasing the Big Island’s stars, Jr. Hawaiian Idol continues to grow, preparing kids and young adults for the next level. “The junior’s even feels like its getting better than the adult competition,” said Summer Carrick, marketing director for KBXtreme. “It’s growing so fast and it’s got so much interest.” The competition for kids and young adults ages 8-20 was held first in 2016. The decision to give younger adults a “stage” of their own came after many requests, though it was something Carrick said KBXtreme and the organizers of Hawaiian Idol had “always wanted to do.” “The kids would ask and the adults would always ask, ‘why don’t you have one for the kids,’” she said. But, they knew they couldn’t do it on their own. That’s when Island Breeze Productions came in to help, running and coordinating the junior program, Carrick said. The company also provides performance opportunities and mentorship, said Landon Ikaika Chinen, a dancer with Island Breeze who leads the Jr. Hawaiian Idol program. “It’s giving them that opportunity to just have a place, because there is no place for them to show off,” Chinen said. Investing in the junior program also brings stronger talent to the adult competition as the kids are essentially “groomed” for Hawaiian Idol. For example, “if the junior program had been started 13 years ago, an 8-year-old Tiya Cantiberos-Ontiveros sings “Stay” by Rihanna at the Jr. Hawaiian Idol semifinals on April 15 at KBXtreme. 2016 Jr. Hawaiian Idol winners who moved through that program would be eligible to compete in Hawaiian Idol,” said Gerald “Brudda G” Farm, a musician, former competitor and organizer. “The level of their showmanship, their performances would have been elevated because it would have grown with the program. That was another idea of the doing the junior program and kind of nurturing the talent so that the cream of the crop will be selected to compete in the finals on April 29. That evening, the 12-15 starry-eyed semifinalists will meet to belt out their best to represent the Big Island on the big stage in the Talent Quest National Karaoke Contest at the Tropicana Resort and Casino in Laughlin, Nevada. The all-expenses-paid trip includes airfare, seven days lodging, ground transportation, talent fees and $500 cash. Gerald “Brudda G” Farm is one of those winners sent to the mainland for the competition in 2005. He ended up placing second, which he said helped bolster his music career, giving him “more clout in the business.” “It’s something that if that’s your passion and you definitely want to something in the music field, I think it’s a great venue to do,” said Farm, who now helps organize of Hawaiian Idol. Another former winner, Kalani Pe’a, recently took home the Best Regional Roots Music Album for his debut CD, “E Walea,” at the 59th annual Grammy Awards. It was the first time since the category was introduced in 2012 that a Hawaiian recording won. Pe’a, who’s always loved singing, said that winning Hawaiian Idol in 2010 was a milestone and start for him. Since then, he’s come back to judge the event, but will be unable to this year because of previous engagements. Instead, he’s sent a bunch of signed CDs that will be given away amid trivia contests on the final night. “From a karaoke competition to the Grammys, this is just the start of my journey,” Pe’a said via text message. “I represent my Lahui, my Hawaiian language and culture and who I am as a millennial Hawaiian/ Contemporary and Soul artist. I am ready for my worldwide tours in 2017-2019.” The idea for the competition, said Carrick, came about from an idea developed between KBXtreme owner Bill Wong and Kona Brewing Co. CEO Mattson Davis in the early 2000s. “(Bill) built this place because he just loves bowling and karaoke. This (Hawaiian Idol) was his fun contest that, rumor has it, he came up with the Kona Brewing Co. CEO and they were like ‘let’s do like an American Idol,’” said Carrick, noting that Wong last year stopped judging the contest himself. For the first 12 years, the event showcased the best adult karaoke stars from KBXtreme’s XFactor Karaoke Lounge sending the winner to the national competition in Nevada. As has been the case from the get-go, there is no entry fee, but an audition is needed to get in on the action. In its 13th year, the sponsors began working with community partners to build a program to showcase younger island talent in the first-ever Jr. Hawaiian Idol. “It was a tremendous success and we watched 15-year-old Leimakamae Freitas and 11-year-old Michael Hanato grow as performers and delight the Big Island with their songs at several community events,” said Carrick. In addition to getting younger singers in the mix, the organizers are also looking to expand both competitions islandwide in the future. “We want the best on the island to go to Nevada,” said Farm. For more information, visit www.kbxtreme.com or email info@kbxtreme.com. ■ Jr. Hawaiian Idol preparing kids, young adults for the next level BY CHELSEA JENSEN WEST HAWAII TODAY cjensen@westhawaiitoday.com Leimakamae Freitas (14-20 age group) Michael Hanato (8-13 age group) SEE IDOL PAGE 11
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