By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin

A jubilant Kamehameha Schools class learns of
its victory in the 1995 annual song competition.

Starting this month, four auspicious events mark the 75th anniversary of the unique competition.

A regionally televised documentary Wednesday launches the anniversary celebration. "Voices of Tradition - The Kamehameha Schools Song Contest" premieres at 9 p.m. on KHET and all west-of-Denver Public Broadcasting System affiliates electing to pick up the satellite feed.

"Voices of Tradition" is an hourlong edited version of last year's song contest plus interview excerpts to explain the contest, the 110-year-old Schools, its tradition and history. The video includes interviews with student song leaders and schools trustee Lokelani Lindsey, president Michael Chun, principal Anthony Ramos and performing arts department head Randie Fong.

"Hawaiians over the last century and a half indigenized choral singing," Fong says on film, "and made it into a Hawaiian art form."

The show is an information piece originally directed at mainland educators and former island residents, but also worthwhile for current residents who may not understand the inner workings of the event, says KHET chief producer Ed McNulty. Celebrate with:

A double compact disc - "A Musical Tradition Na Mele Ho'oheno - A Musical History of Kamehameha Schools" premieres March 18 in music stores. The fine-audio-quality collection of 36 archival and modern numbers is $22.99 for double CD or $14.99 for double cassette tape. Order at 1-(800)-882-7088.

An accompanying book - A 100-page mini history of music at the schools is set for a July 1 release. The book, with the same title as the CD, will feature archival and modern photos; the cost will be $16.95 in bookstores. Its authors are Jon Osorio and George "Terry" Young, both Kamehameha graduates and Hawaiian studies assistant professors at the University of Hawaii-Manoa. Order at 1-(800)-842-4682, ext. 8876.

The event itself - The 75th Kamehameha Schools Song Contest features 1,800 ninth through 12th graders in girls, boys and coed competitions 7:30 p.m. March 21 in Blaisdell Arena. The free event is sold out.

KHON will broadcast the two-hour contest live. A preshow starts at 7 p.m. They will also rebroadcast the competition 3 to 5:30 p.m. March 23.