Happy Camper for Friday, November 21, 2025

It’s a tie, announced the Hawaiian Council that presented the inaugural televised auditions for Kauai that was aired on Sunday. Because of the tie, both entries will be moving on to the Hawaii to the World finale that will be televised on Dec. 14, starting at 7 p.m. on Hawaii News Now, simulcast on K5 and KHNL, and streaming on all Hawaii News Now platforms.

Beya, a vocalist, and Kumu Hula Troy Allen Lazaro and Halau Ka Pa Hula o Hinano are the Kauai winners named by a panel of judges that included Kauai’sJaedyn Pavao, Amy Hanaali‘i Gilliam, Patrick Makuakane, Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu and Lehua Kalima, hosted by McKenna Maduli. Shawn Kekoa Pimental was the music producer.

The Kauai field of next generation artists, musician, dancers and creators included, in addition to Beya, and Kumu Hula Troy, Henry Adam Curtis, The Babes, Pi‘ilani Grosse, Kumu Nick Kaneakua and Halauy Tumoana Pupu Ori Tahiti, and Sean Carillo.

On Nov. 23, the Maui auditions will air with Keali‘i Reichel as the guest judge.

Kudos to Kaleo Carvalho and the county’s Employee Council on delivering the 100 holiday gift baskets from the Employee Council Thanksgiving Give Back Project to residents of the Kaniko‘o Rice Camp Senior Housing on Thursday. Johnette Chun of the EC (she works at the Kauai Police Department and is a solid volunteer of the Kauai Veterans Council) said the message is to not forget the kupuna.

Kudos, too, to Solomon Kanoho of the Kauai Emergency Management Agency for coordinating the installation of holiday lights at the lawn of the historic County Building with the help of the county’s Parks and Recreation Department, the Public Works, and volunteers from the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative. Sol said the plan is to have the lights go on Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, from 6 to 11 p.m., and from 4 to 7 a.m. through the first week of January.