A Western Heights High School student has been named as one of eight national finalists for Smokefree Pacifica Beats after being commended by judges.
Kapiolani Kihi-Waikato took the number-one spot in the Rotorua final of the event, and will head to Auckland for a weekend of music, mentoring, kaupapa Maori
and tikanga at the Waipapa Marae at the University of Auckland.
She was required to send in video footage which was assessed by judges before she was named a national finalist and will perform in the national finals in September.
Judging was done by Feleti Strickson-Pua from Nesian Mystic and former pop star and Mai FM announcer K'Lee. K'Lee was impressed with the Rotorua songstress.
"I was very impressed with the cultural elements and the standard of songwriting from regions such as Gisborne and Rotorua. Some of the subject matter of their songs was really deep and very touching. For example, there is one singer-songwriter with lyrics about a friend who died in a water accident - being in touch with their emotions and able to translate them into their singing and their music at this age is really impressive."
