A new talent competition is giving Hawaii high schoolers who sing, dance or perform music a shot at cash prizes, mentorship and stage time, with its first audition set for November 7 at DreamHouse Kapolei. Applications for Win the City are due November 4, and organizers say the goal is bigger than just a trophy.
From Audition to the Main Stage
Win the City is open to high school students across the islands who dance, sing or perform music, according to Hawaii News Now. The competition aims to inspire Hawaii keiki to follow their passions while giving them a chance to showcase their talent and compete for cash and other prizes, per the same report. Contestants who make it past auditions do not just move straight to competition — they can attend workshops and receive mentorship from artists and performers before stepping onto the competition's main stages, the station reports.
Ty Tamagawa, who is with Win the City LLC, appeared alongside singer and actor Malia Aiello on Hawaii News Now Sunrise to discuss the new program. Tamagawa said the arts are not prioritized enough in Hawaii despite the islands having many gifted keiki, a point he framed as central to why the competition exists. He added that the competition seeks to give children encouragement and guidance from artists they admire, and that it is intended to address anxiety about the future while helping kids gain community support and grow both as people and as performers.
A Singer-Actor's Take on Island Talent
Aiello, for her part, said Hawaii has deep talent and mana across the islands, and that a competition like this can help young performers grow. Contestants who advance through the audition process and eventual competition stand to receive a range of prizes, though organizers have not detailed the specific cash amounts or full prize list. Prospective participants can apply online through the Win the City talent competition's website ahead of the November 4 deadline.
Part of a Broader Push for Youth Arts Opportunities
Win the City joins a small but growing lineup of youth performance competitions in Hawaii built around mentorship as much as the spotlight. The first annual Nā Pua Mele O Hawaiʻi Song contest, for instance, drew nearly 70 high school applicants from Hawaii and beyond, according to Hawaiʻi Public Radio. That contest called on ninth- through 12th-graders to submit an original song, a cover, or a mele o Hawaii, then narrowed the field to 25 artists who attended a workshop led by Amy Hānaialiʻi focused on stage presence, vocal strength and marketing skills, the outlet reported. Four finalists ultimately performed alongside Hānaialiʻi at Blue Note Hawaiʻi, where the audience voted to crown freshman ʻIliahi Kaʻonohi the winner; each finalist took home a cash prize and a scholarship for music lessons, with the top two also earning a private recording session.
A similar model exists on the classical side. The Nā Hōkū ʻŌpio Young Stars competition invites Hawaii's most talented high school musicians to perform solo repertoire with a full professional orchestra, open to 10th- through 12th-graders who are full-time Hawaii residents, according to the Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony. The organization added a new composition category in 2026 and describes its philosophy simply: music thrives in community and culture.
Win the City's organizers have not named a full judging panel, sponsors or list of partners beyond Tamagawa and Aiello, and it remains to be seen how many students will try out when auditions begin at DreamHouse Kapolei. For now, the pitch to Hawaii's young performers is straightforward — show up, get coached, and see how far island talent can take them.
