'DA SHARK SHOW' SHOWCASES AN INCREDIBLE VARIETY OF STUDENT TALENT

On Friday, March 21, HPU’s Campus Activities Board (CAB) hosted the 20th annual “Da Shark Show” student talent show. Consisting of 10 different student acts and three exhibition acts, the sunset ballroom at Aloha Tower Marketplace was bursting with talent. The performers wowed the crowd and gave thrilling performances and admirable efforts, impressing the audience and judges with dancing and stunning vocal performances. The show highlighted some of the incredibly talented students at HPU.

The seven judges scored based on talent, creativity, originality, crowd appeal, and artistic ability. Cash prizes were given to the top three acts. And there was a special Sharky’s Choice Award for the performer who best represented HPU's values of aloha, kuleana, and pono, as voted by the audience.

THE PERFORMANCES CONSISTED OF: 

• Skyler Martinez playing the guitar and singing “I’m Still Standing” by Elton John
• Naomi Zeller with a vocal performance of “Bamboo” by Kimie Miner
• Oscar Hoset singing his original song “Boyfriend”
• Saadiya Patrick performing “Never Enough” by Loren Allred
• Kaylee Tanig and Emily Bandelos dancing to “Smooth Criminal” by the Glee cast
• Anna Hildebrand singing “Goodbye” by Claudia Emmanuela Santoso
• Amira Oliver with a vocal performance of “I’m Goin’ Down” by Mary J. Blige
• Trinity Rakowski performing her original song ‘Breathing For You’
• Grace Strickland playing the guitar and singing to “Smoke Signals” by Phoebe Bridgers
• Ailis Nataadiningrat singing “The Wizard and I” by the Broadway cast of Wicked

WHILE THE JUDGES DELIBERATED THEIR SCORES AND THE AUDIENCE CAST THEIR VOTES FOR THE SHARKY’S CHOICE AWARD RECIPIENT, THE CROWD ENJOYED THESE EXHIBITION ACTS:

• A piano and vocal performance by Yusuf Najjar and Francheska Macato to “Josephine”, an original song by Yusuf Najjar
• Another piano and vocal performance by Yusuf Najjar and competition act singer Trinity Rakowski, performing to “Lexi (Tiptoes)” written by Yusuf Najjar
• A dance performance by HPU’s dance club, StepUp Warriors

ALL PARTICIPANTS TURNED OUT EXCELLENT PERFORMANCES, AND THE WINNERS WERE:

• Oscar Hoset captured the audience’s heart and received the Sharky’s Choice Award for his incredible performance of his original song, “Boyfriend.”
• In third place, singer Trinity Rakowski received a $100 cash prize for her beautiful performance of her own song, “Breathing For You.”
• In second place, Amira Oliver stunned the audience with her vocal skills to “I’m Goin’ Down” by Mary J. Blige and won a $300 cash prize.
• Finally, in first place, Ailis Nataadiningrat received a $500 cash reward for her Broadway-worthy performance of “The Wizard and I” by the original Broadway cast of Wicked.

The competitors ranged from across the U.S. and all the way to Norway. Exchange student Oscar Hoset was excited to perform his own song, “Boyfriend,” in front of his fellow HPU students. He shared that the day of the show was the release date of the song on music streaming services.

“I would love to make music and singing my full-time career. Ultimately, I am hoping that my degree will end up being an expensive piece of decoration,” said Hoset.

Many of the performers expressed their anxiety about going on the stage and performing in front of a sold-out sunset ballroom but were ultimately glad they pushed through the fear and performed for everyone. Singer, guitarist, and graduate student Skyler Martinez explained she was the only one in her family never to have performed at a talent show and was nervous to go first in the lineup.

“I had never done anything like this before, so it was scary to go up on stage first with no experience, but I am so glad I did. I had so much fun and would recommend everyone to step out of their comfort zone and audition for next year's show!” said Martinez.

The audience was just as enthralled as the performers. Princess Pascua, who has attended CAB’s Da Shark Show for three years in a row, shared that this was the best one yet. “Not only was the talent incredible this year,” Pascua expressed, “but the production value was out-of-this-world! From the moment I walked in, the aesthetic of the space was stunning—blackout curtains and elegant table settings made it feel like I was attending a professional TV award show, almost like the Oscars.”

Pascua also praised the variety of performances, saying, “There were many new faces, and although singing dominated the performances, the range of music styles, original songs, instrumental accompaniments, and Broadway numbers made the night feel fresh and exciting.” She also highlighted the importance of the exhibition performances, noting, “The Step Up and dance exhibitions were another highlight, especially seeing the new RSO perform and demonstrate the hard work they’ve put into their club.”

Beyond the performances, Pascua emphasized the strong sense of camaraderie among participants. “By the end of the night, it was heartwarming to see everyone—whether they won or not—genuinely happy and celebrating their friends. It was truly a night to remember!”

Ultimately, the 20th annual Da Shark Show was filled with amazing talent, a supportive environment, and incredible HPU Shark spirit!

Photos by Alex Ramirez