'Round the Hala Tree with You

Academy students in the Cooke Library Learning Commons teamed up to celebrate the holiday season. The students and faculty composed this original song and collaborated with Punavision to create the video – all while studying for final exams before the winter break. Happy Haladays from all of us at Punahou School.

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’Round the Hala Tree

First Verse
College applications for seniors,
trying to write that essay.
It’s that time the second graders,
put on their Christmas play.
Sweaters even in warm weather,
red, green, and buff and blue.
All year long we’re singing,
“O Christmas Tree” for you.

Chorus
Kindergartners caroling,
when there’s no snow falling,
it’s at that time when we feel that joy,
’round the hala tree with you.
Come and join the party,
when your friends come calling,
it’s at that time when we feel that joy,
’round the hala tree with you.

Second Verse
Lockers brightly wrapped in paper,
Middle Schoolers laughing.
Team spaces taking pictures,
music kids will play their songs.
Ornaments made in our classrooms,
gingerbread for just us two.
English classes learn their
Shakespeare and haiku.

Bridge
Pullin’ up the tree, we call it a happy haladay
New spring in my feet, winter’s on its way,
right on a sleigh, cause honestly
I’ll probably see rascals jump the island
Acting kind of nutty but I know that Santa’s smiling
It’s a different kind of rappin’ but still gifts that we got for you
We can’t skate on the lily pond but that won’t ever stop the ...

Chorus x 2

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Credits

Music and Lyrics
Nick Laʻa ’19, Zack Uchima ’18 and faculty member Darin Au ’90
Lyric Consultants
Colin Au ’22, Kody Kim ’18, Aria McComber ’18 and Chloe Saito ’22

Performers
Nick Laʻa ’19, vocals and piano
Emma Ng Pack ’20, vocals
Knowledge Ortiz-Do ‘19, vocals
Shanti Silver ’18, vocals
Noah “Robby Rob” Robinson ’18, rap
Matt Mettias ’18, rap
Darin Au ’90, guitar
Zack Uchima ’18, electric bass
Colin Au ’22, trombone

Final mastering by Darin Leong ’95

Director: Malia Kiang ’18
Camera Operators: Hunter Nishikawa ’18, Melia Margueleas ’19