A massive set-up is underway for a celebration of Hawaiian language. Kamehameha School's annual song contest happens this Friday at the Blaisdell.

Today, crews were busy setting up chairs and putting up hundreds of lights for the show. As always, a sold-out crowd is expected to watch the high-schoolers perform Hawaiian-language songs.

The nearly 3-hour contest will be televised live on KGMB9 and online around the world. And this year, for the first time, it's all being presented in high-definition.

Meantime, a high threshold for pressure will come in handy that night. Especially for the handful of students chosen to lead their classes in song. Among them a teenager from Kona who's learning from a Hawaiian music star.

17 years old, trying to take charge in the shadow of a giant. Joshua Tavares not only has to teach this song to his classmates he has to do it in front of the song's composer, the legendary Robert Cazimero, renowned kumu hula and Hoku award-winner and Hawaiian Music Hall of Famer. Tavares says he's not nervous.

"It was a good feeling," says Tavares.

But he knows he needs to get tough.

"Actually… Er… Our class is really rugged… Real kolohe… They don't really listen to anybody," said Tavares.

And that's where Cazimero comes in.

"I'll bring you in, I'll bring you in... Don't tell me, I'll tell you," said Cazimero.

Turning that teenage bravado... Into vibrado.

"Cmon boys!!... And!!"

Connecting with these young men using wisdom... And wisecracks.

"You swear, you yell, you scream…"

"And then if all else fails you threaten them… Because I know that I know their parents their grandparents and maybe their great grandparents. And that’s the thing about being Hawaiian is that eventually were all related to each other. And there is that kind of respect there," reflects Cazimero.

And when Cazimero is done... In comes the man who's been waiting in back of the class... Listening for misplaced okina.

"That happens throughout your mele…" said Kamehameha language instructor, or Kumu Olelo, Hailama Farden there to make sure the class gets it right.

"Ke ue ke ue... Can you repeat it please?"

"You pronounce the word incorrectly... Then you may deliver a different mana'o."

The language is always important, but this year it's the theme of the song contest.

Thirty years after a constitutional convention made Hawaiian one of the state's official languages, the school is celebrating it's resurgence and honoring those who struggled to keep it alive through a time when Hawaiians were chastized for speaking their native language.

"We have less than 40 manaleo, native speakers, outside of Niihau. That's it… This generation of Haumana, students, will see the last manaleo close their eyes. The last one outside of Niihau... Shame, terrible…" said Farden.

"Kay... Ready... and go... Ke ue... Quiet, quiet!... Ke ue vale no.... 1 2 3 ke ue wale no..." instructs Cazimero.

Today, Cazimero's smooth voice rises above the chorus. But on Friday night, they will be alone… Relying on their brave classmate.

"It's my responsibility to not necessarily be their friend but to be their director and to lead them," said Tavares.

"You doing really good buba… You go right ahead," said Cazimero in support.

Friday night, these modern young men will aim to honor their past, by getting it right and shining in the spotlight.

Don't miss this special event. It's Kamehameha Schools 88th Annual Song Contest. And again, for the first time ever in high-definition. The preshow begins at 6:30 p.m. and the live competition starts at 7:30 p.m.

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