Page 14 - MidWeek - May 17, 2023

14 MIDWEEK MAY 17, 2023
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COVER STORY
For the past few months, Iam Tongi of Kahuku has been captivating audiences around the world with his performances on American Idol.
Despite his family being “priced out of paradise,” Kahuku native Iam Tongi has found a new home on the show American Idol, where he’s capturing the hearts — and votes — of millions.
STORY BY YU SHING TING PHOTOS BY ERIC MCCANDLESS, COURTESY ABC
Video of his audition, titled “Iam Tongi Makes The Judges Cry With His Emotional Story and Song,” has report- edly become the most viewed audition ever on American Idol’s YouTube page, with more than 15.5 million views since
“I was supposed to go to Vegas (to au- dition), but then I got COVID,” explains Tongi. “I thought it was over. I was cry- ing, but then my mom was talking to the lady, and she said, ‘Oh, you can try out at the New Orleans one.’
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“I was so excited, so I got up and went to New Orleans, but my mom couldn’t go because she had to work, so I went with my uncle Manatau (Tuifua). He lives in Hawai‘i, but he flew up to take me.”
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For his audition, Tongi covered Mon- sters by James Blunt, a song he dedicat- ed to his late father, Rodney. After his tear-jerker performance, judge Katy Perry described Tongi’s voice as magnificent, Luke Bryan said it was great and that he did everything perfect, and Lionel Richie added, “The story is one thing, your de- livery of your story was phenomenal. ... Young man, you take this into the world and you’re going to fracture some souls.”
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While all three judges agreed to send Tongi to the next round of the competi- tion in Hollywood, this wasn’t his first time trying out for the long-running TV singing competition, which is in its 21st season.
“I auditioned online the year before and I never made it and it kinda killed my confidence,” reveals the 18-year-old high school senior. “But my mom signed me up and the rest is history. Now, I’m in the top 5 (as of press time last Friday).”
Tongi beams with pride after being praised for his voice and delivery by the show’s judges.
This past Sunday, the top 3 finalists were announced during American Idol’s live coast-to-coast show on ABC, and lo- cally, arrangements were already under- way for a parade through Kahuku and a Hometown Hero concert that is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, May 16 at Turtle
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