Bringing Music to Maui

We have made tremendous progress in our efforts to define the services we want to bring to Maui. While there’s a lot of work ahead and questions yet to be answered, I believe we’re rapidly approaching the point where we’ll

bring music, comfort and healing to Maui. Here’s a snapshot of an overly productive visit to Hawaii. 

We have identified people who will be involved in developing/managing resources, created new relationships on Maui that can how we can introduce these services in an “organic” way and have started a fundraising page that’s already showing meaningful results. 

I had the opportunity to meet withe founders of the Ukulele Festival of Hawaii, during my trip and we discussed how we might align our efforts to create the greatest possible impact. Roy and Kathy were very gracious and are interesting  in helping us secure ukuleles for children and to bring us into the Maui Ukulele Festival that’s currently scheduled on October 8, 2023. 

I had a great meeting the event planner who organized the live dinner/concert event we created in Oahu this past April. The focus of our conversation was the possibility of having her manage any upcoming events we hold in Maui, creating media exposure and the the possibility of helping us arrange a second concert event in the new year to raise money for our efforts.  

I was very happy to learn that she had already been thinking the same way and has spoken with the owners of the venue where we held our recent concert. I hope we’ll be able to have a repeat performance soon after the new year. 

Prior to meeting this meeting, I met with a retired Navy seal who’s managing an initiative where the charity he’s aligned with is purchasing  a home on Oahu to serve as a wellness counseling center for first responders and Navy Seals. This center will  provide a three night all expense paid opportunity to speak with counselors and find time to breath. We have agreed to align our efforts when TKP will help provide ukuleles, arrange to bring in musicians and possible music therapists. 

One of the most important meetings that occurred was a three hour working lunch with Kimo Hussey, Roy and Kathy Sakuma, Ami Kunimura Ph.D (who is a music therapist specializing in trauma and burnout, and three music therapists from Oahu.

 In the week prior to this meeting Ami and I have been speaking with music therapists from the mainland who have direct experience working with trauma impacted communities(mass shootings and natural disasters). 

During these calls they have helped us understand how to approach communities, the various ways resources can be introduced and how to enlist the aid of music teachers and musicians when there may not be enough music therapists to provide ongoing services. 

From this meeting we have developed an understanding of the resources we’d like to introduce and the need for residents of Maui to tell us how to best support their community

During this visit I was e-introduced by the Dean of a Pennsylvania based medical school to his counterpart at the school in Oahu.  This email was warmly received by the dean and she responded by copying six additional representatives living on Maui who are associated with the medical school or the University of Hawaii. The Dean’s response    led to the introduction to 18 more Maui residents including musicians, educators and healthcare professionals. 

Upon return from Oahu, Uncle Kimo and I had a great introductory call with a Maui based physician and a music teacher from Lahaina. There is strong interest bringing resources without delay and they are introducing us to the department of health, which will help us bring resources to the locations where displaced residents are living. We have arranged to speak with them again this coming week and we will be joined by additional members of the community. 

We’ve also seen a nice response from our fundraising page that was built to support Maui. We’ve already secured enough money to purchase 50 ukuleles that match the specifications of the instruments identified by the Lahaina music teacher and we have confirmed with Kala that they have the ability to provide them to us.  This donation link is now prominently displayed on our website. 

We’ve also begun to have meaningful conversation with several organizations on the mainland about creating fundraising concerts and know they will be of great help. 

So after a very short visit,  I am extremely encouraged by our opportunities to help Maui by bringing music and it’s healing power to people who’ve suffered such a horrible loss.