During my visit to Oahu
Dear friends,
I’m currently on my way to Oahu to meet with a number of people who are interested in creating a ukulele based wellness resource that can be offered to the Maui Community and first responders who continue to search Lahaina.
While we have an idea of what we hope to accomplish, I know this is fluid situation and that no one can truly be prepared to address the complexity of issues that arise from a tragedy on this level). But that’s a good thing.
Going there to talk and explore without any preconceived notions about how things must be done will create a more collaborative conversation that will identify new opportunities and challenges.
To prepare for this trip I’ve been spending time talking with the leadership of a national organization that brings creative arts resources to communities that suffer from manmade and natural traumas (mass shootings, hurricanes, fires) about how to introduce services to a community and how to develop trust with people who are affected by life altering events.
I’ve also been invited by a Hawaii based music therapist and wellness consultant to join several calls with therapists who were working with communities affected by mass shootings in Newtown, Pittsburg and Parkland and during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in Texas.
These calls have focused on how to build trust in the communities, the various ways resources can be offered, how to enlist the aid of musicians and music teachers to increase resounds capacities and the long term commitment required to provide a meaningful resource. They’ve also helped my get a better sense of how this event has triggered generational trauma and the importance of this being a resource managed by local members of the community.
During my time on Oahu I will be meeting with individuals who have expressed interest in helping in one of the three pillars of this initiative (replacing instruments, creating access to music therapists and organizing playing opportunities in the shelter or for organizing caring for people affected by this event) . Some of the interactions will include meeting with:
•Roy and Kathy Sakuma, founders of the Maui Ukulele Festival, to provide instruments at their October festival tentatively planned to be held in shelters. We’ve already sourced $7,500 of grant money for his foundation to purchase ukuleles and fundraising efforts have secured another $3,000 in the past four days.
•The event planner who helped us organized the fundraising dinner/concert that raised more than $10,000 for the local children’s hospital to explore the possibility of doing this again later this year.
•Musicians and music educators to identify how they can share their talents and time with isolated and displaced individuals in Maui
•A retired Navy seal who’s with an organization that is looking to purchase home on Oahu to serve as a retreat and counseling center for first responders. We have the shared intention of being their source for instruments, music therapists and artists for these heroes to play with.
•Five music therapists from Oahu and Hilo to discuss what could be offered to Maui, when it is appropriate for this to occur and the logistical/staffing challenges that need to be met.
I am confident that the conversations we have in the next four days will be invaluable and lead us to an appropriate and meaningful resource to help these families in their very long recovery process.
I am grateful for the encouragement and guidance of my families, friends and peers to pursue this initiative. There’s no telling where it will lead or how many people of will help, but it will make a difference.
I’ll be working to update our website to
Include updates about our progress and I’m always to connect about what we’re up to.
With appreciation,
David