Music For Maui Updates: Expanded Support, Reach and Acceptance
The past month has been filled with numerous opportunities to share music experiences with many children and adults on Maui. It’s been a privilege to see how this is growing organically through the support of people and organizations on Maui, its neighboring islands, and the mainland.
While we continue to explore opportunities that will allow us to reach even more people on a long-term basis, I want to share several developments and send my heartfelt appreciation to everyone involved in this important effort.
Expanded Access to Ukulele through the Ukulele Festival of Hawaii’s Ukulele Gift of Hope Initiative
We are honored to be the recipient of 144 ukuleles, cases, tuners, and strings through the generosity of Roy and Kathy Sakuma, founders of the Ukulele Festival of Hawaii. The arrival of these instruments could not have come at a more opportune time, as we are experiencing an increased demand for ukuleles from individuals attending the weekly Kanikapila at the hotel shelters and other individuals and groups we are encountering.
Aligning with the Maui Music Mission
We have been able to have meaningful conversations with Rueben Pali, a Maui-based music teacher and founder of the Maui Music Mission, which sadly burned down during the fires.
Despite losing his business and home, Uncle Rueben has continued to share his time and talents by providing lessons to children living on the other side of the island. Supporting his efforts will help bring music to the children living outside the shelters without causing any financial hardship for their parents while they rebuild their homes and lives.
Creating New Opportunities to Share Music and Time with Friends
We were honored to have sponsored an afternoon gathering where more than 90 people from all across Maui gathered to connect with friends, be entertained by Jason Jerome, founder of Lahaina Music, Uncle Kimo Hussey, founder of the Ukulele Guild of Hawaii, and Ned Dana who traveled from Kauai with Uncle Kimo to play.
Many of these individuals have been affected by wildfires and recent events around the world. It was an honor to be able to help make this happen.
During this three-hour event, more than 30 people learned to play the ukulele, sing songs, and create meaningful memories with new and old friends. We’re still receiving heartwarming feedback about the event and questions about how we can replicate this experience (we’re working on it).
Moving Beyond a Pilot Program at Hotel Shelters
When we began to bring instruments and offer music lessons and Kanikapila at the hotel shelters it was done with the knowledge that this would be a five-week pilot program. I’m so honored to share that, as a result of the feedback the hotels have received from the displaced residents living there, two hotels have decided to offer these weekly sessions indefinitely.
This resource is so important for the mental well-being of these guests. Throughout the development of this initiative, we’ve been advised by music therapists who focus on working with communities that have experienced a manmade or natural trauma that it can be incredibly harmful to offer a resource and then suddenly take it away. We are grateful to the hotels who’ve chosen to allow these engagements to continue.