Honolulu, HI – Three-time Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winning artist, Paula Fuga, visited Pearl Harbor Elementary School on April 17 to congratulate the winners of the Lōkahi: The Ukulele Collective (Lōkahi) Ho’olōkahi Lyrics Writing Challenge. This musical experience of a lifetime was the culmination of the students’ hard work, and a challenge that engaged hundreds of students in schools across O’ahu, Maui, Kaua’i and Hawai’i Island through ukulele and songwriting.
Pearl Harbor Elementary emerged as the challenge’s grand prize winner — complementing Lōkahi’s song with their own verse of original lyrics. The school welcomed Fuga, along with representatives from the Hawai’i Department of Education and students showcased their musical skills in performance.
“Today I got to experience something truly magical,” said Fuga. “The students not only wrote their own beautiful lyrics, but performed them with heart and passion. Music is a powerful way to express our stories and feelings, and seeing these keiki embrace songwriting at such a young age fills me with joy and hope for the future of music in Hawai’i.”
During her visit, Fuga shared insights into her own songwriting process before she performed with the students. Under the guidance of Dustin Chang, music teacher at Pearl Harbor Elementary School, the students had prepared diligently for their performance and refined their ukulele skills, lyrics and singing.
The Ho’olōkahi Lyrics Writing Challenge, which concluded on March 15, has successfully integrated music education into classrooms across Hawai’i. The initiative, supported by Jack Johnson and the Johnson ‘Ohana Foundation, represents Lōkahi’s ongoing commitment to expanding access to quality music education statewide.
“Paula and Jack jumped at the opportunity to support the Ho’olōkahi Lyrics Writing Challenge,” said Mark Fukunaga, Executive Chairman of Servco Pacific Inc., one of the program’s sponsors. “Their passion and expertise have already inspired students to create their own lyrics and hone their writing skills through music.”
On May 3, Pearl Harbor Elementary School and other participating local schools will showcase their musical talents at a Ho’olōkahi Play Along event at the Ala Moana Center’s centerstage from 3:00 to 3:45 p.m. This in-person celebration will bring together students and families for an afternoon of collaborative music-making, allowing them to share their creativity and newly developed skills with the wider community. All are invited to attend the free event.
Keith Hayashi, superintendent of the Hawai’i State Department of Education, emphasized, “This exciting partnership reflects our commitment to providing students with a well-rounded education that nurtures both academic and creative growth. Engaging in music and the arts offers students a powerful outlet for self-expression while also building essential cognitive skills such as memory, attention span, and logical reasoning.”
Schools interested in participating in next year’s challenge can learn more by visiting lokahi.podia.com or by following @lokahiukulele on Instagram.