Musical artists help uplift, connect school in Hawaii
HONOLULU— Some of Hawaii’s most popular musical artists have appeared before an unlikely audience— an elementary school on Oahu’s coast.
These are gigs with a purpose: The principal dreamed up the virtual concerts, presenting headliners like internationally renowned ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro, as away of bringing together a community struggling with the pandemic.
“We have probably the best ukulele player— one of the best ukulele musicians in the entireworld— that’s gonna come and play for you guys tonight,” said Aikahi Elementary PrincipalKeoki Fraser as children and parents tuned in fromhome computers. “And, he’s fromHawaii.”
Fraser is trying to organize concerts every several weeks as his school continues to educate its students remotely.
The first five concerts featuredwell-known artists like singer Kimie Miner and reggae artistKolohe Kai.
Tabitha Persaud, momof three Aikahi students, remembers Fraser coming to the parent-teacher association with the idea of approaching big names. “Canwe do that?” she wondered.“Will they do that for us?”
Shewas surprised by the caliber of the acts, but “they’re in the same situation aswe are. So, I mean, they’re not having to go anywhere and leave their home or anything. So it’s really simple for them.”
“We just hit them up,” said Fraser. “We love to get people that are influential that the kids look up to.”
During a recent concert, Fraser invited former stu
dent DylanKunz, nowa seventh grader, to play ukulele as one of the student performers to open for Shimabukuro.
Kunz, who idolizes Shimabukuro, was stoked. “He’s the reason I started playing,” he said. “It keeps me motivated to keep playing.”
Shimabukuro himself attendedHawaii public schools. Before performing, he explained that he started playing when hewas 4 years old; hismotherwas his first teacher.
As he played an upbeat flamenco piece, followed by the Beatles tune “InMy Life,” the online conferenc
ing platform’s participant boxes showed children swaying to the music. A momtwirled her daughter around.
The chat panel lit up with messages like “mind blown,” and “thatwas amazing.”
“Even thoughwe’re not on campus and even though things are different, wewant to do things to make sure you guys have fun andwant to make sure you knewwe care about you guys,” Fraser told the concertgoers.
The concerts are open to all. For one performance, about 1,200 viewers tuned in, Fraser said.