May 6, 2026
Honolulu, HI – Students from across Hawai'i showcased their musical talents at the Lōkahi Play Along on Saturday, May 2 at McKinley High School Auditorium alongside artists and music education champions Paula Fuga, Honoka Katayama, Jody Kamisato, Bryan Tolentino, and Abe Lagrimas Jr. This annual community event hosted by Lōkahi, presented by Servco Pacific Inc. (Servco), brings students, teachers, artists, families, and partners together to play music.
The celebration featured student performers from Mauka Lani Elementary School, Mililani Mauka Elementary School, and St. Patrick School, as well as a video recording of student performers from Kula Elementary School on Maui. Students performed their original lyrics written for “The Aloha Jam” as part of the second annual Hoʻolōkahi Lyrics Writing Challenge, presented by Servco. The 80+ students represented hundreds of students from classrooms across Hawaiʻi Island, Kauai, Maui, Molokaʻi, and Oʻahu who participated in writing original lyrics responding to the theme, “Aloha In Our Community.”
The songwriting challenge’s top 3 schools – Kula Elementary School on Maui, Kohala Elementary School on Hawai'i, and Wahiawa Elementary School on Oʻahu – received classroom sets of 30 Fender ukuleles donated by Free Guitars 4 Kids (FG4K). Acclaimed Hawaiian musician Paula Fuga made a special appearance at the Play Along and visited the challenge’s winning school, Kula Elementary School, where students had the opportunity to ask her questions about songwriting and perform with her. “What I love about Lōkahi is the way we’re working with teachers and the Hawai‘i State Department of Education to help students find their voices,” said Paula Fuga.
According to the National Association for Music Education, performance is a core part of music learning as students experience the journey from practice to performance, developing skills like strategic planning, dedication, and the ability to interpret and share their work. The Play Along puts that journey on full display and is a visible expression of what lōkahi, unity through music, looks like in practice. “The partnership with Lōkahi is a great example of what is possible to provide students with everlasting experiences, teachers with professional learning, and to elevate the importance of fine arts and music in our schools,” said Teri Ushijima, HIDOE assistant superintendent for the Office of Curriculum and Instructional Design.
In addition to representatives from the Hawai‘i State Department of Education, the Play Along was attended by Mark Fukunaga, Executive Chairman of Servco, and Mary Keenan, Executive Director of Lōkahi, as well as other key music education leaders Randy Wong, President & CEO of Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony, Myrna Kamae, Co-Founder of The Hawaiian Legacy Foundation, Ben Dudley, Executive Director of FG4K, and Damon Danielson, Co-Founder of FG4K.
Awards were presented to participating teachers, with special recognitions going to:
Ms. Oshiro from Mauka Lani Elementary.
Ms. Wee from Mililani Mauka Elementary School, who received 5 ukuleles from FG4K in recognition of her hard work to submit multiple entries for the challenge.
Mr. Hobro from Farrington High School.
Ms. Young from Saint Patrick School, who received 5 ukuleles from FG4K in recognition of her hard work to submit multiple entries for the challenge.
Mr. Balidoy from Wahiawa Elementary School, whose class won third place in the challenge and received a classroom set of ukuleles, accepted by Principal Sean Takashima.
In addition to the annual Lōkahi Play Along and Hoʻolōkahi Lyrics Writing Challenge, Lōkahi hosts professional development courses (offered for credit through the Hawai‘i State Department of Education) to train teachers in ukulele instruction, music fundamentals, and classroom integration. Lōkahi’s approach is technology-enabled, pairing hands-on instruction with tools like Fender Play to give teachers structured, ongoing resources for their classrooms. With Lōkahi’s guidance, teachers across all school types – public, charter, and private – leave with skills, materials, and a community of practice. Teachers interested in getting involved can learn more by visiting lokahi.podia.com.
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About Lōkahi: The Ukulele Collective:
Lōkahi: The Ukulele Collective is a 501(c)(3) non-profit uniting schools, artists and technology – to ensure that every student in Hawaiʻi has the opportunity to learn, play and create music in school. We envision music education integrated into every school day across Hawaiʻi, with teachers equipped to deliver sustainable, culturally-relevant programs that transform learning for all students. Visit lokahi.podia.com to learn more.
About Servco Pacific Inc:
Servco is the founding partner and primary funder of Lōkahi: The Ukulele Collective (Lōkahi). Through Lōkahi, Servco continues its commitment to Hawai‘i by helping empower teachers and inspire the next generation of musicians and creative leaders.
Servco has been part of the music community for more than 105 years. Our involvement dates back to the 1930s with the founding of Easy Music Center in Hawai‘i. Music remains an important part of our global business, including our ownership of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation and Reverb.
About Paula Fuga:
Acclaimed for her originality in song composition and spellbinding, soulful vocals, Paula Fuga is one of Hawai’i’s top female musicians in generations. A poet at heart and an accomplished ukulele player under Master Instructor, Roy Sakuma, she has intertwined her passions into award-winning songwriting. Her debut album, Lilikoi lauded the prestigious Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for ‘Most Promising Artist.’ Since the release of her EP Misery’s End, which featured guest appearances by Ziggy Marley and Jack Johnson, Fuga has headlined the global music circuit and performed on the stages of Madison Square Garden, The Sydney Opera House Forecourt and is a three-time return guest artist to The White House. Today, with a global fanbase and thriving music career, Fuga’s music is dedicated to inspiring positive social change – rooted in perseverance and hope. She is fiercely committed to permeating the world with the evocative voice of the Hawaiian people.
About the Hawai'i State Department of Education:
The Hawai'i State Department of Education's (HIDOE) Fine Arts Program provides a comprehensive arts education in visual arts, media arts, music, theater, and dance. Through engaging curricula and enriching opportunities students explore their talents, deepen their appreciation for the arts, and connect with Hawai'i's rich cultural heritage and diverse traditions. A study by the Arts Education Partnership found that students engaged in arts learning demonstrated improved academic performance, including higher test scores and increased graduation rates. This March, HIDOE proudly hosted the second Fine Arts in Our Schools Month, celebrating visual and performing arts in public schools. This month-long event highlighted the artistic and musical talents of our students through exhibitions and performances.
About Free Guitars 4 Kids:
Free Guitars 4 Kids (FG4K) is a national non-profit organization on a mission to transform the lives of kids in underserved communities through the gift of a guitar. Since 2020, FG4K has gifted over 4,000 guitars across 25 states, partnering with more than 100 nonprofits, schools, and after-school programs to ensure each gift is transformational—providing not just instruments, but mentorship and instruction that empower kids to grow as musicians, creators, and confident individuals. FG4K is committed to making music accessible to all; learn more at fg4k.org and join the mission to change a child’s life, one guitar at a time.
Media Contacts:
Hunter Rapoza
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