Crystal Stewart loves everything about her little one, whom she affectionately refers to as her “little prince” — from his crystal blue eyes and sweet kisses, to his precious hugs and little fingers.
These are just a few of his traits that Stewart celebrates in her original lullaby aptly titled “My Little Prince,” a beautiful tribute with its heartfelt lyrics and soothing melody.
“I wrote it for my son, Bradley,” said Stewart, 33, of Honolulu. “I want him to know that I love him and miss him when he is far, and love all the little things he does. He makes me happy and feel at peace.”
Stewart’s song will be among the new lullabies featured at “A Lullaby Sharing: The Hawaiʻi Lullaby Project 2022,” an in-person concert that will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 9, at the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu. The concert is the closing event of the inaugural Kani Kūola: UH System Music Festival.
“The lullaby sharing is the culmination of collaborations between parents and facilitators,” said Dr. John Signor, who co-directed the Hawaiʻi Lullaby Project. “The stories behind each lullaby are unique, and represented in the diversity of songs being performed. With an audience of infants, family, and friends, new moms and dads will hear their lullabies performed for the first time. This event is truly life-affirming.”
The Lullaby Project is facilitated by Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute, based in New York City. According to its website, the Lullaby Project pairs pregnant women and new mothers and fathers with professional artists to write and sing personal lullabies for their babies, supporting maternal health, aiding childhood development, and strengthening the bond between parent and child.
Signor, a music instructor at Leeward Community College, brought the Lullaby Project to Hawai’i and led it in 2016 and 2017. This year — only the third year of the Hawaiʻi Lullaby Project — Signor is co-directing the project with Dr. Jon Magnussen, head of the music program at UH West Oʻahu.
The Hawaiʻi Lullaby Project 2022 features 10 new lullabies created by parents from partner organizations Adult Friends for Youth and the Mary Jane Home of Catholic Charities, with collaborating artist-facilitators from Leeward Community College, Kapiʻolani Community College, UH West Oʻahu, and the community.
Unlike the first two years when participants and facilitators were able to meet in person, this year’s Lullaby Project presented some unique challenges because most of the lullabies were made during the height of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, via Zoom. Still, participants found the experience to be fulfilling.
“I collaborated and was paired with Keilana Mokulehua, a local singer-songwriter and musician,” Stewart said.
She said the inspiration for the lullaby came from several places, including the children’s book “The Little Prince,” a picture of the Little Prince painted on their bedroom walls by her mother that her son loves to look at, and songs from a lullaby album by singer-songwriter Jewel.
“I love Jewel’s lullaby songs and always played it when nursing him,” Stewart said.
Mokulehua helped write the lullaby based off of Jewel’s album.
“I am glad I got Keilana to help assist me with making a song for my son,” Stewart said. “I really needed her to come and put her own spin on it. The project was a great … opportunity for me as a mother to be a part of.”
A music festival for all
“A Lullaby Sharing: The Hawaiʻi Lullaby Project 2022” is among the highlights of the Kani Kūola: UH System Music Festival, which will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 9, at UH West Oʻahu, with activities held in person and/or online.
“This is the first time ever that our music programs from around the UH System are uniting to share the waiwai of music opportunities offered by our campuses and in our communities,” Magnussen said in a previously published article about the music festival. “The festival will offer a wide variety of in-person and online activities and events to highlight some key learning opportunities that kamaʻāina and malihini will find life-giving and meaningful.”
Kani Kūola will feature music workshops, master classes, industry panels, and a songwriting hōʻike. There will also be a lunchtime Hoʻokani Kulanui event, featuring the nahenahe style of singing and playing of Raiatea Helm, Kamuela Kimokeo, and Bobby Moderow, Jr. Guests are welcome to bring their instruments and voices, and join in the kanikapila jam; chords will be projected on a screen for all to play along.
Additionally, food from Da Spot Health Foods & Juices will be available on site at the festival. Event-goers may purchase lunch from noon to 3 p.m., and dinner from 5 to 7 p.m.
The day-long activities and festivities will end with the Lullaby Project concert, showcasing the power of music creation in the community. Magnussen wanted to also acknowledge those who helped Lullaby Project organizers plan and execute informational sessions, and connect them to community partners: Dr. Camonia Graham-Tutt (UH West Oʻahu, Community Health), Dr. Lorinda Riley (UH Mānoa, Native Hawaiian and Indigenous Health), and Dr. December Maxwell (UH Mānoa, Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health).
ʻSuch a blessing’
Olga Rovnaia, 35, also participated in this year’s Hawaiʻi Lullaby Project. Her lullaby, titled “Oceana Naia,” was written for her daughter, Oceana.
“She is the biggest inspiration for me,” said Rovnaia, of Honolulu and formerly of Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Rovnaia said it was a pleasure to work on the lullaby with Signor, whom she called “a very talented and experienced musician.”
“He knew exactly how to put together all my thoughts and feelings,” she said. “Oceana’s father Telepharaoh was also able to add his lyrics, which made this song very beautiful!”
For Rovnaia, singing the lullaby to her little one is very meaningful.
“I think about the ocean, about being pregnant with Oceana, about love and life and the beauty of being a mother,” she said.
Rovnaia said she is looking forward to the upcoming concert.
“It was such a blessing to be able to create a special song for my child and be a part of this project,” she said.
Like Rovnaia, Stewart is grateful for the experience.
“I am so excited to have done this for my son,” Stewart said.
Visit the Kani Kūola: First Annual UH System Music Festival website for the most up-to-date information about the concert and other festival events. Click here to register.
