Community Impact

UH West Oʻahu Music is rooted in the belief that music is a living practice, one that strengthens relationships, carries ʻike (knowledge), and creates spaces where communities can gather, learn, and be heard. Through collaborative projects, student engagement, and public-facing events, the program supports cultural continuity and creative growth across the pae ‘āina and beyond. The projects below reflect how the music department works alongside community partners to uplift local stories, encourage intergenerational connection, and expand access to meaningful musical experiences.

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Pāka'a Project
Lullaby Project
Kani Kūola UH System Music Festival
Expanding The Pāka’a Project Strengthening music education resources in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, UH West Oʻahu Music in summer 2026 embarked on an expansion project of the original Pākaʻa Lanakila! Teacher Resource Guide, released by Chamber Music Hawaiʻi in 2016. This expanded Palapala Kumu Haʻawina (Teacher Resource Guide) covers all orchestral and band instruments and is meant to support learners in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi classrooms and English-language classrooms who experience the symphony orchestra and (upcoming) band versions of Pākaʻa Lanakila! Mahalo nui to University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu and ʻUpena Moananuiākea for supporting this work! This web and print resource provides downloadable materials ready for haumāna (students) assessments, and ideas on how to incorporate themes from the moʻolelo (story) into classroom curricula.
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Students with 'ukuleles and guitars, playing a concert at Paliku THeater.
Hawaiʻi Lullaby Project participants Crystal Stewart and Olga Rovnaia

The Lullaby Project – An LCC|UHWO Collaboration

First brought to Hawaiʻi by Leeward Community College music instructor Dr. John Signor in 2016, UH West Oʻahu music partnered with LCC in 2017 and again in 2022, pairing local expecting parents, student-parents, and community members with professional artist-facilitators and student musicians to write personal original lullabies strengthening family bonds through song.

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Kani Kūola UH System
Music Festival

The Kani Kūola: UH System Music Festival is an annual statewide event celebrating music education, creation, and performance across the University of Hawaiʻi system. The inaugural festival was hosted on Saturday, April 9, 2022, by the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu, bringing together students, faculty, and industry leaders for workshops, panels, and live performances. The second Festival (2023) was hosted by Windward Community College on April 1, 2023, expanding to include panels on the Hawaiian Renaissance and specialized workshops on Hawaiian composition, ’ukulele, and hula movement. The third annual Kani Kūola Music Festival moved to University of Hawaiʻi Maui College on April 13, 2024, and its program focused on music industry career insights, songwriting mentorship, and cutting-edge creative media studies.

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Kani Kūola Music Festival student and faculty participants