HONOLULU, HAWAI’I — May 5, 2025 — More than ninety students from across Hawai’i showcased their musical talents on Saturday at Ala Moana Centerstage accompanied by three-time Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winning artist, Paula Fuga, and multi-instrumentalist educator Abe Lagrimas Jr. The Ho’olōkahi Challenge Play Along was the culmination celebration for the first-ever Ho’olōkahi Lyrics Writing Challenge hosted by Lōkahi: The Ukulele Collective. The event brought together students to perform their original lyrics written for “The Lōkahi Jam.”
The celebration featured performers from Salt Lake Elementary, St. Patrick School, and Pearl Harbor Elementary, who represented the more than 900 students from 33 schools who participated in the six-month challenge. The competition, which launched in October 2024, invited teachers to guide their students in creating original lyrics for a musical composition while learning to play the ukulele.
“Lōkahi’s mission is to bring music into the school day, and this lyric writing challenge demonstrates how music education can inspire creativity and build confidence in our students,” said Abe Lagrimas, Jr., who served as the event’s master of ceremonies representing Lōkahi: The Ukulele Collective.
Lōkahi: The Ukulele Collective emerged from the longstanding relationship between Servco Pacific Inc. and Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. Servco’s history with Fender dates back to the 1950s, evolving from being a dealer of their products to becoming a majority owner in the iconic music company. Lōkahi has collaborated with multiple organizations and notable artists including Paula Fuga, Jake Shimabukuro, and Jack Johnson to provide instruments, resources and inspiration to schools across Hawai’i.
The event was attended by Assistant Superintendent Teri Ushijima and other representatives from the Hawai’i State Department of Education, who emphasized the importance of arts education in schools. Mark Fukunaga, Executive Chair of Servco Pacific Inc., the key sponsor of Lōkahi, spoke about how music education boosts cognitive abilities and academic achievement.
Acclaimed Hawaiian musician Paula Fuga, who initially invited students to participate in the challenge through a video message in October, made a special appearance at the event. Fuga joined the students for a collaborative performance of “The Lōkahi Jam,” bringing together participating schools and audience members in a unified musical experience at the popular Ala Moana Centerstage venue.
Awards were presented to participating teachers, with special recognition going to:
- Mr. Chang from Pearl Harbor Elementary, whose class won first place with a unique performance featuring vocal harmonies and lyrics that captured the challenge’s theme
- Mrs. Young from Saint Patrick School, whose class received an Honorable Mention for Best Ensemble for incorporating ukuleles, bells, and violins
- Mrs. Mimura from Salt Lake Elementary, whose class won the “Catchiest Lyrics Award”
When asked what they enjoyed most about the project, students expressed enthusiasm for writing their own lyrics and performing together, and a desire to continue playing music in school.
The event concluded this year’s Ho’olōkahi Lyrics Writing Challenge. On April 17, Paula Fuga visited the challenge’s eventual winners, Pearl Harbor Elementary School. Fuga congratulated and performed with the students, and shared insights into her own songwriting process.
“It was so wonderful to be able to see firsthand, the impact that Lokahi has on students who were a part of the lyric writing challenge,” said Paula Fuga. “I loved Visiting Pearl Harbor Elementary School and hearing the students perform the wonderful song and verse they wrote. It was even more special to hear them perform songs that I wrote, that are a part of the song library. It’s clear that their teacher is very passionate about music because it shines through, in the excitement and enthusiasm of the students.”
The challenge represents a significant collaboration between Lōkahi: The Ukulele Collective, Servco Pacific Inc., and the Hawai’i Department of Education to promote music education in schools throughout Hawai’i.
Schools interested in participating in next year’s challenge can learn more by visiting lokahi.podia.com or by following @lokahiukulele on Instagram.