Keola Beamer (back row, center) and numerous others have contributed their talents to providing youth with the ukulele as a way to enrich their lives and communities through the power of music.

KAHULUI — Lahaina residents Keola and Moanalani Beamer invite the community to enjoy an afternoon with them and slack key musician Jeff Peterson for their benefit concert and film at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center (MACC) on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023, at 3 p.m. in the McCoy Studio Theater.

Following the concert, the award-winning film “Flight of the Butterflies” will allow viewers to experience, in 3D, the most incredible migration on Earth and one man’s search to unravel its mysteries.

“The presentation, to spread ‘aloha around the world’ through the Mohala Hou Foundation (MHF), continues to honor my mother, Aunty Nona Beamer, a revered Hawaiian cultural treasure, and her effort not only to live a life of ‘aloha,’ but also to share it everywhere, with everyone,” said Keola, himself a world-renowned musician and award-winning slack key guitar master.

“Over the years, our mission has continued to uplift children in poverty-stricken communities in Hawaii and around the globe. In addition to Hawaii, MHF has operated internationally in India and Cambodia. Now they are gearing up for Bhutan in 2024.”

“The event was initially a fundraiser to raise money for Bhutan to teach children how to play the ukulele. But, now we are planning to give the proceeds to the West Maui Community,” explained event Promotor Tom Vendetti.

MHF is a nonprofit organization that presents Aloha Music Camp (AMC) and other educational and cultural programs to foster understanding and perpetuation of the Hawaiian culture. Through the more than 22 years of AMC’s operation, the Beamer ‘ohana and other Hawaiian kumu (teachers) have provided educational and cultural programs in the context of ukulele, guitar, hula, ‘olelo (language), oli (chant) and traditional Hawaiian crafts to thousands of participants of all ages.

The expertise of MHF in developing and presenting cultural enrichment programs throughout Hawaii and worldwide ensures that children as far away as Bhutan, Cambodia, India and other countries, will also receive the highest quality of instruction that is responsive to their needs and interests.

Numerous people have contributed their talents to providing youth with the ukulele as a way to enrich their lives and communities through the power of music.

“Our AMC instructors know that when children also learn to better understand the essential connection of music and dance in other cultures, they will begin to assimilate these ideas and instruments into their own culture,” Keola explained. “To begin this process, the instructors teach the children songs in their native language. By learning to play their own songs on their own instruments, the warmth, joy and aloha spirit of the music will begin to spread and enrich their lives and the lives of their families and communities.

“I am very much looking forward to working with fellow-guitarist Jeff Peterson again,” said Keola. “Over the years, Peterson has achieved tremendous success, and at the same time, he has become like a son to me. I love playing music with him and exploring the fascinating tonality of the Hawaiian slack key guitar. It is going to be fun to hear him present his latest work to our Maui audience.

“The thing that’s really cool about this particular concert is that we will also be working with award-winning Maui filmmaker Tom Vendetti in a fascinating 3D exploration of the Hawaiian values of contextual and experiential learning. When I sing my classic ‘The Beauty of Mauna Kea,’ it will feel to the audience that it is snowing in the McCoy,” he continued.

“People love Hawaiian music and stories. Tom has created beautiful 3D imagery to surround and enhance our live mo’olelo (storytelling). At this event, the group will present an intriguing and new enhancement to the ancient art of storytelling, a possible new way for the future.”

Vendetti noted, “Keola and Moanalani are my heroes. They are both dedicated to bringing Hawaiian culture to the youth in Hawaii as well as to children around the world. They have put together an extraordinary event… Their simple goal is to spread peace through music and in the process spread the aloha spirit.

“I am honored to be part of this fundraiser and mission.”

Advance ticket sales are available online at boxoffice@mauiarts.org. For ticketing inquiries, phone (808) 242-SHOW.