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Lahainaluna High School football team receives 80 ‘ukulele

By Staff | Oct 9, 2023

Members of the Lahainaluna High School football team received 80 ‘ukulele on Friday through Roy and Kathy Sakuma’s ‘Ukulele Gift of Hope campaign. PHOTO BY THE COUNCIL FOR NATIVE HAWAIIAN ADVANCEMENT.

KIHEI — Eighty ‘ukulele were presented to members of the Lahainaluna High School football team at Kihei Regional Park before practice Friday as part of Roy and Kathy Sakuma’s ‘Ukulele Gift of Hope campaign.

The program was launched to place ‘ukulele back into the hands of children and families on Maui who lost their homes and personal possessions during the recent wildfires.

More than 800 ‘ukulele were donated to various organizations, institutions and community groups on Maui to assist with distribution to the affected children and families so that they may find healing and comfort through the sound of music and through the ‘ukulele.

In partnership with the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, the majority of the ‘ukulele were shipped to the Kākoʻo Maui Relief & Aid Services Center in Kahului, where the resource hub will oversee distribution to those impacted by the wildfires.

The ‘Ukulele Gift of Hope campaign launched last week and culminated with the 16th annual Maui Ukulele Festival on Sunday at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.

Present during the donation presentation were Roy and Kathy Sakuma, co-founders of Ukulele Festival Hawaii; Kapili Akima, staff member and Lahaina resident, Kākoʻo Maui Relief & Aid Services Center; Kaleopa’a Vares, digital media specialist at the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement; and Jeff Kihune, assistant coach of the team.