A partnership between Lōkahi, Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii and Hawaii Youth Symphony expands access to music lessons across Oahu.
For every twenty students in Hawaii, just one receives music education. That’s 95% of students miss out on the critical cognitive, emotional, and social benefits of learning music. A partnership between Lōkahi, Hawaii Youth Symphony (HYS), and Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii (BGCH) will expand music education opportunities for Hawaii’s youth.
The new program blends in-person instruction, digital learning tools, and mentorship to nurture talent and inspire lifelong engagement with music. Through this joint effort, students from three BGCH Clubhouses will participate in hands-on music lessons guided by HYS instructors and supported by Fender Play, an interactive online music education platform, provided by the music education nonprofit Lōkahi.
Regular sessions at each Clubhouse will offer consistent instruction and mentorship, giving students a space to learn an instrument, collaborate with peers and grow their appreciation for music. “We’re grateful for this collaborative effort with Lōkahi and Hawaii Youth Symphony, which gives our keiki and teens new opportunities to express themselves and discover new sides of who they are,” said Paddy Kauhane, President and CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii. “It’s amazing to see what happens when they’re given space to try something new and see themselves in a different light.” Students enrolled in the program will receive lessons from HYS instructors trained by Lōkahi to utilize Fender Play.
This technology allows students to access instructor-guided video lessons and play-along tracks at home to continue building their skills beyond club hours. “Music is a powerful catalyst for unity, imagination, and learning, and we’re thrilled to launch this collaboration to expand music education opportunities across Hawai’i,” said Mark Fukunaga, Executive Chair of Servco Pacific Inc., one of Lōkahi’s sponsors. “It brings together all the right elements of technology, cultural relevance, and an investment in our educators to deliver engaging lessons that will significantly benefit the students.” Research has shown that participation in music programs enhances communication and empathy, and this initiative further supports youth in developing emotional and social skills like teamwork, self-expression and resilience.
“Sharing an accessible platform for extended learning with students harmonizes beautifully with our in-person programs at the Clubhouse and our ongoing mission at HYS, helping youth to discover how music can become a lifelong source of creativity and connection,” said Randy Wong, President and CEO at Hawaii Youth Symphony. “The only program of its kind serving Oahu’s west side community, Nānākuli Strings, has doubled in size just this past year thanks to an incredible partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii, and this exciting new collaboration with Lōkahi comes at the perfect time to amplify impact.”
This partnership will benefit students enrolled in music classes led by Kau‘ionālani Mead, at the Nānākuli Clubhouse and music classes taught by Abe Lagrimas, Jr. at the Spalding Clubhouse. Fittingly timed, HYS is launching a new Rock Band class led by teacher Jake Lui and an ukulele class taught by Maia Mayeshiro at the Windward Clubhouse, which will benefit from this collaboration.
Although your child must be a member of BGCH to be able to join the new music program applications are easy and accessible on their website. For more information on the in person music classes, families are invited to visit Hawaii Youth Symphony’s website. To access Fender Play for students and additional free resources, educators are invited to visit lokahi.podia.com.
About Lōkahi The Ukulele Collective
Lōkahi, The Ukulele Collective, is a non-profit effort sponsored by Servco Pacific Inc. bringing together passionate individuals from schools, the music industry, nonprofits, and the broader community to transform music education. Backed by the celebrated local music artist Paula Fuga with support from other local artists, like Grammy-winner Jack Johnson, the first lyrics writing challenge took place from 2024-2025 with over 900 students participating from 33 schools across 4 islands. Lōkahi gives all students, no matter their circumstances, access to a high-quality music education rooted in cultural identity.
About Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii
Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii (BGCH) is a non-profit organization serving more than 14,000 youth, ages 7 to 17 each year on Oahu and Kauai. The mission of Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. BGCH Clubhouses and outreach sites provide affordable membership and guidance-oriented development programs that emphasize education, technology, and career development; health and life skills; the arts; character and leadership development; and sports, fitness, and recreation. BGCH is an affiliate of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and has been operating in Hawaiʻi since 1976.
About the Hawaii Youth Symphony
With a mission to foster fun and creative experiences that inspire a deep appreciation for music and lifelong relationships within the culture of our islands, Hawaii Youth Symphony annually serves more than 700 students ages 7-18, brought together from over 100 public, independent, and home schools statewide. Established as a non-profit organization in 1964, HYS provides enriching opportunities for orchestral music education, performances, and community engagement. HYS envisions a Hawaiʻi where music is a right, where every child can access, learn, and grow through the opportunity to make music—a Hawaii where all keiki can receive high quality music education throughout their childhood if they desire it. Financial assistance for tuition, and travel reimbursement for neighbor island students, is available.
Increased Access to Music Education
In addition to the partnership between Lōkahi, Hawaii Youth Symphony, and Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii, there is another exciting development that will make music education more accessible to students across Hawai`i thanks to the strong history between Lōkahi and Fender. Fender is committed to expanding access to music education, and Lōkahi is empowering teachers to bring music learning into classrooms statewide. Thanks to our collaboration, every teacher and student in Hawaii’s public schools now has free access to Fender Play, an online platform for learning ukulele, guitar and bass, available directly through Clever on school devices. Private and public charter schools can also gain access by submitting a request to Lōkahi.
