ARTIST PAULA FUGA TO VISIT KULA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO CELEBRATE WINNERS OF STATEWIDE LYRICS WRITING CHALLENGE

Honolulu, HI – Lōkahi: The Ukulele Collective (Lōkahi) has announced Kula Elementary School as the grand prize winner in the second annual Hoʻolōkahi Lyrics Writing Challenge, presented by Servco Pacific Inc. (Servco). Three-time Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winning artist Paula Fuga will visit Kula Elementary School on Thursday, April 30th, alongside representatives from Lōkahi and Free Guitars 4 Kids, to celebrate the teachers and students’ achievement and innovation.

“I love witnessing the creativity, passion, and aloha that the students share in their performances as part of this lyrics writing challenge. It's really special to see how unique each entry is even though we're all united in singing the same song,” said Award-winning artist Paula Fuga. “I can't wait to meet and hear the students perform from the winning school, Kula Elementary!”

The challenge counts on many partners, including Servco, the Hawai’i Department of Education (HIDOE), and Alaska Airlines, as well as esteemed judges, including Hawaiian artists Paula Fuga, Bryan Tolentino, Honoka, Jody Kamisato, Kapono Wong, and Abe Lagrimas Jr.

“Our collaboration with Lōkahi highlights our dedication to connecting students with the transformative power of the arts. The lyrics writing challenge provides a vital platform for creative expression, helping our students build the empathy and critical thinking skills necessary to thrive both in and out of the classroom,” Teri Ushijima, HIDOE assistant superintendent for the Office of Curriculum and Instructional Design, said.

The theme of this year’s Hoʻolōkahi Lyrics Writing Challenge was “Aloha in Our Community.” With an emphasis on caring for the community, the challenge equipped students to learn a song on the ukulele and inspired them to write original lyrics. Under the guidance of 4th grade teachers at Kula Elementary — Brit Oliphant, Anna Geyer, and Mandy Nolan — the students prepared diligently to enhance their ukulele skills, develop their original lyrics, and perform confidently.

“This was our second year participating in the Hoʻolōkahi Lyrics Writing Challenge, and it has been such a meaningful way to integrate music into our classrooms,” said Brit Oliphant, a fourth grade teacher at Kula Elementary School. “Experiences like this give students confidence, help them express their ideas, and show them that their voices matter. We are incredibly proud of the thoughtfulness and love they brought to their songwriting.”

This year, the top three classrooms are Kula Elementary School on Maui, Kohala Elementary School on Hawaiʻi Island, and Wahiawā Elementary School on Oʻahu. Each will receive a classroom set of ukuleles thanks to a partnership with Free Guitars 4 Kids to help them maintain and grow their music programs.

“When you put an instrument in a child’s hands, you’re giving them more than music—you’re giving them a voice. This is about students stepping into creativity and being brave enough to express themselves,” said Ben Dudley, Executive Director of Free Guitars 4 Kids. “We’re inspired by them, and grateful for the educators and programs who make it possible. It’s an honor to support this work with Lōkahi: The Ukulele Collective, and help ensure more young people have the chance to be seen, heard, and encouraged through music.”

The Hoʻolōkahi Lyrics Writing Challenge, presented by Servco, has successfully integrated music education into classrooms across Hawaiʻi Island, Kauai, Maui, Molokaʻi, and Oʻahu. This initiative represents Lōkahi’s ongoing commitment to expanding access to quality music education statewide. Thanks to the collaboration between HIDOE and Lōkahi, every teacher and student in Hawaiʻi’s public schools now has access to Fender Play, an online platform for learning ukulele, guitar and bass, available directly through Clever on school devices.

“Hoʻolōkahi means ‘to create unity.’ The Hoʻolōkahi Lyrics Writing Challenge gives students across Hawaiʻi a creative voice by writing original lyrics, performing them on ukulele, and sharing their work with peers across the state,” said Mary Keenan, Lōkahi Director. “Watching that unfold in real classrooms, through teachers who have made music a genuine part of the school day, is exactly what this work is about.”

On May 2, elementary schools on Oʻahu will showcase their musical talents at a Play Along event at Mckinley High School Auditorium from 1:30-2:30 PM. This in-person celebration will bring together students and families for an afternoon to enjoy playing music in school. Schools interested in attending the Play Along event or participating in next year's challenge can learn more by visiting lokahi.podia.com or following @lokahiukulele on Instagram.