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Day of School Visits - Big Island, HI
Over the next four days Jake will on the Big Island to support the Kahilu Theatre Foundations "Eighth Annual Waimea Ukulele & Slack Key Guitar Institute. This program is a very special event where local musicians hold workshop style classes & concerts. It really is a weekend filled with music and aloha held in the beautiful country side of Waimea. We are pretty pumped to be a part of the event.
This morning Jake and I had a early 5 am flight into Hilo....so we had an early start! Part of the program includes having the musicians visit schools in various areas to spread their message and share their music with the students and faculty. We have Kahilu Theatre Foundation & The Law Offices of Ian Mattoch to thank for setting up these visits.
Our first school was Ka'u K - 12. We arrived on site and had a quick setup and sound check as the students were ushered into the gym. There were students from Kindergarten all the way to High School seniors in attendance. So we really had a good mix of ages. Jake opened up with a heartfelt message and communicated to the students the importance of finding passion in your life.
Jake always enjoys having a few students participate with him musically. However, this was the first time we have seen three really skilled ukulele players heat up the stage with Jake. It's always fun to see a student pick up Jake's uke and play a tune in front of the students. Jake played along with a few of the students and it made for a really touching event.
Second stop of the day was Laupahoehoe K - 12 school. We had a nice two hour drive back through Hilo and it was raining pretty heavy. Hilo is like driving through the jungle or rain forrest. It's so dense with foliage and greenery. Laupahoehoe is located just off the coast line, tucked back in the coastal bluffs. Really an amazing view and has to be an awesome place to attend school.
About 200 students, which I think was the entire school, filled up the gym with really good energy. Recently Jake has been incorporating the use of a "looping machine" which has really added a fun twist to the presentation. Jake can basically build an entire song with melody and rhythm. It's pretty interesting and the students get a big thrill out of it.
Tonight Jake will be participating in a Kanikapila style concert at the Kahilu Theatre. Should be fun!