Born and raised in Hawai’i, I was surrounded by music all the time from the family gatherings that took place at the beach to the jam sessions we had with friends and classmates at school. It is something that we use in all aspects of our upbringing such as our chants to thank the land for the food, or in our hula performances with the music to respect our ancestors. In most cases, we simply sing together, to be present with those that we love and care about.

With music, I grew up playing the alto saxophone, ukulele, and the guitar, and while I no longer play them, I understand how important music is to a lot of people. For me, I share my culture with my circles around me to show that Hawaiian music is our culture…our way of life…our way of showing aloha to those around us.