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Ke Kula Mele School of Hawaiian Music The Ke Kula Mele School of Hawaiian Music is a private music school located in Kailua, Hawaii. Founded by music artist and instructor Alan Akaka, the school offers group and individual training in learning to play the ‘ukulele, upright bass, guitar, and steel guitar in the Hawaiian style of playing that is used by musicians of Hawaiian music. The school comprises a director, co-director, and several coordinators and assistants who instruct and administer approximately 100 students worldwide. Founded in September, 2009, the school is located in the Enchanted Lakes neighborhood of Kailua, Hawaii on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, at a private residence. Students range in age from preschool to adults and most students come from various communities on the island of Oahu. The school’s director periodically travels to the Hawaiian islands of Kauai and Molokai to offer lessons. Students in the continental United States and some foreign countries including Russia and Japan are given private lessons through Skype technology via the internet.

History The Ke Kula Mele School of Hawaiian Music was established on September 9, 2009 by steel guitar master Alan Akaka. The school was and still is located in music studios at his personal residence. According to the school’s website [1] the school is a place where creative and musical ideas can be developed, nurtured, and shared in a safe, fun, and supportive environment firmly built on a foundation of Ho’ihi (Respect), Kuleana (Responsibility), Malama (Care for), and Aloha (Love.) In November, 2009 steel guitar instruction was extended to the island of Kauai through the establishment of a “STEEL the ONE!” program and the appointment of Edward Punua as co-coordinator on that island to provide program assistance to the director. In October, 2010 remote instruction was offered through the use of Skype technology via the internet. In October, 2011 steel guitar instruction was extended to the island of Molokai on an informally scheduled basis by the school’s director. In November, 2011, the school’s director appointed Violette Thomas, Addison Ching, Gale Warshawsky and Andrea Tolentino as assistants to help oversee various school administrative matters.

Purpose The school’s programs include specialty instruction in instruments commonly used in Hawaiian music: ‘Ukulele, upright bass, guitar, and steel guitar. The school provides training in the Hawaiian style of playing used by musicians of Hawaiian music and helps perpetuate Hawaiian music methods, techniques and styles that are important to the indigenous sound of Hawaiian music.

Performance Experiences Ke Kula Mele School of Hawaiian Music offers public concerts twice annually at the Windward Mall shopping center. The one-hour program includes the school’s students playing and singing various traditional and contemporary Hawaiian music selections individually and collectively as an ensemble. Students also perform at various public venues and at special events that feature Hawaiian music instruments. Students have appeared at the Waikiki Beach Walk’s Hawaiian Hoolaulea (music heritage program), the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Associationʻs Hawaii convention, Na Mele No Na Pua (Music for the Generations) and were featured at a steel guitar workshop at the Hawaii State Art Museum in June of 2011. Students are also encouraged to perform on their own to gain confidence and experience.

Performance Milestones In July, 2011, the school presented a steel guitar quartet playing a four-part arrangement of “Nani Waimea” at the 2nd Annual Waikiki Beach Walk’s Hawaiian Steel Guitar Hoolaulea. In December, 2011, the school presented a group of nine steel guitarists playing concurrently. The group performed a two-part arrangement of “Makalapua” at the school’s concert at the Windward Mall in Kaneohe, Hawaii.

Scholarships Scholarships for Hawaiian-style steel guitar training are periodically awarded by the Hawaii Steel Guitar Association. School Staff The school’s director is Alan Akaka. Other members of the school’s staff are: •	Keala Akaka, co-director •	Edward Punua, co-coordinator •	Violette Thomas, Assistant •	Addison Ching, Assistant •	Gale Warshawsky, Assistant •	Andrea Tolentino, Assistant See Also •	Music school •	Hawaiian Renaissance •	Music of Hawaii •	Alan Akaka References 1.	http://www.kekulamele.com