Bryant Neal delivers excerpts from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech, celebrating the civil rights leader’s role in working toward achieving equal rights in the United States through nonviolent means. Photo courtesy Austin Hutto

After the COVID-19 pandemic and Maui wildfires upended a lot of people’s lives including his, Bryant Neal was ready to return to some kind of normalcy, and that normalcy turned out to be reviving the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration in front of the Maui County Building.

Neal, who usually delivers excerpts of King’s “I Have A Dream” speech during the event, volunteered to put together a program with a lineup of speakers and entertainers in four weeks.

He called people who had participated in the program previously, including the Rev. Aulani Hill, Kumu Aloha Lei`ohu Ryder and Dr. King Peace Poem coordinator Melinda Gohn — all of whom agreed to help.

“They all responded,” said Neal, who also organizes the nonprofit Sunset Jazz Concert at the Maui Ku`ia Estate Chocolate Factory in Lahaina. “It all fell into place.”

Melinda Gohn speaks about the importance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as she discusses how her group promotes peace and nonviolence with students in the schools through its statewide Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Poetry Contest. Photo courtesy Austin Hutto

Melinda Gohn speaks about the importance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as she discusses how her group promotes peace and nonviolence with students in the schools through its statewide Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Poetry Contest. Photo courtesy Austin Hutto

Falling into place at the Jan. 20 event was a lineup of entertainment by professional jazz performers, including singer Sheryl Renee acting in the role of Mahalia Jackson.

Maui United Buddhist Women’s Association president Sharon Nohara placed a lei on Dr. King’s Stone of Hope monument.

The event turned into a multi-ethnic coalition paying tribute to a leader who helped to achieve gains in civil rights and equality through peaceful, non-violent means.

Neal said the initial spark to restart the event came from Mayor Richard Bissen’s executive assistant Zeke Kahlua, who offered to provide technical assistance.

Following the blowing of a conch shell, Kumu Aloha Lei’ohu Ryder welcomes the opening observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Maui on Jan. 20. The day marked the return of the annual ceremony near Dr. King’s Stone of Hope monument by the Maui County Building. Photo courtesy Austin Hutto

Following the blowing of a conch shell, Kumu Aloha Lei’ohu Ryder welcomes the opening observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Maui on Jan. 20. The day marked the return of the annual ceremony near Dr. King’s Stone of Hope monument by the Maui County Building. Photo courtesy Austin Hutto

In his remarks on Monday, Bissen said we are reminded of King’s unwavering commitment to create a more inclusive and equitable society, and it challenges us to embody the values of compassion, respect and nonviolence in our daily lives.

“Dr. King’s vision of justice remains as relevant today as was during his lifetime,” Bissen said.

Neal is hoping to find volunteers from younger generations who want to take a leadership role in the 2026 MLK Day event.

Neal has helped to provide free music workshops in Maui schools for more than 25 years through his nonprofit Arts Education for Children Group.

Some of the best musicians in the nation serve as visiting mentors, including Downbeat Magazine’s 2017 Best Album of the Year recipient Katie Thiroux, Grammy winning saxophonist Rock Hendricks and pianists Tommy James and Alturo O’Farrill.

Neal’s popular Sunset Jazz Concerts helps to fund the free music workshops in the schools, and he said he has been fortunate to have the support of event sponsor Gunars Valkirs, founder of Maui Ku’ia Estate Chocolate Factory, and great board members Tim and Josie Bruns.

Bryant said he began developing the idea of providing private and group music workshops in the schools when his daughter, Olivia, attended a private elementary school that didn’t offer an arts program.

He said the start-up program was a success and began offering music workshops on holidays and summer vacations.

“I believe music and the arts should be a part of every child’s early education and is important for their development,” Neal said.

He’s also been a supporter of Hawaii history, developing the website StoryOfHawaiiMuseum.com, which features a combination of narrative pieces and pictures.

He’s vice president of the nonprofit Maui Arts League, which recently published a book titled “Remembering Lahaina.”

Neal, who has a bachelor’s degree in theater arts from Hendrix College in Arkansas, said he began performing Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech during an original stage production written and directed by Maui resident Ayin Adams.

Neal said during the play, he performed the entire speech in about 12 to 15 minutes and memorizing it took a while.

“It was a long process,” he said. “Once committed to memory, that’s when the magic happens.”

Neal called the “I Have A Dream” speech, which was originally titled “Normalcy, Never Again,” one of the most iconic speeches of the 20th century.

Since the first performance, he’s performed the speech multiple times on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and during Black History Month in February on Maui and Oahu.

“I’m fortunate to share it live with audiences on an annual basis,” he said.