Hana Hou Music launches summer concert series
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The repertoire for Hana Hou Music Program's 2026 Summer Session ranges from Haydn string quartets and works by Argentina's Astor Piazzolla to an arrangement of "White Sandy Beach" popularized by Israel "Iz" Kamakawiwoʻole, with concerts in Pukalani, Hana, Olinda, Wailuku and Lahaina.
"We are excited to be playing in a few places that are new to us," Hana Hou Music trumpeter Colin Crake said. "We're going to be performing in Hana, and our first concert Lahaina-side at the Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate. We're playing across the whole island in two weeks."
The musicians who will be performing include Maui violinist Kisa Uradomo, cellist Heewon Lee, oboist Ryan Hirokawa from Oahu, violinist Leo Matsuoka from California, violinist Daniel Yu from North Carolina and Los Angeles cellist Priscilla Kim. Two of them are new to Hana Hou concerts.
"We're bringing in Leo Matsuoka the violist and cellist Priscilla Kim, who is going to be performing on the Schubert Cello Quintet, along with other things," said Crake. "That's a highlight of her being here."
The musicians will perform a free concert starting at 6 p.m. Friday at Hana Farms Bamboo Hale Restaurant with music from the classical canon, popular songs and Hawaiian compositions. During an interactive set, the audience will get to participate in the music-making process by singing, dancing and learning about the music.
After that, they will travel to Pukalani for a free "Side-by-Side Concert" at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the King Kekaulike Performing Arts Center. The first half will feature the Hana Hou Music Program's teaching artists. After the intermission, the musicians will sit side-by-side with students from across Maui, performing works by Piazzolla, the Danish String Quartet and Queen Lili'uokalani.
"We tried out this side-by-side concert last year and invited students to play with us," said Crake. "That was a lot of fun because they always enjoy us being there, and this allows us to have a bit more of an intimate working relationship with them. So we're doing it again, and it's free for the students to participate."
Hana Hou Music's Koa String Quartet will present a free recital at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Wailuku Union Church with the program ranging from Haydn to Gabriella Smith's contemporary "Carrot Revolution" string quartet.
"There's an arrangement of the African Spiritual 'Deep River' that Kisa (Uradomo) did and "Strum" by Jessie Montgomery, a contemporary-style piece that's very fun, and then they’re doing a few arrangements by Queen Lili'uokalani," Crake added.
As a fundraiser, the musicians will travel to Lahaina for a concert at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate featuring the Koa String Quartet with oboist Hirokawa and cellist Kim. The cost is $30 with net proceeds benefiting the Hana Hou Music Program.
"We will include some of the classical canon, Haydn, Mendelssohn, some arrangements of Piazzolla, and we're doing an arrangement of Iz's 'White Sandy Beach,'" said Crake. "We are going to be having a music, wine and chocolate pairing experience and guide the audience through the pairing of the music, and the chocolate, and the wine together. So that will be an interesting extrasensory concert experience."
They will close the summer program at Seabury Hall with the finale: "To Be Heard Is To Be Seen" at 7 p.m. Sept. 4 at the 'A'ali'ikūhonua Creative Arts Center. Admission is $15 and free for children, kūpuna and kumu.
"Kisa wanted to encapsulate in the finale a kind of swath of repertoire that hits a lot of different cultural and musical backgrounds," said Crake. "We're performing all sorts of standard canon, romantic composers, contemporary repertoire music by Hawaii-based composers and music from African spirituals -- to do the best that we can to represent the melting pot that is Hawaii in a concert."
The Hana Hou Music Program is a nonprofit dedicated to offering music education and performances across Maui. Musicians will also visit 12 Maui schools, working with students. Schools include Waihe'e Elementary School, King Kekaulike High School, Kahului Hongwanji Preschool, Seabury Hall and Hana High and Elementary School.
"All of our teaching artists are preparing different lessons based on age level and also what some teachers would like us to highlight or emphasize for the students," Crake explained. "We try to tailor what we present to the students to highlight those things. So during the day when we're not putting on this concert series, we're actually in the schools working with students."