Mana Mele Academy Updates
Our academy coordinator, Luanna, leads regular primary partner school meetings with instructors and mentors to coordinate and ensure timely completion of curriculum development, programmatic planning and implementation at schools participating in the Mana Mele program. Some of the other awesome work she’s doing includes surveying instructors, our advisory council, and student to analyze how best to improve the Mana Mele academy curriculum, creating and refining culture-based multimedia music education curriculum modules that are aligned with Common Core Standards, and providing support to our team of instructors.
One of the 9 schools we’re fortunate enough to have been able to place one of our instructors in, is Hakipu’u Learning Center. The Mana Mele music classes at Hakipu’u are led by Aya Orozco, pictured above. Having been involved in music instruction since 2011, Aya is also a general / instrumental music instructor at Aina Haina Elementary School, and the Managing Director of Youth Advisory Board at the Music for Life Foundation. In this photo, Aya teaches her haumana the basics of music composition and ‘ukulele.
OTHER MANA MELE NEWS
We were privileged to have long-time supporter and Mana Maoli Collective artistLiko Martin, as the 1st voice recorded for the project. Liko is a Hawaiian singer and composer of legendary Hawaiian anthems such as “All Hawai`i Stands Together” (translated by Pilahi Pali as “Hawai’i Loa Kulike Kakou”) and “Nanakuli Blues” (popularized by Gabby Pahinui as “Waimanalo Blues”).
Uncle Liko and Laulani Teale teamed up to arrange and record two original songs to be shared with our `opio and preserved for future generations in our “kupuna archives”.
Mahalo nui to Mana Mele’s Project Coordinator Shawn Livingston Moseley for use of his home studio, and our Lead Engineer and Instructor Kelli Heath-Cruz for her help in producing the original tracks. A big mahalo to all supporters for your part in helping Hawaiian charter school youth. Mana Maoli is forever grateful for your contribution.
Mahalo nui to the Administration for Native Americansand Johnson ʻOhana Charitable Foundation for making this program possible!
Funding for the Mana Mele Program has been provided by the Administration for Native Americans and Johnson ‘Ohana Charitable Foundation, founded by Jack and Kim Johnson to support environmental, art, and music education now and into the future.
