🎶 “I don’t know how to rebuild LahainaTown,” says local music teacher Jason Jerome. “I don’t know how to rebuild even one house.”
But in the wake of devastation, Jason knew he could offer something else: music.
When wildfires tore through Lahaina in August 2023—claiming lives, homes, businesses, and landmarks—Jason and his wife Vania, both longtime music educators, stepped in to help their community heal. Though their shop, Lahaina Music, was lost to the fire, they still had their instruments, their home, and their purpose.
With support from friends, Jason started visiting shelters with a few ‘ukuleles in hand. What began as a small act of care quickly grew into something bigger: Mele Hanau Hou (Music Rebirth), a grassroots movement to bring people together through music, connection, and culture. In partnership with The Kanikapila Project, Jason has helped distribute over 500 free ‘ukuleles and launched weekly group lessons across the island for displaced residents of all ages.
“It’s not just about distributing ukuleles,” Jason shared. “It’s about raising hope and joy from the ashes. It’s about creating a safe space for people to grieve, and then begin to grow again.”
Now, with help from a $1,000 Kindness Grant, Lahaina Music is planning a free community music event to continue that healing. Residents who’ve participated in Jason’s weekly sessions will gather to perform, connect, and reclaim a piece of what was lost. From renting sound equipment to securing a venue, the grant will help bring this special moment to life.
With help from a $1,000 Kindness Grant, Lahaina Music is continuing to grow this work. The weekly ukulele circles now provide structure, routine, and connection in the lives of survivors.
“Music heals the soul,” Jason says. “And in Hawai‘i, that’s not just listening to music, it’s participating in it. The Hawaiian word for this is kanikapila. We all play together.”
This project beautifully reflects our foundation’s pillars of Building Thriving Communities and creating Pathways to Mental Health Resiliency. It fosters healing through shared experience, preserves cultural traditions, and reminds us that kindness can sound like a strum, a song, or a circle of neighbors playing together under the open sky.
We’re honored to support Lahaina Music and The Kanikapila Project in this powerful work.
➡️ Learn more about Lahaina Music at lahainamusicmaui.com
➡️ Inspired to bring your own kindness project to life? Apply for a $1,000 Kindness Grant at tdbff.org/kindness-grants
Photos Courtesy of Lahaina Music