Our Initiatives and Services
“(The Mele Ukulele) project will
increase family engagement and community interest as it supports area children. Music For Life Foundation is also recognized for their tremendous support in their efforts for art empower- ment and music enlivenment for the children of Papakōlea. Our board and staff are supportive of Music For Life Foundation’s mission in keeping music education “alive” in our schools and in all our communities.”
Arienne Dillard, MSW, LSW
Executive Director
Kula No Po`e Hawai`i
Calendar of Events
"`Ukulele Hana Hou!" is a Music For Life Foundation
project initiative intended to locate damaged `ukuleles
in Hawaii's public schools, repair them free-of-charge
and return them to their originating school. The
goal of this initiative is to restore and re-purpose
`ukuleles that have been abandoned or forgotten
resulting from earlier loss of music education
programs.
With fundraising and other novelty and challenge activities, this project is also designed to raise awareness in the need and importance of keeping music education "alive" in schools and in classroom curriculum. Additionally, with `ukuleles back in the classrooms, we hope to re-energize interest in using the `ukulele as a teaching tool for music learning. The project is implemented on a school-by-school basis and is coordinated in a 5-stage process:
Identification, Assessment, Collection, Repair and Return.
“Music has impacted my life by helping me do well. Ever since I was a child, my Uncle would play the ukulele. He would sing to me when I was feeling down or when I’m going to bed...
Music will help me, my family, school and community and I hope to use this opportunity of being in band to help get me to college and a scholarship. (The) hope of getting into a good college and university will help me find a career which will be good if I plan to have a family in the future.”
Victoria Kaleiopu,
Former student, Wai`anae High School
Music For Life Foundation is a 100% all-volunteer
non-profit organization.
...to directly support
Music For Life Foundation's
initiatives, projects and programs.
for Music Learning and Appreciation
Officially dedicated on October 2, 2018, the "Jake's Clubhouse" music classroom was designed and established by Music For Life Foundation to keep music "alive" in education
for all Ala Wai Elementary School students.
With a final library launch event on December 22, 2021, Music For Life Foundation's "`Uke-lending" project (in partnership with Hawaii State Public Library System) completes its project mission in providing `ukulele to all 51 public libraries in the State of Hawaii!
Featured Project - `Ukulele Hana Hou!
To become a leading organization with empowering people through music while creating favorable environments that offer beneficial life options and career opportunities.
...to directly support
Music For Life Foundation's
initiatives, projects and programs.
May 1, 2025 New Kamaka Community Center opens in partnership with Music For Life Foundation and Jake Shimabukuro with an evening invitational reception. For information on class scheduling, private sessions, etc., please call 808-753-7394. or send email to info@musicforlifefound.org
Click here:
Kala Brand Music Co. supports our community efforts with donations of hundreds of `ukulele for our on-going initiatives of `ukulele* repair or replace* in schools and for `ukulele lending at Hawaii Public Libraries.
Recently completed
"`Uke-Lending at
Hawaii Public Libraries"
program launch event finale:
New! Limited Edition!! ---->
Hard Rock Cafe-Honolulu charity pin; fundraising for Music For Life Foundation initiatives, projects and programs
Our Vision
- Repair and maintenance of school `ukuleles and other musical instruments
- Music classroom setup for students, local residents-Ala Wai Elementary School, Honolulu
- Provide stage performance opportunities for interested students and aspiring musicians.
- Support community centers and schools with music programs and instruments
- Assist music education-related causes and needs with fundraising and musical instrument donation drives.
In the News
Click here:
The Lives We Impact
"...fostering a better, brighter future for all through music "
To empower people by supporting music-related programs and activities that raise awareness in the tangible benefits, advantages and opportunities
of music education.
" 'Ukulele Hana Hou!" Initiative
Before the end of 2016, `ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro successfully completed his personal challenge of repairing 100 Kamaka `ukuleles for music education awareness and to commemorate Kamaka- Hawaii's 100th anniversary!!
On-going - Music For Life Foundation continues its partnership with Blue Note-Hawaii, Kamaka Hawaii and Ala Wai School with efforts entailing musical instrument collection and donation drives.
Identification - MFL volunteers contact individual schools to determine whether the `ukuleles in need of repair exist.
Assessment - An assessment
of damaged `ukuleles will be conducted; time and cost worthiness of repairs will be determined and considered.
Collection - All `ukuleles recommended for
repair will be collected at a mutually agreed
date and time.
Repair - Whether via MFL or by third-party
vendor or individual, the `ukuleles will be refur-
bished and renewed.
Return - All repaired `ukuleles submitted for
repair to be re-turned to the originating school.
Music For Life Foundation intends to further support this project by organizing fundraising activities in order to assists schools with establishing funding for musical instrument repair costs, music instruction material, and other expenses, such as `ukulele strings and parts replacement.
It’s important to us to be as clear about the services and activities we provide communities and individuals in need. This list details a few of our recent initiatives that would greatly benefit from your support and participation:
Our Mission
Fall 2025 - Implementation of musical instrument and equipment loan program at Hawaii State Public Libraries; guitars, keyboards, band and percussion instruments, etc. made available for borrowing. More information to be announced here and through social media later next year.
( Available now at
The Rock Shop, HRC-Honolulu! )
Spring 2025 Musical Instrument donation drive and distribution with Jake Shimabukuro. More details to follow. For information and updates, please re-visit this website or call 808-753-7394.