The University of Hawaiʻi Maui College’s Institute of Hawaiian Music received a $200,000 from the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation. The funds will be used for studio renovation and audio equipment. Students will gain skills and demonstrate a capstone project in performance, recording technology, marketing and retail areas of the Hawaiian music industry.
“Maui has its share of gifted young musicians who require stronger support to join the profession,” said Clyde Sakamoto, UH Maui College chancellor. “The college secured U.S. Department of Labor funds and built a recording studio and appointed Grammy Award Winner George Kahumoku to serve as the first IHM director. The first group of students for the Institute of Hawaiian Music will be admitted this spring 2012.”
“Traditionally you can only get this kind of mentorship if you’re born into a Hawaiian music family,” said Kahumoku. “With the help of this grant, students participating in the Institute of Hawaiian Music will be mentored by Hawaiian music masters, take classes in Hawaiian culture and language and professionally record their music for release. This will help launch their own careers as musicians or music technicians.”
