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“In English, you would say, ‘there are plenty of machines within cars.’ In Hawaiian we鈥檇 say, ‘aia he mau mīkini i loko o nā kaʻa.””

—Kamananui Anderson, natural sciences program, Honolulu Community College

For more information on other elements of the definition and usage, go to the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo .

This week’s ʻ艒濒别濒辞 was recorded with the assistance of the (MELE) program.

With the help of , alumna Autumn Reynolds, 27, a first-generation college student, has overcome Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD), COVID-19 and a stroke to pursue her musical dreams. Through the college鈥檚 (MELE) program, she earned her associate鈥檚 degree in May 2024.

“The MELE program provided me with a comprehensive education that combined creativity with practical industry knowledge,” said Reynolds. “It taught me that success looks different for everyone and that the possibilities in the music industry are endless.”

Early challenges

Growing up in the small town of Bristolville, Ohio, Reynolds faced numerous challenges, including her diverse cultural background (Black, Thai, Indigenous/Native American, and more) and the complexities of navigating higher education as the first in her family to attend college.

Her education journey began at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh as a voice performance major. However, a C-PTSD diagnosis during her first semester, stemming from adverse childhood experiences, made it difficult for her to find the resources she needed to succeed. After transferring to the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 and later taking a gap year, Reynolds discovered the MELE program at Honolulu CC and enrolled in 2020. The program’s unique focus on the music and entertainment industry immediately appealed to her.

Personalized attention, unwavering support

The COVID-19 pandemic presented additional hurdles, but Reynolds persevered, completing her courses online and taking time off to focus on her mental and physical health. Her determination was put to the test again when she suffered a stroke in spring 2022. Yet, Reynolds remained steadfast in her goal to complete her education and returned to Honolulu CC that fall and finished her classes, with her professors鈥� unwavering support and understanding.

“The smaller class sizes and the personalized attention from my professors at Honolulu CC were crucial to my success,” Reynolds said. “Their empathy and willingness to work with my accommodations made a significant difference in my academic experience.”

Reynolds said Maya Sypert, a music professor at the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补, and Lynne Johnson, a lecturer and philanthropist, were huge supporters. They made sure she was housed and safe. They provided guidance for apartment hunting and edited cover letters and personal statements for jobs, internships and summer programs. Her roommate Jeany Robledo, a 2022 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 alumna, whom she met at the 糖心Vlog官方 dorms, was also a major help especially after her stroke.

Music pathway

Reynolds is looking forward to continuing her education at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. Honolulu CC has wishing to continue toward a bachelor鈥檚 degree with Belmont University鈥檚 Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business. Reynolds plans to major in songwriting with a minor in publishing.

Her passion for music extends beyond her personal aspirations. She would like to become a singer/songwriter and eventually own a publishing company to support independent artists and writers, ensuring they receive fair compensation for their work.

—By Iris Greges

The Honolulu Community College鈥檚 (MELE) program got a treat from ukulele maestro Jake Shimabukuro and his bassist Jackson Waldhoff, a Honolulu CC alumnus, with an exclusive performance and Q&A session on January 19.

“Hearing and meeting Jake and Jackson was one-of-a-kind,” said Noah Chee, second year MELE student. “Hearing Jackson鈥檚 story of how he worked for Jake while he was a student goes to show how important making connections and taking opportunities are in the industry.”

Shimabukuro and Waldhoff shared their expertise and insights with aspiring musicians including performance nerves, and when to know when a song is finished.

“They told us their stories about how they came to be and how they made connections with each other while they were here,” said Landon Guzman, MELE Audio Engineering student. “This only serves to highlight the value of networking in the music business, which is an important part of the MELE Program—uniting the passionate together and sprouting new opportunities,”

Embracing kindness as a core principle was emphasized. Shimabukuro and Waldhoff said it enriches personal relationships, and opens doors to a multitude of connections and opportunities, creating a pathway to success built on positive and genuine interactions.

“They were so kind and it was awesome to be able to see them perform,” said Chryshanne Thomas, a MELE Music Business student. “I love that they stressed how important it is to be a good person working in the industry because it shows that doing something so simple like just being kind to people can open doors for you.”

Learn more about the .

Chancellor Karen Lee wants to blur the lines between academia and industry, such that both employers and students feel welcome on campus and confident that workforce needs for well-paying jobs are being met.

“I would really like that synergy to continue and to thrive,” Lee said. “I would love to invite all employers to join our industry boards. Our advisory boards are essential to our faculty doing a good job in teaching our students for the future.”

Lee became the chancellor of Honolulu CC in December, after serving in an interim role for three years. She presided over the 100th anniversary of the University of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 oldest community college in 2020.

She began her career at 糖心Vlog官方 in 2001 at 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 as the undergraduate coordinator at the Shidler College of Business. Lee also served as executive director of Hawaiʻi P–20 Partnerships for Education, and 糖心Vlog官方 associate vice president for student affairs and executive assistant to the president.

Enrollment at Honolulu CC is up 3.8% this spring, compared to last spring. According to Lee, Honolulu CC is a place with strong student support and strong teaching in diverse programs that range from trades and construction, cybersecurity, fashion technology, aeronautical maintenance and the liberal arts, to name a few.

“Success looks like a place where a student can dream and realize their dreams, and a place where faculty feel like they’re contributing to those dreams,” Lee said. “We encourage all students—young and old, male and female, out of high school, in high school—to come to Honolulu Community College.”

music students combined holiday performances, philanthropy and fun for a final class project event that was enjoyed by a crowd of more than 100 attendees. The (MELE) program presented its annual MELE鈥檚 Kalikimaka in-person event on December 5, after a two-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Produced by the MELE 205 concert and event production class, this year鈥檚 MELE鈥檚 Kalikimaka featured performances by Hawaiʻii鈥檚 rising musical stars including PK DREAMZ, Dominic Carlos, JUL脡 and Backset, and a Polynesian dance exhibition from Mele Luau. The students planned and produced the event as an immersive final project and collaborated with MELE engineering students for audio and tech support.

“MELE鈥檚 real-world curriculum and projects helped me understand various career opportunities in the music and entertainment field,” said Autumn Reynolds, a MELE 205 student. “I also made valuable connections with my fellow students, industry professionals and community organizations.”

MELE鈥檚 Kalikimaka partnered with Toys for Tots to collect holiday donations. The organizers received more than 100 new toys for keiki.

More about MELE

The MELE program utilizes a comprehensive music business and production curriculum meeting the requirements for entry-level training of music industry and production professionals. The curriculum focuses on combining academic experience with real-world applications to prepare students to work in the rapidly evolving global music industry of the 21st century. The program core offers a rounded curriculum grounding students in the basics of the music industry, sound recording and the business of music.

There are two degree paths—the associate of science in music and entertainment business and the associate of science in audio engineering technology. A degree may be earned during a four-semester sequence.

An exciting collaboration is underway this semester between students from Honolulu Community College’s (MELE) and the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补’s (ACM) programs.

ACM animation students in the ACM 420 Animation Production II course are working in two groups to create two separate short, animated films that will be completed by the end of the fall semester. The students plan to submit their films to festivals including the spring ACM showcase and the Hawaiʻi International Film Festival. The films will also be useful material for the students鈥� demo reels, which is a necessary component for future employment and/or graduate school applications.

The first film, Poked, is about a pokey aloe plant displayed at a flower shop that struggles between keeping himself unblemished and befriending his neighbor, an extra spiky cactus, only to discover that there is more than one way to get sold.

The second film, Midnight Showing, is a wacky animated horror film about Angel, an utterly exhausted movie theater usher eager to close up early, when a spooky, movie-loving phantom arrives to torment him.

MELE students in the MELE 211 Audio Engineering 1 course recorded the actors’ voice over dialog for both animation projects in MELE‘s state-of-the-art recording studio facilities.

Students are contributing their areas of expertise to the projects, which gives them the experience of working with others in a professional setting. The MELE program is the only one in the state that offers associate of science degrees in music business or audio engineering technology.

“This was an amazing opportunity to experience a legit sound booth with sound engineers and gave me a chance to direct an actor,” said ACM animation student Tiffany Ganti.

“Having a session that closely mimics a real one with a client made me realize I am not just learning to be in the audio recording business but the people business too,” said MELE audio engineering student Timothy Manamtam.

The ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) version of Walt Disney Animation Studios鈥� Moana will be distributed to schools across the state as the culminating act of a year-long production that strives to encourage students to learn the Hawaiian language.

Moana, the story of an adventurous teenager who is inspired to leave the safety and security of her island on a daring journey to save her people, is the first Disney picture to be re-recorded in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.

• More 糖心Vlog官方 News: 糖心Vlog官方 collaborates on Hawaiian language version of 顿颈蝉苍别测鈥檚 Moana, January 30, 2018

“On behalf of the students, faculty, and staff from five 糖心Vlog官方 campuses, our team who translated roughly 10,000 words, our student engineers who recorded 4,000 sound files, and our spectacular cast starting with Auliʻi Cravalho and the more than 30 locally cast ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi speakers and singers who made this all come to life, we could not be prouder to be able to provide free copies of the Disney Moana ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi DVD to every accredited school in the state,” said Chris Lee, Academy for Creative Media (ACM) director and founder. “This was an educational endeavor to encourage students to learn ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi and we are so grateful to our partners at Disney Animation and Disney Character Voices International for making this possible.”

The funded and coordinated the re-recording of Moana. The movie stars Cravalho as the title character, 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa student Christopher Kaipulaumakaniolono Baker as Maui, Waiʻanae’s Nicole Scherzinger as Sina, Kelikokauaikekai Hoe as Aliʻi Tui, Kalehuapuakeʻula Kawaʻa as Puna Tala, Kamakakehau Fernandez as Tamatoa and 24 locally-cast ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi-speaking actors and singers.

Members from across 糖心Vlog官方 collaborated on the project: Puakea Nogelmeier, professor of Hawaiian language and executive director of Awaiaulu, a nonprofit organization for Hawaiian-language translation training, oversaw a team of Awaiaulu’s translators; Hailiʻōpua Baker, professor of Hawaiian theatre at 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa鈥檚 theater department served as acting director; and ethnomusicologist Aaron J. Salā served as music director. The film was re-recorded at and engineered by Jon Ross.

Heather Giugni, collections specialist and producer for 糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu’s ʻUluʻulu, 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 moving image archive, and Sharla Hanaoka, director of creative media at , served as producers of the Hawaiian language-version of Moana, in cooperation with Rick Dempsey, senior vice president creative for Disney Character Voices International.

Cast members of the ʻ艒濒别濒辞 Hawaiʻi-version of Walt Disney Animation Studios鈥� Moana, including Auliʻi Cravalho, walked the blue carpet for its premiere at World Oceans Day on June 10 at Ko Olina Resort.

The movie stars Cravalho as Moana, student Christopher Kaipulaumakaniolono Baker as Maui, 奥补颈ʻ补苍补别鈥檚 Nicole Scherzinger as Sina, Kelikokauaikekai Hoe as Aliʻi Tui, Kalehuapuakeʻula Kawaʻa as Puna Tala, Kamakakehau Fernandez as Tamatoa and 24 locally cast ʻ艒濒别濒辞 Hawaiʻi speaking actors and singers.

This is the first time a Disney picture has been re-recorded in ʻ艒濒别濒辞 Hawaiʻi. The movie, a collaboration of five 糖心Vlog官方 programs, is spearheaded by the and was recorded at the sound studio of Honolulu Community College鈥檚 .

More about the making of the Hawaiian language version of Moana

Hawaiʻi鈥檚 Auliʻi Cravalho and cast members of the ʻ艒濒别濒辞 Hawaiʻi-version of Walt Disney Animation Studios鈥� Moana will walk the blue carpet for its premiere at World Oceans Day on Sunday, June 10, at .

The premiere is a part of the resort鈥檚 second annual World Oceans Day Celebration, a collaboration with Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa, University of Hawaiʻi , NOAA, Polynesian Voyaging Society and other community partners. World Oceans Day festivities at Ko Olina will include ocean education and sustainability activities, live entertainment and food for purchase.

This is the first time a Disney picture has been re-recorded in ʻ艒濒别濒辞 Hawaiʻi. 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 Academy for Creative Media System funded and coordinated the re-recording of Moana with the goal of sharing the film for educational purposes in Hawaiʻi and beyond. The collaborative production joins faculty and staff from , and .

The movie stars Cravalho, 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 student Christopher Kaipulaumakaniolono Baker as Maui, Waiʻanae鈥檚 Nicole Scherzinger as Sina, Kelikokauaikekai Hoe as Aliʻi Tui, Kalehuapuakeʻula Kawaʻa as Puna Tala, Kamakakehau Fernandez as Tamatoa, and 24 locally cast ʻ艒濒别濒辞 Hawaiʻi speaking actors and singers.

Related 糖心Vlog官方 News stories:

• 糖心Vlog官方 collaborates on Hawaiian language version of 顿颈蝉苍别测鈥檚 Moana, January 30, 2018
• Hawaiian language version of Moana being created by the Academy for Creative Media System, November 2, 2017
• Nicole Scherzinger to reprise role in Hawaiian-language version of Disney’s Moana, April 5, 2018

More about World Oceans Day

The World Oceans Day event will provide families an opportunity to learn about marine protected resources, and interact with sustainability-focused organizations. The afternoon culminates with the special sunset showing of Moana in ʻ艒濒别濒辞 Hawaiʻi and related performances.

The global theme and focus for World Oceans Day 2018 is plastic pollution prevention and cleaning the ocean of marine litter. World Oceans Day at Ko Olina is also a Zero Waste event, a commitment to protecting Hawaiʻi鈥檚 ocean and marine life and eliminating waste to landfills.

Please bring a reusable water bottle to fill at hosted water stations. Zero Waste stations for recyclables, green waste and food waste will also be available.

The celebration begins at 4 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Reserve your tickets at . For more information about World Oceans Day visit .

What to bring:
Reusable cups (water stations will be available for refilling); beach towel, mat or blanket to sit on (please, no high back folding chairs)

Prohibited/ Restricted Items:
Alcoholic beverages, coolers, glass containers, backpacks, umbrellas, high back folding chairs, pets, tents, and sunshades are prohibited.

Parking Information:
Follow signs to Event Parking; parking is $10 per vehicle (cash only).

糖心Vlog官方 collaborates on Hawaiian language version of 顿颈蝉苍别测鈥檚 Moana

“WEEEEEHAAAAA!” exclaims Kaipu Baker, the sophomore who voices the character Maui in the Hawaiian language version of 顿颈蝉苍别测鈥檚 Moana. The movie, a collaboration of five 糖心Vlog官方 programs, is spearheaded by the and is being recorded at the sound studio of Honolulu Community College鈥檚 .

“Just the level of technology and the professionalism that everybody held carrying throughout the project made it feel that we were making a very strong and concerted effort to really put forth the best project for our people,” says Baker, who is Native Hawaiian.

The star of the original film, Auliʻi Cravalho, is among those bringing the Hawaiian language version to life. At , students and alumni are manning the sound boards as the vibrant movie plays on monitors in the darkened studio and the actors record their lines.

“This is an experience that is life changing,” says Daniel Gilad, a creative media student and Honolulu CC audio engineering graduate. “Just seeing the production, seeing how producers from Disney approach things and the talent that was cast here, it鈥檚 just an unbelievable experience.”

Honolulu CC audio engineering graduate Noah Cronin, who is working as one of the sound engineers on the production, notes, “A lot of people don鈥檛 know that this studio and music business classes are here and it鈥檚 on a level that鈥檚 as high if not higher than some other music facilities on the mainland and around the world.”

The premiere is slated for summer 2018, followed by the distribution of DVDs and Blu-ray discs to educational programs such as Native Hawaiian language immersion schools.

“We鈥檙e doing this for educational purposes and that鈥檚 always been our goal,” says Chris Lee, director of the Academy for Creative Media System and executive producer of the Hawaiian language film. “It鈥檚 educational all the way through from inception, to execution and then distribution.”

Baker adds that education is the basis of prosperity and helping Native Hawaiians to move forward.

“Be what our ancestors were, which was really smart, literate, amazing scholars in their own right, and we can apply that to virtually every field and every walk of life so I think the University of Hawaiʻi is a really critical base to achieving that.”

Hawaiian Language Moana Who鈥檚 Who

• Chris Lee, founder and director of Academy for Creative Media (ACM) System, is the executive producer.
• Rick Dempsey, SVP Creative, for Disney Character Voices International (DCVI), is overseeing the project for Disney along with DCVI Executive Director Bryan Monroe.
• Heather Haunani Giugni, a Native Hawaiian filmmaker and cultural specialist for 糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu鈥檚 , and Sharla Hanaoka, director of creative media at 糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu, are producing and supervising 糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu ACM students.
• 糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu ethnomusicologist Aaron Sal膩 (above) serves as musical director.
• 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 Director of the Puakea Nogelmeier (above) and his team translated the original script from English to Hawaiian.
• 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 Kumu Tammy Hailiʻopua Baker (above) oversaw casting and is directing the dialogue.
• Honolulu CC MELE recording faculty member Jon Ross is supervising the student recording engineers.
• 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 ACM graduate Kaliko Maiʻi is associate producer.

will honor seven distinguished alumni and sponsor at the the annual distinguished alumni awards dinner on March 1, 2018. Robert “Bobby” Ayonon, Jerald “Kimo” Keaulana, Kurt Kendro, Manuel P. Neves, Robert Silva, Deborah Spencer-Chun and Arthur B. Tolentino will be recognized for their professional achievements and contributions to the community.

Celebrate! 2018

Thursday, March 1, 2018
5:30–9 p.m.
笔艒尘补颈办补ʻ颈 Ballrooms at the Dole Cannery

Join Honolulu CC for an entertaining evening that will be emceed by Honolulu CC (MELE) alumnus and local comedian, Ray Lamay.

The event will include a silent auction that will feature unique, one-of-a-kind items, an ʻono Hawaiian buffet and live entertainment by the talented students of the MELE program.

Proceeds from ticket sales and a silent auction will benefit the Honolulu CC general scholarship endowment fund. Tickets can be or by calling (808) 845-9429.

Distinguished alumni

Robert ‘Bobby’ Ayonon (Apprenticeship RAC 1983)
Bobby Ayonon completed Honolulu CC’s refrigeration and air conditioning program in 1983 and successfully completed the Plumber and Pipefitters Local 675 Apprenticeship program. He is the founder and president of Kauaʻi Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, which was named a Top 50 Small Business in Hawaiʻi for several years. In 2010, Ayonon was named the Kauaʻi Filipino Chamber of Commerce Businessman of the Year, and in 2016 he helped to launch the first Kauaʻi Apprenticeship Day with Kauaʻi CC and industry partners. He is currently the president of the Kauaʻi Filipino Chamber of Commerce and is the chair of the Kauaʻi Workforce Development and Investment Board.

Jerald ‘Kimo’ Alama Keaulana (Liberal Arts 1984)
Kimo Keaulana was a student of Honolulu CC twice—first, straight out of high school and then returning after working mainly in the tourism industry. After 10 years teaching social studies with the Department of Education, Keaulana returned to Honolulu CC as an instructor in Hawaiian studies and language. Known as a Hawaiian music historian, Keaulana is most notably known for the “Kimo Alama Keaulana Collection” housed in the Bishop Museum Archives containing almost 1,000 Hawaiian language songs. In 2005, Keaulana garnered two N膩 H艒k奴 Hanohano awards and has served on its panel of judges for many years. A judge for numerous hula competitions, Keaulana has been teaching all forms of hula for 46 years, and in 2016 was honored with the Malia Kau Award by the Moanalua Gardens Foundation. In 2012, The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 awarded Keaulana with the I Ulu I Ke Kumu Award. He is currently a board member for the Waiʻanae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, Lei o Lanik奴honua, the Mary Kawena Pukui Society and Waihona o na Mele Noʻeau.

Kurt Kendro (Administration of Justice 1987)
Retired Major Kurt Kendro served with the Honolulu Police Department for 30 years. Kendro is a graduate of Honolulu CC’s Administration of Justice Program and went on to earn a bachelor of science degree in occupational education from Wayland Baptist University and a master of science degree in criminal justice administration from Chaminade University. In 2003, Kendro was selected to attend the 215th Session of the FBI National Academy, which 1 percent of law enforcement executives from around the world are selected to attend. He serves on the following board of directors—Special Olympics Hawaiʻi, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Hawaiʻi Law Enforcement Memorial for Fallen. In 2016, he retired from the Honolulu Police Department at the rank of major and he continues to serve his community working for Parsons as the operations manager.

Manuel P. Neves (Fire Science 1984)
Fire Chief Manuel P. Neves entered the fire service in February 1979. He is currently the fire chief of the Honolulu Fire Department. Chief Neves serves as chair of the Hawaiʻi State Fire Council, vice president of the Hawaiʻi Fire Chiefs Association, vice president of the Western Fire Chiefs Association and an assessor for the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. He has an associate of science degree in fire science, bachelor of arts in business administration and a masters in public administration. Neves completed the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy and was awarded Chief Fire Officer Designation. In 2007, the Institution of Fire Engineers presented Neves the grade of member. He is also certified to the level of Fire Officer IV. In 2005, Neves received a fellowship from the U.S. Fire Administration, the International Fire Service Training Association, the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the National Fire Protection Association to attend the John F. Kennedy School of Government’s Program for senior executives in state and local government at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Robert Silva (Automotive Technology 2004)
A graduate of the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 in Hawaiian studies and ethnobotany, Robert Silva taught geometry and algebra at Damien Memorial School. Growing up with epilepsy he started volunteering as a board member of the Epilepsy Foundation of Hawaiʻi. In 2001, Silva had brain surgery to fix his seizures and was told he could drive. A car enthusiast, he soon enrolled at Honolulu CC into the automotive technology program. After graduation he worked in the industry as an automotive technician, and in 2015 he came back to his alma mater, this time as an automotive instructor. Silva is a talented craftsman known for his hand woven hats, and gives back to the ʻ腻颈苍补 leading volunteer efforts at Kualoa/Hakipuʻu and Loʻi Kalo Park.

Deborah Lee Keala Spencer-Chun (Liberal Arts 1985)
Born and raised in Kalihi, Deborah Spencer-Chun graduated from Farrington High School and attended Honolulu CC graduating with a degree in human services. She transferred to 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 where she earned a bachelors and masters degree in social work. While at the university she interned at Adult Friends for Youth (AFY). She co-authored two books with AFY’s founder, Sid Rosen, Toward a Gang Solution: The Redirectional Method and Turning it Around: Redirectional Therapy. Today, she serves as its president and CEO and continues to serve youth by being their advocate and their voice.

Arthur Blasie Tolentino (Sheetmetal and Plastics Technology 1985)
Since 2007 Arthur Blaise Tolentino has served as the business manager and financial secretary treasurer for Sheet Metal Air Rail and Transit Local 293, located in the heart of Kalihi. A graduate of the sheet metal and plastics program at Honolulu CC, he went on to pursue his education, graduating from Ohio State University. Currently, he serves as the fund chairman, and remains an active member of the Hawaiʻi Building and Construction Trades Council. Tolentino also serves as a commissioner on the City and County of Honolulu’s Planning Commission and has served as a trustee on the National Energy Management Institute Committee since January 2013.

Outstanding community partner

Hawthorne Cat
Hawthorne acquired Pacific Machinery Inc., which is now known as Hawthorne Pacific Corp., on May 5, 2004. The operation was an existing Caterpillar dealership and has been in business as an authorized dealer since 1925. The company’s territory includes the Hawaiian Islands, Guam, Saipan and other islands of the South Pacific. Hawthorne Cat is proud to support associations that promote their industry and the local organizations that help make our communities a better place to live.

This Christmas, Music and Entertainment Learning Experience (MELE) students gave back to the community by teaming up with Toys for Tots to host a toy donation drive at on December 7. MELE’s Kalikimaka toy drive was a student produced event from planning, to promotion and live sound, the whole event was run and organized by the MELE students. Throughout the event there was live entertainment by MELE students as well as raffle prize giveaways.

“The MELE 205 Concert and Event Production class provides our students with the fundamental skills required to plan and execute a wide range of activities and events,” said Eric Lagimas, MELE music business instructor. “The timing of our MELE’s Kalikimaka event during the holiday season also showcases the importance of community service and the spirit of giving. This is our second year partnering with Toys For Tots and the value of this partnership reminds our students that through these toys, we can brighten up the spirits of less fortunate children in our communities.”

“It was amazing to give back to the community by organizing a benefit event for our class project,” said MELE student Jaslyn Loftin. “The MELE program is very hands-on and we learn to become more involved in the music industry, and this project showed me what it’s like to put on an actual concert. It is very tough, it requires a lot of follow up from sponsors and collaborators, and organizing entertainment, gaining publicity for the event and claiming the venue is also a hefty task, but it was nice seeing the students’ hard work pay off. The students all work together and work really hard to create a successful event. My favorite part was hearing that we got radio airplay on Island 98.5 and Star 101.9. It was really impressive knowing that students can do big things like that.”

Prize sponsors included the BAMP project, Dan’s Guitars, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and many more. The master of ceremonies for the evening was MELE alumnus, CW Star finalist and comedian, Rayton Lamay.

View the photos on聽

—By Billie Lueder

Four Honolulu Community College (MELE) students put their education to work against an extremely tight timeframe to restore, remix, remaster and create the music for the film Transcend: The Jon Mozo Story.

Watching our names appear in the credits at the end of the movie was a surreal moment, says MELE audio engineering student Jerry Clark. I’m living my dream.

The movie that was six years in the making, premiered during the 2016 Hawaiʻi International Film Festival (HIFF) in November. The story is centered around North Shore resident, surf photographer and artist Jon Mozo who died at Back Door, Pipeline on February 9, 2005 at the age of 33 doing what he loved to do—photographing waves.聽He left behind his wife Nikki and their four children.聽For Nikki who co-produced the film, this was not just a story about Jon as a photographer, but Jon as a person and as a family man.

In the weeks leading up to the film festival MELE Director received a call from a friend working on the project asking for help with sound restoration and music creation.聽Not being one to turn down a tremendous learning opportunity Vierra enlisted the help of MELE audio engineering instructor to work on this project with a select group of students.

Third semester MELE student Michelle Bailey said, “We all sat down with Nikki in a pre-production meeting to better understand the scope of the work we needed to do and just to understand the essence of the story. I was head engineer for four voiceover segments with Nikki. It was a learning process to get the right feel, and sound of what we were trying to capture.”

“Through Jon’s story I learned that no matter how insignificant you feel you can still touch people in ways you can’t understand.聽Your everyday interactions impact the way you influence the world,” Bailey shares.

Creating the music

For Clark and fellow audio engineering student 骋补谤谤别迟迟听惭补肠补飞, they were tasked with writing the music for the entire film in one week’s time. Due to this herculean task they were close to completing the request, but ended up short due to the time constraints.聽However, about 70 percent of the music they composed was used in the film. Clark, a classically trained pianist partnered with Macaw who is a self-taught musician creating computer generated sounds.聽Opposites attract and their music makes the story come to life.

“It was a mentally and emotionally grueling process.聽We were literally locked up in the MELE studios for days creating music to fit all the moods of the visual story. Jon was a fellow creator and artist. I felt connected to him in that same respect of my passion for music and balancing the technical skills to create something magical.聽It’s a balance of the two,” Macaw explains.

Assistant engineer and third semester audio engineering student Janica Marie聽Pascua is no stranger to HIFF. The Waimea High School graduate聽served as the technical director for two documentaries one of which was shown at HIFF’s teen film competition.

“I’m a romantic sucker.聽When we were recording Nikki in the MELE studios it was important for her to talk about Jon’s obsession with the ocean almost like the ocean was the other woman.聽But Nikki wanted to make sure that it didn’t come across as being jealous, but rather embracing his love for the ocean and how that transcended to his love for his family, friends, and humanity,” reflects Pascua.

Stepping up to the challenge

For MELE instructor Ross it was a great test to see how his students stepped up to the challenge and be a part of something special. “I’m very proud of these students for taking on aspects of the project and tackling them in such a short timeframe. It was great to edit and mix the audio post production for the project and I’m glad to see the students gain the experience. We may be revisiting the project to touch things up.”

The MELE program serves the community as the premier, comprehensive program that fosters and promotes music industry professionals from technical production, songwriting to artist management and music publishing.

Bailey, Clark, Macaw and Pascua are on target to graduate in May 2017. Each of them plan on pursuing careers in the music industry.

—By Billie Lueder

The Honolulu Community College in partnership with the will host a Pau Hana on the Lawn on Friday, May 6, 2:30–4 p.m.

Family and friends will enjoy a casual potluck picnic on the lawn fronting the Honolulu Community College children’s center. Performing will be children center families and friends, MELE students and Nā Hōkū Hanohano and Grammy Award winner . Cruz will perform a special set consisting of his own hits along with a surprise or two for the keiki. Students of the MELE Program will provide music and production support.

The focal point of this musical event will be the Mana Mele Solar Powered Mobile Studio that will provide an on-site look at the work the studio does all over the island with young people interested in music and video production.

During the spring semester, three MELE students spent the entire semester working with Mana Maoli and their Mana Mele initiative. As part of the initial launch for Meleana, Hawaiʻi’s first solar powered mobile recording studio, students worked in various areas of marketing, promotion, event planning, production and service to the community.

MELE and Mana Maoli are honored to serve Hawaiʻi’s community at large with the Mana Mele Project. This unique partnership provides the MELE Program with a new audience—Hawaiʻi’s children in grades K–12.

—By Billie Lueder

Being diagnosed with lupus at the age of 13, Skyla is not your typical 17-year-old Big Island girl. It was during her early high school years at Honokaʻa High that she discovered a music ensemble class, finding comfort, hope and strength. Skyla’s love of music has helped her cope with her daily battle with the autoimmune disease.

After making a connection with about a year ago, “wish coordinators” have been hard at work to make Skyla’s wish of having a professional studio recording experience come true.

While Skyla’s wish is to ultimately have that experience in Los Angeles or New York City, her wish coordinators discovered a prime opportunity right here at home to give Skyla the professional recording experience she so deserved, planning a surprise visit to Honolulu Community College’s (MELE) program to take place around a routine medical trip to Oʻahu. Skyla was warmly greeted by the MELE students and wasted no time getting settled in to the state-of-the-art Mike Curb MELE studio to record Drops of Jupiter.

“It’s common for MELE students to get excited with the glamour, money and entertainment aspect of the music industry. This is fine, but ultimately we want our students to experience and record music that inspires, heals and tells life stories. Skyla’s willingness and courage to share her gift of music and life story has taught our students the true power and impact of recording a moment in time together that will last a lifetime and beyond. Mahalo, Skyla, for your grace and inspiration, MELE has been blessed,” shared John Vierra, MELE program coordinator and audio engineering instructor.

For a moment in time, Skyla was free, doing what she loves—creating music with peers who love to do the same. As tears welled up in her eyes, Skyla’s mother, May, watched her daughter in action. “Music has brought joy back into her life.”

For more photos of Skyla’s visit, view the .

—By Billie Lueder

Honolulu Community College’s (MELE) released its second compilation entitled Keiki O Ka ʻĀina.

After the successful launch of the MELE program’s first CD, Island Music: Gifts of Aloha in 2013, the program received continued support from Al and Sue Landon to help produce another installment of fine island music.

• 糖心Vlog官方 News story: (May 12, 2013)

“While I lived in Honolulu I had the opportunity to support the development of the MELE program at Honolulu Community College,” shares Al Landon, former CEO of Bank of Hawaiʻi. “As you enjoy this music, think of Hawaiʻi’s children and the land of aloha.”

“With creative input from Al himself, we focused on a theme—Keiki O Ka ʻĀina (“children of our land”)—and selected key songs that evoke the topics of growing up in Hawaiʻi, youthfulness, and all around good vibes,” says Music Business Instructor Eric Lagrimas, whose MELE 203 intellectual properties students handled the initial research of record labels/music publishers and learned about proper licensing.

Some of the featured artists on the album include Kealiʻi Reichel, Raiatea Helm, Kaʻau Crater Boys and Makua Rothman.

“Student involvement is key with special projects like this CD,” says John Vierra, MELE program coordinator and audio engineer instructor. “Our audio engineering 2 students learned about new concepts such as ‘audio mastering’ once the final song list is complete. These students are an integral piece to a successful finished product.”

The Honolulu CC MELE program is the only program in the state that offers students an associate of science degree in music business or audio engineering. The goal of the program is to invest in local talent to grow Hawaiʻi’s music industry and broaden its reach to the world.

Keiki O Ka ʻĀina is a non-commercial project and serves as an experiential learning opportunity and promotional calling card for the MELE Program and Honolulu CC. Complimentary copies are available at the MELE Program office, Bldg. 2-412.

Read the for the full story.

If you are ever on the University of Hawaiʻi campus of or HCC, there is a good chance you’ll hear music. That’s because HCC is home to the MELE program, which stands for . It is the state’s only school for music industry careers, so there are a lot of musically inclined students on campus.

“I don’t think I will ever put down a ʻukulele or a guitar,” said HCC and MELE program student Keanu Solidum. “It will always be a part of my life.”

“I have been doing music for a number of years before the MELE program,” said fellow HCC student Christopher Salvador, who is also in the program. “I wanted to just get educated on the business and legal aspects of the music business.”

The MELE program offers a two-year degree in audio engineering with hands-on instruction on state-of-the-art equipment, and a two-year degree in the music business.

“Everything from record companies, musical publishing companies, artist managers, booking agents, marketing and promotions, all of these types of career pathways are all involved in the industry,” said Eric Lagrimas, the program’s interim coordinator and music business instructor. Hundreds of students have gone through the MELE program since it was launched in 2007.

“Some of our graduates have recently worked with Kanye West, Ludicrous, any aspect of the Hawaiian entertainment industry, Anuhea, as well as many groups that you hear on the radio,” said Lagrimas. “We’re trying to develop a flourishing entertainment industry here in Hawaiʻi, much like a Nashville or a New York and LA. And I think it starts with education and I think educating Hawaiʻi students with these type of skills will basically help the future of the industry.”

The students currently in the program agree.

“I think this program is really good because it will set you up with the fundamentals that you need to grow in order to, you know, kind of grow at the same pace that all the schools are providing on the mainland so I feel they are doing a really great job down here,” said Solidum.

“We have a wonderful facility here for recording as well as business and just talking to the instructors gives you a good perspective of where you might want to go with music,” said Salvador.

Honolulu Community College student and musician Chris Salvador plays his guitar and sings while waiting for his next class to start. Salvador is part of Honolulu’s .