For The Maui News
Molokai student musicians Poâokela Napoleon (front row, from left), Keakaokalani Kaiama, Daniel Pelekai Jr., Institute for Hawaiian Music Director Keola Donaghy, Kaui Kapuni Manera and Shaye Lauifi pose for a photo with Natalie Sambajon (back row, from left), Kelly Kaawa Richardson, Lehiwahiwa Ritte and Valerie Temahaga. The first cohort of Institute for Hawaiian Music students on Molokai recently released an album honoring their home island. INSTITUTE FOR HAWAIIAN MUSIC photos
When the Institute for Hawaiian Music at the University of Hawaii Maui College first started recruiting students on Molokai, only four initially signed up.
“We questioned whether we could pull it off,” said Keola Donaghy, assistant professor of music and faculty coordinator for the Institute of Hawaiian Music and Music Studies at UH-MC.