It’s heartwarming when the musicians we love, give back to an admirable cause. Music fans can do the same.
Mana Maoli, a Hawai’i non profit and Mana Mele, combined, are a collective of educators, musicians, cultural practitioners, community organizers, and families that share a common vision of community, education, empowerment and sustainability for Hawai’i. Through the power of local musicians on the islands of Hawai’i and a social media crowd funding campaign, the Mana Mele Project is keen to celebrate the launch of the first solar mobile recording studio.
Over the past 15-years, local musicians and artists on the islands of Hawai’i have been reaching out to the local schools and communities throughout the island chain, educating the youth and giving children the proper tools to be successful craftsmen in the musical arts and multimedia realm. Through these efforts, the fruit of their labor has now begun to sprout.
A state of the art solar mobile studio, named Meleana, and the Music & Multimedia Academy curriculum will provide the tools and process for Hawaii’s youth to tell their story through music and video recordings. Although this studio will not just be for the youth of the community, but for the kupuna (elders), as well.
Some of the artists and bands that have been lending a helping hand to the Mana Mele Project include Jack Johnson, Fiji, The Green, Paula Fuga, Anuhea, Kapena, Mike Love, Rebel SoulJahz, Kimie, Natural Vibrations, Maoli, Ooklah the Moc, Inna Vision, Irie Love, Sudden Rush, and countless other local, Hawaiian musicians. International touring bands and artists have also spent time with the Mana Mele Project while on tour in Hawai’i, such as Katchafire, Half Pint, Tarrus Riley, Third World and Fat Freddy’s Drop, just to name a few. And, some of these artists will be giving back once again this weekend.
The Hawaiian community will both celebrate and raise funds at the same time this weekend with the Mana Mele Festival in Honolulu. The festival will take place on April 22nd at Kewalo Basin and the price of admission is a $10 donation to the Mana Mele Project.
Performers for the one-day festival will include Kimie, Irie Love, Paula Fuga, Mike Love, John Cruz, Brother Noland, and many more. The festival will also include the video premiere of Hawaii Aloha, a Mana Mele and Playing for Change collaboration featuring over 40 artists and 1,000 youth in one amazing music video.
For more information and ways to donate to the Mana Mele Project, follow the links below.
Mana Mele Project Links
Website
Facebook
Tickets
Video: Mana Mele – “Why Mana Mele?”