#Celebrating West Maui in Mele

The University of Hawai‘i Maui College and its Institute of Hawaiian Music will celebrate everything music next week from Monday, Oct. 20 through Friday, Oct. 24.

The Institute of Hawaiian Music (IHM) at the University of Hawai‘i Maui College has just released a CD of new music written and recorded by a special cohort of students. Entitled Ha‘ina Ko Wehi: Celebrating West Maui in Mele, the project was supported with a grant from the North Beach-West Maui Benefit Fund and originally intended to create new music for West Maui. However, given the tragic wildfires of Aug. 8, 2023 – occurring just two weeks before the group was scheduled to begin its work – the project’s focus shifted and many students chose to write and sing about Lahaina, its rich history, and their hopes for its future.

The University of Hawaiʻi Maui College’s Institute for Hawaiian Music will form a cohort of students for the Fall 2023 semester to participate in a unique Hawaiian music composing course entitled, “Ha‘ina Ko Wehi: Celebrating West Maui in Mele.”