POIPU — The Meboe family from Seattle has only been playing the ukulele for a few weeks, but came up big winners Sunday at the Ukes in Paradise contest hosted by Keoki’s Paradise as part of the Koloa Plantation Days
POIPU — The Meboe family from Seattle has only been playing the ukulele for a few weeks, but came up big winners Sunday at the Ukes in Paradise contest hosted by Keoki’s Paradise as part of the Koloa Plantation Days celebration.
“It’s amazing how far they have come in just a few weeks,” said Aileen Kageyama, the Meboe’s ukulele instructor. “Anyone can learn to play this instrument.”
The Meboe children, Nicholas, Isabelle, Oscar, and Joey, picked up a Kageyama trademark move of playing the ukulele behind their necks while rendering “Opihi Man.” The uniform strumming and singing earned the group top honors in group judging.
The win earned all members who had not won Kamoa ukulele instruments from Larry’s Music. Oscar, the youngest member of the group had earlier won his own Kamoa after winning top honors in the K tosecond grade division over Anuenue Mose, who also won a Kamoa uke.
First and second places of all the divisions earned Kamoa ukulele while other places earned premiums ranging from gift cards to logowear from Keoki’s Paradise.
Makena Buhk serenaded her way to the top of the third to fifth grade division. Celeste Velarde won the sixth to eighth grade division and Kaleohano Castenada’s performance earned him tops in the ninth to 12th grade class.
