KILAUEA — Anaina Hou Community Park, in partnership with Kauai Planning and Action Alliance as well as Innovative Giving Enhancements, has completed the 4th annual Lokahi Music in the Schools Program, successfully delivered a powerful series of events that united Kauai’s youth and families in the spirit of lokahi — harmony and balance.
Through the transformative power of music and education, Lokahi 2025 doubled its impact from previous years, reaching over 4,000 students, raising awareness of teen bullying, mental health challenges and suicide prevention, according to a press release.
On March 6 and 7, Lokahi 2025 expanded its in school-based programming, ensuring that every high school-aged student on Kauai had the opportunity to experience the message of unity and resilience. In addition to returning to Kapaa and Kauai high schools, Lokahi 2025 included new concerts at Waimea High School and Island School, broadening access to students across the island.
For the first time, students from charter schools, vocational programs and academies were invited as honored guests, ensuring inclusivity across different educational pathways. The program also introduced middle school participation, further extending its reach and impact.
Adding to the experience, Lokahi 2025 featured a special day of service at Hanalei School, where students engaged in cultural learning and musical inspiration with Hawaiian Grammy Award-winning artist John Cruz.
The weekend of March 8 and 9 brought the spirit of Lokahi beyond the classroom and into the heart of the community. Anaina Hou Community Park’s Porter Pavilion hosted two concerts, featuring performances by John Cruz, The Vitals 808, and the Soulgood Family Band. These concerts served as a celebration of Kauai’s ohana, while also raising crucial funding to sustain Lokahi’s future.
Key accomplishments of Lokahi 2025, according to the press release:
• Over 4,000 students served, doubling participation from 2024 and vastly expanding impact since its inception.
• Four in-school high school concerts (up from two in 2024 and one in 2023).
• First-time inclusion of charter, vocational and religious school students in the high school concert series.
• Introduction of middle school participation, extending the program’s impact to younger students.
• Student-led anti-bullying initiatives, where student councils at Kapaa, Kauai, Waimea and Island School created skits, videos, and led ceremonies to foster peer-driven awareness.
• Resource fair tabling at school concerts, connecting students with critical mental health and community resilience resources.
• A dedicated day of service at Hanalei School, featuring John Cruz, inspiring younger students to embrace the values of lokahi.
• Two community concerts at Anaina Hou Community Park’s Porter Pavilion, further engaging Kauai families and raising funds to sustain Lokahi’s mission.
Following the resounding success of Lokahi 2025, plans are underway for a return to Kauai in 2026, with an expansion into Oahu as the next step toward reaching all Hawaiian Islands by 2030. As Lokahi continues to grow, more top-tier Hawaiian artists are committed to joining the movement, ensuring that music remains a powerful tool for connection, awareness, and healing.
The impact of Lokahi 2025 was made possible through the dedication of students, educators, artists, community organizations, and the unwavering support of Kauai’s ohana. As Lokahi continues to expand, its mission remains the same: to challenge isolation, dissolve boundaries, and unite communities through the power of music and education.
For more information about future events and ways to support Lokahi’s mission, visit Anaina Hou’s website or follow on social media.
