Teens Tune into Their Passion for Music in the ʻŌlino Summer Program

This past summer, high school students from Liliʻuokalani Trust collaborated with renowned music artists from Hawaiʻi to produce a music video for Gold Star, a song they co-wrote during the ʻŌlino Summer Program. This three-week day camp offered diverse Pathways in sports, performing arts, music, and creative media.  

The Trust’s ‘Ōlino Pathways program is available year-round. It encourages teens ages 11-17 to diversify their interests, develop leadership qualities, and learn the life skills necessary for success.

Raiatea Helm, ʻŌlino Pathways coordinator for the Trust, emphasizes the program’s impact on team building. “While not all kids who entered the music space will want to pursue music, the enrichment opportunity allowed the kids to create pilina (relationships),” she says. “We provided a safe space for them to establish camaraderie and allowed them to feel more engaged, giving them the agency to build their futures.” 

Helm invited Hawaiʻi musician and director Laine Furukawa to mentor the youth throughout the three weeks. Joining them was the music production group Craft Brewz; the founder of Kapena School of Music, Kalenaku Parish; and her spouse and musician Kalaʻe Parish.

The partnership delved into music fundamentals and songwriting and introduced the teens to music licensing and commercial production.

Their final composition, Gold Star, “has a big message of perseverance,” says Ezra, a participant in the Music Pathway. “The lyrics say, ʻGot strong but I'll get stronger, got tough but I'll get tougher.’ I feel like that's just a good message of pushing through problems and the tough times. … There is always a way to improve, and get better at something,” he says.

Resiliency is a central theme across youth programs at the Trust. Established by Queen Liliʻuokalani in 1909 to support orphaned and destitute children, the Trust continues to offer opportunities for kamaliʻi to realize their potential and succeed.

“As Teammates of the Trust, we also go through that process,” Helm says. “We thrive when our kids are thriving. We see our potential when they see their potential.”