Our Music – One Person at a Time
Each musician brings a unique attribute to our ensemble sound. It is only through the blending of our players’ talents that enables the rich sound of The Hawai‘i Ukulele Ensemble.
Tom – Tenor Ukulele
Tom is the founder, music arranger, and “task master” behind the group. He started playing the trumpet as a wee lad and eventually fell in love with other brass and woodwind instruments. In college, he played in various jazz and orchestral groups and studied music composition, theory, and instruction. Teaching private lessons, especially his two daughters, was a true joy for him.
After retiring from high-tech, Tom picked up his passion for music again by building custom ukuleles under the name “Pau Hana Ukuleles” and playing whenever he could. He wanted to create something more than just traditional kanikapilas, so he founded the group to bring back the sense of community and share his love of music with others.
Shirley – Tenor Ukulele
CoCo-founder and music arranger. She started taking private accordion lessons when she was just 7 years old. But then, she switched to playing the piano and became a competitive player until she was 16. She also played the clarinet and drums/percussion in different school bands. She always knew that she would eventually go back to playing music.
In 2011, when she moved to Hawaii, she bought a ukulele and taught herself to fingerpick. Finally, in 2017, she took ukulele lessons to learn how to strum and sing. She loves performing solo as well as with the ensemble, and she feels like a kid again when she’s playing music.
Linda – Tenor Ukulele
Linda comes from a musical family. Her parents had a small band, and she and her siblings grew up listening to all sorts of music. She started piano lessons when she was 6 and kept going all the way through high school. She even sang in her college chorus! She also taught herself to play the guitar. But she put music on hold until she retired. Then, she picked up the ukulele and even made one herself! Now, she’s rediscovering all the musical training she had as a kid and is having a blast playing with different groups. She’s in a kanikapila group, a Hawaiian-language musical group, and HUE.
Janice – Tenor Ukulele
Jan’s love for music began when she was a kid in Malaysia, listening to the radio. After college in Hawaii, a career in California, and raising a family, she decided to retire back to the islands. Even though she tried playing the guitar and piano, it wasn’t until she started taking ukulele lessons in 2015 that music became a priority in her life. Learning a new song can be tough sometimes, but it’s super rewarding once you master it. Jan joined the Hawaii Ukulele Ensemble, a group of other senior players who also love the thrill of playing the “jumping flea.”
Teri – Tenor Ukulele
I took piano lessons in 4th and 5th grade, but I didn’t think it would stick. But then, at 13, I picked up the guitar and have been on and off with music and performing ever since. Life got in the way for a while, and I stopped playing for years. But then, about 15 years ago, I heard Brittni Paiva and David Kamakahi playing the ukulele, and it was like a lightbulb went off. I was instantly hooked!
I’ve been obsessed with the ukulele ever since. My main teachers and biggest inspirations are Herb Ohta Jr. and James Hill. I’m so excited to be part of a group of musicians who are all about exploring the unique musicality of the ukulele.
Barbara – Tenor Ukulele
I have a life-long love of music, and luckily through Tad Humble’s Senior Ukulele class I met these other musicians who are helping me take my playing to another level.
Janice – Tenor Ukulele
Janice adds a Canadian flare to the group. Coming from a non-musical background, she grew up with “kitchen parties” hoping one day she would play an instrument.
After retiring and become a Snowbird, she fell in love with Hawaiian music and the ukulele. So much so that her husband, Rusty, built her her own ukulele and she began taking lessons. She now has the time to share her joy of music with other like-minded people.
Rusty – Baritone Ukulele
Rusty is a snowbird from Ontario, Canada. Seven years ago, Janice (also in the group), and he started coming to the Big Island when he traded in hockey skates for flippers and hockey stick for an ukulele. They fell in love with the instrument and started to play with local kanikapalia groups.
Quickly realizing the desire to improve their playing, they joined the Tad Humble group. Now hooked on Ukulele, Rusty built one for Janice for their anniversary and a year later built his own. With no music background, it has been a challenge and learning experience and he would like to thank all who have influenced him in his Ukulele endeavors.
Gloria – Tenor Ukulele
Gloria Juan was born and raised on Oʻahu. She graduated from the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa, and moved to Kona where she taught music at Kealakehe Intermediate School for over 40 years until she retired in 2019. She is presently the music director at Kona United Methodist Church and is the accompanist for the Kona Choral Society. She is also involved with the Aloha Performing Arts Center and the Kona Aloha Singers. She is enjoying her retirement by playing with different ʻukulele groups in town and in teaching piano and ʻukulele privately.