"Joseph Kekuku's Musical Gift of Aloha"

June 8, 2026 • Addison Ching • News

Principal Ronald Oyama had a vision.

As a member of Hawaii's Department of Education (DOE) for 33 years, he has served as a teacher, football coach, vice principal, and is the principal at Kapālama Elementary School in Kalihi, O‘ahu, serving for almost six years in that capacity.

His belief is that it is the collective privilege and duty to educate, motivate, and inspire our children to succeed. He further believes that all children and adults are lifelong learners.

Joseph Kekuku‘upenakana‘iapuniokamehameha Apuakehau Jr., better known as Joseph Kekuku, was a Hawaiian-American musician and the inventor of the steel guitar.

According to Wikipedia, in a 1932 article C.S. DeLano said, "Joseph told me that he was walking along a road in Honolulu 42 years ago, holding an old Spanish guitar, when he saw a rusty bolt on the ground. As he picked it up, the bolt accidentally vibrated one of the strings and produced a new tone that was rather pleasing. After practicing for a time with the metal bolt, Joe experimented with the back of a pocket knife, then with the back of a steel comb, and still later on with a highly polished steel [bar] very similar to the sort that is used today."

Oyama stated, "Kekuku's Steel Strings and innovation to the guitar changed the world of music and influenced Hawaiian, country, Blues, and eventually Rock n' Roll."

"That is astounding," he added. "I wanted our students to tell this story and experience the process of '"Success and achievement"' by writing a children's story book."

And so the 2-year project began. Principal Oyama tasked the third grade students to research and write his story and how it impacted the world of music. First with research, then forming a book club, and inviting local authors and collaborating with a local artist to create and design "Joseph Kekuku's Musical Gift of Aloha."

Smithsonian Institute historian Dr. John Troutman and illustrator Jennifer Morgan assisted with the project. Dr. Troutman is known for authoring "Kīkā Kila: How the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Changed the Sound of Modern Music," and is also himself a steel guitarist.

Around the time of the project's inception, Oyama also invited Alan Akaka and Bobby Ingano to give presentations to his students. Alan was also asked if he could provide steel guitar instruction to the students. Alan was not able to provide that support but after a year into the project, Principal Oyama got in touch with Daniel Tremblay. A demonstration by Dan verified that he had the skills necessary to teach steel guitar to the project students and agreed on an afterschool program for ten students.

Kapālama's music Teacher Kayla Wig picked the ten students to participate from the 4^th and 5^th grades. Dan, through HIMELE, provided converted replica steel guitars to the students for their use. The program met weekly using music tablature provided by Alan Akaka.

After two years of painstaking work, the book was completed and a book launch planned for February 25, 2026.

l. Dr. John Troutman and Kilin Reese; r. Alan Akaka, John Berger, and Dr. John Troutman. pc-Alan Akaka

Among those attending the book launch were Principal Oyama and selected Kapālama staff, Hawai‘i Department of Education Superintendent Keith Hayashi, HDOE Deputy Superintendent of Strategy and Administration Tammi Oyadomari-Chun, Hawai‘i State Senator Donna Mercado Kim, Honolulu City Councilman Tyler Dos Santos-Tam, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser's John Berger, Alan and Michiko Akaka, Jake Shimabukuro, Kilin Reese (luthier and founder of the Kealakai Center for Pacific Strings), Dr. John Troutman, and Daniel Tremblay.

Dan Tremblay addressing the group with Principal Ronald Oyama and Deputy Supt. Tammi Oyadomari-Chun.
pc-Dan Tremblay

Musical performances at the launch included those by Alan Akaka and Jake Shumabukuro and by the ten steel guitar students trained by Daniel Tremblay.

Kapālama students displaying the book. pc-Hawai‘i State DOE

John Berger describes the book: "The student authors created the story of Tutu Kolea telling Baby Kala'e kolea how Joseph Kekuku created the Hawaiian steel guitar while he was a student at the Kamehameha School for Boys, and how he then went on to popularize the steel guitar worldwide." John further states that "The [Kapālama Elementary] school occupies the original site of the Kamehameha School for Boys when Kekuku attended it in the late 1880s, and na kolea return to the campus to winter there each year."

In prepared remarks, Dr. Troutman declared that "The children we are honoring today have written a beautiful book and true story about the vision, innovation, journey, and global impact of a schoolboy, Joseph Kekuku, whose dorm at the first site of the Kamehameha School was likely located right about here, on the present-day campus of Kapālama. Their book is one filled with wonder and discovery – discovery of the life and the historical significance of Joseph Kekuku, who was born just over a century ago at Kahana Bay, raised in Lā‘ie, and enrolled on these school grounds before eventually leaving the Islands and making Hawaiian music with his Hawaiian steel guitar, across the globe, with his instrument-this indigenous, Hawaiian technology – changing virtually all of the other musical traditions encountered in its wake. It's truly an epic story that the students tell here in such an inventive way – but it's a story that we only knew a few parts and pieces of here and there until recently."

Dr. John Troutman addressing the group. pc-Hawai‘i State DOE

Dr. Troutman continued, "So now we are here to celebrate another remarkable turn of events. Now, thanks to the students and faculty of Kapālama Elementary School, Kekuku's story will inspire generations of young readers to come. The book, beautifully illustrated by Jennifer Morgan in collaboration with the students, is just incredible – it is inspiring and such a joy to read. By making Joseph's story relatable and deeply meaningful to readers like me and to readers like your classmates, you have accomplished a truly marvelous feat!"

DOE Supt. Keith Hayashi and Senator Donna Mercado Kim review the book with a student. pc-Hawai‘i State DOE

Hawaii State Senator Donna Mercado Kim stated, "Such a special day at Kapālama Elementary celebrating the launch of "Joseph Kekuku's Musical Gift of Aloha," researched and written by students in the school's book club. She added, "This book was written by students – strengthening identity, building pride, and uplifting the voices of their own school community."

Alan Akaka reflected, "The event was truly magical, made even more unforgettable by the surprise visits from influential figures such as the ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro and John W. Troutman, the author of "Kīkā Kila [How the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Changed the Sound of Modern Music.]" He continued, "Seeing the students' hard work come to life, I couldn't help but think – if Joseph Kekuku hadn't been walking along those tracks in Lā‘ie all those years ago, this gathering wouldn't be happening today. In that moment, I could almost see his smile watching over these young storytellers."

Jake Shimabukuro added, "The story of Joseph Kekuku has been such a source of inspiration for me personally. I'm so excited about the new book authored by the students of Kapālama Elementary School, because it captures probably the most important story in modern music today."

Jake Shimabukuro with Kapālama students. pc-John Berger

He continued, "The Hawaiian steel guitar is the most influential instrument that serves as the precursor to Robert Johnson's blues guitar, country music, bluegrass, and Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. Joseph Kekuku reminds us that Hawaii was and is truly a place of sophistication, innovation and tremendous influence."

"I'm so grateful for historians Kilin Reece and John Troutman, for helping to uncover this important history and sharing it with all of us, especially our Keiki. And grateful for Alan Akaka, truly the world's leading virtuoso of this indigenous instrument and a living treasure."

l. Jake Shimabukuro holding a steel guitar; r. Alan Akaka, John Troutman, Kilin Reece, and Principal Oyama. pc-Alan Akaka

Principal Oyama concludes that this book. "… not only embodies the genius, talent, vision of Joseph Kekuku, but [also] how we all can be THE DIFFERENCE in a world that holds so many possibilities. Through Kekuku's influence came a Hawaiian, indigenous instrument, the remarkable resilience and fortitude of the Hawaiian people in the time of a dark time, the over throw of the Hawaiian Kingdom. This is his story and our land's history."

See related article: "Steel Guitar Magical Day"

Interview Credits: Alan Akaka, Dr. John Troutman, Jake Shimabukuro, Ronald Oyama
Social Media exerpts: John Berger, Senator Donna Mercado-Kim, Wikipedia
Photo credits: Daniel Tremblay, Alan Akaka, Hawai‘i State Department of Education