{"id":229448,"date":"2026-02-13T12:48:43","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T22:48:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=229448"},"modified":"2026-02-13T12:48:43","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T22:48:43","slug":"music-professor-reimagines-hawaiian-music","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/02\/13\/music-professor-reimagines-hawaiian-music\/","title":{"rendered":"New music professor reimagines Hawaiian music, UH<\/abbr> Hilo band"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"Ocean
Ocean Akaka<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After more than two decades without a university band, the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at Hilo<\/a> is ready to bring the music back. Leading that effort is new assistant professor of music Ocean Akaka, who arrives with a clear vision: rebuild the band program and help revitalize Hawaiian music through bold new arrangements and performances.<\/p>\n

Akaka, who recently returned home to Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> after teaching on the U.S.<\/abbr> continent, arrived in Hilo on a one-way ticket late last year.<\/p>\n

“I quickly got settled in, and flew to Oʻahu<\/span> to spend the holidays with my family, something I haven\u2019t done since 2020,” he said. “That was a great moment for sure.”<\/p>\n

Building musical bridges<\/h2>\n

Akaka, who specializes in conducting wind ensembles and athletic bands, is now part of UH<\/abbr> Hilo\u2019s performing arts department<\/a>. However he said his larger mission reaches beyond performance. His research revolves around the revitalization of Hawaiian music through arrangements for Western instrumental ensembles, such as orchestra and band.<\/p>\n

\"Ocean
Ocean Akaka conducts the University of Nevada Las Vegas Marching Band (courtesy photo).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Born and raised in Wahiaw\u0101, Akaka earned his bachelor\u2019s degree in music <\/a> from UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa. He later completed both his master\u2019s and doctoral degrees in conducting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. There, he led marching and pep bands, directed ensembles and taught conducting. His arrangements have been performed across the U.S.<\/abbr> and Europe.<\/p>\n

Now he brings that experience home.<\/p>\n

“I\u2019m writing a few arrangements of music from Charles E.<\/abbr> King\u2019s songbook,” he said. “Many of the songs written in this book are for one or more vocalists, and an accompanying ukulele, guitar or steel guitar. I\u2019m working to arrange these songs for a wind ensemble, and have them performed by the students here at UH<\/abbr> Hilo.”<\/p>\n

For more go to UH<\/abbr> Hilo Stories<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

—By Susan Enright <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ocean Akaka is on a mission to rebuild the band program at UH<\/abbr> Hilo and help revitalize Hawaiian music. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":229458,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[90,133,736,14,355,907],"class_list":["post-229448","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people","tag-alumni","tag-music","tag-performing-arts","tag-uh-hilo","tag-uh-hilo-performing-arts-center","tag-uh-hilo-stories","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t