2 donors pledge 5 'ukulele to school

By Kapono Dowson
Advertiser Staff Writer

Two O'ahu businessmen want to give the children at Hale'iwa Elementary their music back and will donate five koa 'ukulele to replace some of those stolen July 5 from the school.

School principal Janice Yoneda and Hawaiian studies teacher "Aunty" Kanani Awai will accept two 'ukulele — both Sonny D Concerto koa 'ukulele — today from David Graves, owner of Leeward Pawnbrokers. Graves is donating instruments from his personal collection.

Eric Hamaguchi, owner of Island Ukulele Co., has pledged to donate three of his company's 'ukulele.

Each replacement 'ukulele is considered to be comparable in sound and value to the 11 stolen instruments, which were valued at $400 to $500 apiece.

"Seeing the loss of the children deeply affected the donors," said student services coordinator Pam Jason. "They were just very gracious people."

Graves said it was the first time he had heard of a school having its 'ukulele stolen.

A detective friend had told Graves about the burglary in case thieves tried to pawn the instruments, he said.

Graves said he fell in love with the 'ukulele's sound when he was young.

"They took that music away from the kids," he said of the burglars.

Hamaguchi said he also felt the urge to give, pledging three of his company's 'ukulele, valued at $400 apiece.

"Let me tell you about the heart behind this," said Hamaguchi. "We gave for the children. It's not about us."

Hamaguchi visits schools regularly with Dave Dunway, a teacher and a member of the musical duo Imua, to play and demonstrate the 'ukulele for children.

Police are continuing their investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the Wahiawa police station at 621-8442.

Reach Kapono Dowson at kdowson@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8103.