MidWeek East - May 18, 2022

FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 18, 2022
OUT OF THIS WORLD
East O‘ahu students meet a NASA astronaut.
SEE PAGE 9
PASSION PROJECTS
La Pietra held its inaugural Celebration of Learning. SEE PAGE 10
Sophomore Shares A Powerful Song
A PUBLICATION OF
AN EDITION OF
Saint Louis School sophomore Kala‘i Kealoha recently released his new single Koko War. PHOTO COURESTY KALA‘I KEALOHA
IBY MARIA KANAI
t’s refreshing to find a 15-year-old who is as passionate about his culture and heritage as Kala‘i Kealoha. The Saint
Louis School teenager recently worked with his father, Kanoa, to write, produce, sing and play the ‘ukulele for his single ti- tled Koko War. It’s a reggae song with a moving beat, catchy melody and powerful lyrics about the historical plight of native Hawaiians.
Kealoha has been playing music for as long as he remembers. He has a natural ear for music and an innate love for playing the ‘ukulele.
“My parents say that I’ve been playing the ‘ukulele since I was four months old,” he says.
By three years old, he started playing more chords, and at eight years old, he took his first official ‘ukulele class at Kaimukī Middle School. He’s currently taking pro- fessional ‘ukulele classes in Waipi‘o.
When writing Koko War, the process all began with a melody.
SEE PAGE 4