Helping to bring mele back to the classroom!
Please note, if you are a teacher, please visit our TEACHER LANDING PAGE so you can sign up to join the FREE Pilot!
Pilot Update:
Dive into a full episode from our Elementary School ‘Ukulele Curriculum Pilot! At Four Strings at a Time, we believe every child deserves a high-quality education that connects them to their place and culture. This is the start of a bigger vision: a curriculum that uses the ‘ukulele as a way to help students build self-esteem and a deep connection to Hawai‘i.
This isn't just an ‘ukulele program; it's a program that gives students a sense of belonging through mele (song). We're working hard to make this vision a reality for all keiki.
Calling all teachers! Our free pilot program is still being built, but you can get early access and help shape its future.
Sign up by visiting our TEACHER PAGE.
Want to help? Your donation helps us continue this important work and ensure that our curriculum remains accessible to all.
Please consider giving via our DONATION PAGE.
Your support helps us bring the power of music and place to more students. Thank you for believing in our mission!
About the Pilot Program:
By end of 2025:
Teacher Module: 7 main episodes + supplemental video lessons & PDFs
Module 1: 10 main episodes + supplemental video lessons & PDFs
Holiday Module: 3–4 main episodes
Next Phase: Filming for Module 2 begins in 2025 and continues into early 2026. With your feedback, we’ll make Module 2 an even more powerful resource for educators.
Following our two-year pilot program of our After School ‘Ukulele Curriculum for 2nd-5th grade, we have embarked on an ambitious endeavor: the development of a comprehensive Elementary School ‘Ukulele Curriculum.
Our vision is to establish a program accessible across our islands and beyond, fostering foundational music literacy through ‘ukulele instruction. This curriculum, “E Ho‘okani Pila - Let’s Play”, will emphasize both musicality and cultural awareness, incorporating both English and ‘ōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language) songs.
Beyond traditional textbooks, our program will feature innovative modular video components. These resources will empower educators with flexible tools for classroom instruction and student review. Moreover, this approach will facilitate enriching experiences, such as guest artist collaborations and virtual excursions to locations relevant to the curriculum's songs.
We are blessed to have access to song catalogues from some of Hawai‘i’s most legendary songwriters including Eddie Kamae and Rev. Dennis Kamakahi. A huge mahalo to The Hawaiian Legacy Foundationʻs (Eddiekamaesongbook.org) and the Kamakahi ʻohana for supporting our program.
We also want to say another mahalo nui to Kimo Alama Keaulana for your guidance as we move forward with this project for our keiki.
Our Program is growing!
We're thrilled to share that our program is expanding rapidly, thanks to the invaluable support of our partners at the Office of Hawaiian Education. Currently, we have 45 dedicated teachers in 30 schools across the islands participating in our free pilot program! We're excited to continue welcoming new teachers through August 2025. If you're an educator interested in joining, please visit our TEACHER PAGE and complete the Google Form. This will help us understand your classroom and instrument needs, ensuring we can best support you.
Together we can make a difference for our keiki in Hawai‘i and beyond! Here is where your support will be going:
Our objective is to initiate a pilot program of this curriculum by Fall 2025. This pilot focused on National Core Music Standard for 4th grade.
To achieve this ambitious timeline, we require financial support to facilitate crucial aspects of the program's development, including:
High-quality video production and documentation.
Finalization and production of comprehensive written materials.
Development of a user-friendly and informative online platform to host the curriculum.
Future module planning & preperation
Our ultimate aspiration is to make this program accessible to all public schools in Hawaiʻi at minimal or no cost.
This program offers a unique opportunity to learn about and connect with Hawaiian culture. With this in mind, we will feature select content from the curriculum, including in-depth interviews, song performances, and virtual excursions, that will be available to the public, providing valuable educational resources for all ages.
Support our music program by donating to either our Elementary School ʻUkulele Pilot program or our General Fund. Use the "Custom Amount" button to contribute a specific amount. Custom donations will be acknowledged at the nearest donation tier crossed. Both one-time and recurring monthly donations are welcome.
The pilot will encompass two main modules, giving students the basics they need to play and be inspired by our islands. The pilot will last 2 years.
This pilot program is the first step. The full program will launch in 2027 and will be regularly expanded with new modules.
Please note that the Module plans may change over time as we continue to film and edit our videos and written materials.
Module 1 PDF Drafts
Please enjoy looking through some drafts for our Module 1 lessons!
Support our music program by donating to either our Elementary School ʻUkulele Pilot program or our General Fund. Use the "Custom Amount" button to contribute a specific amount. Custom donations will be acknowledged at the nearest donation tier crossed. Both one-time and recurring monthly donations are welcome.