Page 1 - MidWeek Central - August 24, 2022

FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 24, 2022
VISIONARY ADDITION
Wahiawā-based Hawaiian Eye Center increases staff. SEE PAGE 2
ON TOP OF THE WORLD
Cop on Top fundraiser for Special Olympics Hawai‘i will return to Mililani. SEE PAGE 4
Teaching Love Of ‘Ukulele In Mililani
A PUBLICATION OF
AN EDITION OF
Roy and Kathy Sakuma have ‘ukulele studios across O‘ahu, including in Mililani.
PHOTO COURTESY ROY SAKUMA ‘UKULELE STUDIOS
ABY STEPHANIE LOPES
fter more than five decades of teach- ing ‘ukulele, Roy Sakuma reflects, “I am really thankful I stayed with it.”
With the assistance of dedicated wife Kathy, Roy Sakuma ‘Ukulele Studios have opened schools across O‘ahu, including in Mililani. It has garnered the reputation of be- ing Hawai‘i’s top ‘ukulele school, with past students such as Jake Shimabukuro, and has collected an abundance of accolades, includ- ing former Gov. Ben Cayetano proclaiming July 30 as Roy Sakuma Day.
The start of Sakuma’s ‘ukulele career and his relationship with his wife revolves around an internationally influential ‘ukulele player — Herb “Ohta-San” Ohta. In 1964, Roy heard Ohta-San’s hit song, Sushi, sought him out and fervently practiced ‘ukulele.
“Ohta-San taught me how to play,” recol- lects Roy. “Then he went on tour to Japan and asked me to teach his classes. I realized teaching was more fun than trying to be the best ‘ukulele player in the world.
“I had this passion to teach children, and I
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