The Kanikapila Club, formerly known as The Garage Band Club, was started in spring 2016 to bring music to students and to brighten their days with popular songs. The club is now back this semester, and its main purpose is to bring people together through the love of music.
“When I was a student, we did the same thing and we created lifelong friends. And we wanted the same experience for students today,” said WCC information and computing science instructor Michael Kato, who co-founded the club with speech instructor Jeffrey Ho.
According to the club officers, the best part is that everyone who enjoys performing can do what they like. The club accepts musicians, singers, rappers, spoken word artists, poets and more.
It also welcomes anyone who just wants to sit and listen. The club is open to helping students and faculty who want to learn how to play an instrument or want feedback on any original pieces of music, poetry, etc. as well as to those who might just need a little more confidence.
The club is planning on expanding its ideas and ‘ohana feel to other campuses, potentially through a Battle of the Bands between campuses.
The only thing holding it back is that the club does not have enough performers to become a permanent part of the campus.
As someone who never expected to be an officer of the group, WCC student and media aide Justice Denis-Lui is now in charge of equipment as well as taking videos and pictures of those who perform.
“I just stopped by one day and Jeff told me to sit down to listen to some music, and after that, I was hooked,” he said. “Every day after class, I’d sit there and listen to the performers. I started filming them for YouTube, and it sort of became a big and important part of my life that I enjoy very much.”
The club performs Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the cafeteria side of Hale ‘Ākoakoa or in front of Palikū Theatre but is open to changing the set time to suit its members needs.
So make time to stop by and check out what your fellow music and art lovers at Windward Community College have to offer.
by Hannah Bailey, Ka ‘Ohana Staff Reporter
