{"id":42561,"date":"2016-02-02T12:12:01","date_gmt":"2016-02-02T22:12:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=42561"},"modified":"2020-01-07T12:23:35","modified_gmt":"2020-01-07T22:23:35","slug":"making-wishes-come-true-through-music","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2016\/02\/02\/making-wishes-come-true-through-music\/","title":{"rendered":"Making wishes come true through music"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"Make-a-Wish
Skyla in the Mike Curb MELE<\/abbr> studio at Honolulu CC<\/abbr>. Photo credit: Darcy Fiero<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Being diagnosed with lupus at the age of 13, Skyla is not your typical 17-year-old Big Island girl. It was during her early high school years at Honokaʻa<\/span> High that she discovered a music ensemble class, finding comfort, hope and strength. Skyla’s love of music has helped her cope with her daily battle with the autoimmune disease.<\/p>\n

After making a connection with Make-a-Wish Hawaiʻi<\/span><\/a> about a year ago, “wish coordinators” have been hard at work to make Skyla’s wish of having a professional studio recording experience come true.<\/p>\n

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Skyla takes to the piano. Photo credit: Darcy Fiero<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While Skyla’s wish is to ultimately have that experience in Los Angeles or New York City, her wish coordinators discovered a prime opportunity right here at home to give Skyla the professional recording experience she so deserved, planning a surprise visit to Honolulu Community College’s Music and Entertainment Learning Experience<\/a> (MELE<\/abbr>) program to take place around a routine medical trip to Oʻahu<\/span>. Skyla was warmly greeted by the MELE<\/abbr> students and wasted no time getting settled in to the state-of-the-art Mike Curb MELE<\/abbr> studio to record Drops of Jupiter.<\/p>\n

“It’s common for MELE<\/abbr> students to get excited with the glamour, money and entertainment aspect of the music industry. This is fine, but ultimately we want our students to experience and record music that inspires, heals and tells life stories. Skyla’s willingness and courage to share her gift of music and life story has taught our students the true power and impact of recording a moment in time together that will last a lifetime and beyond. Mahalo, Skyla, for your grace and inspiration, MELE<\/abbr> has been blessed,” shared John Vierra<\/strong>, MELE<\/abbr> program coordinator and audio engineering instructor.<\/p>\n

For a moment in time, Skyla was free, doing what she loves—creating music with peers who love to do the same. As tears welled up in her eyes, Skyla’s mother, May, watched her daughter in action. “Music has brought joy back into her life.”<\/p>\n

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Students and faculty of Honolulu CC<\/abbr>’s MELE program make Skyla feel welcome. Photo credit: Darcy Fiero<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For more photos of Skyla’s visit, view the Honolulu CC<\/abbr> Flickr album<\/a>.<\/p>\n

—By Billie Lueder<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Make-a-Wish Hawaiʻi teen fulfills her dream of recording in a professional recording studio at Honolulu CC<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[62,133,404,71],"class_list":["post-42561","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","tag-honolulu-community-college","tag-music","tag-music-and-entertainment-learning-experience","tag-uh-community-colleges","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t