Being there

*Not music related

Its 221am July 1, 2015

I just got home from the ER. A good friend of mine shot a text out asking for prayer because someone they care about was rushed to the hospital tonight. I decided to head on over and just show up for support. I had someone in my past that had pretty regular medical emergencies and I thought about how I felt in those times sitting around the hospital waiting for news and updates. 

I got there and was pretty literally just there. We talked some but not much. We mostly just sat around for hours. At the end of it my friend just thanked me for being there. As a creative type I always feel like I should have something valid to say or present. As a Christian church-type person I feel like I have should have some uplifting and some really spiritual words to share. But sometimes I think being there and shutting up is what is called for. Maybe tomorrow or next week or sometime down the road something worth saying will be said. But for tonight my friend just needed a friend to be there. 

Make em Smile

Got this fwd from the director of #makeemsmilehawaii from the staff at Shriners Honolulu about the party I played on Monday for the kids. Playing at the hospitals is one of the most rewarding things I get to do with music. Www.makeemsmilehawaii.com #musicwithpurpose #blessedtobless

"Got this fwd from the director of #makeemsmilehawaii from the staff at Shriners Honolulu about the party I played on Monday for the kids. Playing at the..."

I play at a lot of places for a lot of reasons. Playing at the hospitals is definitely at the top of the favorites list. I have been doing it for a little over a year now and I cant see myself stopping anytime in the near future. Seeing these kids who are going through some of the craziest and heaviest things can break my heart. I am constantly amazed by how much music can help release that burden, even if for a few moments. Seeing them have the ability to smile and face what they're facing the way they do, inspires me to be grateful for everything in my life and to not take anything for granted. They help me smile in situations and circumstances where i would have complained. 

They said I really connected with the kids... I think the kids over the past year have helped me regain that open hearted child inside of me and the kids feel that. Its crazy how you think youre doing something to help or bless someone else but you get more from it than you ever thought you were giving. 

Remembering the gift.

Played a show for some cool kids and their families at shriners today. One kid knew almost the whole set. About 5 songs in, his friend was singing along so I gave him the mic, he was too shy so this other kid jumped on the mic no hesitation and killed it. He just sang along almost for an hour worth of songs after that. #shriners #makeemsmilehawaii #musicwithpurpose #blessedtobless www.makeemsmilehawaii.com

"Played a show for some cool kids and their families at shriners today. One kid knew almost the whole set. About 5 songs in, his friend was singing along..."

Today I was invited to Shriners Hospital in Honolulu. They were having a party for the kids and their families. I played a 90 min set. I didn't know what to expect cause I haven't been to Shriners in about a year. I have been playing at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children across the street from them. Shriners is different from the other hospitals I play at because for the most part the patients are from other countries or American territories. The kids today were from Samoa, the Marshall Islands, and other South Pacific areas. I was concerned with how well my usual music selection would go over for the kids and their families. It went over really well. I had forgotten the basic truth that music speaks every language. There were grandparents dancing, parents clapping along and children singing and smiling. I was so blessed to see how the music had an affect on the room. My favorite part of today was when these boys were singing along to my reggae rendition of "Say Something". They were singing really well. I set up a loop on my pedal and walked the mic over to the louder of the two boys and he was so shy, through his dark polynesian skin, I'm pretty sure he was blushing. His younger friend was not shy. He took to the mic and sang his little heart out. His family and friends, and patients and staff cheered him on. I recognized the look on his face, its the same look I get every time I perform. The kid was a natural. He stayed close by singing along with me for the rest of the show. After it was all over and I was breaking down, he came and thanked me in broken english, very softly. I told him I needed to thank him for reminding me why and how I fell in love with music to begin with. He's about the same age as I was when I started really enjoying singing and rapping. I love what music has allowed me to experience and the people I have met through it. Man, this is a dope journey. 

If you're a musician or singer in Hawaii and want to know how you can volunteer your gifts to children and families in local hospitals, checkout www.makeemsmilehawaii.com or hit my Contact Me page and we can talk about it. Aloha and Blessings fam.