On March 16, 2019, world-renowned ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro visited Aloha House to share his music with clients in the nonprofit’s Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program in Makawao. Aloha House promotes recovery and healthy lifestyles to individuals and families by providing compassionate, effective and comprehensive behavioral health services with the spirit of excellence and aloha.

Shimabukuro’s visit was part of the Maui Arts and Cultural Center (MACC)’s ‘Artists in the Community’ initiative, which brings performing artists into local schools, senior centers and social service agencies. The program reaches out to people throughout Maui County in the places where they live, go to school or gather to socialize. During the Aloha House visit, Shimabukuro was accompanied by the MACC’s President and CEO, Art Vento and Cultural Programs Director, Kahulu Maluo-Pearson.Its Residential Treatment Program, located upcountry, provides a structured living environment for those who need a real “time-out” from their daily lives in order to deal with their addiction issues. The Program provides nursing care, individual, group and family counseling and therapy, psychological services, case management, recovery education, discharge planning and assistance in developing sober support in the community.

Shimabukuro performed at the MACC the night of March 16 and had previously visited Aloha House as part of the MACC’s ‘Artists in the Community’ program in March 2018.