As sweet voices and the happy strum of the ukulele begin to fill the room at Hale Makua, a nursing facility on Maui, smiles appear on the seniors’ faces, and some sing along. The melodic tunes aren’t coming from the radio; instead, children and teenagers are performing live music.
They’re part of Keiki Kupuna, a nonprofit organization created by sisters Bobby, 17, and Cassie Goldyn, 15. The girls were in elementary school when they came up with the idea of sharing music with kupuna.
Cassie and Bobby Goldyn.
“Our grandma was in a hospice center, and she had severe dementia,” says Bobby. “All of a sudden, spending time with her was very different because she had a hard time remembering us. But she had always loved music.”
There was an old piano in the hospice center, and Bobby, who was in fourth grade, decided to start playing it one day.
“Her face lit up, and she started clapping. She knew who I was, and it was one of the first times in a long time that we felt really connected to her,” she says.
“Some of the only memories I have of our grandmother are playing music for her,” adds Cassie. “It was such an important experience in my life. And we wanted to spread it to every senior we could.”
Before long, their mini performances attracted other kupuna living in the home, and the girls started visiting more senior living facilities. That’s when Keiki Kupuna was born.
Keiki rehearsing for their performance.
Finding their voice
Bobby and Cassie have always been musical. They started playing the piano when they were just 4 years old.
“Starting that young worked wonders for us,” says Cassie. “We learned about the importance of putting in the effort, and it shaped our work ethic. I don’t think we would be able to do what we do today without it.”
Bobby now plays guitar in a band. Both girls practice piano and ukulele almost daily. And every summer, they visit their extended family in Maine and have a jam session.
“We get in these big circles, and there are five guitars out, a banjo, upright bass, and 10 singers,” says Bobby. “Music is my whole life. The community part is what means the most to me. It’s connected us with our family.”
A new generation of singers
With Keiki Kupuna, they’re connecting with their community. It started with just Bobby and Cassie before gradually growing into a small group of five. But since launching as a nonprofit organization last year, the girls have expanded even more. After holding auditions, the group now boasts 20 talented keiki between 4 and 17 years old.
The Keiki Kupuna company.
“It’s been so exciting to watch it grow,” says Bobby. “We went from casual rehearsals to rehearsing in a theatre. We have instruments for the musicians, and we have a board that meets monthly.”
After a lot of fundraising, they were also able to hire a musical director, ultimately creating Maui’s first and only free children’s choir.
“We wanted to give kids the opportunity to sing and perform,” says Cassie. “But our main goal is to foster connection.”
Keiki Kupuna does that by visiting nursing facilities around Maui. Depending on their age, each member of the choir has a different role.
There are dancers, too!
“We have a 4- and 6-year-old who sing Do-Re-Mi (from The Sound of Music), and it’s so sweet. Kupuna light up when they see these cute little girls singing ‘Doe a deer,’” says Cassie. “And there are others who sing more polished harmonies.”
Music as medicine
The group mostly sings oldies for the seniors, many of whom have dementia, which affects memory. But the girls recognize a spark that goes off during their performances.
“They always sing along to our songs. It’s awesome because they still remember the lyrics,” says Cassie. “There was a woman who couldn’t remember my name, but she knew every word of Danny Boy.”
Music can be a powerful antidote to dementia. Patients can often recall lyrics or melodies, even when they don’t remember their loved ones’ names. Studies show listening to music can keep your brain engaged and evoke emotions and memories.
“Watching the whole room light up when we start singing is a magical feeling,” says Bobby.
Children’s unique superpower
After each performance, the keiki talk story with the kupuna.
“They have so many interesting stories and so much wisdom. It feels so good to connect with them,” says Bobby. “One time, we met a Holocaust survivor, and speaking with her was so meaningful.”
Social engagement is also beneficial to seniors’ health. Loneliness and social isolation are linked to an increased risk of dementia, heart disease, and depression. But interacting with others can enhance cognitive function, relieve stress, and improve mood.
Spending time with children rather than adults also creates meaningful intergenerational relationships. It can help seniors remember their youth and improve their sense of purpose.
Cassie and Bobby with Mona, a resident at Hale Makua who loves singing along.
“We want to learn, and they have stories to tell that will make us learn,” says Cassie. “It’s great for us and great for them, and really only something that children can do.”
Balancing act
As Keiki Kupuna continues to grow, the sisters keep rigid schedules with monthly performances at senior homes and rehearsals every Sunday. Twice a year, they perform shows in a theatre, inviting the public to attend.
“Those are fundraisers, and it helps the keiki, giving them an opportunity to perform, be on stage, and in front of a larger audience,” says Cassie.
The money raised also goes toward their kupuna friends. As they play live music for them, the girls are hoping to get the audience in on the fun.
Keiki play live music during their performances.
“One of our visions is to give the kupuna little instruments to play with us,” says Cassie. “We think it would be fun if they can participate in that way.”
And they have a lot more planned. Despite having to balance Keiki Kupuna with school and other activities, the teenage sisters wouldn’t have it any other way.
“It’s not easy, and maybe in the moment, you’re like, ‘I can’t have another conversation about how we’re going to get the keyboard down into what car,’” says Bobby. “But at the end of the day, when you’re driving home from the performance, it’s so worth it.”
Photos courtesy the Goldyn family
