Neighborhood Stars: A New Chapter for Washington Middle School’s Band Program
- Sen. Carol Fukunaga
- Sep 9
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 7
Washington Middle School’s long-awaited band room makeover opened its doors to students in Fall 2025, marking the culmination of more than a decade of perseverance, partnerships, and community pride: https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/video/2025/08/12/washington-middle-school-music-room-gets-makeover-by-alumni/
The project began in 2013 when Principal Michael Harano and area legislators secured the first $1.1 million to launch the effort. Over the next decade, upgrades steadily accumulated—$500,000 in 2016, another $500,000 for electrical and heat abatement, and finally, a $10 million infusion in 2022–2023 that allowed the full-scale construction to take shape.
For Principal Harano, the new bandroom is a dream come true: “It’s only going to help increase the participation and the excellence of the program!”
The finishing touches came through a unique partnership with the Good Tidings Foundation and Washington Middle alumnus Jake Shimabukuro, who brought his personal commitment to the project: “This campus was truly a turning point in my life…when I was a student here as a 7th grader, I felt like I came in like not knowing who I was or where I wanted to go with my life; and I left as 8th grader who was a lot more focused and a lot more confident in who I was as a person.”
The new facility includes upgraded acoustics, climate control, modernized lighting and sound systems, and flexible rehearsal areas—features designed to serve not only the school’s award-winning band program but also the larger community.
Shimabukuro added: “Music is a place that builds community, that brings people together: that’s what we want for the school – That’s what we want for this community, for this island and for the state…”
The makeover illustrates how the work of “Neighborhood Stars” Principal Michael Harano, musician Jake Shimabukuro and a host of other partners came together to show what collaboration between schools, alumni, legislators, and nonprofits can achieve.
