Music That Connects Generations
The Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony’s HIE Initiative (Harmonizing Intergenerational Engagement) brings together keiki, kūpuna, and vulnerable populations through the transformative power of music. In ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, hie means “distinguished, stately, regal; delightful;” a word that beautifully captures our vision for this meaningful work.
About Our HIE Initiative
HIE creates bridges between generations, enriching lives through chamber music performances while developing the next generation of compassionate musicians and community leaders.
We’re working to:
- Educate and inspire HYS students and teaching fellows in chamber music performance and community outreach
- Enliven kūpuna in their places of residence and rest with live performances from HYS students and young alumni
- Activate passionate advocates for music’s healing power across all ages
- Learn and grow together as we deepen our understanding of aging and music’s role in resilience, healing, and well-being
- Build joyful connections that reduce social isolation and loneliness, harmonizing relationships between youth and kūpuna
Through this work, we’re not only bringing generations together, we’re providing HYS students and teaching fellows with invaluable service-learning experiences and skills they’ll carry throughout their lives.
The Value of Intergenerational Engagements
Many local kūpuna face significant challenges as they age, including cognitive decline, depression, and heart disease. A 2019 National Institute of Health study reveals these conditions are intensified by prolonged social isolation and loneliness. As Dr. Stephanie Cacioppo, director of the University of Chicago and National Institute on Aging’s Brain Dynamics Laboratory, states: “The misery and suffering caused by chronic loneliness are very real. Treating loneliness is our collective responsibility.”
Music serves as a universal bridge and a language through which we connect through magnificent and beautiful sounds. Research shows that people of all ages benefit from music: it helps our brains process, our senses feel, our imaginations dream. Volunteering with our kūpuna, particularly in senior residences, offers proven benefits for youth, “promoting mutual welfare,” according to research published in the Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (2024).
As The Stanford Center on Longevity notes, “meaningful relationships between old and young create a ‘secret sauce’ that benefits both generations.”
Our HIE Community Partners
The Kūpuna Collective
HYS is proud to participate in the Kūpuna Collective, a collaborative initiative that brings together organizations dedicated to supporting Hawaiʻi’s aging population. Through this partnership, we’re part of a broader movement to create age-friendly communities across our islands.
Learn more about aging in Hawaiʻi through the University of Hawaiʻi’s interactive story map.
Age-Friendly Honolulu
As a participating organization in the Age-Friendly Honolulu initiative, HYS is committed to making our community more inclusive and supportive of kūpuna. Explore the Age-Friendly Organizations Toolkit to learn more about this important work.
How We’re Making It Happen
HIE adds a transformative dimension to our existing HYS chamber music programs: a way to intentionally serve Hawaiʻi’s growing kūpuna population while role-modeling and guiding our youth in building meaningful intergenerational relationships.
Professional musicians from Hawaiʻi’s celebrated chamber music organizations, including Chamber Music Hawaiʻi and Honolulu Chamber Music Series, along with our distinguished faculty roster, serve as chamber music coaches for our students.
We’re partnering with healthcare, wellness, memory care, and senior living facilities to thoughtfully develop performance opportunities that conscientiously serve their communities equitably.
With guidance from a multidisciplinary team including physicians, gerontologists, nurses, caregivers, and HYS alumni, the HIE project addresses the complex journey into later life, offering meaningful benefits for both youth and families.
Share Your Story
Music has the power to heal, connect, and transform lives across generations.
We invite you to share your stories of how music has positively impacted your or a loved one’s aging journey, or to offer ideas for how we can grow and develop this initiative.
HIE is made possible through the generous support of our partners and funders: