While Ala Wai Elementary has had a school song since 1978, composed by Mrs. Jacqueline Moore Chun, I wish to express my sincere gratitude for her contribution, which has been a meaningful part of our school’s identity for many years. Her work laid a foundation that we continue to honor. As times change, so do the needs of our school community. Today, there is a renewed call to deepen our connection to ʻāina, to one another, and to the diverse voices that make up Ala Wai Elementary. Nā Pua O Ala Wai was created in that spirit: as a reflection of who we are now, and a gift to carry forward with pride and purpose. I offer Nā Pua O Ala Wai as a hoʻokupu, a heartfelt gift, to the students, faculty, families, and the community of Ala Wai Elementary. I created this piece to reflect the unique spirit of our keiki, the natural beauty of the land that surrounds us, and the journey we take together as learners, leaders, and stewards of our ʻāina.

Each verse traces a symbolic path. The first verse highlights the diversity of our students, families, and community, much like the flowers that flow down the Makiki, Pālolo, and Mānoa valley streams and unite at the Ala Wai. The second verse reflects the renewal of life in the Ala Wai, a symbol of how our students grow and thrive together when we care for both the land and for one another. The final verse looks forward: as the Ala Wai flows into the ocean, so too do our students venture forth, paddling toward a horizon of dreams and possibilities. The chorus honors our school’s values of unity, aloha, and belonging. “E hui pū kākou” (let us gather together) invites us to join as one, while “nā pua o Ala Wai” recognizes not only the students of Ala Wai Elementary, but us as a community, as the children of the Ala Wai. 

It is my hope that this piece not only connects our students more deeply to their learning, their environment, and to one another, but that its message resonates with all of us as a community, today and for generations to come.

– Christopher Serrano

   Music Educator, Ala Wai Elementary School