Meet the Directors
Grant K. Okamura
Director of Bands / Wind Ensemble & Fall Band Director
Grant K. Okamura is Director of Bands at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where his Symphonic Wind Ensemble brought high praise for their performances at the 1994 American Bandmasters Association and the 1996 College Band Directors Nation Association/Northwestern Convention. Mr. Okamura has conducted the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra in their community and educational concert series and formed and conducted the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra's Symphonic Wind Ensemble, an ensemble comprised of musicians of the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra and students at the University of Hawaii. He also served as the Musical Director of the Hawaii Youth Symphony from 1979 to 1984.
Mr. Okamura began his career at nationally acclaimed McKinley High School in Honolulu, where his bands were consistently commended for their superior musicianship. Among their many honors, the McKinley High School Symphonic Wind Ensemble was the first western band to perform in China since the Communist Revolution in 1949.
Mr. Okamura serves as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the United States and Canada. He is a past President of the Oahu Band Directors Association and the Hawaii Music Educators Association, and an active member of the American Bandmasters Association, College Band Directors National Association, and the Hawaii Band Directors Association.
Keith Higaki
Associate Director of Bands / Marching Band & Symphonic Band Director
Keith Higaki is a graduate of the University of Hawaii at Manoa where he received his B.Ed degree in 1981 and a Master's degree in Music Education in 1989. He is the former Assistant Band Director at the University of Hawaii where he directed the UH Rainbow Marching Band and Symphonic Band. From 1983-1989, Higaki charted, rehearsed and conducted the nationally televised McDonald's Hula Bowl Marching Band halftime shows. He has also appeared as guest conductor for the Massed Band in 1984 and 1997 and the Honor Band in 1986 for the Maui District High School Band Festivals, and for the 1987 and 1988 OBDA 8th Grade Select Bands. Mr. Higaki has also taught band and various other music courses at the high school level at Kaimuki High, Kalani High, and Punahou School were he serverd as Director of Academy Bands. He has also served several years as President for the Oahu Band Directors Association.
Higaki's current interest is in computers, programming, and digital audio and video production. He develops and markets his music education software for the Windows platforms on the Internet. His programming projects include a music clef & note flashcard program called KeyNote Music Drills, and a marching band drill design program called MicroChart 2000. He is also active in the design and maintenence of websites for his online business and the Oahu Band Directors Association.
Gwen H. Nakamura
Assistant Band Director / Concert Band Director
Gwen Nakamura is Assistant Band Director, Assistant Director of the Marching Band and Director of the Concert Band at the University of Hawaii. She received her Bachelor of Education in Music and Master of Arts in Music Education from the University of Hawaii. She conducts and writes shows for the Marching Band and is the conductor of the Pep Bands.
Miss Nakamura is an accomplished saxophonist and bassoonist and has taught applied music for the University of Hawaii on the saxophone. She has many secondary students on both the saxophone and bassoon. Before coming to the University she led successful band programs at Castle High School and Kahuku High School.
Her professional affiliations include the National Band Association, Music Educators National Conference, Hawaii Music Educators Association, and the College Band Directors National Association.
Richard S. Lum
Director of Bands, Emeritus
Richard S. Lum is a Professor of Music, Emeritus, at the University of Hawaii, where he served with distinction as Director of Bands for more than 25 years. He was instrumental in building both the concert and marching bands into organizations that were regarded as among the best in the nation.
Previous to his appointment to the University, Lum directed the Kaimuki Intermediate School Band and the McKinley High School Band, where he laid the foundation for that organization to attain national prominence.
Mr. Lum served as president for the Hawaii Music Educators Association, and was a founder and past president of the Oahu Band Directors Association. He was also State Chairman of the College Band Directors National Association and the National Band Association.
During his years as Director of Bands at the University of Hawaii, Richard S. Lum guest conducted the United States of America Armed Services Bicentennial Band from Ft. Mead, Maryland, the University of Tennessee Band, the Arizona State University Band, the University of Illinois Band, and the Northshore Community Band in Evanston, Illinois. He also directed high school honor groups such as the Symphony of Winds at the Mid-East Band Conference, the Tri-State Honor Band in Enid, Oklahoma, the University of the Pacific Summer Honor Band and the University of Tennessee High School Honor Band.
In 1971, Lum was invited to membership to the American Bandmasters Association, and in 1972, was inducted into the prestigious Phi Beta Mu as honorary national member. In 1973, he was selected by the School Musician Magazine as an outstanding conductor in the United States and Canada for the school year of 1974-1975. In 1975, State Senator Stanley I. Hara introduced a resolution commending Professor Lum for his active role in promoting music education in the state of Hawaii. In 1979, he was selected by the All-American Magazine as Band Director of the year. In 1987 his alma mater, McKinley High School, installed him into the school's Hall of Honor.
Mr. Lum retired from the University in 1985.
