During the 2004-05 school year, the Hawaiian Mission Elementary and Intermediate School (HMEI) choirs received lots of attention under the direction of choir teacher, James Woods. As would be expected, they sang in the area’s Adventist churches throughout the school year.

However, during the Christmas holidays they were visible to thousands of tourists and locals at Honolulu’s busiest venue, the “Center Stage” at Ala Moana Shopping Center. This is Hawaii’s largest and most cosmopolitan shopping complex.

This continued during the second semester when the choirs continued to bring even more positive attention to the school by singing at the First Baptist Church of Honolulu. They were also a significant part in the old-fashioned “Aloha Hymn Festival.”

All of this climaxed at the end of the school year when Woods decided to do something special for the community with the choirs. He composed and arranged an entire evening of music for the Honolulu Zoo that was dedicated to and performed by the elementary students of HMEI.

This “Spring Sing at the Honolulu Zoo” featured songs about the different animals that inhabit the zoo. The Honolulu Zoo was so delighted with the performance that they arranged for HMEI to perform the same program again at the Ala Moana “Center Stage” just prior to Memorial Day weekend. The performance was featured on local TV news broadcasts. “It’s been a very busy and productive year for me,” says Woods. “I believe in Christian education with every fiber of my being. My teaching has been the most rewarding part of my career and challenging my students to strive for excellence in the music we make not only honors our heavenly Father, but also brings joy and a sense of pride to everyone involved. In Adventist education, quality should be our number one priority. I am very proud to be part of HMEI.”