Makana Larger is a first-year teacher who recently joined the Radford team just last semester. He teaches band in Room 101.
Larger commented on the effects music has on people. He said, “I just love what it does to people, and the bonds and connections you make.”
Larger was born in Ohio. He moved to Hawaii when he was 7 with his mom, who was born and raised in Kahuku, and his dad who was born and raised in Ohio. Larger moved around schools in Makakilo, until was fortunate to get accepted into Kamehameha schools where he learned about his native culture and traditions.
“It was hard for people to know that I was born in Ohio,” said Larger.
From his elementary years to now, he is still a band kid. During his upperclassmen years at Kamehameha school he was told that he needed to know what he was going to do after graduation by everyone around him. He did not know what exactly he wanted to do, but he knew he wanted to pursue his passion for music. After he graduated, he went to UH Manoa and majored in education and music. Towards the end of his college career, he was placed at Kailua as a student teacher, then his teaching career began at Radford.
“On the island the music educator scene is really sparse,” said Larger.
Larger loves music and has always had a strong passion for it, which is what brought him to the music department. Larger originally wanted to be a composer or performer. Larger said if he would be anything that is not in the music scene he would want to do something that correlates with his hobbies of golfing and fishing. To conclude, Larger enjoys music because it forges one-of-a-kind bonds with others who have similar views.
“I just love what it does to people, and the bonds and connections you make,” said Larger.