We’re excited to be featured on the Honolulu Vibes weblog.
You may follow this link to read and watch it –

OUR STORY

Voices of Aloha can trace its roots back to 1916, when the Gleemen of Honolulu was formed. Notable members of this group included Sen. Daniel Akaka, Gov. Lawrence Judd, Charles K.L. Davis and Charles E. King. In 1984, Shigeru Hotoke became the director of Gleemen of Honolulu. In 1992, he opened the group to women and changed the name to Gleemen Plus. Mark Yasuhara assumed directorship in 2007 and during his tenure the name was changed once again, to Voices of Aloha. Hari Bayani took over in 2018, followed by Sangeet Gelhorn for two seasons. Angie Delight started with us in the Fall of 2019 and guided us through the COVID seasons on Zoom through Spring 2022. We’re happy to announce Jim Cismowski taking over the reins starting Fall 2022. From the very beginning, Gleemen, Gleemen Plus and Voices of Aloha has been a civic, community-minded choral group. We are open to all who love music and can carry their part, whether they read music or not. Voices of Aloha performs regularly for care homes and retirement communities, in addition to presenting large public concerts each Spring and Holiday season. Our music selections cover a broad range from classical and contemporary to pop and Hawaiian favorites. The chorus is currently comprised of about 30 members who span a range of ages and backgrounds. Our unifying passion is a love of music and singing. There is a synergy when many voices are raised together in harmony. It brings joy and purpose to life!

Jim Cismowski

Jim Cismowski

Our Director

After earning a Bachelors in Music Performance from the University of the Pacific in California, and a Masters in Church Music from Western Seminary in Oregon, Jim served as a pastor in three different churches, primarily in the areas of Music and Worship for thirty-eight years. Since retirement, and moving to Oahu in 2019, he has continued serving part-time, currently directing the choirs and leading worship at Olivet Baptist Church in Honolulu. He has had the joy of taking church choirs twice to perform at Carnegie Hall in NYC, as well as many other musical tours and festivals. He has always been involved in community musical ventures, including playing trumpet in several orchestras and ensembles, directing high school and community orchestras, and participating as a vocalist in select choirs. He continues to find great joy in directing choirs and helping singers achieve their highest potential. Jim is happily and gratefully married to Liane. They have two adult children living in California. In his spare time, Jim enjoys playing golf, snorkeling, and walking the beautiful beaches on Oahu’s West Side with Liane.

OUR MISSION

The Mission of Voices of Aloha is to create a fellowship of singers through the power and joy of choral singing, to share beautiful music with our community and to inspire and entertain our audiences through song.

OUR VISION

Our Vision is to continue the rich 100-year-old legacy handed down to us from The Gleemen of Honolulu. Their legacy was to “help make our island home a more enjoyable place to live through sharing our music with others.” We will accomplish this by creating musical programs that challenge and strengthen our members’ musical abilities as well as by reaching out to the larger community with free concerts at rehabilitation facilities, senior communities and public venues. As a non-audition group, we welcome all who want to share in the joy of singing choral music.

PHOTO GALLERY

CONTACT US

Voicesofaloha@gmail.com
tel: 808-256-1414
Facebook: Voices of Aloha
P.O. Box 283170
Honolulu HI 96828-3170
Non-profit 501(c)3
FED ID 47-126932