Top Teachers
Saturday, July 11, 1998
Name: Gail Yoneshige
Age: 46
Position: Enchanted Lake music resource teacher
Education: UH-Manoa
Pastimes: Sewing, cooking, lei-making
Gail Yoneshige owns three pianos, a clarinet, trumpet, recorder and guitar -- and her house keeps expanding to accommodate her musical interests. Passing on her love of music
"I have a very supportive husband who puts up with all this," she said.
Growing up in a musical family, Yoneshige attached herself to the piano, took up the clarinet and sang in her church choir. In college, she took classical guitar lessons and spent a summer working at her dad's gas station to pay $86 for her first guitar. She since has added ukulele, organ and recorder proficiency to her list of musical talents, and is tackling her next challenge, the trumpet.
Not a mere music aficionado, however, Yoneshige is a music teacher at Enchanted Lake Elementary School who gives private piano lessons in her home.
A staunch believer in music as self-expression, her goal is to teach students the fine art of music appreciation, which she says can open many doors in life.
Yoneshige also is in charge of the school's Music Ensemble, whose performances she describes as "just wonderful. Sometimes I feel like crying."
School Principal Gail Awakuni said Yoneshige has been instrumental in fine-tuning students' leadership skills and instilling in them a love of music.
"The children are fortunate to learn from such a talented, caring and dedicated teacher," she said.
Kimberly K. Fu, Star-Bulletin
