Kauai hit song writer Medeiros went back to his first love, teaching

Answer: Now 36, Medeiros is back to pursuing his original career dream as a fourth-grade teacher at Island Pacific Academy in Kapolei.

"I had a great third-grade teacher on Kauai who really inspired me to become a teacher, but singing took me away from that," Medeiros said.

Medeiros started out singing on a Kauai tour bus. At 16 he won the Brown Bags to Stardom talent contest, earning the chance to record a song.

"Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You" shot to the top of the music charts and sparked a string of albums and singles.

"When all of that slowed down, I figured it was a good time to go back to school," he said.

After getting a master's degree in elementary education, Medeiros began teaching about seven years ago, moving to Island Pacific Academy two years ago.

He's just "Mr. Medeiros" to his students, who are oblivious to his past.

"But some of their parents remember me -- or if not them, their grandparents," he said with a laugh.

Music remains in his life. He appears up to three times a week at the Hale Koa Hotel's luau, recently released an album of songs he performs there, and uses song in his class.

Students recently wrote rap songs incorporating a lesson on South America, and Medeiros has written and recorded songs for his students that underline phonetics rules.

He is now planning a doctorate in curriculum studies.

"I just love being around schools and teaching, in whatever capacity. If they need a janitor, I'm pretty good at cleaning," he said.