About

The Kani Ka ʻōpala initiative invites participants to appreciate the voices and musical potential of roadside rubbish salvaged from the sidewalks and beaches of Oʻahu.

You can follow our progress, find project ideas, and share your own builds with us via #MUS311

Philosophy

This 25 minute presentation to graduate students at the East-West Center’s “Exchange Seminar” in 2024 outlines some of the history and underlying philosophy of this project.

Prefer to read a bloggy/ literary version instead? Here are my musings on rubbish as published in Vita Poetica.

Or, for a podcast-style interview format, check out my interview on Hawaii Public Radio’s
The Conversation.

Bio

Benjamin Fairfield received his MA and PhD in ethnomusicology from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where he serves as lecturer. He has led instrument workshops at the East-West Center Gallery, Downtown Arts Center, and various schools; taught music at Ala Wai Elementary School; produced a high school garage rock band’s debut album in Thailand as a Peace Corps volunteer; and has published in various academic and literary journals.