Voices of Aloha, a nonprofit community choir in Honolulu, is readying for two final Christmas concerts over the next two weekends.
Admission is free for the choir’s show themed “Wonder,” which will start at noon on Saturday, Dec. 20, at the Kapolei Public Library and at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 28, at Kawaiahaʻo Church. Music director Jim Cismowski expects audience sizes in the hundreds.
“It is something well worth attending! ... I get excited to see the enthusiasm and joy that our concerts bring to our singers, not to mention the public. Itʻs very satisfying and a great blessing,” said Cismowski, who has 46 years of experience directing choirs, four of which he has served in this role. Geri Ching has faithfully served alongside him as an accompanist, playing piano and organ.
“I feel very honored to carry on this tradition with this community choir that's been here on island for all these years,” he continued. “I thoroughly enjoy my work with them.”
Established in 1916, Voices of Aloha was then called The Gleemen of Honolulu, a men’s only group, that aimed to “help make our island home a more enjoyable place to live through sharing our music with others.”
Women later joined the group about 25 years ago, Cismowski said, adding that it now has 60 singers. Today, Voices of Aloha’s mission 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,” according to its website.
“The group has changed some in the last few years with less than 30 singers in the post-Covid era,” he noted. “The group blossomed from 45 to 60. We are a non-audition community choir. The thrill I get out of that experience is working with people who want to sing — some experienced, some novice, and some unsure if they can sing — and at the end of three months to be able to present a month's worth of concerts, which is really quite amazing for such an eclectic group.”
He added that the music they sing is also eclectic, ranging from jazz to pop. “I think audiences will be blessed and encouraged. One of the guiding principles of our group is spreading aloha to our community. We want to lift peopleʻs spirits, and give them an experience that makes them feel our love love and we like receiving their love back. Itʻs a wonderful thing.”
Cismowski has been involved with music “all my life,” he says, with an early background in instrumental as a trumpet player — yet choral music always energized him. With two degrees in music, most of his career was spent as a music and worship pastor at various churches on the Mainland. After retirement, he moved to Oʻahu in 2019 and now serves part-time in music at Olivet Baptist Church. His wife, Liane, sings in both choirs he directs.
“We feel so blessed to meet and connect with so many people in the community that we wouldn't have known, many who have turned into close friends,” he said. Voices of Aloha is an ʻohana group, a tight-knit family,”
The choir typically performs at senior living homes, public libraries, rehabilitation centers, among other venues. It rehearses on Tuesdays at Moanalua Garden Missionary Church, operating in two seasons; fall starts in September and wraps in December, while spring runs from February to May.
Over the break, Cismowski will continue preparing music for spring with the theme of “Peace.” He hopes to grow to 70 members.
“We would love to have new singers of all ages join us, he said. “I love doing music in ensemble with other people because to me, thatʻs what makes it powerful. It’s a give and take. It’s a response. It brings people together.”
In June 2026 Voices of Aloha will represent the City of Honolulu, the state of Hawai'i, and the U.S. at the 82nd anniversary D-Day Commemoration of World War II in Normandy, France. The choir is fundraising toward a $100,000 goal, which will help send more than half its singers to share aloha abroad. Donations can be made online here.
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Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
