'Ukulele Mele Ukulele Player from Ellicott City, MD

Ukulele with Mele was founded by Trinity Melelani Villanueva, a multilingual musician and mother who believes in learning music through the spirit of aloha. Her mission is to build a global ?ohana rooted in encouragement and cultural respect. An Indiana University Jacobs School of Music alumna, Mele began as a classically trained pianist and national competitor at a young age. As a teenager, she was discovered by Paul Simon and went on to perform on Broadway as a vocalist, host television programs, and perform as a hula dancer. She devoted nearly two decades to arts leadership alongside cultural organizations and creative agencies, including the Smithsonian Institution and Paramount Global, before returning fully to music. Today, she performs on stages around the world on land and sea while teaching ?ukulele. Her work is shaped by her Hawaiian and Puerto Rican heritage, ongoing cultural healing studies in Moloka?i, and a commitment to being the teacher she always needed. As a proud artist brand ambassador for both Kamaka ?Ukulele (Honolulu, Hawaii) and Ra'iatea Pearl Farm (French Polynesia), Mele honors her storytelling as more than just performance music, but as a bridge between culture, healing, and human connection.