Gina Sunada began playing the `ukulele since the age of 6 at Roy Sakuma `Ukulele Studios.  She took lessons for about 10 years there and got to study under `ukulele master Roy Sakuma, performing at various venues, including the Jerry Lewis Telethon and Pro Bowl. 


Gina was also an active student in her band program at Pearl City High School (class of 1996) and in the University of Hawai`i band program as a clarinetist (2001 alumnus), participating in both concert band and marching band.  She performed both in Hawai`i as well as across the United States, including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and Tournament of Roses Parade.


In 2002, Gina joined the Honolulu Community Concert Band, where she continues to play the clarinet.  She travelled to Australia in 2006 with the band to play in the Sydney Opera House and the Aquashell floating stage.  Gina also joined Kui Lima in 2002, a Hawaiian/Contemporary music performance group formed by Daniel Akemoto.  Kui Lima has their first album available on iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, and other download sites, and is currently in the process of making their second album.


From 2005, she has been a highly recommended instructor for the retail store, `Ukulele House.  Gina was also seen on the Travel Channel from 2006 in an opening shot of, “Christmas Fun in the Sun,” a program that documented things that can be found at Christmas in warmer areas of the country, including a segment devoted to Hawai`i.


Gina also loves dogs.  Her dog, Tuffy, a Chinese Crested Powderpuff, is the cutest dog on the face of the planet.


Gina spends most of her free time playing with Tuffy, reading, eating large amounts of butter-flavored popcorn, practicing clarinet, `ukulele and slack key guitar, doing computer and Internet consultation and downloading the strangest free applications she can find for her iPhone... and sleeping.


Interesting facts:


  1. BulletUsed to take hula and gymnastics and was a junior bowler in the Leeward Junior Bowling Club.

  2. BulletWas a Girl Scout Brownie.

  3. BulletTook a non-credit computer course at Leeward Community College while in elementary school.

  4. BulletOnce worked for the NASA Pacific Regional Planetary Data Center and volunteered for the Hawaii Internet & Technology Crimes (HITeC) Unit Computer Forensic Examiner (Hawaii Internet Crimes Against Children).

  5. BulletWould like to gain psychic abilities to help other people.