Students at Ewa Elementary School yesterday received a surprise gift of 30 Tangi 'ukulele from the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation and Sprint Hawaii.

As part of a program to promote Hawaiian music education in public elementary schools, Sprint Hawaii and the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation have partnered together to give more than $25,000 in 'ukulele donations to Hawai'i public schools this year.

The presentation yesterday is part of a larger community relations initiative launched in May 2008 by Sprint Hawaii and Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation to donate instruments to music education programs in Hawai'i. By the end of this year, eight public schools in the state will have received donations

They include Pauoa Elementary School, Jarett Middle School, Fern Elementary School, 'Ele'ele Elementary School, Central Middle School, Kahului Elementary School and 'Ewa Elementary School. The final donation of 2008 will be given to Kahakai Elementary School.

The total Sprint Hawaii donation to the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation is $25,402 and has been made possible through the generous discount provided by Tangi Ukuleles, a local ukulele craftsman. The retail value of the ukulele donated to the schools is $39,000.

A portion of the profit from every new Sprint activation and phone upgrade of a qualified music phone will be donated to the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation in support of the Hawaiian music initiative. Also, when customers download music from the Mountain Apple catalogue — available on Sprint phones and featuring tracks from Israel Kamakawiwo'ole and The Brothers Cazimero — a portion of the profit will be donated to the music education program.