Waianae High School senior Kealohilani Leleo spends most of her free time in the band room, a place she has dubbed her second home now that after seven years music is again being offered during the school day.

Leleo said she considers her bandmates her family and serves as their president. She learned to play the flute, xylophone, bass drum and cymbals last year, and now she spends two hours every weekday practicing with her classmates.

Classes for credit — including ukulele, band and choir — were restored this year after they were dropped in 2008. Students were able to take some music classes last year but only after school.

Leleo is one of about 75 students who participate in the music program, and among about 30 who play in the marching band and concert band.

“(The band room) is the place that the majority of us stay, and the only place we can actually know that we can do something productive without getting in trouble,” she said.

These days, said Principal Disa Hauge, “they’re here practicing until my ears fall off after school.”

“(Music) really gives them an opportunity to engage with their peers in creative ways and to learn together,” Hauge continued. “It’s not like a regular classroom where you have a book and you have a curriculum. There’s just so much more self-motivation that has to go into learning an instrument, learning songs, coordinating with other students in order to get it right.”

Music was dropped when a bell schedule to accommodate an increased focus on reading and math studies was put into place, leaving no time for fine arts classes. Now, due to new flexibility in scheduling, music classes are offered during the school day as well as after school.

“Having the music program back has actually impacted me a lot,” Leleo said. “I was never really somebody who got involved. Ever since I’ve been part of band, I actually became more attentive to my other classes.”

Shantell-Tiare Tom, the school’s music and band director, said a rebuilding effort is accompanied by a swell of community support. However, she said, more assistance is needed as students have to take turns rotating instruments because they do not have enough for everyone.

The school’s marching band has been invited to perform with the Hawaii All State Marching Band at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade next year.

“A lot of members in the community are still awakening to the thought that, ‘Oh we have a band back.’ It’s a nice eye-opening experience,” Tom said. “We take really good care of each other, and watch each other’s backs. They all applaud each other, which is awesome.”

Tom’s goal is to expand the program with piano classes and to eventually start an orchestra at the school.

Information about how to make a tax-deductible donation to the music program is available online at musicforlifefound.org. Also, Waianae High students are holding an instrument donation drive at 7 p.m. Dec. 14 at Ala Moana Center Stage.