Members of the Honolulu Boy Choir, which celebrated its 40th anniversary last year, may have sung their last song — at least for a while.
The boys performed in their final spring concert in May, but now their families are worried whether the choral group will be able to continue singing.
The board of directors has said the organization is dealing with internal issues and hopes to find solutions within the next couple of months.
"They didn’t give a lot of details," said the Rev. David Rivers of Central Union Church, where the choir practices and performs.
There’s a "legacy in the Boy Choir in Hawaii and around the world," said Rivers, whose son is a member. "Nobody wants to see it stop. We hope something is resurrected out of this … that it’s rekindled."
The choir’s 501(c)(3) status as a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization has lapsed, and its board members are working with an attorney and a certified public accountant to regain that status.
Its executive director resigned in December, and its choral conductor stepped down after the last concert on May 17, so the board must fill both positions.
"We need to reinstate the 501(c)(3) status," said Dr. Kalani Brady, a board member. "We did not file forms in the past for a while. The board thought things were going fine, and they weren’t."
The discovery came when the choir’s longtime executive director, Blake Nuibe, stepped down after the 2014 Christmas season, Brady said.
Despite the failure to file forms with the IRS, Brady praised Nuibe, who has a full-time job and gave "perhaps the equivalent to a full-time job" as executive director, forfeiting his stipend on a regular basis.
He also used his connections to bring in a variety of groups to perform with the choir without pay, leading to "phenomenal concerts," Brady said.
Board Treasurer Michelle Saito said, "We can’t lay blame on any one person. We’re all responsible."
She added, "We’ve been focusing on running the organization, and sometimes the administration stuff gets left behind."
Saito said the choir lost its nonprofit status several years ago, which is why it cannot accept donations, but declined to say when.
She said she explained all this to the parents.
"If they’re worried, I don’t blame them," she said.
The choir’s always faced struggles, including attracting choir members and donations.
It nearly folded eight years ago. The board chairwoman said in March 2006 that the choir would disband if a viable financial plan didn’t arise, citing rising costs and a lack of opportunities to earn enough money to keep it going.
Back then Saito helped lead a parent committee to save the choir.
Kaimi Pelekai said the May 17 concert was his last after 16 years as conductor, but said he did not know the status of the choir.
"It’s very hard to make the choir work," he said.
Pelekai said he stepped down because, as a firefighter, he found it tough to make the thrice weekly practice sessions.
About two dozen boys age 7 and up belong to the choir, but in its heyday its membership was up to 150.
Rivers said his 10-year-old son "loves it," adding, "We’ve watched him blossom."
His son was so shy, he wouldn’t stand before audiences to sing in a previous choir. But after attending a Boy Choir performance last fall, he shocked his family when he asked to join.
"It’s taught him poise, responsibility in a major way, as well as committing to something that isn’t always easy," he said, adding that it’s also taught him self-discipline and character.
"We are all very hopeful that it will continue," Rivers said.
