It’s sing-along time at The Plaza at Mililani, an assisted-living community for senior citizens, and David Kim and his Sing a Song of Life group are ready to give their audience a blast of some new tunes.

"Are you ready to sing?" he says to the crowd of about 50 people.

To most, his playlist is beyond oldies: "Battle Hymn of the Republic," which he bills as the "wake-up song," followed by "God Bless America." Then the nursery rhyme "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."

Now comes a challenge: "There’s another song you can sing to the same tune. Does anyone remember?"

Somebody comes up with the alphabet song. Then the melody is sung again using the lyrics to "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep."

There’s method to all this. Many in the audience are Alzheimer’s patients, and hearing and singing familiar tunes repeatedly helps keep them stimulated and active yet relaxed, according to Kim.

"We start to bring the old-time songs to them," he said. "They don’t recognize their own children, but still many of them remember their early childhood memories, so we bring some of the songs of early childhood memories and then gradually they come back."

Many patients who otherwise seem listless respond in some manner — "participate in their own way," Kim said, by tapping their fingers or toes, or mouthing the words softly.

"If you sing this kind of music, you can see it really touches them in their skin," Kim said. "It’s just a natural phenomenon. They feel it."

Music is often used as a therapeutic tool for Alzheimer’s patients. According to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America website, when used appropriately, music can "shift mood, manage stress-induced agitation, stimulate positive interactions, facilitate cognitive function, and coordinate motor movements."

In the award-winning documentary "Alive Inside," a man with dementia is given an iPod loaded with his favorite tunes and immediately becomes animated and lively.

For a short time after listening to the music, he coherently answers a few questions about his life.

Kim, 80, is a retired Methodist minister who led churches in Mililani, Kahuku, Kaneohe and Naalehu on Hawaii island. He has been bringing music to Alzheimer’s and dementia patients for more than 30 years.

He began his music ministry after visiting nursing homes and assisted-care facilities and noticing that at many them, the Alzheimer’s and dementia patients were separated and living in virtual solitude.

"Many of them had lost their memories and were just sitting there," he said.

Being a minister, he started out singing Christian hymns to them but soon found that children’s songs from Hawaii’s various ethnic groups provoked the biggest response.

He has published many of these in a songbook titled "Sing a Song of Life: Collection of Songs from all Walks of Life," that he distributes at the facilities where the group performs so the audience can sing along. The illustrated book includes American folk songs, hymns, Christmas carols, Hawaiian melodies, and Japanese and Korean tunes.

Kim seems to have an uncanny sense of what’s appropriate for his audience. At the Plaza at Mililani, he had audience members — though many could barely sing — tapping their feet, clapping their hands and nodding their heads in response to "If You’re Happy and You Know It." A Japanese favorite, "Koko ni Sachi Ari," had one resident waving her arms overhead as if she were at a rock concert.

Colby Takeda, activities director at the Plaza, said residents enjoy the performances. "We’re really fortunate to work with a volunteer like David," he said. "Every time they come our residents get really excited about it."

Takeda said many of the Alzheimer’s patients will "really liven up during the performances. They start dancing."

Sing a Song of Life comprises Kim, his wife, Young Jin, 74, and several former parishioners.

"We wanted to inspire people," said Yun Grier, 54. "We were just friends and we all loved music, so we decided to get together."

The group used to perform all over Oahu, but with gas prices rising, they’ve cut back to seven locations, all in the Mililani area. They perform about three times a week.

Catherine Yamashiro, 50, is one of Kim’s most devoted singers, contributing a bright, pure soprano to the group. For her, performing with Sing a Song of Life is "one way to serve my ministry," adding that Kim "is one minister who acts like a real minister."