Leeward Community College Theater will be filled with the thunderous vibrations of taiko drums as students from Pacific Buddhist Academy showcase their talents.

The academy’s ninth annual Taiko Festival features both drumming and song-and-dance numbers from the entire 69-student school.

"We all participate in a high-quality production evoking the spirit of the school," said Josh Hernandez Morse, head of school at Pacific Buddhist Academy.

The taiko group comprises both new and returning members, he said. The group has mostly sophomores and a few juniors and seniors. "The group has never been this big," he said.

The theme for this year’s festival is "A Generation of Hope," which recognizes the passing down of skills and knowledge.

Most of the performers have been mentored by older students. The juniors and seniors share their knowledge with new students, Morse explained. "And I am in my first year as head of school, and while we carry on the traditions of our school and community history, we bring new talents and possibilities. The performances reflect that," he said.

Koki Atcheson, a senior at Pacific Buddhist Academy, said she hopes the audience feels how the beating of the taiko drum can be immersive and mesmerizing. "It’s almost meditative," she said.

The 18-year-old began attending Pacific Buddhist Academy in her freshman year. She had taken taiko classes in Seattle before moving to the islands.

She loves the lower, deeper sound of the midsize drums, which are roughly 2 feet tall by 20 inches in diameter, or about the size of a wine barrel. After studying the drums since fourth grade, she says it has grown into her passion.

"Taiko is pretty athletic," she said. "There’s one piece played sitting down, and you’re doing continuous crunches. It’s pretty grueling. It’s an art to make it not look painful."

The school says it is one of just four high schools of Buddhist tradition in the United States. The curriculum integrates peace education and Buddhist values like gratitude, compassion, respect and interconnectedness.

Taiko was incorporated into the curriculum when the school opened 13 years ago, and the academy remains the only high school in the state with a taiko program. Taiko is a required course for freshmen and an elective choice for the remaining high school years.

"It is a seminal piece of our character education," said Morse.

"Humans have been drumming since they could walk. But to experience the lessons of interdependence and rhythm, a young person needs to work at the drum in a room filled with other drummers."

Even if students have poor rhythm, they still gain much from the experience. "They can feel the power of togetherness," Morse added. "The lessons of our interconnectedness becomes greater than an idea. They are experienced."

Sensei Jay Toyofuku has been teaching taiko at Pacific Buddhist Academy since it opened.

Taiko gives the students opportunities to bond and explore a team activity, To­yo­fuku said.

"We’re a small school, so we don’t really have sports teams. Taiko has evolved into our football team," he said.

"The students gain a lot of self-confidence and learn to communicate better. They develop teamwork, concentration and discipline."

Atcheson can attest to the positive outcomes. "Taiko has taught me collaboration more than anything. Playing as a single group is what makes the piece powerful," she said. "I’ve learned to act with my best effort whether I’m playing our most complicated piece or just setting up drums."