Celebrating Constance Uejio’s Retirement from the HSO

CUC member and staff musician Constance Uejio has retired from the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra after an extraordinary 44 seasons as principal harpist. Her musicianship, mentoring and commitment to music in Hawai‘i have created an incredible legacy.

Our church was invited to gather in the Women’s Building on Sunday, August 17, 2025 to congratulate Connie and celebrate the artistry that she has shared with so many in our Island community!

Pastor Rushan shared the following:

Today we gather not just to mark the end of a chapter, but to celebrate the enduring melody of a life lived in harmony with beauty, discipline, and grace. For 44 years, Connie Uejio has served as the principal harpist of the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra—a role that requires not only technical brilliance, but a soul attuned to the sacredness of sound.

Connie, your harp has been more than an instrument. It has been a vessel of peace in turbulent times, a whisper of heaven in crowded concert halls, and a thread of continuity in Hawai‘i’s ever-evolving musical landscape. You have played through seasons of change, through crescendos and rests, always with poise, precision, and aloha.

I’ve had the privilege of knowing you for just two of those 44 years—a small measure of time in the grand arc of your musical journey. And yet, even in that brief span, I’ve witnessed the quiet brilliance you bring to every note, the humility with which you serve, and the deep joy that radiates from your music. You remind me that legacy isn’t measured only in years—it’s felt in presence, in spirit, in the way one life can lift so many others.

While the symphony may now miss your daily presence, we at Central Union Church rejoice that your music continues to bless our sacred spaces. Whether accompanying a hymn, offering a solo, or simply sharing your quiet wisdom, you remind us that worship is not just spoken—it is sung, strummed, and stirred.

You have taught us that excellence is not loud—it is faithful. That artistry is not ego—it is offering. And that retirement is not an ending—it is a new rhythm, a new refrain.

So today, we honor you not only for your decades of service, but for the spirit you bring to every note. May your days ahead be filled with rest, renewal, and the joy of playing simply for the love of it.

Mahalo nui loa, Connie. You are a treasure, a teacher, and a testament to the power of music to heal, inspire, and unite.

A Prayer:

Holy One, You are the composer of creation, the conductor of our lives, and the giver of every good gift. Today we give thanks for your servant Connie, whose hands have shaped beauty, whose heart has offered peace, and whose music has lifted countless souls toward You.

For over 4 decades, she has tuned her life to the rhythms of grace, discipline, and devotion. Through her harp, she has made the invisible audible—giving voice to wonder, lament, and praise. We thank You for the legacy she leaves in the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra, and for the ongoing gift of her presence in our church community.

Bless her in this new season. May her days be filled with joy, her spirit with freedom, and her music with fresh delight. May she know how deeply she is loved—not only for what she has done, but for who she is: gentle, generous, and gloriously attuned to You.

And may we, inspired by her example, find our own ways to offer beauty to the world—not for applause, but for love.

In the name of the One who sings over us with joy,
Amen.

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View a video created by Connie’s daughter, Rebecca, that was shown at the reception. It includes messages from former HSO colleagues.