JustiN musiC

All these years you guys knew me as the shy quiet Justin. I used to be the kind of guy that if you talked to me and I didn’t really know you, I would talk with head gestures. LOL. I used to be very nervous when I had to go up in front class or be put on the spot by the teacher. I hated that. But over the years things changed. I ain’t the Justin you know back at school folks. What can I say… I’ve been through a lot.
I had myspace for about four to five years and not once did I ever have an “about me” section or updates about how I’ve been or what I’ve been through over the years. So if you were always wondering or just want to know about me, here goes. My full name is Justin Frank Chargualaf, Eldest son of Evelyn Chargualaf (Maiden: Dagdag) and Francisco Chargualaf. I was born on Maui Hawaii at Maui Memorial Hospital on February 7, 1985. My middle name was taken after my dad. Frank wasn’t his real name, but that’s what everyone called him. I’m half Filipino from my mom, and half Guamanian from my dad. The authentic way of saying Guamanian is “Chamorro”. That’s right folks, I’m FILIPINO CHAMORRO or “CHAPINO” for short! Haha. I bet you guys stay wondering… “How can that be??? He look Japanese though!” Ladies and gentlemen… the truth is… I AM! Small kine though! I’m actually 1/8 Japanese because of my dad! But hey, what can I say... that is who I am. My mom was born and raised on Maui and my Dad was born and raised on Guam.
Ladies and gentlemen I do have a sister, who is two years younger than I am, her name… Christen Chargualaf. Three years after that and five years younger than I am is my little brother Casey Chargualaf. But guess what… a couple of years ago my brother passed me up so I guess I’m his little brother now!!! LOL.
At the age of about 10, my parents separated and got a divorce. A couple of years later my dad remarried to his wife Mildred Sagayaga who is now Mildred Chargualaf just before my freshmen year. Along with this marriage came my step sister Shantel Silva who is two years older and my step brother Joshua Silva who is two years younger than I am and the same age as my sister Christen. So if you guys were paying attention, that’s 1 full sister and brother, and 1 step sister and step brother. Five of us total!
I attended St. Anthony pre-school for two years. Went on to Waihe’e elementary school Kindergarten – 3rd grade. My mom then moved to Kahului and that’s when I went to Kahului School 4th-5th grade. I then moved on to Maui Waena Intermediate school 6th – 8th grade. Then to Maui High school Freshmen – Senior year. *FUN FACT. - I did attend Baldwin High during the first three quarters of my Junior year then during the fourth quarter I went back to Maui High.
Employment: My first job was in 2001 at around my Freshmen year in high school. I worked for Caring Touch Services, a family business owned and operated by my dad and step-mother. Throughout high school I also worked for several restaurants as a dishwasher and food prep getting paid under counter. After graduating from high school, I worked for Footlocker at Ka’ahumanu Shopping Center for several months then I decided to go to college. I was accepted and attended Heald Business College in Honolulu Oahu. At first I registered for Business Administration, then I changed to studying Information Technology – Administrative Networking. I then moved back to Maui and I then became a Loan Officer for Pay Day Loans of Hawaii next to Kinkos. I later got hired as a Leasing Consultant with Frontier Investments with my own desk, office, computer, and business cards Primarily at Kihei Regency Apartments and Paradise Gardens Apartments. I know what you guys are thinking! “HO Justin! You had to add in the business cards part ah!” Eh guys… you know what I say to you… “Hell Yeah!” One of the most proudest moments of my life. Later I did get promoted to Assistant Property Manager. Kihei Regency has a total of 100 apartments consisting of 2bed units and Paradise Gardens with a total of 200 apartments consisting of 2bed & 1bed units and garages. Ladies & Gentlemen... I have over a year and a half’s worth of Property Management experience managing 2 properties consisting of a total of 300 apartments! I am now a Music Instructor at the Maui YMCA teaching children and adults starting from the ages of 4 years and up to play the ukulele and guitar. I gotta tell you guys… this job is fun! And it’s what I like doing! How great is it to have a PASSION as a job! Pretty awesome!
On November 11, 2004 I became a daddy. I became father to my son Ashton Jay Munar Chargualaf. 5 pounds 13 ounces. 18”
On July 15, 2008 I became a daddy again. Father to son Caleb Ramon Munar Chargualaf. 7 pounds 14 ounces 19”

I grew up with music in my life. Big Time! My musical background is pretty incredible I would say. I’m not saying I’m an incredible musician but just my background and history. I’ve had many influences in my life and with each, a story to tell. It all began before I was born, my mom (Evelyn Chargualaf) was apart of the music ministry and leader of St. Anthony Church’s choir for 5:00 mass in Wailuku. My mom sang and played the guitar during her pregnancy with me and before she was ever conceived and since she was a little girl. After I was born and as I grew up, my mom would take me to church every Sunday as she sang. My mom also led the “Prayer Group” every Tuesdays night at St. Anthony where it was all praise and worship throughout the night. My mom would practice at home in front of me all the time. Sometimes my mom would have me sing with her by bribing me with a reward afterwards like with a candy or treat. Also while growing up watching their practices at home, my mom currently has a local style band with close friends playing at minor events and parties. Her band is called “Just Us”. After my mom and dad separated my mom stopped going to church and instead my dad started going. My dad eventually started playing with the St. Anthony music ministry 5:00 mass. As years went by, he then moved on to St. Teresas Church in Kihei where he became the leader of the 5:30 mass’s Life Teen Music ministry. My dad also led the “Prayer Group” every Tuesdays night in replace of my mom. I always came with him to Prayer Group whether I liked it or not. I helped him setup mics, chords, etc. and basically the whole system as well as breaking down every week. Growing up my dad also had ukuleles, a guitar, and a bass guitar. If it wasn’t for my dad having all these instruments lying around the house, I would have never learned/excelled to play these instruments. Back then I was always bored so having these around allowed me to pick up and practice because I had nothing else better to do besides homework. As I got better and better with these instruments my dad would often have me to play at Prayer Group, St. Teresa’s Life Teen masses, Funerals, Weddings, Christian events and church concerts. In 2003 my Senior year in high school, the Life Teen music ministry decided to record an album. I was given the opportunity to be on the album. So I went to the studio and recorded my first song As Clear As The Sky. I wrote this song about a year or two before they asked me to be on the album. Its release was in 2003 if I remember correctly. Come check it out at prism-ablaze.com and listen or buy the CD guys! You can also listen to an additional track I sang called “We Fall Down”. I didn’t write it though.
For all three years in intermediate school 6th, 7th, & 8th grade at Maui Waena, I joined band of band instructors Mr. Ted Monzano, and Mr. Scott Kiyonaga. Playing the trumpet I became first seat. Soon after reaching my 8th grade year, I was recognized with a metal for being in the Maui Districts Intermediate Select Band 1st seat trumpet out of ten in 1999.
Also durring my eighth grade year, I yearned to play the ukulele which became my first stringed instrument. Very eager to learn, I took an ukulele class under the instruction of Mr. Ramos learning the basic chords and strums. One of my first songs to learn on the ukulele was a song called “Pua Olena”.
Jacob De La Nux & Lukela of Ekolu are two of my greatest inspirations in my life and that it was “the song” and songs that really inspired me to be a singer and song writer. When I was in 8th grade, I went to my 8th grade orientation at Maui High school and Jacob De La Nux sang the song “Stuck On You”. After seeing the live performance, I really enjoyed the song and realized I wanted to be a singer and musician. At the time, I was just learning how to play the ukulele at Maui Waena. But any ways, a few days later, my auntie found out who the original singer was that remade the song and said it was a group named “Ekolu”. So.. my mom bought the album for me, and I just listened to “Stuck on You” day after day. This was “the song”. I felt that the voice of the group sounded real “sweet”, and “fine”. Listening to the track, I felt that deep down inside, I wanted to be like THEM. This was the pure inspiration right here folks.
Entering my high school years, I continued to play the trumpet at Maui High school. I was in symphonic band and in after school jazz band as an extra credit my diploma. At the time of my sophomore year I wanted to focus more on my singing and writing abilities. By quitting the symphonic band I wanted to take an ukulele course. Seeing my ukulele capabilities, instructor of the ensembles, chorus, and ukulele courses, Mr. Dale Nitta skipped me to ukulele courses 3 & 4 instead of 1 & 2. I then learned to play advanced ukulele chords and various ukulele techniques, rhythms, and styles to the picking and the strumming of the ukulele. In his class we would play a wide variety Hawaiian oldies and local jams. My 2nd string instrument was the bass guitar where friends would come out to Mr. Nitta’s class during recesses to teach me songs they knew.
Before the group Malino ever became famous this was the class where I met Zach Lani, Vince Sores, Rodrigo Casio, Cory Lum, Cody Matsuda, Lane Ikawa, Robi, Kawehi, Russel, Audrey Fontanilla, and Abby Danegdeg. All from my sophomore year in highschool. In my senior year I met Hubert Kaina, Kyle Oshiro, and Christian Fa’uhiva. These are all the friends that made a big impact on my musical life! Memories of my good ol high school days were the ones where almost everyday I would have daily jam sessions with them. Later inspired by Zach Lani of Malino, I began to learn to play the guitar. If wasn’t for brother Zach! I probably would have never picked up a guitar! Brother Zach taught me more and inspired me to things in my music life I think he never knew he did. He inspired me to become a better singer. Brother Zach had one beautiful voice! Believe it or not he taught me to reach high notes by pushing more. He taught me to gargle with hot salt water when I sick or get sore throat before any important gig which later I found out Mistah Ellis taught him. And bradah Zach was just always there for me as a friend. Thank you my bradah! You really made a difference in my life!
Towards the end of my Senior at Maui High school, already being friends with Zack, Vince, Drigo, and the boyz of Kupono Kane, a man who goes by the name of “Mistah Ellis” (Mr. Samuel Ellis, Manager, Producer, and Record Label of Malino) calls me up saying that my friends put in a good word for me telling Mistah that I was a good singer and friend. From a few practices with the group, Mistah eventually welcomed me to be apart of the Malino family. I felt this was one of my greatest moments in life. So I became apart of the family at the end of my senior year till many months after my graduation. While in Malino I played at night clubs such as Hapas and Cassanovas; BIG events such as the Taste of Lahaina, Hula Bowl etc.; community events such as Walk for Diabetes, Walk for Life (cancer) etc.; and partys such as, first birthday partys, Christmas parties, and all other occasions. Being in Malino, I opened up for many local artists such as Kohomua, Kupa’a, Three Plus, Kua’ana, Makaha Sons, Kupono Kane, Justin Kawika Young, and much more... Also being in this fantastic group, I met, Kapena, Ekolu, Cool Rush, Gomega, Pi’ilani Arias, Zach Kekona, Fiji, Andy Bumatai, Ata Damasco, “Danny Gurl” from Ho’omau, “the HHB” and “Boy Kana’e” from KPOA, Uncle Richard Hoopii, Uncle Kevin Brown, Ikaika Brown and much much more. I was lucky to have the opportunity to play with special guests Derek Sebastian, Tore, and Nu’u. Radio talks with KPOA and 98.3. Oh and cannot forget… Riding in the limo several times!
Fun Facts
I opened up for my graduation ceremony Maui High Class of 2003
Was recognized as Ms. Campbell’s “Most Outstanding student” out of all of her ensembles, chorus, ukulele classes.
Competed in Brown Bags/Star Quest Junior & Senior Year
My first band was Nevamind which consisted of myself Audrey Fontanilla, Abby Danegdeg, Joshua Silva, Christen Chargualaf, Loma, and Hubert Kaina.
My second band was Righteous Souls which consisted of myself, Joshua Silva, Christian Fa’uhiva, and Michael Ganacial.
I am also a Music Instructor at the YMCA teaching ukulele and guitar from ages 4 and up.