12 years ago, Isaiah’s Dad, Waltah Boy Tavares (original founder of Hoaikane) underwent heart surgery to repair a major heart valve. A few weeks after his procedure was complete he began to experience complications. Due to swelling around his heart he went into cardiac arrest for over 30 minutes and was put on life support in the ICU for weeks. The Doctors and medical team told his family there was no hope for him. The Tavares family knew that with God there is always hope so they kept the faith.
While Walter was in the ICU, Isaiah and his family would commute back and forth to the hospital everyday to spend time with him. On their commutes they began writing a song and after writing the song to encourage people to smile through whatever you’re going through, Smile On was born. After 12 years, Isaiah was finally able to professionally record this heart felt song that helped him and his family get through the roughest time of their life.
Today, Walter is alive and well, against all odds. He is a walking miracle and God deserves all the glory. Isaiah’s hope is that this song, Smile On, will remind people that even through the darkest storm, if you just keep your smile on, everything will be okay in the end.