Ron Artis II Returns to His Hawaiian Homeland — and Brings Hundreds of Instruments with Him (Exclusive)

"One beautiful thing I love about Hawaii is that the community there is really what holds everything together," Artis tells PEOPLE

Award-winning vocalist, songwriter and guitarist Ron Artis II was playing the music he loved in a place he loved back in August when he got the dreadful news that the place he loved the most was engulfed in flames.

"It's something that's really hard to put into words," Artis, 37, tells PEOPLE. "I mean, I've seen devastating fires happen around the world, but it strikes differently when it hits home. You never think that something like that could happen at a place like Hawaii to that extent." He pauses. "I felt helpless."

Luckily it was a feeling that didn’t last long, as Artis and his friends almost immediately began brainstorming ideas in which they could help.

"Everyone collectively knew we had to pour into this," says Artis, a native of Haleiwa, Hawaii who began playing the guitar when he was 13 years old. "This is our family. We knew we had to do whatever we could. That's something that restores my faith in humanity. All these things that go down can make you feel helpless. And sometimes all you must do is take a step forward."

For Artis, that step forward was working with his friends to find something he could send to the children and families affected by the fires earlier this year.

"I was sitting with my wife on the sofa one day and I was like, 'Why don't we bring music to them? Why don't we just bring instruments?'" Artis remembers. “At the beginning, it seemed like a crazy idea. I'm one person and there's thousands of people affected. How can we get hundreds of instruments to families?" He laughs, then says, "Sometimes, it just takes having a crazy idea and having crazy friends to call."

And recently, Artis found his way back to Hawaii for the first time to see the tattered remains of his homeland, but also was on hand to see the true spirit of his Hawaiian comrades at work.

"That's one beautiful thing I love about Hawaii is that the community there is really what holds everything together," says Artis, whose song "No Weight" has served as quite the anthem of healing as of late. "At the center of that is music, surfing, the outdoors, all those things. They're just opportunities for community to get together."

Related: How to Help Hawaii Wildfire Victims, Including Ways to Donate

With the help of many, Artis and his friends packed and shipped over 200 instruments straight to Maui. "I think anyone who's ever given or donated time and energy understands this," says Artis. "You go there to give, but in the end, it's actually you that ends up doing the most receiving because that feeling of being a part of that moment."

And while the instruments will, in some cases, replace ones taken so cruelly by the fire, others will be given to kids who never have touched an instrument in their life.

"One of those kids might be able to really heal through strumming and putting their experiences out through music," says Artis. "For me, I've been doing music since I was young, and it's been a major therapeutic element in my life personally. Everyone has these feelings and things you have to kind of navigate in your life as you go through loss, so I can't even imagine the beauty and the impact this could have."

Related: 60 People Found in Single Home Seeking Refuge from Maui Wildfires Now 'Reunited with Their Families'

While in Hawaii earlier this month, Artis also performed at the Ritz Kapalua, where he met directly with students affected by the fires. "They alone and their staff have 170 employees that lost everything in the fires," says Artis. "That's how close to home it hits for everyone there."

Through it all, Artis says he has felt his creativity sparked by the entire experience. "I like to write a lot during my concerts," he says. "It's kind of my weird thing. I'll perform a lot of the songs that people love to hear that I've done, but you can't turn on inspiration. So, if it comes, who am I to turn it off? So, in those moments, it's just like being in the moment reflecting what's going on and what I’m sharing in song. It's a very healing process."

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