At 17 the two bands he's in, Aftershock and Strangely Arousing, are "up there" on the national stage, he excels academically, is sporty, has been on the Environmental Youth Council, represented New Zealand in China, is a school prefect, involved in Rotary's Interact movement and has been recognised twice over for his community contributions.
It's no genetic fluke Lukas is musical, his grandfather's Wi Wharekura, the only surviving original Howard Morrison Quartet member.
"I knew he'd been a bit of a performer in his younger days but hearing him belt out How Great Thou Art at Sir Howard's poroporoake [farewell] at his age was pretty commendable, I was impressed."
Thanks, Lukas, "commendable" and "impressive" are exactly the words we've been seeking to describe you. Not that he'll thank us for it, Lukas isn't that kind of kid. He accepts he has "some" talent "but I have to push myself to achieve it".
Lukas was no infant musical prodigy. His first public appearance was at 10, singing Silent Night solo at Kawaha Point Primary's Christmas concert. When he moved to Kaitao Middle School he performed at a school assembly.
The outcome: music became a secondary subject.
"I got involved in the choir, had guitar lessons, got better and started joining intermediate school bands around Rotorua, really getting into the different aspects of performing and learning interaction between band members."
He intended his first year at Western Heights High to be academically focused but making music wasn't entirely shelved.
"I'd practise the guitar at home and when out with like-minded musos we'd sit down and jam, so we thought we'd get a band together.
"In homage to the herbs and spices colonel they named it Family Dinner Box.
"We went into a regional competition and played terribly but it was an awesome experience."
Pirates of the Nile followed, winning Rotorua Has Talent and performing at Lakeside 2011. Lukas was vocalist, Luke Madams (bass) , Elisha Meihana (drums) and Chris Everest (guitar).
Metal band Aftershock followed then Strangely Arousing, a combo of ska, reggae and funk. In the latter Lukas plays guitar and provides the vocals, Forrest Thorp's on trumpet, Liam Rolf trombone, Shaun Loper bass, with Oliver Prendergast the drummer.
Soon after Strangely Arousing formed last year the boys won the Smokefree Pacifica Beats regional final and were placed second in this year's Zeal Battle of the Bands national final. This month they're in the Smokefree Pacifica Beats equivalent.
The following night Aftershock's vying for top spot in the Smokefree RockQuest final. This follows a slew of impressive wins, including RockQuest's 2011 People's Choice winner.
"Our successes have been built up on many small, incremental gains, we really started off as a garage group trying not to annoy the neighbours."
In addition, Lukas performs as an acoustic duet with Emily Jane Powell. They're Night Market regulars and headlined at the recent Lumenite Festival.
Other awards in Lukas' quiver are a gold at Tauranga's Jazz Festival, performing in a group named Rhapsody Road, and a first at Palmerston North's equivalent.
Although regularly placed, one title continues to elude him, it's winning his school's talent quest. He's graciously unfazed. "There are very talented people at Heights."
Music aside, Lukas is no academic slug. Physics, calculus, English, music (naturally) and PE are his final school year's subjects. He's achieved excellents in Cambridge exams, plus excellents and merits in NCEA levels one and two.
He's been a member of a trade and cultural delegation to China touring schools promoting international exchanges. " ... singing and explaining what Chinese people could gain by coming here".
A soccer fanatic, Lukas played in his school's 2nd XI for three years and in Rotorua's under 19s "but music began to overlap".
In Year 10 he hit a low note when a high-speed skateboard smash kept him off school for several months. "I had a subdural brain haemorrhage, ended up in Waikato Hospital, was bedridden for three weeks."
With time hanging heavy Kaitao provided the ideal antidote. "They allowed me to go into the music department helping out the music teacher, another awesome experience."
He still skateboards, though "obviously I wear a helmet now".
Future plans are a career in music. "I'd like to think I can make my parents proud." Lukas needn't worry. In an email to Our People his father, Phil Wharekura, acknowledges his son's accomplishments but stresses it's Lukas' regard for his three sisters that makes him most proud.
"They couldn't have a better big brother and certainly a father couldn't have wished for a better son."
THE FACTS
Born: Rotorua, 1995
Education: Helen Downer Kindergarten, Kawaha Point Primary, Kaitao Middle School, Western Heights High (presently in Year 13)
Family: Parents Phillip and Angela Wharekura, sisters Sarah, Emily, Jessica
Interests: Family, music, sport (long boarding a passion), keeping active, "I go to the gym a lot to challenge myself".
Community recognition: Rotorua District Council's Community Service Youth Award, named in this year's Young Achievers line-up
Advice to fellow youngsters: "No one's a no-hoper, it's a matter of finding something you're passionate about."
Personal philosophy: "Supreme effort takes bravery."
What parent could ask for more?
