As a vital component of China’s traditional culture, Hainan’s Li and Miao music culture embodies the historical memories, life wisdom, and spiritual beliefs of these ethnic groups, possessing unique aesthetic value and profound cultural significance. This paper examines the core dimensions of aesthetic education to analyze the functions of Hainan’s Li and Miao music culture in cultivating aesthetic perception, shaping aesthetic tastes, and nurturing aesthetic character. Addressing current challenges in aesthetic education practices, including fragmented inheritance and monotonous teaching methods, this study proposes optimization strategies such as exploring aesthetic education resources, innovating educational formats, and establishing collaborative mechanisms. The aim is to fully unleash the aesthetic potential of Li and Miao music culture, infusing new vitality into regional ethnic cultural education in the contemporary era.