Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 28, Number 11, 1 November 2011 — The Royal Hawaiian Band celebrates 175 years [ARTICLE]

The Royal Hawaiian Band celebrates 175 years

The City and County of Honolulu's Royal Hawaiian Band is commemorating its 175 years of existence with a history-making musical event on Tuesday, Nov. 22 in the Farrington High School Auditorium starting at 7 pm. This special event concert is being presented by The Friends of the Royal Hawaiian Band and the Royal Hawaiian Band Music Society, two

nonprofit support groups of the band. "E mau aku ana kō kākou ho 'oilina - Our Iegacy Iives on," will present a historical and musical panorama that will relate the vital role the band has played in Hawai'i's history as well as its relevance and importance for our state's future. It will be a musical and multimedia experience unlike anything the band has done before. Tickets are available online at brownpapertickets.com or by calling 1-800-838-3006. Featured artists will include award-winning artist Raiatea Hehn, Nina Keali'iwahamana, Karen Keawehawai'i, Gary Keawe Aiko and Misty Kela'i. The Kamehameha Schools Children's Chorus, hula hālau Ka Lā 'Ōnohi Mai O Ha'eha'e, as well as many other guest artists will also join in the celebration. And to make the evening even more special, fonner RHB bandmasters Aaron Mahi and Miehael Nakasone will guest conduct the band as it pays tribute to them as well. Founded by King Kamehameha III in 1836, "The King's Band" as it was originally known, eventually heeame The Royal Hawaiian Band when King Kamehameha V appointed Henry Berger as Bandmaster in 1872. During his tenure, Bandmaster Berger saved many Hawaiian songs that were never previously written to paper, changed the very structure of how Hawaiian music was composed and was dubbed by Queen Lili'uokalani

as the Father of Hawaiian Music. Now a department of the City and County of Honolulu under recently appointed Bandmaster Clarke Bright, the Royal Hawaiian Band performs more than 300 concerts and marches in approximately 30 parades a year. The band's mission is to promote and foster music, both current and historic, to preserve the Hawaiian musical culture and enrich the lives of the people and visitors of Hawai'i. Proceeds of this concert will assist the nonprofit support of the RHB.