Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 9, 1 September 1988 — Royal Hawaiian Band U.S. Tour Scores Big Hit [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Royal Hawaiian Band U.S. Tour Scores Big Hit

By Ed Miehelman OHA Public Information Officer

The world-famous Royal Hawaiian Band has just added another chapter to its long and distinguished musical history. This unique organization, under the direction of Bandmaster Aaron David Mahi, recently returned from a highly successful three-city mainland visit whieh included a concert in New York's prestigious Carnegie Hall. The promotional tour, underwritten by the Hawaii Visitors Bureau, was sponsored jointly by the City and County of Honolulu and the State of Hawaii Office of T ourism.

The 48-member Royal Hawaiian Band was augmented for this trip by singers Nina Kealiiwahamana; Cathy Foy; Nalani 01ds and James Kaina; eight dancers (four men and four women); three members of the Royal Guard of the Hawaii National Guard; Miss Hawaii, Desiree Moana Cruz and myself as Master of Ceremonies. The Royal Guard displayed Hawaii's colors and the band's "schellenbaum" (bell tree) at all formal concerts. The unusual instrument, a symbol of royalty, was presented to King Kalakaua in 1883 by Emperor Wilhelm I of Prussia. That original was destroyed in the aftermath of Queen Liliuokalani's overthrow but an exact replica was presented to Bandmaster Mahi during the band's visit to Germany in 1983.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin was the first city on the band's 1988 Mainland tour. There, bandmaster Mahi opened the "Music Under the Stars" season at the Emil Blatz Temple of Music on July 9th. An estimated 12,000 enthusiastic concertgoers enjoyed the music and dancing in Washington Park. Approximately 7000 others jammed the outdoor "Chalet" at Milwaukee's Humbolt Park the following evening.

I hen it was on to New York City. 1 he last time the band visited New York was in 1901 for the New York Exposition. Henri Berger was bandmaster then. This year, the band gave three concerts. The Glee Club entertained at Manhattan Veterans Hospital on July 13th, and the full company performed at the Governors Island Coast Guard Station July 15th. The highlight of the tour for many was the July 16th concert in venerable Carnegie Hall. In addition to the regular crowd of New York concertgoers, Hawaiians and Hawaiian music lovers eame

from all over the country to be a part of this historic event. The concert ranged from the ancient hula "Kaulilua Ike Anu Wai'ale'ale" to Mozart's Flute Concerto in D major. The sophisticated and traditionally reserved New York audience was enthralled by the variety and quality of the music and dancing, and gave the talented performers a well deserved and enthusiastic standing ovation.

Chicago was the final city on the band's itinerary. On July 19th, the band entertained veterans at Chicago's Lakeside Veterans Hospital. The final show of the tour was July 21st when several thousand people enjoyed the music in Grant Park. Wherever the band appeared, people made it a point to express their appreciation and their determination to visit the Islands someday. lf the purpose of the trip was to share our music and culture, create goodwill for Hawaii and support the visitor industry, the tour seemed to be a huge success.

Royal Hawaiian Band musicians, singers and dancers acknowledge standing ovation at Carnegie Hall, New York. Principal performers standing on stage include (left to right): Gene Roland, Nalani Olds, Solomon Kalima, Cathy Foy, Bandmaster Aaron Mahi, Jimmy Kaina, Miss Hawaii Desiree Cruz, Kappy Kapeliela and Nina Kealiiwahamana. Photo was taken by Richard Mossman, a member of the kamaaina Mossman family, who now lives in Brookiyn, New York.