Royal Hawaiian Band

The band c. 1889
Bandmaster Clarke Bright (center) with Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawānanakoa (right)

The Royal Hawaiian Band is the oldest and only full-time municipal band in the United States. At present a body of the City & County of Honolulu, the Royal Hawaiian Band has been entertaining Honolulu residents and visitors since its inception in 1836 by Kamehameha III. During the monarchy it was nominally a military band. It reached global prominence under the leadership of Prussian Heinrich "Henri" Berger, an officer of the imperial German army loaned to the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi in 1872. Berger composed many beloved marching tunes and other melodies, and would later be honored with the title of "Father of Hawaiian Music." He collaborated with King Kalākaua in creating Hawaiʻi Ponoʻi, the national anthem of Hawaiʻi; it is still used today as the official state song.

During its long and distinguished history, the Royal Hawaiian band inspired the development of other brass bands in Hawaii, and possibly elsewhere in Polynesia and the Pacific. According to researcher Patrick Hennessey, the band may even be credited for originally introducing Hawaii's world-renowned song "Aloha 'Oe" to the United States mainland.[1]

As of 2008[update], the Royal Hawaiian Band is composed of 40 full-time musicians under the baton of Bandmaster Clarke Bright, previously conducted by Michael Nakasone. The band performs every Friday at noon on the grass grounds of the historic Iolani Palace in downtown Honolulu and on Sundays at two o'oclock at the Kapiolani Park Bandstand in Waikiki.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "Interesting Notes" published by The Royal Hawaiian Band, The City and County of Honolulu and The Honolulu City Council

External links

  • Royal Hawaiian Band
  • David Bandy: Bandmaster Henry Berger and the Royal Hawaiian Band. In: Hawaiian Journal of History, Volume 24, 1990, pp. 69–90
  • The Royal Hawaiian Band in U.S. Newspapers
  • Aloha 'Oe, the Song at Pier 10 (A Tall Tale), by John Tanaka
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Patrons199519961998
19992000
  • Maddy Lam
  • Hawaiian Chanters: Keaulumoku, Ka`opulupulu, Kapoukahi, Kapihe and Hewahewa
20012002
  • Songs honored: Alika, Kalama'ula, Wehiwehi 'Oe
200320042005
20062007
2008
  • Joseph Ae'a
  • Elizabeth "Lizzie" Kahau Kauanui Alohikea
  • Anuhea Audrey Brown
  • Thomas Kihei Desha Brown
  • Alice Angeline Johnson
  • John Keola Lake
  • Albert Po'ai Nahale-a Sr.
  • Leo Nahenahe Singers
  • Palani Vaughan
  • James Kaʻupena Wong
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
20142015
  • Lokalia Montgomery
  • Lei Collins
  • Halekulani Girls (Alice Fredlund, Sybil Bright Andrews, Linda Dela Cruz)
  • Jerry Byrd
  • Darrell Lupenui
  • Thaddius Wilson
  • O'Brian Eselu
2016
2017
  • Richard “Babe” Bell
  • The Isaacs ‘Ohana
  • The Kanaka’ole ‘Ohana
  • Krash Kealoha
  • Jacqueline "Skylark" Rossetti
  • Kimo Kahoano
  • Karen Keawehawai’i
  • Melveen Leed
  • Israel Kamakawiwoʻole
2018
  • Beamer ‘Ohana (Nona, Keola, Kapono)
  • Bray ‘Ohana (Daddy and Lydia Bray)
  • Ho‘opi‘i Brothers (Richard and Solomon)
  • Kahananui ‘Ohana (Dorothy Kahananui and Dorothy Gillett)
  • Saichi Kawahara
  • Literary award: He Mele Aloha: A Hawaiian Songbook (Vicky Hollinger, Kimo Hussey, Puakea Nogelmeier, Carol Wilcox), The Queen’s Songbook (Dorothy Kahananui Gillett, Barbara Smith and Hui Hanai)
2019
  • Pua Haʻaheo
  • Marta Hohu
  • Leila Hohu Kiaha
  • David “Feet” Rogers
  • Harry B. Soria Jr.
  • Kauʻi Zuttermeister
  • Hawaiian Room musicians from the Lexington Hotel, NYC
2020
  • Paused due to the global pandemic
20212022


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