The Hawaii All State Marching Band, also known as “Na Koa Alii,” is on the road again, participating in the 90th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 24 in New York City.
It’s the third time the band will play in the iconic, nationally televised parade.
The entire band will rehearse together for the first time in the parking lot of the Pentagon in Washington. After a performance and photo shoot at the U.S. Capitol, the 400-plus musicians, 200 hula dancers and 600 family and friends will travel to Philadelphia in a 27-bus caravan.
Thirty-two band members are from Hawaii Island.
There, they’ll rehearse in the parking lot of Lincoln Financial Field, home stadium of the Philadelphia Eagles, followed by sightseeing at the Liberty Bell, Constitution Hall and a Philly cheese steak sandwich before the two-hour bus ride to the Big Apple.
The band will perform Thanksgiving Day in front of 3.5 million people on the streets of Manhattan and 50 million more nationwide who watch it on television. They’ll march in front of the King’s Hawaiian Bakery float, which is four-stories high and features a volcano and a stage with an undisclosed guest artist.
The parade will be televised Thanksgiving morning at 9 a.m. on K-5 and at 11 a.m. on KGMB-TV.
During its whirlwind tour in New York City, the band will see the Radio City Music Hall’s Christmas Spectacular featuring the world-famous Rockettes and the Disney Broadway musical “Aladdin.” They’ll also visit One World Observatory, the 9/11 memorial.
The band, created in 2002 by John Riggle, retired band director at Kamehameha Schools Kapalama, has also performed three times in the Tournament of Roses Parade. The students are nominated by their school’s band director.
Band members from Hawaii Island are:
Cienna Corpuz, Keya Davies, Alyssa Faletoi, Striesand Galdones, Jaina Galves, Daniel Honda, Mone Kudo, Kaitlyn-Torres, Mark Nemeth, Kaui Serrao and Jiyun Shin of St. Joseph High School.
Maria Calso, Alyssa Chiquita, Jadelyn Fernando, Jeremy Hirai, Kalani-Rae Keohuhu, Jacob Lott, Tyrese Smith and Kiana Vallente of Keaau High School.
Skyler Crivello, Lander Mizuba, Shaun Muranaka, Kelson Pacheco, Pauahi Perreira and Victoria Rapoza of Hilo High School.
Karly Ferrari, Taylor Hamura, Kimberly Kamei, Nanea Nuesca and Kayla Paiva of Waiakea High School.
Pua Garza from Kamehameha Schools Hawaii.
Two other band members, Matt Akiyama of Hawaii Community College and Lokai Kukahiko of the University of Hawaii at Hilo, took part in the 2014 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif.
Band members are required to rehearse every Sunday for 14 months and must memorize the parade music on their own time. Randy Skaggs, St. Joseph School band director, has been the Big Island staff director and has conducted rehearsals for Hawaii Island since the band’s inception.
Bill Sever, Keaau High School band director, assisted throughout the process.
