Royal Hawaiian Band

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. It was thrust into global prominence under the leadership of Prussian Heinrich "Henri" Berger, an officer of the imperial German army loaned to the Kingdom of Hawaiokinai in 1872. Berger composed of 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 "Hawaiokinai Ponookinai," the national anthem of Hawaiokinai; 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 mainland USA. ["Interesting Notes" published by The Royal Hawaiian Band, The City and County of Honolulu and The Honolulu City Council]

Presently, the Royal Hawaiian Band is comprised of thirty-five of the state's finest musicians. Under the baton of Bandmaster Michael D. 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. ["Interesting Notes" published by The Royal Hawaiian Band, The City and County of Honolulu and The Honolulu City Council]

References

External links

* [http://www.honolulu.gov/rhb Royal Hawaiian Band]