Kawananakoa band
wins gold in Vegas;
high scores qualify
for national festival

Star-Bulletin staff

The Kawananakoa Middle School band won the first-place gold award in the High School Concert Band Division in the Heritage Festival competition May 5 in Las Vegas. Other participating bands were from high schools in California and Arizona.

The band was also awarded the Adjudicator's Award and has been invited to the 2002 National Instrumental Festival of Gold in Chicago. The Adjudicator's Award is only given to bands with scores higher than 92 out of 100 points in two or more categories and is based on national judging standards.

Kawananakoa Principal Richard Anbe said, "Winning these awards would not have been possible without dedication and commitment shown by our students."

"Many hours of practicing during class, during lunch and after school went into preparing for the competition," he said. "By putting in long hours of studying and practice, the students demonstrated their commitment to do well and character of determination."