RONEN ZILBERMAN / RZILBERMAN@STARBULLETIN.COM
Ray Kaneshige plays the tuba during rehearsal for the Pearl City High School marching band. The band will be leading the Hollywood Christmas Parade on Sunday and plans to play "Hooray for Hollywood."
Pearl City band to lead
Hollywood holiday parade32 hula dancers will join the 220
marching high school musicians
The Pearl City High School "Chargers" Marching Band will be the lead band in the 72nd annual Hollywood Christmas Parade on Sunday.
Bandmaster Michael Nakasone said the honor rates among his top experiences in 27 years with the school.
The band led the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena in 1996 and appeared four times in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, among other achievements.
Accompanied by 32 dancers from the Halau Hula Olana, the band will play "Hooray for Hollywood" through the heart of Tinseltown.
One of the biggest bands in the state, Pearl City is sending 220 of its 296 members to Hollywood.
Assistant band leader Kent Sato said the students are "pretty stoked about it" and are excited at being in such a "special position."
Nakasone said: "We've practiced so hard for this. (The students) are looking really, really good -- they're all wonderful -- and will do a good job representing the state. Everybody's so proud."
Nakasone said he believes Pearl City is the first band from Hawaii to go to the Hollywood parade. "We were really fortunate enough to be chosen. We've been really blessed" over the years, he said.
He credited Boniface Leong, the retired band teacher at Pearl City Highlands Intermediate School, for starting such a proficient band program, and current directors John Iyoki and Bob Hayakawa for teaching the students well. "After two years, they're very fine musicians" when they enter the high school, he said.
RONEN ZILBERMAN / RZILBERMAN@STARBULLETIN.COM
Members of the Pearl City High School marching band practice their formations at the school in preparation for the Hollywood Christmas Parade on Sunday. The band will be accompanied by 32 dancers from Halau Hula Olana.
Nakasone also said the parent and community support were important to the band's success.
But Bryce Nakaoka, student president of the band and the senior French horn player, said the school's three band leaders, including Thomas Kamisato, make the students strive for excellence.
"We learn so much from all of them," he said. "They get the best out of us -- each has something unique about themselves. Mr. Nakasone is really nice, and he tries not to yell at us too much if we get kinda rowdy. He drives you to play these really hard, insane numbers.
"The perfectionist? That would be Mr. Kamisato. He's the most vicious. He teaches us to march. With out them (all three), we wouldn't be anywhere," Nakaoka said.
He said it's taxing to be part of the band. "People are yelling instructions while you march, we have to make sure we're all in straight lines and you have to memorize your music. ... After practice, I'm dead," Nakaoka said. "But I really enjoy playing. ... It really brings me joy and I want to help other people find that joy."
Senior Drew Hironaga, the drum major in charge of leading practice and conducting music when the band is on the field, said he is not afraid of the band making mistakes with all the practice they've been through. Originally a trombone player, Hironaga was chosen to be the drum major for his experience as an assistant leader, and the required "spirit and pride" and "willingness to work with others to motivate them to do their best," he said.
"I believe we always can get better. ... The reward is the natural high of seeing the audience standing up and applauding you afterward," he said.
Kamisato laughed at being called a "vicious" perfectionist. "I just expect from them what I expect from myself!" he said.
"I tell them, 'You know the notes, and you know the rhythm. Now go another step further (and put your feelings into it) and another step, and then another, up until the very end until you perform it.'" he said.
"It's extremely hard to march and play at the same time. So I tell them, take it one step at a time," Kamisato said.
