HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0533.022 2000-2002 T`~°I~~~~I~~ Ial. ~~Ala
II~IJA®~C~~~, H~UV~II 9674
(~0~) 326m1953
April 19, 2002
Re: Budget FY 2002-2003
Chairman James Arakai and All County Council Members,
I support continuing funding for the West Hawaii County Band.
Attached are two articles from the Hawaii Island Journal, April 16, pages 5 ~z 6 and
23~i24.
Please refer this to the Finance Committee to be agendized.
Thank You.
~
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Dr. Ted Leaf
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awai`i County's administration
and council have been wrestling
-with a $200 million-plus pro-
posed budget for 2002-2003, and the
F budget-review process has been a real
exercise in making tough choices.
Council members looked at budget
cuts, possible tax increases and a variety
s of options in trying to, eventually, have
the county's income match its expenses.
While virtually every county operation
has been eye-balled by the budget bal-
ancers, the county's two bands -the
Hawaii County Band (east side) and the
~ West I"Iawai `i County Band -got some
pretty intense reviews.
How important is music, or a band, to
' a r"out~ty ~.eeming-ly facing operat-ing
prot~ienis totaling mi lions of dollars'? Is
cutting t~rus'n along the road more
~mpoitant than, let's s,ay,.hearing a live
~ heriorrni,t~c~, of stirring music? Which
dt`e~ mare-for humanity - 10 police
night slicks or a cornet`? Is sending a
county .band to, oh, Waimea more
imi2ortanrthan sendi"ng a-council mem-
ber <o a c~~nvention'?"lend-since the
cou~ity b~mds reportedly are mentioned
in the county charter, are they legally
protected-from ex~tinc:tion?
r~~ a county council- budget hearing in
Kaiua-Kona recently, a handful of West
Hawaii Band members pleaded with the
council to keep their $28,282 allocation
in the budget. Without it, they said, the
band would likely not survive.
In this issue of the Journal, writer
Robin Morisawa (page 23) outlines for
readers the history and current opera-
tions of the two county bands. The
. enthusiasm and dedication of the band
leaders and members is impressive.
At the:Kona budget hearing; the coun-
ty council members seemed impressed
with the band mem~tiers' pleas, but, with
the exception of councilman Leningrad
Elarionotif, they remained pretty much
inscrutable on how they might vote on
the bands' future. Elarionoff said pub-
licly he respected the band's work, wel-
comed it into his north-island district,
and, if it were up to him, the band
would have "nothing to worry about."
The east-side Hawaii County Band is
much larger than the-Kona-side band,
having been around a lot longer. With- a
full-time director, that band is seeking
Vii"®ll~$
~ -continued on page 6.
6 I~Wt~I`I ISI.,,~TD ~IJIIlITAI~ ~ p r i l 1 6- 3 0,
lJ~ ~r®nt .
- continued from page 5. ing, seventy-six trombones blaring, 110
$151,226 for 2002-2003. The budget cornets right behind
disparity among the two bands bothers Then, I'd like to see them vote.
some council members, and others, so
we might see a leveling of those two ~ 1
budgets, whatever happens otherwise. ~
In the end, the county council will
determine how valuable the-bands are to lan to be at i~ilo's oceanfront
the county. Somewhere else in the Mo`oheau Park on Sunday, April ~
' budget, something will live or die by
their actions. 21 for the Big Island's 2002
It's strictl a ~ e dream, but on the Earth Day celebration. ~
y p p The 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. event will feature
day in June that the council is to make 1Vlaui's Marty Dread, the Bi:g Island9s
its final decision, I'd love to see the Jesse Dawn and the Kine, Mixed Jah, ;
River City Boys' Band marching Country Lion and some surprise mu.-sisal 1
through the Hawai `i County< Building,
Robert Preston in the,lead; batons flash- guests. i
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• HAW'AI`I ISLAND JOURNAL • A p r i l 1 6- 3 0, 2 0 0 2 23
•
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hethcr it's the wail oY Unlortunatcly. the facility was not con- Vii' t ~ ~ ~ _ . s
the trumpet, the whim- structcd with a band m nand and so one y _ j ~ ~ ;f t ~ ~ >~6~ 6}~« 'v ~
sisal be-bopping of a night a week, the entire communuv all ~ ~ = , i k a5 ~ r
clarinet, the heavy the way to Pacific Palisades hecame the ~->,.,,c,a?.~ 3 ~ ~ " R rs ~ s i
thumping of bass or thejurnne screech umvining audience of the West Hawaii ' ~ } ~
f
of an electric guitar, music lilts the spirit County Band when it practiced. As luck - - -
and adds spice to any social occasion. would have it, Bandmaster Ventimiglia -
Since the late I800s, the Hawaii took over the band director's position at -
County Band. joined later by the West Kealakehe Intennedia[e School and it The West Nawai'i County Band performed at the 2001 FPohta(ua Aloha Festivals parade
}fawai`i County Band, has been enrich- wasn't long before the West Hawaii and celebration.
ing Big Island charity County Band practice was moved there. play in the professional setting of the "I play because I love music and I get
events, international Each of the bands County bands. to meet very interesting people that I
events, ceremonie .has built a strong Monica Crane, a sophomore from wouldn't meet otherwise. ]t's challenging
and one-time flmc ~ tradition of musical Kealakehe High School, admits her to work and be good at playing (tny
bons through the ~ tx. excellence. interest in music started after hearing [he instrument). And it's great to strive to
sweet sounds of live ~o ` ~ .t- ~ "Many of the Kealakehe Intermediate School band play up to the level of other, more
music with as many members of the play when she was in the fifth grade. advanced players," Crane said. Many of
as 100 free perform ~k... ~ ~ $ 'Hawai'i County "I was impressed, so when I became a the West Hawaii County Band musi-
ances around the n Band have been K[S student Ijoined the band and chose clans spend part of their year in Kailua-
island each year. - ;•'~~4 involved in this
. r: y ~ - to play the alto saxophone." Because of Kona, bringing with them new musical
The Hawaii p~. ~ .group for a number of her talent, Crane was encouraged to play ideas, which help to expand the students'
County Band, based ~ - x years. One musician, with the West Hawaii County Band as a view of the world.
in Hilo, began as a ~ w { Wendell Leite, has student volunteer musician. At a recent Hawaii County Council _
family band, organ- 'i~d. been a member for 55 The Wes[ Hawaii County Band prides budget meeting, Miles Leicher, ajunior
ized by brothers Jules- years, enjoying [he itself for being community-oriented. from Kealakehe High School, testified
and Joaquin Carvalho most years of serv- "Because our focus is on playing for to the importance of the West Hawaii
in 1883, until the local government ice of any county employee," Arceo the love of music and for the enjoyment County Band to him.
adopted it and the group was recognized says. of the community at large, we are able "It makes a difference for us to play
as the Hilo Band. Through the combined schedule of to create mentoring relationships among professionals in a professional
By the 1900x, the band became for- live music performances across the between our young musicians and the setting with challenging music outside
malty known as the Hawaii County island, both bands have inspired students more advanced players," explained of school. We learn to better our skills
Band, surviving the overthrow of the to discover [he joys of music with many Barbara Byrum, Clarinet section leader. and become more confident," he told
Hawaiian Monarchy. youngsters going on to team an instru- The West Hawaii County Band's pro- councilmembers.
Since 1904, when the Mo`oheau Park meat- More importantly, both bands gram objective is to maintain participa- The Hawaii County Band in Hilo
Bandstand was built, [he Hawaii have been able [o provide students with lion of three to six middle and high COllntyr Bands
County Band has performed a concert the opportunity to cultivate [heir musical school students. - continued on gage 24.
series every year as part of a 95-year talent even more by inviting them to
tradition. Mo'oheau Park Bandstand is - - - - -
currently listed as a historical site in - , ~
Hilo under the Department of Land and
Natural Resources. The Hawai `i County rr
Band has had 12 bandmasters. Paul G. ~ ~ ~arg~ •
A
Arceo is [he current bandmaster. _ . _ _ ::~::::.>....::::::::.y~„y
"Fhis year, [he Hawaii County Band ~ V'~ ~ - ' ~ _ _
celebrates 119 years, surviving the Great ~aa - ~ _
Depression and two world wars, per- t yam'
forming for communities around the ~ ~w s~ ~V~ aaa
1i,. Specializrng ur
island. ~ safer, scorersolahons a<
A smaller, separate band, the West since 1983 to whatever ails yau.
Hawaii County Band, though also spon- KEA`AU SHOPPING There an•alternntrves. s
Bored by Hawai `i County, began in the You do
hhave choice
CENTER ~ ` ® $ j
verdant coast of Hamakua. Rs perform- i.er us help you make
ance schedule now has grown to include - 966_8877 those choices. t, .t
Hamakua, Kohala, Kona and Ka'u. opeuDa;ly•t5~seu;orDiseouat STOPINTODAY!
Sometime in the 1920x, the bandstand
- _
in Honoka`a Town was [he grand stage ~ -
of many talented local musicians'. Then
in the 1980x, the Wes[ Hawaii band C~v]pAla~3~~ ~ GY~ ~ ~ ~
moved to Waimea, finding a new home J JJ 1
at [he newly constructed Waimea ~Wh~ ~4QCl S' ~pll"A}S~
Cornmunity Center maintained by ~ ~
' e
Hawaii County. By the mid-1980x, G ? ( In the Keaau Shopping Plaza REED S CATCHMENT
Bandmaster Dave Lorch passed on the 4' ~ on your way to Volcano Corrugated Steel Tanks • Abuve Grnund Pools • Pumps & Filler
- ' Liners • Covers & Tarps (Regular & Custom Sizes)
position to Gary Ventimiglia. 'q i~' (808) 966-7589 Chlorine Free Shock • Clcanino Service & Supplies
More and more musicians began mov- Sunday gam-12am Cover Support System
ing to Kailua-Kona, prompting the West Open Mon -Wed. Ilam-12am Nordic Hot Tub • Best Quality & Ya1ue
Hawaii band to move its ractice loca-
P Open Thurs.-Sac.llam-tam phone 959-1777 FINANCING AVAILABLE
lion to [he upper Kona coffee land in Visit our websise of www.charleysbaccom hi man Business Park • 16-643 Kipimana, Bay #19, Keaau
Holualoa at the Kona Imin Center.
24 HAWAII ISLAND JOURNAL • A p r i l 1 6- 3 0, 2 0 0 2
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°~'2 ~ ~t t ~ ~s ~ 3 . ~ ` E' ~ portauon "Leaf said.
a. cr
S: - - A trend has already begun
~ COUr1tJ/ B817IIS ~ ~ with public schools always
# ~ -continuedjromV~K~ contending with budget crunches
~r ,ki:yy.,... offers open auditions for poswons with- and finding "relief" by limiung the
.t~a~u,s`~ 6S in its band budget for in music and 'arts programs.
~i ~ ~ _ ~ We currently have three high school Bm-over the years, new qualitative
> g5 - s Hsf~? - ~ ~ S ~ y students employed with us, the youngest research by psychiatrists, psychologists,
> .fir. ,rt~~'f' y ~ x E~ being a sophomore medical doctors and
q : ? trumpet player. I'm social scientists arc
~ Ji< _ hap y to see many of beginning to link expo-
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,F - my former students ~ sure to music and e
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-'::t:{,::¢~:.;:;;: as ire [o become roles- ~ arts to student's
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~:~h:~• stonal or go on to study ::El~> .increased cognitive
• " a
~ music at the University . > .development and over-
.;:...:.:t:
;x
~W.; of Hawaii at Manoa," - all erformance.
~ ~ P
Arceo told the Hawaii
~ a$ Gary Ventimiglia
i.": `?'s :4i'' ?&">;idi~;?^'.:::>:.^t. G:::: ri;•:. Island Journal. - a reed with research
# . :
' ~ Despite the strong tr s'R • - results statin 'Mtuic
gip.; q' : 16 ~ ,e dition each band has is a discipline, It takes
built, they are faced u ~ drscipline to produce
- ~ ~ ~ with the possibilities of ~ the precise musical
~ -
budget cuts, to the point ~ ~ attcu. A layer must
;as ' ~ ~ where Hawaii County - 6o through a process
.lttr ` ~ . x
may not have any < ,~S _ lirst create sound in an
: ~ 'e.-- .Yt~ s-" _ ~ County band. - ~ insuumenl, then music
- - - As employees, most ~ ~ from that sound, and
of the County Band " - then to achieve harmo-
musicians are all part- ~ a•` ny in a band setting
timers, with the excep- Dc Ted Leaf, President, Wesr Hawai •i among other musical
lion of the bandmaster, County BaiedFnends instruments and play-
who is full-time. As crs."
- ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 'R ~ part-time employees, they receive no Playing an instrumcm has been shown
- ® medical or retirement benefits. to require high levels of cognitive ability
®~~•~~~1 For West Hawaii County Band mem- to anal}'ze and evaluate information.
tiers, the current musician's salary does Student players must also learn about
not even cover the cost of transportation teamwork and how to resolve conflicts,
Call f®r dinner reservati®ns ~ schedule for those who must travel far distances which is a skill rcyuired in the modern
p to attend practices in addition to attend- work place. "And [he kids have fun,"
He41NAll'S ~A9~OUJ 1 ing petiormanccs Many of its band added Ventimiglia.
1 members are volunteers, receiving no Byrum also added the benefits of
OPEN-a41F~ PaY~ music on listeners through her research
"But we do get fed well," joked Dr. with music and the affects on the elder-
DINNER CLUB! ~ ~E~ Ted Leaf, retired dentist, current West ly.
L~T.7 ~1'91e~ IT[ Hawaii County Band clarinet player "It has heen documented that when the
® r~r'9 and WestHawai'i County Band Friends elderly are able [o hear live musical per-
~f9P9 K~ NG ~ President. As part of the County agree- fonnanccs. they have less stress, less
ment, whenever the bands travel more anxiety in their behavior and it improves
Call 88~-~~~~ ~ than one hour to gel [o a performance, their lag-term memory," she said.
food must be provided for its members, Still, the prohlem remains. The impact
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ as the county bands do not charge any of m~ sii and fhe arts is dilferen ~ n
lee. ever one. Music's value rs ratan ible
SH®~ "So, of course, you could say we play and, therefore, diliicult [o measure.
for food," Leaf said. How can we put a pace on music that
Eve West Hawaii band supporters have starts toes tapping, and then bodies glid-
formed anon-profit 501 3C group called ing and sliding across the dance Moor?
~11~~
~ 1 the West Hawaii County Band Friends. Where do we begin to tally up the dollar
~r ~i/~\ • This non-profit group is dedicated to signs after music transports us to the
support the West Hawaii County Band stars where a galactic battle between
1 with e ui mcnt and monies not covered
q p good and evil is waged or to where a
DINNER SERVED 5:30-9:30 PUPUS & DESSERTS 'ill CLOSING by me Hawaii Cotmry budget. boy can ride across the sky on his bike'?
"Still, we really need to be under the How du we measure the intense feelings
umbrella of Hawaii County, especially kindled by a Favorite song''
to cover the use of the band room, incur- What would be a parade without a
~~~e°~IF~~s' ~~®~1i'E~$IF8d4{<e6~~?IN ?r°.V ~S~NI~ ancc and most importantly, bus trans- band'? `S