HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0711.083 2008-2010Yoshimoto, J
From: Sandra Sato [wasabiwoo @yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, February 26, 2010 6:56 AM
To: dikeda @co.hawaii.hi.us 00
Cc: dyagong @co.hawaii.hi.us; jyoshimoto @co.hawaii.hi.us; donishi @co.hawa
enaeole @co.hawaii.hi.us; genriques @co.hawaii.hi.us; bford @co.hawaii.hi.us; r <:
kgreenwell @co.hawaii.hi.us; phoffmann @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Hawaii County Band
Mr. Ikeda and members of Hawaii County Council,
I am a member of the Hawaii County Band. We were just notified at rehearsal last night that we will be
"unfunded" on June 30, 2010. I am asking that you please have the Department of Parks and Recreation
reconsider this decision when their budget is submitted on Monday.
I realize that these are tough times for our community. However, the Hawaii County Band has been in
existence for 127 years. It is a long standing tradition for our island that shouldn't be slashed to save 1%
of the budget.
We provide a service to the community that can't be replaced. I see the smiles it brings in parades. I feel
the unity of everyone's hearts when playing "America the Beautiful" for the veteran's ceremonies. I hear
the compliments to Paul Arceo, our band director, from tourists that listen to our concerts. Music ties
people together.
I grew up in Hilo and remember as a young girl being so excited when the band marched down Keawe
Street during parades. I knew one person in the band then and would look for her in every parade. Now
as a member, I enjoy waving at friends during parades, but I especially enjoy it when the keiki try to get
my attention.
I have played in the band since my high school days in the mid 80s. It has nurtured me as a young
musician and maintained a high standard of play as a "middle aged" musician. We have high school
students that play in the band now. For most of these students, their high school will have a few concerts
a year. While in the Hawaii County Band, they are exposed to new music every month. This experience
for them will take them far if they wish to pursue music as a career.
I have musician friends on the mainland that tell me they don't have a band like the Hawaii County Band
in their community. They live in places like Boston and Sacramento. For a city to have a band is truly a
treasure, especially one with the history we have. Please don't let the Hawaii County Band slip away.
Thank you,
Sandra M.S. Sato
2/26/2010
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