HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0711.088 2008-2010Yoshimoto, J
From: rubhawaii @gmail.com on behalf of Ross Taosaka [ross @hyoc.org]
Sent: Saturday, March 06, 2010 4:08 PM
To: cohmayor @co.hawaii.hi.us; dyagong @co.hawaii.hi.us; dikeda @co.hawaii hi.us;
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Subject: Support for the Hawaii County Band
Attachments: hawaii county Itr.020610.doc
Aloha Mayor and Council Members:
Attached to this email is my letter in support of saving the Hawaii County Band
Mahalo for reviewing it and for giving it your good consideration.
Ross Taosaka
rosy hyoc.org
3/8/2010
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February 6, 2010
(via E:mail)
William P. Keoni, Mayor
Members of the Hawai'i County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawai'i 96720
Re: Hawaii' County Band
Dear Honorable Mayor and Council Members:
Ross N. Taosaka
500 University Avenue #903
Honolulu, Hawaii 96826
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I am a former Hiloan, having been born and raised there, although I now reside on O'ahu.
While I no longer have my residence in Hilo, I am forever a "Hilo Boy" and find it impossible to
divorce myself from the unique charm of that lovable, rainy town. Even as I write this letter
from Honolulu, I am mindful of how much each of the islands depends on the other, and how
our community really does transcend our geographical boundaries to stand as one, cohesive
island State. With that in mind, please know that I send you this letter not as an "outsider ",
but as one who cares deeply about the future of the Big Island and our statewide community
as a whole.
To the point, I was greatly distressed at news of the possible demise of Hawai'i County's
wonderful Band. I write to strongly support its continued existence and to ask that very
serious thought be given to the detrimental consequences that will result from the Band's
termination.
After graduating from Hilo High School, I went on to obtain a law degree in California and I
continue to practice law in Honolulu. Knowing that there is much more to life than academics,
however, I have over the years educated and immersed myself in the other side of the
spectrum — the arts. I have come to recognize and appreciate the immense value that is
given to us with music and art of all kinds. While many things in our society provide the
necessary support for our cognitive thinking, music provides us with food for the soul.
Without it, we as a culture and a people cannot exist.
True, we are in the midst of an extremely trying time economically, and you as elected
officials watching over the people of the Big Island are well aware that the approach to many
things must now be with greater care and austerity. Be mindful, however, that what may
seemingly be an "easy fix" such as to eliminate the Hawai'i County Band will only superficially
appear to have addressed the problem, but what it will actually do in the long -term is to
denigrate Hawai'i County to a place where art and culture are absent, and where the color
and vibrancy of your great island is lost. If anything, entities such as the Hawai'i County Band
should be bolstered in order to continue adding to the rich texture of the island's uniqueness.
Now more than ever, please stop to consider how necessary music is for Hawai'i County, and
for the State of Hawai'i. Here on O'ahu, the Honolulu Symphony is presently bankrupt and I
know first hand how devastating it has been not only to the Symphony's staff and the
orchestra musicians, but for countless students, children, schools, and other arts
organizations who had collaborated with and depended upon the Symphony. Please don't let
the same thing happen with the Hawaii County Band. Let's be creative in saving the Band
and in being good stewards of the Big Island's long -range future. If the Band goes away,
what's next? The Merrie Monarch Festival?
Please help to ensure a future for Hawai'i County as a place where residents can be proud to
claim as having their "roots" (as I most certainly do), and as a destination that visitors in the
years ahead will come to love as well.
For myself and on behalf of Hawai'i residents statewide, mahalo for your sincere
consideration.
Ross Taosaka, Esq.
Hughes & LaFountaine, Attorneys at Law
Hawaii Youth Opera Chorus, Director of Development
Cathedral of St. Andrew, Choral Scholar