HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0711.138 2008-2010Testimony given onWednesday, March 31, 2010
Aloha, my name is Suzi Bond and I am the executive director of Kilauea Drama &
Entertainment Network, a volunteer Theater Arts teacher at Volcano School of Arts and Sciences, a past
president ofthe Hilo High School Band Boosters , last year's parade coordinator for the Volcano
Community Association, a four family- .sixth generation missionary descendant, a supporter of the arts
AND a registered voter.
I have already spoken about the Hawaii County Band's value as an inspiration and an
important part of our community. I am incensed that you would still consider wiping out part of our
heritage.
Once again the arts are coming under the knife. Just once I would like to see a sports facility
closed or a sports program cut before the arts are cut. There is not one public performing venue run by
the county that is not also a sports facility.
Not everyone participates in sports. My son is not a sports person. Were it not for band and
theater arts he would have languished. There are no programs for kids that are not athletically inclined.
There should be more arts programs not less. Just think how great it would be if kids could go to one of
the many arts centers and learn music, dancing, acting and visual arts. But alas there are no more arts
facilities to cut! We wouldn't want to touch any of the sports programs s000 Let's cut the only arts
program left!
As I have said before, music is an important learning tool. Studies have shown that the same
synapses fire in the brain when a child learns music as when they learn math and science. If we want to
see math scores rise, put music into the schools and in the recreation department.
Being in a band teaches many of the same principles as being on a sports team. Kids learn
leadership and teamwork, as well as confidence and self esteem. Aband does not sound good if there is
not leadership, not just from the director, but the section leaders as well. There are many good lessons to
be learned with the performing arts. Dance and acting teach coordination and again teamwork,
confidence and self esteem. If we want our children to grow up well rounded we NEED the arts.
If you feel that music is not important, try going a day without it. No radio in your car, no
Musak inthe store, no humming, no whistling. No TV commercials and programs, no movies, and no
sports. All these use music. The hardest part would be to stop the tunes running through one's head.
What was the song you danced to at your wedding? All of us have music that goes with our memories.
The memories made by the music of the Hawaii County Band are priceless.
Look again at cutting other things. Start with the salaries at the top. Before you ask us to make
sacrifices, you should lead by example. When you have taken no less than a 25% cut across the board
from your salaries and perqs and OH do we really need all new furniture ?, then I will consider that
everyone is making sacifices and maybe the sting in losing programs will be less.Until then you are not
being "pono ".
1 URGE you to take another look at the budget. Look at cutting other NEW things from the
budget. Make do until the economy gets better. Cut your salaries and new furniture, cut sports facilities
and programs, BUT PLEASE do not cut any more from the arts. Fund our county bands.
Comm. No. ( i • 13
Ref. To A 7(i•
Ref. Data MAR 2 1 9010