Community honors music man

PUHI — An overflow, sellout crowd at the Kaua‘i Community College Performing Arts Center greeted Kaua‘i High School bands director Larry “Mac” McIntosh at his swansong performances.

Following news of his retirement, people flocked to the 45th Annual Spring Concert, the final performance for the Kaua‘i High School bands before summer break, to get one last taste of the conductor’s music.

Melissa Nobriga, one of the office staffers at Kaua‘i High School, had her family on hand for the concert. “Normally, Thursdays is my church night, but I told Mac that I would come to at least one concert before he retired, so tonight is the last one.”

Nobriga said, McIntosh would tell her, “‘When you come to hear my music, you’re as close to God as you’re going to get.’”

Daniel Momohara, one of the Kaua‘i High School Band Booster directors, noted that his sons, one of whom is the orchestra director at Kalani High School, made special trips home for the event.

Matthew Momohara, a member of the Class of ‘98, is currently the Kalani director, and because that school is on a year-round schedule, had to arrange for substitutes so he could make the concert.

The sellout crowd was a far cry from when McIntosh arrived on the first day of class at Kaua‘i High School in 1965.

“I had to sell all my saxophones, just to get here,” McIntosh told the appreciative audience. “I got here just in time for the first day of school with just $100 left over in my pocket, and an 8-month-old daughter.”

Fresh out of the Cincinnati Conservatory, McIntosh said that he was amazed that he could “wake up each morning to fresh fruits.” Those were brought by the band parents. He needed a car, and owners of Waimea Garage brought one over, telling him, “Oh, just pay whenever you can.”

When he went to his first Wilcox Elementary School program, he was greeted by a symphony. But, this was not a symphony of music, but one of color — the many hues of skin, and the wide variety of colors in the clothing, and he said, “I saw that, and I thanked God for sending me here.”

Those were the first days of his career here that spanned 40 years. “Dedicated? Yes, but that was of my choosing,” he told the audience while thanking his family and friends for standing by him during that time.

McIntosh said he’ll still be around to help the schools, and will continue to teach at KCC.

JoAnn Yukimura, one of five county councilmembers who were in attendance to present the retiring music director with a certificate of commendation, noted that she was in one of McIntosh’s first junior classes, as a flautist, and has seen firsthand the growth from the days of 40 students to where the final performance demonstrated the expertise of over 200 students in the Kaua‘i High School band program.

Will and Liz Ronaldson were also in attendance, Will Ronaldson noting, “I wouldn’t miss this concert for the world.” The Ronaldsons were part of a group from the Rotary Club of Kapaa who took the stage to make a special scholarship presentation to a graduating senior.

Dan Spriggs, of the Rotary Club of Kapaa, announced that the annual scholarship would be renamed the Larry McIntosh Music Scholarship.

For years the Kaua‘i High School Jazz Raiders have performed for the Rotarians annual Taste of Hawai‘i event held in June.

Tara Bell, who holds the first chair in the trumpet section of the Wind Ensemble, was this year’s scholarship recipient.

As the premiere ensemble brought the evening to a close, there was the usual recognition of seniors, but this time with a twist, as members of the senior class presented McIntosh with a special clock that plays music on the hour.

“But, if you don’t like it, there is an off and on switch,” they told the conductor.

An appreciative music conductor humbly told the departing audience, “I couldn’t have done it without the parents, and administrative support. Life has been good to me. I love all of you.”

• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@pulitzer.net.