LIHU‘E — The sprinkling rain, and the chill in the air, could not help but remind Lynn Mira of the climatic threat that hangs over the head of the Ku Kilakila Kaua‘i All-Island Marching Band. Mira was one of several
LIHU‘E — The sprinkling rain, and the chill in the air, could not help but remind Lynn Mira of the climatic threat that hangs over the head of the Ku Kilakila Kaua‘i All-Island Marching Band.
Mira was one of several parent chaperones that was helping to process the approximately 430 (around 280 students and 150 adults) people from Kaua‘i who departed Monday morning from Lihu‘e Airport to Los Angeles, where they will be participating in the 2005 Tournament of Roses Parade Saturday morning, New Year’s Day, Jan. 1.
“They’re predicting thunderstorms in Pasadena,” Mira said nervously. “We don’t want it to rain on our parade.
“But, the kids have been practicing in the rain and all, so they should be ready,” she said.
Mira was the first point of contact for the entourage that left Lihu‘e in six waves starting from 5:30 a.m. She pointed out that there were at least six check-in stations where band members would have to pass through before making it to the gate.
Mira said they have 45 adult chaperones and a “staff” of a dozen people to keep the group together.
Once they got their “travel gear” consisting of a neck pouch sponsored by the Rotary Club of Kapaa, where identification, tickets, and other travel necessities could be stored, band members needed to attach special Ku Kilakila luggage tags to their gear and move on to the agriculture-inspection station.
Mira said there were checkers at the ticket counter, another set up inside the airport lobby, and more in the holding area. “We don’t want to leave anybody behind,” she explained.
Once the group arrived at Honolulu International Airport, the check-in process was repeated, the group leaving O‘ahu on flights that took them to three different destination airports — Los Angeles International, Burbank, and John Wayne in Orange County.
From there, the group was to converge at the Radisson Knott’s Berry Farm, where they will be housed for their trip.
“This is exciting,” Mira said as she anticipated the arrival of more families. “Some of the students have never left the state, and this is a great opportunity. Others have their families traveling with them. They went through the fund-raising efforts for their students, and this is one of the few times they get to travel on tour rates.” One such group is the Ted Chihara family, which includes two grandchildren accompanying the group. Chihara was one of the adult volunteer checkers who waited patiently in the security line before setting up in the lobby.
The Ku Kilakila Kaua‘i All-Island Marching Band represents students from nine intermediate, high, and private schools, as well as some home-school students, with recent high-school graduates rounding out the group.
Musicians and performers come from Waimea Canyon School (eighth-graders), Waimea High School, Kahili Adventist School, Island School, Chiefess Kamakahelei School (eighth-graders), Kaua‘i High School, St. Catherine School, Kapa‘a Middle School, and Kapa‘a High School.
Once in California, the Ku Kilakila band will hold practice in the Knotts Berry Farm parking lot before heading to the Rose Bowl, where they will be involved in a pre-parade Bandfest as well as get an opportunity to view some of the parade floats being constructed.
This will be followed by a performance at Disneyland before they assemble for the Tournament of Roses Parade Saturday.
Mira said that uninterrupted television coverage is being planned by leaders at HGTV, who came through with a contribution to the group as well as providing the students with special HGTV pins that they can wear during their performance. The HGTV coverage runs from 4 a.m. to 11 a.m. this Saturday, Jan. 1. HGTV is channel 58 on basic cable. Others providing parade coverage include KITV (channel 4, 6 a.m. to 8 a.m.), KHNL (channel 8, 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.), and KGMB (channel 9, 6 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.). The Ku Kilakila band will be returning home on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 2, in another six-wave effort that will reverse the check-in departure routine. Most of the students will return to school on Monday, Jan. 3.
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@pulitzer.net.
