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Air force band rocks out at recess

  • Published
  • By SSgt Courtney Clifford
  • Band of the Pacific-Hawaii
October 29, 2013 --  JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- For elementary students of two North Shore towns, the lesson of the day was to learn how to have fun! The Band of the Pacific-Hawaii's rock band, Hana Hou, performed for over two thousand school students at the Kalei'opu'u and Wailua Elementary schools. The performances on September 25 and October 22 were part of a community relations outreach initiative, supporting in part the Red Ribbon Week anti-drug initiative.

The high-energy concerts had students on their feet for the duration of the show, singing along to such well-knows songs as "Firework", "Mirrors", "Diamonds", and "The Cup Song". The show relayed an anti-bullying message to the students, and the band used songs such as "Brave", by Sara Bareilles, as vehicles to tie the message in.

Several weeks letter, the unit received hundreds of letters from grateful students at both schools. Apple Mae, a 6th grader from Kalei'opu'u Elementary, wrote: "I really enjoyed all the songs that you played for us. I also enjoyed your awesome voices. I love it when I sang and dance. I didn't feel shy anymore. I was shy, but now I think you guys took out my shyness. OMG, thank you now I am not shy anymore. I can talk to all my classmates". Haley, a 2nd grader from Kalei'opu'u, wrote, "Dear United States Air Force Band, You ROCK! I love your performance! I was screaming, jumping, and dancing to the songs you played. You're the best band I've ever heard. It would be really awesome to see you guys perform for our school again". The performances brought everyone together proving that music is a universal language, transcending language and culture barriers.