Signatures Count

Collected so far: 6,369 signatures Goal: 100,000 signatures
6.4%

Save the Hawaii County Band

Opened on March 05, 2010 | Contact Petition Author

Save the Hawaii County Band

Please help save the Hawaii County Band.

The Hawaii County Band, which is part of the Parks & Recreation Department of County of Hawaii, has just been informed that they will not be funded after June 30, 2010, thereby effectively ending a 127 year Big Island of Hawaii tradition. The Mayor and the Parks and Recreation Department Head have refused to consider refunding the band, even though the savings will constitute less than 1.4% of the total annual budget of the Department and less than one tenth of 1% of the total annual county budget.

The Hawaii County Band was formed in 1883 during the period of the Hawaiian Monarchy and existed through the Hawaiian Republic and was incorporated into the County of Hawaii during the territorial period of Hawaii. The band has performed at festivals, parades, public ceremonies and other Big Island events for 127 years, an extraordinarily long tradition for the youngest state in the nation.

Even if you don't live in Hawaii, please show your support for the music & arts, the Big Island community as well as a part of history and sign this petition. You may also show your support by emailing (or calling - area code 808) the following members of the Hawaii County Council. But please hurry, the County Council is meeting on the March 22, 2010 to discuss the final budget. They have the power to overturn the Mayor's budget and fund the band.

UPDATE: The Mayor has remained stubborn on his decision to cut funding for the band. The Hawaii County Council, however is considering changes to the budget that would restore funding for the Hawaii County Band. At least one County Council Member has stated that he will introduce an amendment to restore funding for the band. However, it has to have the support of a majority of council members. The Mayor can also VETO the new Budget. We need your support more than ever. The Hawaii County Council needs to know that all of you support the Hawaii County Band. Keep telling your friends to sign our petition. The final decision won't be made until May or June.

Keep up your support!

Thank you.

 

Hawaii County Council (area code 808):

Dominic Yagong  961-8264    dyagong@co.hawaii.hi.us
Donald Ikeda       961-8225    dikeda@co.hawaii.hi.us
J Yoshimoto        961-8225    jyoshimoto@co.hawaii.hi.us       

Dennis Onishi      961-8396   donishi@co.hawaii.hi.us
Emily Naeole       965-2712   enaeole@co.hawaii.hi.us
Guy Enriques       961-8263   genriques@co.hawaii.hi.us
Brenda Ford         326-5684   bford@co.hawaii.hi.us
Kelly Greenwell    327-3642   kgreenwell@co.hawaii.hi.us
Pete Hoffmann      887-2043  phoffmann@co.hawaii.hi.us

Mayor:
William P. Kenoi   961-8211  cohmayor@co.hawaii.hi.us

Department of Parks and Recreation Director:
Robert A. Fitzgerald  961-8311  parks_recreation@co.hawaii.hi.us

 

* denotes a required field

Signatures Signatures

Full Name AgeLocation Notes
Jennifer Yukawa17FloridaLet the band play on.
Markus Beissinger--Keep the music alive!
Denise Lavallee-MainlandIt's not a unique dilemma; yet we continue to have to petition for concerned people. Is there a fundraising where I can contribute?
Michael Makino---
trevor nakamura19hilo, hawaiimy brother is in hilo high band now & is a good clarinet player
alton nakamura52hilo, hawaiii am the father of a child who plays in band. i support music & the arts
charles kealiealoha60jupiter ,floridaPleases save the Band and History of Hawaii.
aidan nakamura14hilo, hawaiii play in the hilo high band now & i want to play in the county band later
junette nakamura51hilo-
Kumi Nishimura---
Jenny Denk23Fort Pierce, FL-
Steve Roberts---
Andrew Newell19Indiana-
Adelaide Allanson-Indiana-
KrystleJane19Fargo North DakotaDon't let the music die!
Jeanne Kiyan---
Herman Ishibashi46Hawaii Island-
Veronica Ruperto-Florida-
Nadine N. K. Lelah53WaikoloaSave our Tradition, Why do you want to be noted as the Mayor and Representatives who delinquished our County Band from giving us a Little of Life's Pleasure in Hawaiian Music.
Julie Des Jardins32Minneapolis, MnPlease save the band.

I play in the Minnesota State Band, the last ste band in the nation. I understand what it is like to have a band with such tradition. If our country loses all of its bands, it will truely be sad. I am a board certified music therapist, knowing how important music is for our society.

Please save the band,
Julie D. MT-BC
Jessica Nance17Florida-
Melissa Gerber22Miami, Fl-
Marlina Diaz20Miami, FLplease do not remove this group. the arts are a vital part of learning in the education system.
Lisa Nematjanova35honoluluKeep the music alive!!
Kevin Andrew Gonzale19Miami, FlMusic Performance Major

What a travesty it would be if they took music away from those whose passion is to play and to all those people who would not be able to experience it.
Todd Connell39Florida-
Allison Lee Burton21Boca Raton, FLThis is rediculous! Why don't they just cut back to giving 1% instead of 1.4% of their budget to the band?!

music is life! save the band!
May Luong19Gainesville, Florida-
Breanna Tepper18Fl-
Frances Wong---
Sasha Perez19Florida, U.S.-
James Fortier18Mass-
Jerry Serfass52NY-
Jeff Stewart---
Josh Hofmann---
Maria Vanessa Moreno22FloridaMusic and tradition are very important! Do not take something so powerful and so good away from the people! The end of this tradition will not teach anything positive to the children!
Luke Spence17Maryland-
David Goodman18Margate, FL-
Fae Yokota---
Gayle Enriquez58Hilo, Hawaii-
Stella N. Anderson64Minneapolis, MNPlease save an historic treasure of Hawaii!
Laura R Peterson41Molokai-
eiji ikeda---
Laurel Browne53St Paul, Minnesota-
Natie Whitlock58Kailua-Kona, HI-
Donna Reising53KamuelaIt is important for the future children of Hawaii to be able to appreciate heritage like this band and for those visiting to be able to be a part of this.
Jonathan Higa47Pearl City, HI-
Craig Rohrbacker20Tampa, FlSomeday everyone will learn that without music the is silence. And while silence can be relaxing after a while it becomes eerie. Music has the ability to evoke feelings and memories and to inspire. Hopefully this all works out to save the band. :)
Guillermo Montecelo20Miami, FLPlease dont let such an old and valued tradition die. Keep the music alive. The people love it.
Sandy Larson49Brainerd, MNPlease save the live music county band to keep cultural events going!