Band-O-Rama rocks Keöpüolani

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Pololü Nakanelua gets funky while singing “Play That Funky Music” with the High School Concert Pop Rock Band Wednesday, March 9, 2011. The song was a blast from the past as part of the 2nd annual Band-O-Rama

By Kelsey Carbonell, staff writer

Last night, Kamehameha Schools Maui’s 7th Grade Band, 8th Grade Concert Ensemble, and High School Pop Rock Band, held their 2nd annual Band-O-Rama in Keöpüolani Hale.

The band, directed by Mr. Siuai Laufou, performed  songs ranging from the Theme from Beethoveenʻs 7th Symphony to Brother Nolan’s Coconut Girl.

Many high school band students were given spotlights to showcase what they work so hard on in class. Junior Rachel Bega and sophomore Pololü Nakanelua  were the featured vocals of the night, bringing down the house with classics such as Sublime’s Santeria, sung by Bega, and Robert Parissi’s Play That Funky Music, sung by Nakanelua.

Junior Philip Nishioka amazed the audience with countless guitar solos, and Justin Fernandez on trumpet and James Krueger on alto saxophone made their instruments wail as featured soloists.

“Iʻm really proud of everyone. A lot of my friends were in it, it was cool to watch them do their thing on stage,” said senior Kawena Chang-Yuen.

After a combined finale of the theme from the TV show Hawai’i Five-O and heartfelt speech of thanks from Band Director Laufou, the audience left the concert humming the songs and dancing to the beats still playing in their heads.