Royal Hawaiian Band gets shake-up

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

Pearl City High School band director Michael D. Nakasone was appointed yesterday as the 18th bandmaster of the city's Royal Hawaiian Band, replacing ousted Aaron Mahi, who had led the band since 1981.

Nakasone

Hannemann had said in December that he was seeking a shift in leadership in all city departments and it was time for a change.

"Mr. Nakasone has what I believe is the musicianship, the leadership and proven fund-raising skills to be an excellent bandmaster," Hannemann said.

Mahi's 24-year tenure, as well as his stature as a Native Hawaiian music leader, fluency in Hawaiian and support for the "classical music of Hawai'i" perform-

ed from the 1860s to the beginning of the 20th century, made him a popular figure with many, and his firing has generated much debate. Hannemann was sensitive to that yesterday, taking the unusual step of saying that another Native Hawaiian — Clarke Bright, a band director at Kamehameha Schools — had been his first choice but turned down the job.

In turning to Nakasone, Hannemann selected a highly regarded band director who has led one of the state's best-known high school music programs.

Nakasone has been a music educator with the state Department of Education for 37 years, 28 of them at Pearl City High.

Cultural advisers

Hannemann said one of Nakasone's first suggestions was to create a cultural advisory board that will recommend hula halau, dancers and singers to perform with the band. Community leaders Victoria Holt Takamine and Wayne Panoke, both Native Hawaiian, will lead the board.

King Kamehameha III founded the Royal Hawaiian Band in 1836. Mahi had the second-longest tenure as bandmaster, surpassed only by Henri Berger, who served for 44 years.

Pay for the Cabinet-level position is $99,800 per year.

Mahi was appointed by Eileen Anderson when she was mayor. He was reappointed by her successors, Frank Fasi and Jeremy Harris.

But about 75 percent of the Royal Hawaiian Band members had signed a letter to Hannemann saying they would support a move to oust Mahi. Also, critics had questioned administrative policies and complained that the 34-member band was in a musical rut.

Mahi not a finalist

Since it was announced that Mahi would be replaced, supporters have rallied around him, writing to newspapers to criticize the end of his traditions.

Joe Pickard, who served on the selection committee, said the team narrowed a dozen candidates to three who did not include Mahi. He said they mulled over the decision extensively and wanted someone who would work with the community and schedule more school performances.

Football comparison

Pickard compared the decision to the Dallas Cowboys football team's decision to replace veteran coach Tom Landry with Jimmy Johnson. He said the controversial move paid off when Johnson took the team to the Super Bowl.

"We felt as a group that we needed to make a change," Pickard said.

Mahi could not be reached for comment.

Musician Eileen Lum, who serves with Mahi as choir director of the Hawai'i Ecumenical Chorale, was upset about the decision and wanted to know why Mahi would not remain until the end of March, as Hannemann indicated earlier.

Lum, who is not Native Hawaiian, said it's disappointing to see a Hawaiian leader replaced.

"I was appalled and ashamed that the mayor has chosen not to retain him as bandmaster," Lum said. "I'm ashamed that the mayor has chosen to be ignorant of the importance of the musical and cultural impact of the Royal Hawaiian Band in Hawai'i, the Mainland and internationally."

Band member Tim Tsukiyama, who plays alto saxophone, said he supported a change in leadership. Tsukiyama has been with the band for 13 years.

He praised Hannemann for choosing a selection committee that brought together people from all over the community.

"I had faith that they would choose the best candidate possible for our position," Tsukiyama said.

Tsukiyama said his initial impression of Nakasone was good.

"He sounds like a very promising person for bandmaster," he said.

A Hawaiian response

Bill Souza, chief of protocol of the Royal Order of Kamehameha, is Hawaiian and said he is alarmed by the change in leadership in the historic organization.

"I think it's an important investment in culture," he said. "I don't think the mayor had the full picture of the band."

In other action, Hannemann appointed Wayne Hashiro, a longtime civil engineer and manager with the Army Corps of Engineers, as director of the Department of Design and Construction.

Hashiro last month was appointed to serve as deputy director and moved up to the top spot when engineer Tim Steinberger, a Harris appointee, stepped down.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2429.