honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, February 16, 2005

Backers petition mayor to reinstate bandmaster

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

A group opposing Mayor Mufi Hannemann's decision to replace the Royal Hawaiian Band's veteran bandmaster Aaron Mahi carried a petition with some 3,000 signatures to the mayor yesterday to ask him to reconsider.

Mahi
About 20 people made up the delegation from the Kokua Aaron 'Ohana Committee to Honolulu Hale. Antoinette Lee, president of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, led the group, asking Hannemann, "Please reinstate Aaron Mahi until the process is re-looked at."

Hannemann listened to their concerns, defended the selection process and answered questions but didn't make any promises. "It would be very difficult to rescind the appointment I have made," he told them.

The mayor on Feb. 1 named veteran Pearl City High School band director Michael Nakasone to the post.

When he announced in December that Mahi would be replaced, Hannemann said he was seeking a shift in leadership in all city departments. About three-fourths of the band had signed a letter telling Hannemann that they would support a decision to replace Mahi.

King Kamehameha III founded the Royal Hawaiian Band in 1836. Mahi — appointed in 1981 — has served under three mayors and had the second-longest tenure as bandmaster in the history of the 38-member band.

Hannemann said he considers Mahi a contemporary since the two went to high school at the same time but at different private schools: Mahi is Kamehameha Schools Class of '71, Hannemann is Iolani School Class of '72.

"I have the utmost respect for Aaron Mahi," he said.

The band is the only full-time municipal band in the country. Future leaders of the Royal Hawaiian Band would need to be fluent in the Hawaiian language and promote the band as a link to Hawai'i's monarchy, history and culture, under a bill proposed by City Council member Barbara Marshall.

Hannemann said he believes the selection process — led by businessman Joe Pickard, a Native Hawaiian — was fair and open.

Hannemann said he would consider the group's concerns. Also present yesterday were members of the Royal Order of Kamehameha, who had been at city hall last week to praise Hannemann for signing into law the repeal of the mandatory leasehold conversion law for condominiums.

Hannemann has faced criticism for not retaining Mahi, who was the only city cabinet member of Hawaiian ancestry. "I just don't want anybody to think this was a callous decision," he said.

Lee said supporters plan to testify next Wednesday at the City Council meeting where Hannemann appointee Nakasone's approval process begins.

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