February 16, 2006 at 6:31 a.m.
Band enjoys Hawaiian experience
Band enjoys Hawaiian experience
The CLHS Marching Band took the trip of a lifetime when 80 members and 30 chaperones and parents traveled to the “Big Island” of Hawaii for a six-day trip over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Every three years, the high school band takes a special trip to perform out of state. This school year, it was to Hawaii and many students and parents who went on the trip said it was their best vacation ever.
The trip included days with a full schedule of activities, including a day at the Polynesian Cultural Center, marching in a parade, time at a water park, a luau and free time to shop, hit the beach and relax.
The group stayed in Honolulu about one block from Waikiki Beach.
Kris Silbernagel went as a chaperone with the group and was able to enjoy the trip with her two sons Jacob and Derek, who are members of the band.
She said the most meaningful part of the trip for her was the band’s visit to Pearl Harbor, where they played on the deck next to the USS Missouri.
“It was an honor that they were able to play there – a great experience,” Silbernagel said. “It was the most amazing, emotional thing.”
After the group played military songs next to the Missouri, they toured the ship and took the ferry out to the Pearl Harbor Memorial. Silbernagel’s son, Jacob, a senior drum major, joined fellow drum majors in laying a wreath at the memorial on behalf of the entire CLHS band.
Jacob said the experience at Pearl Harbor was indescribable.
“It left me with a big lump in my throat, it was unbelievable,” he said.
He said the entire trip was “awesome” including attending a luau and meeting kids there from other high schools.
One night, the group attended a dance/mixer so the different high school bands there for the parade could have a chance to meet. Jacob said it was a lot of fun, but the Waikiki Holiday Parade was really amazing.
“It was almost this celebrity feeling- the people were so welcoming and appreciative that we were there,” he said. “It was a once in a lifetime trip, who knows if I’ll ever get to go there again.”
Mike and Sandy Fricke went with their daughter, Molly, and to serve as chaperones for the group.
Mike didn’t hesitate to sign up for the trip. “I wasn’t going to let my daughter get to Hawaii before me,” he joked.
Mike said Chisago Lakes was well represented in Hawaii.
Showing up at the airport with 80 teenagers excited to be making a trip to Hawaii was enough to make everyone hesitant on how well the trip would go, including fellow travelers and even chaperones.
“I was a little worried, looking around seeing how some of the other passengers reacted,” Mike said. “But the kids were so respectful, I had people coming up to me and telling me what a wonderful group they are.”
The rest of the trip went just as well, Mike said, with no problems with any of the kids, not even showing up late for nightly curfews.
He said much of the success of the trip is due to the years of planning and many meetings organized by band director Dave Hoehl. Parents and students met on a regular basis before the trip, he said, so everyone knew the itinerary and necessary information before they left.
“He did a great job of getting them organized,” Mike said.
Since the band was scheduled to march in a parade and perform at the USS Missouri, full marching uniforms were brought along. Each chaperone was in charge of a least one of the large dufflebags including five or six uniforms each, Mike said.
Students who play smaller instruments took them on the plane as carry-ons and larger instruments were checked as luggage.
“One parent had a bass drum as their second bag,” Mike said.
The Frickes were also emotionally touched at Pearl Harbor.
“There were some tears from kids even before going out on the ferry,” Sandy said. “You can read about it in history books but it’s totally different to actually be where it happened and see it.”
It was also a chance for the adults to do things they’ve only dreamed about too. Mike and a few other chaperones went golfing during the group’s only free day. “I wanted to say I golfed in Hawaii,” he said. Other chaperones and students went snorkeling, parasailing or just hung out on the beach.
Thanksgiving was spent at a waterpark during the day, as the group enjoyed a full turkey dinner with all the trimmings at a lunch buffet.
Mike said some families realized they may never have the opportunity again to be in Hawaii. “Some parents went separately and stayed longer for an extended family vacation,” he said.
He summed up the trip as educational, informative and especially, fun.
“It was all for the kids and I think they had a great experience. But they were awfully tired on the plane on the way home.”
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