After a two-year period that saw no marching band tournaments in 2020 and restricted tournaments in 2021, last weekend’s 10-band Menehune Classic was a return to normal. For some seniors, this is their first and last Menehune Classic. 

Moanalua’s marching band has been preparing for its “Sound of Music” performance since June, and only recently finished their full show run through, a couple days before the actual performance. They will use the feedback that they received from the judges, to make adjustments and be ready for their first competition performance on Saturday November 5. 

“I think that the band did a wonderful job and performed their hearts out on the field,” Music Department President and Marching Band Drum Major Matthew Terry said. “The band would not have performed as well as we did if it waere not for the incredible support that we are fortunate to have.” 

“We’re extremely thankful for their notes,” Music Department Vice President Kacie Arakaki said. “What we showed on Saturday was not our final product, and the feedback we received will help us add more onto the show and make it more entertaining for our upcoming shows.”

“[Menehune Classic] felt unreal like it never happened,” senior Yuhong Huang said. “I looked at the photos that I took that night and I said ‘wow it really happened, and my first and last season is coming to an end.” 

Huang was one of the seniors that joined after his freshman year, so this is his first time performing in a Mene Classic.

The audience was lively and enthusiastic about the performances. Many of the parents and friends of the marching band were watching and cheering for the Menehune Marching band. The audience had cheered for other bands as well as their own, being supportive of the music department for all schools that performed. 

“I thought Moanalua’s performance at the Menehune Classic was great,” senior Coby Chang said. “It was also great to see the performances from the other schools that had participated.” 

The marching band’s performance is available on their YouTube channel band1.