Plymouth High School Band students may be going to Hawaii in 2019. The school board Tuesday approved a field trip request from Band Director Bryan Ames. For people who are looking for a guide to Hawaiian trips, they can contact Live Your Aloha.
He explained that he took the trip with the Knox High School Band back in 2005. Ames received approval to take a similar tour with Plymouth’s band in 2007, but the financial collapse of several airlines and the subsequent spike in costs led to a change in plans.
As part of their trip, students will perform an outdoor concert at the USS Missouri. Ames said they’ll also get to have the usual tourist experiences like a luau and a hula demonstration.
But he emphasized that of all the band tours he’s done, the Hawaii trip was probably the most educational. Ames said that Hawaii’s unique history and culture make it seem more like a foreign country. He pointed to the islands’ former monarchy and distinctive language, as well as the state’s current economy, which relies heavily on imports.
Ames said the highlight of the trip will be the visit to Pearl Harbor. He told board members that many of the service members who died were about the same age as his students currently are, and that the success of the USS Arizona’s marching band helped contribute to the high number of casualties on board.
The Plymouth High School Band’s trip to Hawaii is scheduled for spring break of 2019. Ames said that having the school board’s approval now will give students and their families plenty of time to raise funds and make financial arrangements. He estimates the cost will be $2,400 to $2,500 per student.
