Take a marching band trip to Hawaii! March by torchlight with your high school band in beautiful Waikiki during the Waikiki Holiday Parade. This parade commemorates Pearl Harbor and honors veterans and survivors of the attack. The event takes place the Friday following Thanksgiving day each year. This 5-day itinerary gives a preview of a trip that you can plan for your students.
Marching Band Trip to Hawaii: Day 1
Beautiful beaches are within you grasp! Board your plane to fly to Honolulu, Hawaii. Make sure to switch your watches for the time zone change.
Aloha! Welcome to Hawaii! Receive a traditional fresh flower lei greeting as you step off the plane.
Meet your local Polynesian guide and claim your luggage before checking into the hotel.
Start the trip off right with a rockin’ dinner at Hard Rock Café.
This evening, take time to relax and enjoy all of the amenities of the hotel. Swim a few laps in the beautiful outdoor pool or stroll to the famous Waikiki Beach.
Marching Band Trip to Hawaii: Day 2
Breakfast at Cheeseburger Restaurant is included this morning Dole® Pineapple Plantation. Don’t miss the Pineapple Maze! The fastest person to complete the maze will receive a special prize.
Then, drive past the famous North Shore. Take in the gorgeous views of Sunset Beach and the Banzai Pipeline.
Lunch is at a location of your choosing at the Polynesian Cultural Center.
Spend the afternoon visiting the many exciting offerings of the Polynesian Cultural Center. Experience six Pacific cultures and their art demonstrations.
This evening, enjoy a traditional Hawaiian luau dinner at Ali’i.
Your choir will then take the stage for a performance at the Polynesian Cultural Center!
Afterwards, make your way to the Pacific Theatre for a live performance of Ha-Breath of Life.
Marching Band Trip to Hawaii: Day 3
Happy Thanksgiving! Discuss yesterday’s excitement over breakfast at Cheeseburger Restaurant.
Start the morning with incredible panoramic views at the Nuuanu Pali lookout and from Kualoa Ranch‘s Moli’i boat dock.
Spend the day at Secret Island, a private white sands beach. Play volleyball and table tennis. Take out a canoe or kayak to explore! Snorkel in the beautiful waters or relax on a beach mat in the sand. Lunch will be provided by Kualoa Ranch.
In the late afternoon, make your way to Wet ‘n’ Wild Hawaii for even more fun. Choose 3 representatives to compete in a simulated surfing competition at Da Flowrider.
Dance the night away this evening at at school mixer with DJ dance and dinner buffet!
Marching Band Trip to Hawaii: Day 4
It’s performance day! Fuel up with breakfast at Cheeseburger Restaurant.
Make your way to Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center. Unload your instruments, set up, and warm up.
The band and choir will then perform. Soak in the sights and sounds of this once in a lifetime opportunity.
You will then have the opportunity to spend time on your own at the USS Arizona Memorial Visitors Center. View the introductory film to give further context to your location.
Then, take a shuttle boat to the USS Arizona Memorial. A selected student will also present a wreath at the USS Arizona Memorial.
Transfer via an exclusive bus to the USS Missouri Battleship. A box lunch will be provided. Explore the USS Missouri battleship at your own pace.
The group will then reconvene for a souvenir group photo.
Then it is time for your second performance of the day. March onto the pier for a joint marching band and choral performance at the USS Missouri Battleship.
After the excitement, depart for the hotel and enjoy dinner at a restaurant of your choice. Meet back with the group after dinner to walk to the parade line-up at Fort DeRussy. The choir will walk to the parade reviewing stand in performance retire.
The choir will then perform at the reviewing stand and meet back with the band afterwards.
At 7 o’clock the Waikiki Holiday Parade begins! This parade commemorates Pearl Harbor and honors the veterans and survivors of the attack. Soak in the moment of marching with your friends in an unbelievable location commemorating an unbelievable event in our nation’s history.
Marching Band Trip to Hawaii: Day 5
Reminisce about yesterday’s performances while you enjoy breakfast at Cheeseburger Restaurant.
Next, hike a volcano! We will be hiking as a group up the Diamond Head Trail. At the top is an inactive volcano with amazing views of Waikiki Beach. Don’t forget to bring water!
After the hike, lunch will be on your own at a location of your choice. Spend the rest of the afternoon soaking up the sun at the beach and perusing the many shops available.
Our final farewell dinner will be a traditional Hawaiian catered picnic at Queen Kapiolani Park. Then, we will go to the airport to catch our flight home.
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