In many ways the Royal Hawaiian Band historically has reflected the beauty and elegance of Hawai'i, her people,her culture. This becomes clear for example in an unforgettable scene conjured up by James McGuire in 1938. In He Moolelo Pokole 0 ka Huakai Hele a ka Moiwahine Kapiolani i Enelani i ka Makahiki 1887 i ka Iubile 0 ka Moiwahine Vitoria 0 Beretania Nui ('A Short Account of the Journey of Queen Kapi'olani to England in the Year of 1887 to the Jubilee of Queen Victoria of Great Britain') he refers to the farewell accorded Queen Kapi'olani and then Crown Princess Liliu'okalani when they set out on their legendary voyage.

    Writes McGuire, himself a kanaka maoli and a member of the entourage:

    “A i ka wa a ka Australia i kaalo ae ai mamua 0 ka Hale Ipukukui, a huli pono aku la ka ihu i Mamala, ua uina na kolololo mai la ka leo 0 na pukuiahi a na koa kumau 0 ke ala alii, ma ka batare 0     Kakaako (ma kahi e ku nei 0 ka Fort Armstrong), e ha 'awi mai ana nohoi i ke aloha goodbye 0 ka lahui. Ke ukali nei nohoi ka moku     kolo Eleu, me ka Moi ame kekahi mau maka hanohano, maluna     ona. Pela nohoi ka mokuahi John A.Cummins ame ka Royal Hawaiian Band maluna ona e hooheno ana i na mele kaulana 0 Hawaii. I ka puka ana aku mawaho 0 ka nuku 0 Mamala ua pa mai la kahi aheahe makani mai ka aina mai a hoopuehu ae la i na hunakai ma ke alahele 0 na Alii: alaila, hoomanao ae la au i keia mau lalani mele 0 Hawaii,

            A waho la 0 Mamala,

            Hao mai nei ehuehu;

            Puluelo i ka hunakai,

            Kiheahea ka iii. "

    Ua ukali mai no na mokuahi Eleu me Cummins a hiki i ke kaalo ana ae 0 ka Australia mamua 0 Daimana Hila, alaila huli hoi aku laua me ka Moi ame kona mau hoa, me ke mele ana mai a ka     Bana i ke mele i anoi nui ia "Aloha De."

    Translated into English:

    “At the time that the Australia passed by the Lighthouse and turned its bow to Mamala, the sound of the cannons burst forth of the regular troops of the royal court, at the battery of Kaka'ako (at the     place where now stands Fort Armstrong) extending their aloha goodbye of the nation. The tug 'Eleu did accompany her with the King and some famous personages on deck. There was also the     steamer John A. Cummins with the Royal Hawaiian Band aboard, offering the cherished songs of Hawai'i. When they came out of the channel leading to the Bay of Mamala, there arose a soft breeze from the shore and scattered the sea-spray along the pathway of the ali'i: Then I remembered those musical lines of Hawai'i:

            A waho la 0 Mamala,

            Hao mai nei ehuehu;

            Puluelo i ka hunakai,

            Kiheahea ka iIi."

    The steamers 'Eleu and Cummins kept company until the Australia passed before Diamond Hill, and then they turned around with the King and his entourage, with the Band playing the longed for song "Aloha Oe". '

May we never forget what the Pana, the Band, means to Hawai'i and to us.