A troupe of 91原创 teens touched down in Waikiki late last night, and were expected to be rested, refreshed, and set to perform the first of 10 shows on the tropical island this morning.
At least, that was the itinerary for 23 members of the 91原创 Ukulele芒鈧劉s senior ensemble, who 芒鈧�� as a group 芒鈧�� were in Hawaii for the 19th time representing their hometown, B.C., and Canada on an international stage.
芒鈧揥e芒鈧劉re Hawaii bound. Everyone here is just so excited,芒鈧� ensemble director Paul Luongo said the night before departing Vancouver芒鈧劉s YVR.
芒鈧揂nd while everyone here is energized, everyone in Hawaii is so excited to have us, too,芒鈧� he added, noting they芒鈧劉ll be there for 12 days and 11 nights.
This is 25-year-old Luongo芒鈧劉s 15th trip to Hawaii with the ensemble, but this is his first time as their leader rather than a participating student.
In addition to the nine chaperones 芒鈧�� primarily parents 芒鈧�� joining him and the kids on this trip, Luongo said he芒鈧劉s feeling more confident and comfortable about this enormous undertaking knowing his father Peter 芒鈧�� who started the ensemble trips to Hawaii more than two decades ago 芒鈧�� is also making the excursion.
芒鈧揌e芒鈧劉s graciously agreed to take two of his five weeks of annual vacation time to accompany us to Waikiki,芒鈧� Paul said, still unsure however if he芒鈧劉ll have any luck coaxing his dad to perform.
芒鈧揙h, who am I kidding,芒鈧� the young Luongo injected. 芒鈧揑芒鈧劉m sure we芒鈧劉ll work something out. We芒鈧劉ll get him up on stage there with us, and I芒鈧劉m sure he芒鈧劉ll get the kids enthused as he has done so incredibly well for all those years.芒鈧�
Peter Luongo was ensemble director for 32 years and retired from the post last summer, handing over the reins to his son Paul. The senior member of the family is, however, still president of the uke society.
In preparation for this trip, the students have been rehearsing since May 1, once a week as a full ensemble and at least one other time a week in smaller groups.
芒鈧揥e芒鈧劉re finally venturing into the 1980s,芒鈧� the young director said, explaining that the ensemble has been preparing a series of popular numbers from that era including the works of Guns & Roses, Michael Jackson, Journey, Bon Jovi, and Survivor.
芒鈧揑芒鈧劉ll even be wearing tight pants and I芒鈧劉ve been growing out my hair, just for this occasion,芒鈧� joked Paul.
As has become tradition on this Hawaii trip, the ensemble will be staying at and performing at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. They have eight shows at their hotel, two other shows at the Moana Surfrider Resort, a performance for each of the three local Rotary clubs, one show at the Bank of Hawaii in the heart of the city, a live appearance on the Fox News network, and a day set aside to explore the west side of the island and swim with the dolphins and other tropical fish.
They芒鈧劉ll be doing a little sightseeing and relaxing on the trip, Luongo said, but ultimately he said 芒鈧搕he purpose of this trip is to perform music, to share our love and passion for the music.芒鈧�
While the local ensemble has raised about $35,000 towards the cost of this trip through concerts and shows over the past year plus, Luongo said about half of the expedition is subsidized 芒鈧�� and ultimately made possible 芒鈧�� through sponsorship from the Sheraton.
When the teens return home near the end of the month, Luongo said, they芒鈧劉ll have a few weeks off to enjoy what芒鈧劉s left of summer before performing on the PNE main stage on Aug. 28.
芒鈧� Stay tuned to the 91原创 Advance print and online editions for updates and photos from the ensemble芒鈧劉s trip
