Choir and Orchestra Tour Hawai'i

Every other spring, the choir and orchestra students are thrilled to embark on their tour to another state, an opportunity to perform at various venues and experience the local culture of the destination. This year, BHS students had their eyes set on O’ahu, Hawai’i, which is rich with spectacular nature and sophisticated culture.

The choir department started their tour on March 5. They gathered at the school at 4:30 a.m. to depart to the airport, followed by a nearly six-hour flight! As tiring as it may sound, students enjoyed the trip from the very start. On the first day, they had the wonderful opportunity to visit the University of Hawaii, Manoa and perform at the Ala Moana Mall.

“My favorite part for this trip was the public concert that we had [at Ala Moana and] the hike. Also, [at the] Lo'i patch, when we introduced ourselves to earth, immediately it starts to rain. It was like earth heard us, and it is giving us a response with rain,” senior Parmin Fakhar said.

The choir tour was packed with performances, both sharing music from Bellevue and learning from the Hawai’ian music traditions like the Hula. Additionally, they were given opportunities to learn about the land which they were on. For many students like Fakhar, one of their favorite memories is volunteering at the Lo’i patch, or taro field.

“The Lo'i patch was a fun and insightful experience! It felt valuable to give back to the community of O’ahu by doing community service. The experience taught me a lot about the history and land of Hawai’i as well,” junior Isabella Yang said.

Even though the orchestra students arrived a day later, their shared memories in Hawai’i are equally rich and valuable.

As musicians, the journey is not complete without producing the music and sharing their passions. But besides the performances, who wouldn’t enjoy eating? The students are bonded by not only music but also food! 

“I liked the performances when going to the Polynesian Cultural Center and the buffet. There was every possible meat in the world,” freshman Tinsley Chen said.

After journeying through the burning heat, music, food and cultural interactions, a relaxing moment by the beach is what many students needed.  

“My favorite part of the Hawaii trip was getting up early and spending the day walking along the beach and going shopping,” sophomore William Liu said.

As a participant of the tour, I also loved the beach. I loved when we sat by the beach, eating our bento boxes with the setting sun between the border of ocean and sky, light breezes, laughter and friends.

This valuable learning experience shaped a distinct chapter of our high school life. The music department tours are a favorite of many because of the lasting memories filled with music, learning and love.