Honolulu Wind Ensemble

Since 1973, HWE has performed a wide variety of entertaining and challenging band literature, from marches & light pop to classical works and symphonic transcriptions. HWE has performed at historic Hawaii Theatre, the Honolulu Academy of Arts, Kawaiahao Church, the State Capitol, and Honolulu Hale (City Hall). Regular performances are scheduled throughout the year at Ala Moana Centerstage, M.M. Scott Auditorium, and at various schools, shopping centers, and festivals on the island of Oahu.

HWE has entertained thousands of people in Hawaii and throughout the world via its live performances, television broadcasts, internet website and webcasts. HWE has performed at the request of the Mayor of Honolulu, the Governor of Hawaii, the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra, the Hawaii Music Awards, and was featured at the Aloha Tower Marketplace’s annual 4th-of-July Fireworks Spectacular.

Guest performers at previous HWE concerts include former Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle, local entertainer Amy Hanaialii Gilliom, the late Loyal Garner, Honolulu Symphony principal trombonist James Decker, Australian Ballet & Opera Orchestra principal trumpet Brian Evans, and South Jutland (Denmark) Symphony principal trombonist Don Immel. The 2004 Fall Concert helped to raise over $80,000 to reunite Iraq-bound soldiers of the Hawaii National Guard’s 29th Brigade with their families at Christmas. In 2006, the band traveled to New Zealand and Australia, performing at the world-famous Sydney Opera House. In 2008, HWE collaborated in several performances with ensembles from Azusa Pacific University, Hawaii Pacific University, and the Honolulu Symphony Chorus.

In 2011, the Omiya Wind Symphony was scheduled to perform a concert with HWE on March 12th. However, when the musicians from Saitama, Japan, were on their way to Narita Airport on March 11th, the devastating earthquake and tsunami dashed their hopes of leaving for Hawaii. The joint concert never happened, but HWE performed a benefit concert that raised more than $5,000 for the Japanese tsunami relief effort. On January 28, 2012, HWE performed in a joint concert with the Omiya Wind Symphony and their internationally distinguished conductor, Toshio Akiyama.

In June 2014, HWE traveled to Japan and performed again with the Omiya Wind Symphony at a joint concert at Saitama Hall on June 14, 2014.  In a special presentation and signing at the concert, the Omiya Wind Symphony and the Honolulu Wind Ensemble were officially recognized as sister bands.