BYU-Hawaii's "Shaka Steel" drum ensemble returned Sunday, March 6, from an energetic and successful four-day, six-concert tour to Kauai.
"The audience response at all six performances was amazing," said Darren Duerden, director of the ensemble. "Audiences were literally moved to get up and dance to the Calypso and Samba music."
Of the six performances, three were for public schools: Waimea High School, Waimea Canyon Intermediate School Kapaa High School.
"The school performances were some of the best and most fulfilling parts of the tour," said Leilani Miller, a member of the band. "I loved entertaining the students, getting them excited about music and hearing about their progress and interest in music. They were so excited to have us come and hear us play!"
Following the performance at Kapaa High School, several students attended at least two other concerts, helped the group haul and load equipment, and even did a little sight seeing with them.
The band also provided the entertainment for a community health fair at the Kukui Grove Shopping Center. Rebecca Deren, the manager of the center, said she had never seen such a positive response to a performing group, according to Duerden. She even offered to help make arrangements for the band to return later this year.
The band also gave performances for church members at the Kekaha Ward building and the War Memorial Convention Hall in Lihue. Steel band performers were overwhelmed by the outpouring of hospitality from the Kauai members as they provided meals and home stays for the students and directors.
The performance in the convention hall was in conjunction with the Kauai Stake Conference, and several members made the performance a missionary opportunity by bringing their friends. Napua Baker, vice president of university advancement who attended the concert, reported that a non-member who was looking into the University of Hawaii decided to seriously consider BYU-Hawaii after attending the concert.
"The Spirit of the gospel radiates in these talented students and it was seen and experienced by diverse crowds on Kauai," Duerden said. "The people who witnessed any of the performances, I believe, went away changed.
"This successful tour continued the long standing tradition at BYU-Hawaii of neighbor-island outreach by the university performance ensembles," Duerden continued. "The university, church and campus community should be proud of the way it was represented by Shaka Steel this year."