Hawaii bands participate in inaugural parade
The Kamehameha Schools "Warrior" Marching Band, of Hawaii performs during the 57th Presidential Inaugural Parade on Pennsylvania Avenue, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013 in Washington. Thousands marched during the 57th Presidential Inauguration parade after the ceremonial swearing-in of President Barack Obama. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
The Hawaii Home State Float rolls during the 57th Presidential Inaugural Parade on Pennsylvania Avenue, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013 in Washington. Thousands marched during the 57th Presidential Inauguration parade after the ceremonial swearing-in of President Barack Obama. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Punahou High School Marching Band and JROTC Color Guard, Hawaii perform while passing the presidential box and the White House during the Inaugural parade, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, in Washington. Thousands marched during the 57th Presidential Inauguration parade after the ceremonial swearing-in of President Barack Obama. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall )
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama greet the Hawaii Home State Float during the inaugural parade Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, in Washington. Thousands marched during the 57th Presidential Inauguration parade after the ceremonial swearing-in of President Barack Obama. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
President Barack Obama greets the Hawaii Home State Float during the Inaugural parade Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, in Washington. Thousands marched during the 57th Presidential Inauguration parade after the ceremonial swearing-in of President Barack Obama. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Punahou High School Marching Band and JROTC Color Guard, Hawaii performs while passing the presidential box and the White House during the Inaugural parade, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, in Washington. Thousands marched during the 57th Presidential Inauguration parade after the ceremonial swearing-in of President Barack Obama. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall )
The Punahou Band and JROTC, Punahou School, Honolulu, Hawaii, performs in President Barack Obama's inaugural parade in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, following the president's ceremonial swearing-in ceremony during the 57th Presidential Inauguration. ( AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
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WASHINGTON » Two Hawaii bands marched down Pennsylvania Avenue Monday, showing off Hawaii sights, sounds and colors to the hundreds of thousands of people congregated to watch the inaugural parade.
The Punahou School band was near the front of the parade line, and the Kamehameha Schools band — which featured a hula troupe — followed quickly behind.
Parade goers visibly perked up as the bands passed by, remarking on the showing from President Barack Obama’s birthplace.
Hawaii is the only state that was represented with two bands in the inaugural parade, which followed Obama’s ceremonial swearing-in this morning.
Temperatures during the parade were in the 40s, relatively mild for a January day in Washington, D.C.
Hawaii band members were thankful for the good weather, especially when the parade stopped for several minutes as Obama got out of the motorcade and walked to a viewing stand with the first lady.
Noah Kwok, a Punahou senior and member of thejunior ROTC unit that marched in the parade, said he has marched in a lot of parades — in Europe, on the mainland and around the islands. But it will be tough to top this.
“Marching in the inaugural parade, how many get to do that really?” he said.
