Clarke Bright (2011 to Present)
Clarke Bright was recently appointed Bandmaster of the Royal Hawaiian Band by Mayor Peter Carlisle. Prior to his appointment, he...
Michael Nakasone (2005 to 2010)
Bandmaster Michael Nakasone was appointed to the Royal Hawaiian Band in 2005. He is the only Bandmaster of the Royal...
Aaron David Mahi (1981 to 2005)
A native Hawaiian and graduate of the Kamehameha Schools, Mahi furthered his musical training at the Hartt School of Music...
Kenneth K. Kawashima (1969 to 1980)
Bandmaster Kawashima was a clarinet player with the West Point Military Academy Band before being hired to play with the...
Lloyd Krause (1964 to 1968)
Born in Minnesota and educated at San Diego State University, he came to Hawaii to teach. During his reign as...
Earle Christoph (1958 to 1963)
A clarinet player from Wisconsin that studied under the principal clarinetist of the Chicago Symphony, Earl Christoph joined the army...
William L. Baptiste (1956 to 1957)
Bandmaster William Baptiste was appointed to the position by Mayor Neil Blaisdell despite major opposition by board supervisors. The music...
Domenico Moro (1941 to 1955)
Born, raised, and musically trained in Sicily, he left his home to join the U.S. Navy and became the youngest...
Charles E. King (1939 to 1941)
Charles King returned to the position of bandmaster after the death of Frank Vierra and stayed until the beginning of...
Frank J. Vierra (1934 to 1939)
Schooled at the Illinois Conservatory of Music, he returned to Hawai`i to become a part-time member of the band under...
Charles E. King (1932 to 1934)
In secondary school, he studied music with Lili`uokalani, then went on to further his schooling by studying to become a...
Mekia Kealakai (1930 to 1932)
He returned as bandmaster during an interim tenure of just over a year while a suitable replacement was sought.
John Amasiu (1927 to 1929)
Born in Maui and a bandsman under four bandmasters, he played with the band for 25 years before becoming bandmaster...
Mekia Kealakai (1920 to 1926)
A pupil of Henry Berger, Mekia learned how to play the trombone, flute, and piano - eventually earning a position...
Robert H. Baker (1917 to 1920)
Was the grandson of the band's third bandmaster William Merseburgh and played bass under Henry Berger. He was appointed bandmaster...
Kalani Peters (1916 to 1917)
A bandsman since 15 years old, he served the band for only one year and was replaced upon a change...
Henry Berger (1871 to 1915)
The most influential bandmaster in the band's entire history, Henry Berger came to Hawaii originally on loan from the Prussian...
Frank Medina (1871)
A native of Portugal, he visited Hawaii to sing with a group called "Brook's Minstrels." During his stay in the...
William Northcott (1870 to 1871)
Upon arriving in the islands from New Zealand, his main duty was to re-energize "the King's Band." He employed 12...
William Merseburgh (1848 to 1870)
A native of Germany on loan to the Kingdom of Hawai`i for a contract of 5 years (though staying on...
George Washington Hyatt (1845 to 1848)
He was an escaped slave that played both flute and clarinet under the previous bandmaster before becoming the bandmaster himself...
Oliver (1836)
First bandmaster of the group of musicians called "the King's Band." He is known only by his first name.
