Powdery snowflakes drifted onto the Washington, D.C., sidewalks Monday morning, Jan. 19, as the band, cheerleaders and cadets prepared for their final rehearsal before Inauguration Day. The students were somewhat bleary-eyed, but the dusting of snow sparked an immediate flurry of excitement in the hotel lobby. "It's snowing!" they squealed, dashing outside to lift their faces to the falling snowflakes.

Buses pulled in and the students began loading up the instruments for a practice run at Yorktown High School in Arlington, Va.

On the bus, Sarah '11 and Christina '11, tuba and flute player, respectively, reminisced about starting together in band when they were in the fifth grade. Sarah, the only female tuba player in the band, carries a 45-pound instrument that's nearly half her body weight. The diminutive sophomore said she couldn't wait to pass the presidential viewing stand the next day. "We're not supposed to turn our head, but I'm hoping I can sneak a glance at him," she said, referring to President Obama.

Arriving at Yorktown High School, the students quickly spilled out onto a wide athletic field. The sky was overcast and the air numbingly cold.

They gathered in a circle in the middle of the field to listen to band co-director Jason Sivill's final instructions. "Today is a special day," he announced. "It's our final rehearsal for the school year. This is where your hard work throughout the year comes to fruition, and it's up to you to make this practice and tomorrow's performance the best it can possibly be."

The field burst into life as the sections separated for warm-ups: the drums rapped out their syncopated rhythms; the brass and winds rolled through their careful steps; the color guard whipped the yellow banners into flying arcs, cadets flipped their placards with precision; and the cheerleaders bounded into their rousing cheers.

At 11 a.m., as the full band played the glorious "Brahms Symphony No. 1," the sun peeked through the clouds, lighting the group in a wintry glow.

"Being here in Washington, D.C., at a time when the city is so alive, is invigorating," said Dean Ruth Fletcher. "From Barack Obama's recent speeches, I feel he's calling upon Americans to be the best they can be, based on the values that our country was founded upon: integrity, wisdom, sacrifice and service. He's asking all of us to come together as one America - that out of many, come one."

Seemingly on cue, the full Punahou contingent - band, cadets, cheerleaders - gathered to do a few final turns around the track, stepping and playing in unison.

They paraded with precision and pride, focused on what tomorrow would bring.

Special thanks to Dr. Raymond Pasi, principal of Yorktown High School, for the donation of practice space.

THE PUNAHOU BAND REACTS
Jan. 20, 6:30 p.m.: Band members, cadets and cheerleaders streamed into the hotel, many still shivering from the bitter cold of their just-completed march down Pennsylvania Avenue.