U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band
U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific Official Logo
U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific
Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

01

The MarForPac Band

The U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band; CWO4 Andres Navarro - Officer in Charge and GySgt Monica Preston - Staff Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge

02

MarForPac Marine with PacFleet

Lance Corporal Kwame Dinizulu, member of the MarForPac Band, performs with the Navy’s PacFleet Band as part of Pacific Partnership 2023.

03

12th Marine Littoral Regiment Redesignation Ceremony

In November 2023, The Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band traveled to Okinawa, Japan to support the 12th MLR Redesignation Ceremony and Birthday Balls.

 

MARCH

Prince Kuhio Day Parade
Ceremonial (Marching) Band
Saturday, March 16th @ 5:00PM
Kapolei Hale to Ka Makana Ali'i Shopping Center along Kapolei Pkwy.

57th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade
Ceremonial (Marching) Band
Sunday, March 17th @ 12:00PM
Fort DeRussy Park (Parade Start) Southbound along Kalakaua Ave.

Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Ceremony and Parade
Ceremonial Band (both Patriotic Music and Marching)
Friday, March 29th @ 4:00PM
Fort DeRussy Park (Concert and Parade Start) Southbound along Kalakaua Ave.
 

April

44th Annual Salute to Youth Parade
Ceremonial (Marching) Band
Wednesday, April 3rd @ 6:45PM
Fort DeRussy Park (Parade Start) Southbound along Kalakaua Ave.

"Purple Up" Day
Brass on the Beach (New Orleans Style Brass Band)
Friday, April 5th @ 12:00PM
Aikaki Elementary School

Boy Scouts of America Onizuka Day of Exploration
Tropic Seas Brass (Brass Quintet)
Saturday, April 6th @ 8:00AM
University of Hawaii - West O'ahu Kapolei Campus

"Purple Up" Day
Brass on the Beach (New Orleans Style Brass Band)
Monday, April 5th @ 11:30AM
Kaelepulu Elementary School

Radio Reconnaissance Operator Course Graduation
Wayfaring Winds (Woodwind Quintet)
Wednesday, April 10th @ 10:00AM
Marine Corps Base Hawaii Chapel

Kalaheo High School Month of the Military Child Concert
Brass on the Beach (New Orleans Style Brass Band)
Wednesday, April 10th @ 11:00AM
Kalaheo High School

American Samoa Flag Day Celebration
Ceremonial (Marching) Band
Wednesday, April 17th
Pago Pago, American Samoa

New Zealand ANZAC Day Commemoration Ceremony (Tentative)
Ceremonial Band
Thursday, April 25th @ 9:00AM
Kapiti, New Zealand

"I Love Kailua" Town Party
Brass on the Beach (New Orleans Style Brass Band)
Sunday, April 28th @ 3:00PM
Kailua, HI

 

May

"First Friday" Performance at Bellows
Acropolis (Popular Music Group / Rock Band)
Friday, May 17, 2024
Bellows Air Force Station (Must have Base Access Privileges)

Marine musicians perform a wide variety of military and civic events such as ceremonies, parades, festivals, public concerts, educational outreach, and professional sporting events. Music support utilizes a variety of ensemble configurations to include wind ensemble, ceremonial band, brass band, jazz combo, popular music group, brass quintet, jazz ensemble, and bugler.

Public & Civic Events

Whether a traditional concert hall, outdoor venue or parade, military band performances must be free and open to the public. Marine Bands may perform at fairs, exhibitions and similar venues with admission fees if the performance is incidental to the primary event and no additional fee is charged to hear the band perform. Additional restrictions may apply. 

Policy and Legal Restrictions
  1. U.S. Military participation does not imply endorsement of the event or the organization hosting the event. The requested information is required to evaluate the event. Please complete all sections.
     
  2. Armed Forces musical units are organized for ceremonial and traditional purposes and to support recruiting activities. However, they may be authorized to provide certain specified presentations, such as patriotic ceremonies for public programs. Armed Forces musical organizations are not permitted to provide entertainment, background, dinner, dance or other social music at public or private events in competition with the customary or regular employment of local civilian musicians. Limited resources permit only one band and/or choir to perform at an event, and the Military Services reserve the right to cancel support to requesters who have scheduled more than one such military unit.
     
  3. Department of Defense (DoD) policies require that Armed Forces participation in public events will be provided at no additional cost to the Government, which means un-programmed costs incurred solely because of participation in or support of an unplanned activity. For example, additional costs to the Government include unplanned travel and transportation, meals and lodging for military personnel away from Government mess, civilian per diem, and overtime pay. Unsolicited contributions of money, personal property, or services (e.g., gifts in kind for lodging, meals, transportation) may be accepted for the benefit of military musical units for events that align with the DoD's mission. All costs are binding after a unit, personnel, or exhibit has arrived at an event site, even though weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances force the event to be cancelled.
     
  4. Requests should be submitted to the appropriate Military Service not less than 30 days in advance of a scheduled program. Final determination will occur no earlier than 90 days in advance. Please realize that all Armed Forces units have specific military missions and training requirements. Participation in public programs will only be authorized when such support is in the best interests of the DoD and the Military Services and does not interfere with mission or training programs. In all cases, operational commitments must take priority and can cause previously scheduled appearances to be cancelled.
Performance Request Process

Start your request for musical support by choosing the appropriate request form below. Once received, we will determine whether we can support your request. If your request is approved, a representative from the band will reach out to you for coordination. If your request is denied, you/your organization will receive an email explaining why your request is not eligible to receive support.

Military Request Form
Civilian Request Form

Our mission is to provide musical support for ceremonies, functions, and other occasions aboard military installations and throughout the civilian community. We accomplish this through the employment of several musical ensembles, including a marching band, a concert wind ensemble, and small ensembles.

Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band
Box 63087
MCBH Kaneohe Bay, HI 96863-3087

Commercial: (808) 496-7440
DSN: (315) 496-7440

Email:
james.d.mathis@usmc.mil
                  or
monica.preston@usmc.mil

The MARFORPAC Band was organized in the early 1900's with about a dozen members. The earliest available photographs show the band playing for Marines at Marine Barracks, Pearl Harbor. The early activities of the band centered around the Marine Barracks, ranging from concerts in front of Puller Hall to morale performances at sporting events. Since the 1980's, the band had lived and worked in building #278 at Pearl Harbor. This building is significant, because the first fire returned from Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 came from the roof of this building. In 1993, the band moved to its current home at Marine Corps Base, Hawaii.

Today, under the direction of CWO4 Andres Navarro, the band is comprised of 45 Marines. All band members are fully trained riflemen and professional musicians. Our mission is to provide musical support for ceremonies, functions, and other occasions aboard military installations and throughout the civilian community. We accomplish this through the employment of several musical ensembles, including a marching band, a concert wind ensemble, and small ensembles. Over the past 150 years, we have performed all over the island of O’ahu and traveled around the Pacific to various locations including Tonga, Fiji, China, Australia, Saipan, and American Samoa. By design, we strive to inspire, improve morale, and instill in audiences a sense of pride and patriotism in our Country. We represent the core values, customs, and traditions of the United States Marine Corps.

U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band Leaders

U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band
Director / Officer in Charge

In July 2022, CWO4 Navarro reported to the Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii to serve as the Director and Officer in Charge.

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U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band
Enlisted Band Leader / Staff Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge

In September 2022, GySgt Preston reported to the Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii to serve as the Drum Major and in July of 2023 she took over duties as the Enlisted Band Leader. In November of 2023, GySgt Preston has been selected for the rank of Master Sergeant.

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U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band
Drum Major

In October 2019, GySgt Mathis reported to the Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii to serve as the Drum Major.

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U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band
Production Manager / Small Ensemble Leader

In September 2022, GySgt Birkby reported to the Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii to serve as the Production Manager and Small Ensemble Leader. In November of 2023, GySgt Birkby has been selected for the rank of Master Sergeant.

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U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band
Instrument Repair Technician

In June 2022, GySgt Elliott reported to the Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii to serve as the instrument Repair Technician.

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U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band
Enlisted Conductor

In May 2023, Sgt Warren became the Enlisted Conductor of the Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

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