This trip has been 5 years in the making, and I am so excited to see it come to fruition! Please read this in its entirety, so you will know exactly what to expect next week!
Departure Day Protocol/Final Reminders:
-Please make sure to find your parking spot before our departure day, to make the morning less stressful.
-Once you park, bring your things to the front of the school for loading. The loading crew will load your things onto the buses.
-Once your larger items are loaded, then find your assigned seat on the bus. You MUST sit in your assigned seat. Please find the seating map below. You are welcome to switch seats within your family, or spread out to empty seats once we get going.
-Because of the nature of air travel, we will not be able to wait on travelers who are late to the bus. We need to be efficient in loading our items and leave on time, if not early. Live by the motto, “Early is on time, on time is late” for this trip.
-Once we arrive to the airport, group leaders will head to the check in table to ask for the group travel coordinator. Families with students who are checking instruments should be in line first to check in, followed by families to need to check personal items. All others will check in and get their boarding pass after the check bags have gone through.
-Remember to listen to TSA while in the security line to make the check in process go as smoothly as possible. Adults, have your ID ready when you approach the attendants. Everyone should have their boarding passes in hand when approaching the attendant. Be prepared to put all items on your person on the conveyor belt, including shoes, hats, and jackets. Every airport does this process differently. Some require electronics to be in a separate bin. Some want everything in different bins. Some want nothing in bins. Just listen and comply. TSA workers are notorious for not being the friendliest, so please don’t take it personally. Liquids over 3oz will not be allowed through security. You can bring an empty water bottle and fill in once you pass the security checkpoint.
-Once through security, we will process to the gate printed on your boarding pass. We will regroup and do a head count once there. Group leaders will be the last to go through security.
-We will board approximately 30 minutes before departure. If you wander to get food in any down time, you must make it back to the gate no less than 30 minutes before departure. Seats are assigned at check-in, although it is not guaranteed that we will all be seated together.
-Pay attention at our connecting airports to what gate we need to transfer to and move with a purpose toward that gate. None of our layovers are very long. Probably just enough time to use the restroom and grab a snack at most.
-Once we arrive in Hawaii, the loading crew will grab luggage off the carousel and call out names, so we don’t crowd the area.
-Khaki shorts for performances
-Travel Days: 3/19 wear any red shirt, 3/26 wear any black shirt
-Bathing suits should be conservative in nature. Please use good judgement on this.
-This is a school trip, not a family vacation; All parents/adults going on the trip will be expected to follow the itinerary completely and act as chaperones when assigned. All school rules must be followed during the trip. Therefore, no alcohol consumption, tobacco/vapes, etc. will be permitted.
-Each individual passenger will be responsible for paying for their bag if they check it. The price is around $40. This excludes instruments, which will be paid for by the school.
-I have a few luggage tags left if anyone needs some.
Travel Groups:
Pineapple Group – Mrs. Hood
Mango Group – Mr. Seay
Dragon Fruit Group – Dr. Frederick
Banana Group – Mr. Wiseman
*everyone MUST be added to their specific fruit subgroup before we depart, as there will be specific travel reminders/communication/updates for each group. Please join the Hawaii App ASAP: https://band.us/n/a6a0A9K8M7r78
Packing List Ideas: The travel company shared this with me today.
Final Travel Itineraries:
Parking Assignments: If your assigned spot is taken for some reason, park in visitor parking at the front of the school.
Parking Lot Map:
Bus Seating Charts:
Final Hawaii Itinerary:
We will be in paradise VERY soon! MSHS Band takes on Hawaii!
