CONCORD, N.C. — It’s a trip two years in the making, The Pride of Robinson, the marching band at Jay M. Robinson High School, will soon be packing up their trumpets and clarinets to board up for Hawaii.

For clarinet player and band president Lilly Do, it’s a trip of a lifetime. 

“I just remember back when it was announced in the high school auditorium, I was just so hyped to go to Hawaii in two years,” Do said. “And now that we’re here it’s just so surreal.”

It's a surreal feeling, especially after the last two years.

Months before the pandemic began, band director Drew Carter got the invite to play at the commemoration event to mark 80 years since Pearl Harbor.

“Everybody is so motivated by the idea of being able to go over and witness this and support our troops and hear from some of the living survivors that were a part of things,” Carter said.

But because of the pandemic, Carter said the trip was thrown into limbo.

“We’re all kind of finding our way in the dark in 2020-2021,” Carter said. “Even into 2022. The toughest part has been the uncertainty of the protocols and of travel restrictions and so forth.”

Still, students like Do have navigated through the uncertainty.

Whether they are on the field practicing, or inside the band classroom, extra precautions have been put in place.

The band leaves for their trip on Dec. 4. If you would like to help support the band, you can find more information about their trip here.