Hawaii's Royal Hawaiian Band is still performing after nearly 190 years, a positive story for anyone who cares about keeping local culture alive.

• The band was started by King Kamehameha III in 1836 and has played through every major chapter of Hawaii's history.
• Audiences at Iolani Palace hear pieces performed much the way the kings and queens once heard them.
• The sound keeps changing — electric bass and keyboards now sit alongside the traditional concert band.
• One of its best-known pieces came from band members who refused to pledge loyalty to the new government after the Hawaiian Kingdom was overthrown.
• Current players describe the goal simply: make people forget their problems and feel something.

Outlook: The band plans to keep playing as a living link between Hawaii's past and present, with each new bandmaster adding their own mark.