Members of the Hawai'i All-State Marching Band Na Koa Ali'i expect to be bundled up in scarves, hats and even thermal underwear at the chilly start of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

But when they near TV cameras broadcasting the annual event to 50 million viewers, band members will quickly strip down to Hawaiian print long-sleeve shirts, raffia skirts and haku lei.

They will be accompanied by Tahitian dancers and hula dancers wearing Hawaiian-print tops and ti-leaf skirts. After performing for 1 1/2 minutes, band members will cover up with their cold-weather gear and finish the 2 1/2-mile parade route.

Even if the vivid red, gold and green costumes are flashed for just a few minutes, the band hopes it will be remembered as among the most colorful entrants in the parade.

The 380-member band will be the largest band in the 79th annual Macy's parade and the first Hawai'i all-state band entered in the history of the event. In all, about 700 Hawai'i residents will be going, including band members, parents and volunteers.

The band, which includes members representing 41 public and private school bands from four islands, is expected to be third in the parade lineup.

Bands from Pearl City and Roosevelt high schools have also marched in the parade.

Macy's spokesman Orlando Veras said the all-state band made a big impression on Macy's representatives with its colorful uniforms and dance moves. Nine other bands will perform in the three-hour event, Veras said. In addition to television viewers, 2.5 million people will watch the parade lined along the route billed as "the biggest stage a band can reach," Veras said.

Shirt designer Mamo Howell said the band's director selected a material she designed several years ago and changed the colors for a more vibrant Christmas theme. The design includes 'ohaiali'i flowers and 'ulu, or breadfruit, leaves.

"It's very cultural," Howell said. "Then the 'ulu motif is the good luck."

John Riggle, the band's director and manager, may need a bit of luck this morning as he assembles the band for its first practice session in Washington, D.C., on the Capitol lawn. Members started playing music and marching together in smaller groups last spring.

At the beginning of a practice for the O'ahu bandmembers last week at the Kamehameha Schools football field, the group had trouble marching in straight lines and a trumpet player fumbled a tune. As the session rolled along, though, the footwork and the music began to gel.

Students at last week's practice said they were looking forward to the opportunity to play in a large band before an enormous audience. For Micah Aina, a sophomore and cymbal player at Damien Memorial High School, the trip is a chance to represent Hawai'i, see the other bands and East Coast attractions. He added, "I'm excited. I hope we see snow."

Parents are excited, too.

Keri and Eric Ohara are making their first trip to New York with their son, a trumpet player for Castle High School. A younger brother is also going. They will also follow the Castle High band to Japan.

The Oharas said Riggle is a demanding band director who seems to know how to get the most out of the students.

"He can be very hard-nosed with the kids," Keri Ohara said. "This will be a real interesting trip. I want to see them pull it together."

The band is made up of students from O'ahu, Hawai'i, Maui and Kaua'i. It was first formed in 2002 to take students to the Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif. Most of the bandmembers are newcomers, brought together by an all-volunteer staff that started training students in May.

Riggle, band director for Kamehameha Schools for 30 years, initiated the all-state band as a vehicle through which smaller schools could have a chance to participate in events such as the Macy's parade, which limits entries to bands with at least 200 members, said Randy Skaggs, band director at St. Joseph School in Hilo, which is sending 27 members of its 34-member concert band to New York.

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com.