One of the coolest things about our monthly gatherings at IMUA Lounge is you never know who is actually going to show up. So, it's always a surprise when people walk through the door that you haven't seen in ages. Though we gather to celebrate the birthday's of people born within the month (May this time), I'm not sure anyone pays much attention to that. The picture above are the May birthdays we celebrated, Tony Say ('73, the first one there last night), Fred Miyagi, Brian Okamura and BJ (DeMello) Tang.
Eddie Han (middle) also showed up with a big pan of tako poke (which was a huge hit). We were talking about walking around the football field last summer at the Relay for Life Cancer fundraiser and then Ed being diagnosed with thyroid cancer the next week. Cancer has been a huge problem in his family because his Mom and sister died of cancer and 5 of his 6 siblings got cancer. Eddie was lucky to beat his cancer and promptly retired from 30+ years at Pearl Harbor to enjoy "the good life."
BJ Tang also came to celebrate her May birthday. BJ doesn't drink, but she told me that once a year she "might" have a drink. So I asked her if she was going to have a drink (the ONLY one of the year), what would it be. She said, "Oh, a li hing mui Margarita," she said. Bingo! As fast as you can say "bottoms up!" there was BJ sipping her once a year alcoholic beverage!
It was really great to see Lois Wise (who was celebrating her birthday the next day). Lois has been paddling for years and brought her own crew in to help her celebrate. This was her first time at one of our class gatherings. The girls in her crew sang and laughed the whole night and added a lot to the party atmosphere.
Near midnight last night, Danny and Anna Akaka showed up after an evening function at the Halekulani. They were attending several events over the weekend and plan to head back to the Big Island on Monday morning. Richard Holloway was really glad to see Anna and Danny, two people he spent a lot of time with when he was on the Big Island.
Also coming for the first time was Ulu Kakaio Sai and Richard Holloway. Ulu came with her husband, Giggy, who is still working up at Kamehameha. The cast of "regulars" also included Debbie Lau Okamura (and husband Brian), the Lima brothers (Kevin and Keith), Joey Akeo Miyashiro, Joe Doughty, Fred Miyagi, Victor Punua (pictured above) and Dave Osorio.Next get together is Sunday, June 20th (always the 3rd Sunday of the month). Also coming, is the Relay for Life on Konia Field, August 14th.
2 comments:
Hey Benny,
You always do an awesome job keeping the class connected. Even though I have not been, yet, I always enjoy the wonderful pics and can just feel the "good vibrations" of the kanikapila...love you guys!
Connie
p.s. I will be there, one day!
The owner of IMUA Lounge had an event last year called IMUA IDOL. The event was planed and run by HULAWOOD Productions. The owner of HULAWOOD Productions told the owner of IMUA lounge that if you make money then I will charge you for the event. IMUA lounge made over $20,000 for the event and when it came time to pay HULAWOOD Productions the owners have failed to pay anything but the cost of supplies for printing and paper. This is now a year later and they have still not paid. Then to top it all off IMUA Lounge is now advertising that they are having IMUA Idol for 2011. This is a company who didn't pay their bill for 2010 and now is stealing they idea from the creator HULAWOOD Productions. I just want everyone to know what kind of a owner of IMUA Lounge is.
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