By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Luis Camacho, president of Kahala Caterers on Waialae
Avenue, displays his concept for one possible millennium
party using a colorful peacock theme -- complete with
champagne, of course.

If you plan to hire
a caterer, you’d best
get your dibs in now

Many vending and catering
staffs are being given the night
off to be with their families

Millennium party proposals

By Stephanie Kendrick
Assistant features editor

Local party planners had two words for prospective customers looking to have a party catered on Dec. 31: Good luck.

"Everybody wants to celebrate. Good luck on finding the staff who wants to man these things," said Rod Sugai, special events director at Manoa Catering Co.

While he has not ruled out the possibility of catering a party that evening, he won't be upset if he winds up with the night off.

"Unless it's a major party, I really don't want to work," said Sugai.

Luis Camacho, president of Kahala Caterers, told his staff in January they would not have to work New Year's Eve.

"We have decided to start the millennium in peace," he said.

His employees want to spend this momentous New Year's Eve with their families, said Camacho. "It's the only millennium we'll ever see."

Eleanor Hagedorn, president of Creative Planners of Hawaii Inc., has been retained to coordinate a New Year's Eve wedding, but she had trouble rounding up vendors who wanted to work. "Everybody wanted to be with their families," she said.

While this trio of professionals did agree to offer some ideas about what kind of party they would plan if they intended to work, they also had some tips for the host or hostess intent on crafting a millennium celebration without professional help.

All agreed the guest list was the place to start, and soon.

Hagedorn suggested sending announcement cards to prospective guests before you start planning the event. That way, you'll know roughly how many people will be able to attend, and you may flush out conflicting party plans that are in the works.

"It's going to be a real sad situation if nobody shows up at your party," said Hagedorn.

The consensus: Keep the event intimate in honor of the significance of the occasion.

"Don't invite people just to invite," said Camacho. "Select the people you really want to be with."

Rod Sugai suggested putting the finishing touches on your plan about a month before the party.

"I wouldn't go shopping for groceries on New Year's Eve," he said.

Planning around a theme can help a host find a point of focus in terms of food and decor, said these experts.

And creating stunning decor doesn't have to mean spending a lot of money.

"In terms of decoration, look around and use your imagination. Somebody else's junk is my prop," said Sugai.

Use the hidden treasures in your own house to build a centerpiece, said Camacho.

"You don't have to have Limoges for 12 and Baccarat for 12 to make your table look great," he said. Glasses and dishes don't even have to come from the same set. In fact, Camacho suggested using a different glass for each guest, one that reflects his or her personality. The glasses could then be your New Year's gift.

Think creatively when it comes to the menu as well, they said.

Camacho suggested starting the meal with dishes you know you do well. Then, after midnight, serve a dessert you have never made before.

"The new millennium represents gone with the old, in with the new," he said.

Hagedorn also liked the idea of cooking new dishes, but she added that it's a good idea to practice the recipes ahead of time. "It's not too soon to start," she said.

If you want to make a church service, restaurant or other venue part of your celebration, Hagedorn recommended calling around now.

If your party is going to require the services of a party rental firm, florist, caterer, photographer or other vendor, make those calls soon. Those who are working are going to be booked up quickly, said Hagedorn.

---

By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
A close-up of the peacock-themed table setting
suggested by Kahala Caterers.

Feel lucky, loaded?
Millennium
party proposals

By Stephanie Kendrick
Star-Bulletin

We asked three local party planners to create millennium party proposals. Each party has 12 guests; the mid-budget event would cost about $100 per person, the high-budget event $500 per person.

From Eleanor Hagedorn, president,
Creative Planners of Hawaii Inc.

$1,200 for 12: "Sailing into the Millennium at Sunrise"

Guests will be picked up from a designated point and driven to Kaneohe Bay. They will start the morning with a prayer and a Hawaiian chant. Then they will take a private charter with a narrated historical tour of Heeia Fishponds, coral reefs and other points of interest in Kaneohe Bay in the early dawn.

Guests will enjoy a luscious continental breakfast aboard the sailing yacht while waiting for sunrise as an inspiring way to greet the Year 2000.

Snorkeling, swimming, refreshments and a light snack will complete this morning adventure. Transportation will be provided back to the pickup point.

$6,000 for 12: "A historical trolley tour of downtown Honolulu with a progressive dinner."

Guests will partake in the history of Hawaii with a narrated tour of old Honolulu leading up to the gates of Washington Place, Iolani Palace and visiting points of interest in Chinatown.

All of the locations on the tour will highlight Hawaii's rich ethnic history and the days of the monarchy. This nostalgic tour will start at the Hawaii Maritime Center for a look at the history of navigation. While there, guests will be entertained with cocktails and appetizers.

Guests will proceed to a series of restaurants for a progressive dinner, winding up with dessert and a performance, perhaps a vignette of Queen Liliuokalani reading her historic letter or a halau dancing kahiko hula.

---

From Luis Camacho,
president, Kahala Caterers

$1,200 for 12: Party at a private residence with a staff of two

Pupu:
Sushi platter
Summer rolls
Seafood curry on cucumber rounds

Salad:
Salmon and avocado salad

Entree:
Beef tournedos with mushroom and onion sauce

Side dishes:
Lemon rice pilaf
Tomato provancale
Zucchini baguettes

Dessert:
Lilikoi haupia mousse

Floral centerpiece provided, along with tables and chairs, linens, dishes, glasses and flatware.

$6,000 for 12: Party at a private residence with a staff of six

Pupu:
Seared ahi carpaccio
Baked brie with roasted garlic
Avocado bruschetta over salmon
Caviar with rose petals
Pate in a pastry shell
Sauteed mushrooms

Salad:
Mixed greens and citrus fruits

Breads and spreads:
Scones with kalamata tapenade and poha butter

Intermezzo:
Lilikoi sorbets

Soup:
Shrimp bisque

Fish:
Grilled fennel and citrus fish with glazed carrots

Intermezzo:
Lemon sorbets

Meat:
Beef Wellington with garlic potatoes, chinese peas, roasted bell peppers and sauteed leeks

Dessert:
Berry flambe with vanilla ice cream and crepes

Sweets: Petite fours
Chocolate covered strawberries

Includes an espresso/moccachino bar

Four floral arrangements provided, along with roses for each place setting, table lamps, theme props and linens, tables and chairs, fine china, crystal and silver.

---

From Rod Sugai, special events director,
Manoa Catering Co.

$1,200 for 12: A cocktail party at a private home served butler style on silver trays.

First course:
Fresh fruit
Cheese, pate and flat bread
Stuffed mushrooms

Second course:
Vegetables and dip
Jumbo cocktail shrimp
Stuffed beef coils
Asparagus wrapped in turkey and cheese

Third Course:
Lobster and chinese peas in a bird nest basket
Skewered chicken
Smoked salmon and tobiko caviar musubi

Dessert:
Strawberries
Pastries

Beer, wine and champagne would be included.

$6,000 for 12: A formal outdoor dinner at oceanside.

Pupu:
Petite beef Wellingtons

Salad:
Mixed greens with Kahuku shrimp

Soup:
Wild mushroom

Entree:
Hawaiian snapper with wild rice and hot vegetables

Dessert:
Three fruit sorbets

Wines and champagne would be included. As would umbrella tables and strolling musicians.

Both parties include floral arrangements, decorative props, linens, glass- and dishware, staffing, setup and clean up.