Congratulations, Mahi!

WITH FOND ALOHA: Princess Abigail Kekaulike Kawananakoa was the keynote speaker and expressed the feelings of one and all when she shared her aloha for Mahi and his music. Ties between the two families go back several generations. More recently, it was the Abigail K. Kawananakoa Foundation that published "Songs of Helen Desha Beamer," the definitive collection of Beamer family songs, edited by Mahi's cousin Marmionett Magoon Ka'aihue.

A MAN AND HIS "WHEELS": Kahauanu Lake, center, enjoyed the party with Kaina, left, and Healani Waia'o ("We're his wheels," she explained). Don McDiarmid Jr., who'd produced the original recordings in the Punahou School auditorium in 1959, was there with his wife, Alma, and son, Hula Records President Donald "Flip" McDiarmid III, producer of the upgraded reissue.

ON THE DOWN LOW: Don Ho slipped in to congratulate Mahi on the "new" album and wish him a happy birthday (Mahi's birthday was yesterday). Genoa Keawe sat in with Mahi for several songs and said, "This is what we've been missing all these months while you've been 'on vacation.' "

GOOD ADVICE: Sarah Anoipua Beamer, center, and her aunt Gaye Beamer, left, danced hula while Mahi played piano with Chris Kamaka on bass and William "Baba" Alimoot on guitar. Princess Kawananakoa advised Sarah afterward to be sure to smile when dancing hula.