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On the Scene
John Berger
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54th Cherry Blossom Festival
MEET THE QUEEN
JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Newly crowned Cherry Blossom Queen Desiree Lynne Yamamoto was congratulated by Devon Nekoba, left, and Wedge Lee after the 54th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival's Festival Ball in the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom on Sunday.
A crowd of more than 1,300, including Japanese Consul-General Shigeo Iwatani and representatives of mainland ethnic pageants, enjoyed a full evening of entertainment leading up to Yamamoto's coronation.
Nekoba, a local actor and former radio personality, did the voice-over work for the program. Lee was chairman of the ball committee and a scriptwriter.
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A ROYAL WELCOME
JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Brooke Hasegawa, right, last year's Cherry Blossom queen, greeted Radasha Ho'ohuli, left, Miss Hawaii U.S.A. 2006, and Malika Dudley, Miss Hawaii 2005.
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MEETING THE EXPERTS |
A TOUGH JOB
JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Festival judges Dr. Ming Chen, left, Andy Mertz, Coralie Chun Matayoshi, Bruce Coppa, Lori Yamane, and Amy Ebesu Hubbard, seated, far right, had a room for themselves between judging phases. Neysa Park and Nolan Kido, standing at right, made sure the judges had everything they needed.
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WORKING THE ROOM
JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Honolulu city council chairman Donovan Dela Cruz, standing left, chatted with Al Masini, left, Charlyn Honda Masini and Dr. Lawrence Tseu.
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A LAST DANCE
JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Brooke Hasegawa, left, bid farewell as 53rd Cherry Blossom Festival queen with a beautiful hula to "What a Wonderful World." Hasegawa is looking forward to completing work on her MBA now that her reign is over.
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