Hoku's pre-reopening party

JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Concierge Marion Sato, left, welcomed Judy Murata, Ruth Collins and Ruth's brother, Jim Nabors, to the private pre-reopening party for Hoku's at the Kahala Hotel & Resort on Friday. A select group of visitor and travel industry executives were joined by some of the restaurant's A-list customers in enjoying pupus and beverages in the Verandah Lounge before moving into the restaurant for more food and conversation. Nabors got back to Hawaii just in time to attend the event; he'd been on the mainland playing a show for 5,000 fans. CLICK FOR LARGE

JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Toni DeMatto and Kika Matsumoto talked about old times as they waited for the party to move into the restaurant.

JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Beth Worrall Daily, left, enjoyed the informal party with her cousin Ryan MacLaughlin and her mother, Mary Worrall.

JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Anthony Vierra, left, Nicole Santiago and Jason Ubay agreed that spoon-size servings of braised pork belly on a sweet potato purée were delicious.

JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Tim Lee, resort manager for the Kahala Hotel & Resort, welcomed his sister, Mary Ann Lee, left, and Amanda Crabtree to the party. He met them by a counter where pupu-size servings of delicacies such as Lobster and Stir Fried Vegetables on Wok Fried Cake Noodles were arrayed for tasting.

JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Patty Tam congratulated Chuck Sweeney, left, chairman of Trinity Investments, and John Blanco, managing director of the Kahala Hotel & Resort. The hotel is looking better since Landmark Hotels Inc., another of Sweeney's companies, assumed management responsibilities in March.

JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Patrick Gey, left, general manager of Fendi Hawaii, and his wife, Marissa, greeted John and Lisa Herkenrath. John is one of the sales specialists representing the Trump project in Waikiki.