JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
James McCoy, left, president of the Hawaii Opera Theatre board of directors, joined Henry Akina, general and artistic director, in congratulating 2006 Opera Ball Committee Co-chairwomen Kristen Chan, second from left, Naomi Loewe and Joyce Tomonari as the party was winding down at the Sheraton Waikiki Nov. 11. A capacity crowd enjoyed exotic martinis before dinner, a preview of the 2007 opera season highlighted by a duet from Mozart's "Don Giovanni" by Erik Haines and Mary Chesnut Hicks, and late-evening dancing. CLICK FOR LARGE

JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Austrian Consul General Hans Strasser chatted with Mary Chang of Louis Vuitton Waikiki, a platinum sponsor of the opera ball. CLICK FOR LARGE

JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Suzanne Engle, left, received a gift from Suzanne Watanabe, a guest at her table, before dinner. The package contained an assortment of luxury chocolates that Engle shared with the other guests after dinner. CLICK FOR LARGE

JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Gov. Linda Lingle, center, talked with Jean Rolles, left, and HOT Executive Director Karen Tiller. CLICK FOR LARGE

JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Ed Keough and Lynn Ariyoshi enjoyed a quiet conversation while other partyers danced. Ariyoshi and Keough attended as guests of Dr. Lawrence Tseu. CLICK FOR LARGE