[ EYE ON 2100 KALAKAUA ]

NADINE KAM / NKAM@STARBULLETIN.COM Lilinoe modeled a barely-there sequin-and-mesh ensemble from Chanel in the store's second-story window, entertaining gawkers behind the barricades on Kalakaua Avenue below.

Fashion benefit
lights up Waikiki

By Nadine Kam
nkam@starbulletin.com

Who says Honolulu isn't a fashionable city? Hundreds turned up to dispel that notion during the opening of the Honu Group's 2100 Kalakaua development.

Traffic Friday evening was horrendous -- an hour from downtown, two if by airport as 3C custom cosmetic owners Chad Hayduk and Scott Catto, just off the plane from New York, tried to reach their hotel. A light drizzle fell, but none of this dampened spirits as the champagne flowed and guests listened to the music of Al Green. They ambled in and out of open houses hosted by Boucheron, Chanel, Gucci, Tiffany, Tod's and Yves Saint Laurent. At Boucheron, Sabra Aluli said she felt like Cinderella upon trying on a million-dollar size 7 ring with an 18-carat diamond.

NADINE KAM / NKAM@STARBULLETIN.COM Lisa Volk, decked out in a Chanel logo jacket and jewelry, worked the turntables at Chanel.

Chanel made up for the absence of the annual French Festival this year by flying in models and turning its second floor into a theater, with street gawkers able to look up and see models doing the bump-and-grind in skimpy bra-and-hot pant ensembles of sequins and mesh, paired with street jackets. I didn't dare look at the price. I knew I would be sad.

For the most part, the guests provided the show. Kalakaua was a sea of black for the black-tie affair, and standing out meant daring to be different.

One of the evening's most photographed subjects was University of Hawaii fashion design student Chandraka Fisher, dolled up like a silent-screen siren.

NADINE KAM / NKAM@STARBULLETIN.COM William Stonecipher and Chandraka Fisher got cozy inside Chanel.

Keiko Miyanaga sparkled in a low-cut Gucci jacket and skirt covered in crystals. The Realtor also played fashion consultant to the men around her -- pharmacist Tim Barton in Prada finished with an antique diamond brooch in place of a boutonniere, and Paul Brown's Davis Nguyen, who doesn't care for pink yet looked splendid in the color, worn under his black Armani jacket.

With less available to men than women, it took more effort for a man to stand out, but a handful did: Chop salon principal Richie Miao in a floor-length Mandarin coat from Shanghai Tang, finishing the look with a wool scarf and gaucho hat; Neiman Marcus' Douglas Jago in an Armani tux topped with a Banana Republic black leather skirt; and singer Makana, displaying rock-star style with the rugged-meets-sophisticated combo of tux tails and Harley-Davidson leather pants.

Guests paid $175 for entry to the party of the season, to benefit eight cultural and arts organizations: Honolulu Academy of Arts, The Contemporary Museum, Diamond Head Theatre, Hawaii Opera Theatre, Hawaii Theatre Center, Honolulu Symphony, Hawaii State Art Museum and Iolani Palace.

NADINE KAM / NKAM@STARBULLETIN.COM Makana turned up at Gucci in Harley-Davidson leather trousers and a cropped tuxedo jacket with tails.

NADINE KAM / NKAM@STARBULLETIN.COM Richie Miao wore a Mandarin coat from Shanghai Tang while a hard-to-fit size 0 Helen Lee wore a gown she designed.

NADINE KAM / NKAM@STARBULLETIN.COM Kelly Hidano, left, wore a BCBG dress, while Cynthia Tsou wore Bebe. Both carried Dior purses and wore Gucci watches.

NADINE KAM / NKAM@STARBULLETIN.COM Douglas Jago, visual presentation manager for Neiman Marcus, showed up in an Armani tuxedo, with a Banana Republic leather wrap skirt worn over his trousers, finishing his look with shoes and a black beret from Neiman Marcus and his version of black tie, a huge silk flower rose. He was with fashion consultant Melinda Manaut, who was wearing a dress by Shawn Ray Fons and a girl's tiara from Claire's.

NADINE KAM / NKAM@STARBULLETIN.COM From left, Davis Nguyen of Paul Brown Salon and Spa swore by Armani, Amanda Abe wore a Gucci dress and Dolce & Gabbana coat, Tim Barton wore a Prada jacket and antique brooch in lieu of tie, and Keiko Miyanaga sparkled in Gucci.

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