NADINE KAM / NKAM@STARBULLETIN.COM A crowd gathered at the runway during the presentation of Christian Dior's Cruise and Spring 2005 prêt-à-porter collection at Ala Moana Center.

Dior devotees flock
to Ala Moana show

The party season began in style with Ala Moana Center's annual World Festival, which ended last night with the Red Party, a night devoted to food and fashion that gave local fashionistas an excuse to fill their closets with finery for the rest of the year.

The party was the grand finale to a week that saw Neiman Marcus bringing in über-stylist Frederic Fekkai and a pair of $3 million ruby slippers inspired by "The Wizard of Oz" and cobbled together by the House of Harry Winston; Chanel's twist on the psychic reading, offering personality cues and fortunetelling from lipstick and purse readings; and Patrick Gey overseeing the grand opening of the Fendi boutique in its new location on the mall, across from A/X.

Saturday saw the colorful presentation of Christian Dior's Cruise and Spring 2005 prêt-à-porter collection, highlighted by the appearance of Japan's rising model and movie star Hinano Yoshikawa, who drew fans armed with cell phones and little DV cameras, turning the viewing gallery into a den of amateur paparazzi.

NADINE KAM / NKAM@STARBULLETIN.COM Fans from Japan head to Hawaii specifically to attend Ala Moana Center's Red Party, where they're certain to be photographed by the Japan media. The party closed a week of events at upscale shops within the shopping center.

Japan's newest fashion glossy Pinky devotes a four-page lifestyle spread to Yoshikawa each month. The latest spread shows her dressed for the party circuit, where she inevitably hooks up with a really cute dude.

She'll be photographed for a Hawaii-based lifestyle spread today. The story line hadn't been determined as of press time, but you can guess anything can happen when you're wearing the right clothes.

NADINE KAM / NKAM@STARBULLETIN.COM Chieko Takemura of Fukui City, left, wears a kimono every day but carries a Dior purse. She owns the same purse in red, pink and black but brought the red one to attend the Red Party. Chieko's daughter, Emiko, dressed in Dior, calls her mom's style "nice" but prefers her own look. Chieko says she would like to wear Dior but doesn't have the nerve. "I want to try but I hesitate."

Remembering dragonflies
and a special little girl

Working his magic, he transformed the Hilton Hawaiian Village's Coral Ballroom into a misty Crystal Pond with strings of sparkling mirror discs hanging from the ceiling and fabric lily pads blanketing the 79 guest tables. He also set the stage for excerpts from 'Ohia Productions' "On Dragonfly Wings." The production is based on the story of "Wendy the Waterbug," written to help Alana's brother Spencer cope with his sister's death due to leukemia at the age of 3. Alana would have celebrated her 10th birthday on May 20.

Dung's story sparked an outpouring of love as thousands lined up to become potential bone marrow donors to save her.

LEILA FUJIMORI / LFUJIMORI@STARBULLETIN.COM The cast of "On Dragonfly Wings," above, celebrated Alana Dung's memory Saturday night.

Alana's legacy continues through the foundation and Hawaii Bone Marrow Registry, which has signed up 30,000 Hawaii residents. One of its first recipients was Chris Pablo, who expressed his gratitude to Alana's family at the event.

The Hilton's new executive chef, Daniel LaGarde, did a superb job on the menu as well, with cuisine one doesn't see often at hotel banquets, starting with a petite salad of smoked duck with prawns and scallop ceviche, seafood bouillabaisse en croute, and an entree of roasted tenderloin of beef with butternut squash risotto and seared soft-shell crab.

Also raising a frenzy was the silent auction offering everything from three months of free storage from Portabox Storage Hawaii to a Lexus ES330-Sports Edition from Servco Lexus. Also offered, in keeping with the event's theme, were several pieces of dragonfly jewelry made with anything from pearls and opals to white gold and diamonds.

LEILA FUJIMORI / LFUJIMORI@STARBULLETIN.COM Alana Dung's family -- parents Stephen and Adelia, left, uncle Alvin Chung, brother Spencer and, in front, sister Erin.