ENJOYING THE "PROM": William E. Kennard, left, talked with Honolulu-Hawaii NAACP President Alphonso Braggs after giving the keynote speach at the NAACP's 2nd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Gala Dinner Dance at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki on Jan. 14. Kennard, the first African-American to be appointed Chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, told the audience how he had brought "a civil rights agenda to the FCC" during his tenure, and commented that although he had come to Hawaii several times since joining the Carlyle Group as a managing director in the Global Telecommunications and Media Group, this was the first time he'd worn a suit. "Looking at all of you, I feel like I'm at the senior prom."

HONORING DR. KING: Leonard Piggee talked with Shari Lynn, left, and Nalani Olds during the pre-dinner cocktail hour that opened the Honolulu-Hawai'i NAACP Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., gala dinner dance on Jan 14. Lynn and Piggee sang just prior to the formal program after dinner. Olds gave the invocation and compared the example set by Dr. King in combating racism in America with that of Queen Lili'uokalani in resisting injustice and oppression in Hawaii after the Overthrow in 1893. Olds opened her remarks with a Hawaiian chant of welcome and closed with a beautiful a capella rendition of "The Queen's Prayer."

SURF TALK: Harry B. Soria Jr., left, and Reyn's President/CEO Tim McCullough recalled the '60s at the book signing party for "All Those Summers" at Reyn's Ala Moana on Saturday. McCullough's vintage photos capture many classic moments in local surf history and make the book a fine memento of the era.

REPRESENTING THREE DECADES: Marlene Baldueza talked with Mark Nishimoto, left, and Eddie Maligmat before she performed with The Score at the "Boomer's Blast into 2005" at the Hawaiian Hut on Saturday. Maligmat's group, the Rocky Fellers, hit No.16 on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Killer Joe" in 1963. Nishimoto was the leader of the Dimensions, Hawaii's top Top 40 club band in Waikiki during the early-'70s.

"ROOSEVELT KNOWS HOW TO PARTY!": Roosevelt High grads Nellis Miyashiro Kunieda, left, Guy Blackiston and Gayle Namba Nakama enjoyed the "Boomer's Blast into 2005" at the Hawaiian Hut from a prime table near the dance floor that they shared with Lani Harrington and Doreen Kano Nakayama. The Score headlined the "Blast" with a well-balanced assortment of vintage oldies that included vocalist Vene Marie's high-energy take on Led Zeppelin and left no doubt that the group ready to play convention shows and concert gigs.