"HAPPY BIRTHDAY": Carol Yap, seated, was congratulated by Vicki Sutton, left, Patsy Lum and Dr. Godfrey Chang as she celebrated her 85th birthday with a lu'au at the Kahalu'u Fishpond on Saturday. Yap's daughter, Linda Wong, planned the big event with Danny Kaleikini. Kaleikini was the singing emcee and Chief Justice Ronald Moon was the keynote speaker. Rene Paulo Jr. prepared the local-style Hawaiian menu that included squid lu'au, lomilomi salmon, Samoan-style corned beef, chicken, a 200-pound pig, and plenty of poi. Imaikalani Young, Greg Kaneiakala and Gordon Alfapada were the house band for most of the evening -- Bill Kaiwa, Donovan Dela Cruz, Gabe Baltazar, Kanoe Cazimero, and Akemi and Rene Paulo Sr. were among the guests who performed with the trio on stage.

A PERFECT HAWAIIAN AFTERNOON IN KAHALU'U: Danny Kaleikini and Linda Wong, center, welcomed Anne Kusao to the party on the lawn overlooking the fishpond. The view was beautiful, the food excellent, and no one emcees a lu'au with more style and class than Kaleikini.

CATCHING UP: Eileen Lota, right, shared a table with Jean and George Ariyoshi. The former governor had wrist surgery recently but didn't let that spoil the party. "Uncle Tom" Moffatt, Kathy Paulo-Hirai and congressman Ed Case were among the others who enjoyed the event.

TWO FRIENDS: Kanoe Cazimero talked story with "Uncle Bill" Kaiwa. Kaiwa's musical signature, "The Boy From Laupahoehoe," was a crowd-pleaser as always, but he also touched the heart with "Muli Wai."

WITH ALOHA FROM KOREA: Park Jin, left, Chairman of the International Relations Committee of the Korean National Assembly, talked with Hawaii state Sen. Donna Mercado Kim and celebrity photographer Kim Taylor Reece, after Park serenaded the crowd with two Korean songs. Danny Kaleikini joined him for the "hana hou," and so "Arirang" was a duet. Kim also entertained the crowd by dancing a hula while Kaleikini sang "Lovely Hula Hands" with Kanoe Cazimero. Reece didn't entertain, but discovered while mingling that several prominent women are interested in being models for his next art book or hula dancer calendar project. (Sorry, but you won't get their names here!)