SURFERS PARTY FOR ACCESS: "Beach access" was the theme of the Local Motion, Billabong and Heavywater "Surf Into Summer Kick Off Party," a benefit for AccesSurf Hawaii, last Saturday at Gordon Biersch. AccesSurf Hawaii VP Rich Julian, left, board member Kate Church and President/CEO Mark Marble partied with supporters Buttons Kaluhiokalani, Tommy Chorman and MidWeek surf columnist Gary Kewley in the VIP area. AccesSurf Hawaii provides "adaptive surfing and shoreline/flotation swimming" for people with physical disabilities and is working to make beaches more accessible. Visit www.accessurfhawaii.org.

Nightclub event promoters Matty Liu, left, and Cano came by early to support AccesSurf Hawaii and enjoy the party. Cano dressed for the event in a limited-edition "Surf Into Summer Kick Off Party" T-shirt.

"A BEACON OF DEMOCRACY": State Sen. Clarence Nishihara, center, congratulated Director General Philip T.Y. Wang and his wife, Meili Yu-Chi Wang, as they celebrated the inauguration of the 12th president and vice president of the Republic of China with a reception for Hawaii's political and business leaders May 20 at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office. The latest peaceful transfer of power on Taiwan was seen as a rare example of democracy in Asia.

"AHEA? 'ANO!" ("WHEN? NOW!"): The title of Holunape's superb new album was a perfect theme as executive producer Roy Sakuma, second from left, hosted a CD release party Sunday at Gordon Biersch. Holunape (in blue) -- Kama Hopkins, left, Kekoa Kaluhiwa and Kanai'a Nakamura -- headlined a great bill of contemporary Hawaiian acts and a great party. And, since Holunape played at Manoa DNA's CD party in 2006, Lloyd Kawakami, third from left, and his sons, Nick and Alex, were there to repay the favor.

Hawaiian music fans got a rare treat when 'Ale'a -- Ryan Gonzales, left, Chad Takatsugi and Kale Hannahs -- played a reunion set. The trio was as good as always, and Takatsugi had a great time calling Kama Hopkins up to "dance his donkey" ("Mololi'i"), and then got Kanai'a Nakamura to dance "Teve Teve." It was one of those "should have been there" events because Gonzales, Takatsugi and Hannahs said they have no plans to play together again.