Kent Ghirard's Hula Nani Girls was an outstanding hula troupe in earlier years and 15 of his dancers from the 1940s and '50s turned out to honor him and dance for his birthday surprise. Kent turned 90 on Sept. 1 but the birthday party was thrown Friday by the Hula Preservation Society at Mission Memorial Auditorium. Kent surprised the crowd of 250 by beating the drum to the “;Hawaiian War Chant”; as he did in the old days. His former dancers Winnie Wong Naihe, Mae Lima Parish, Frances Keawe Tam, Patricia Hew Ching and Isabel Sua Lee danced to the spirited number.

Kent Ghirard

  Kent knew those five were coming but 10 other former Hula Nani Girls surprised him and joined in dancing and singing to other hulas. They included Kaleinani Poepoe Brown, Arlene deLaura Tanabe, Deldrine Kanoa, Leialoha Keleikini, Derna Kim, Bernie Jay, Mary Alice Lim, Helen Kuoha Torco, Alma Lee Bell, and Pearl Keawe Souza. Paahana - Doug Tolentino, Pakala Fernandes and Kaipo Kukahiko - provided the music. Many hula dignitaries attended, including the late kumu Rose Joshua's daughters Blossom Kunewa and Gladys Brash, Kumu Momi Kepilino, Noelani Mahoe, the late kumu Kuulei Stibbard's daughter Carol Mae Stibbard, kumu Pamai Tenn and Ilima Baker, a singer for Kent's troupe. Sens. Daniel Akaka and Dan Inouye sent greetings, and commendations came from the state Senate and Mayor Mufi Hannemann.

Kent's first visit to Hawaii was at age 12 in 1931. He fell in love with the islands, its hula and music. He grew up to be a hula troupe leader and show producer in San Francisco. He moved to Hawaii for good in 1947 and formed the Hula Nani Girls the following year, leading the group until 1961.

Julie Uyemura

Photos and slides of the dancers from Kent's collection, now under care of the Hula Preservation Society, are being shown at Honolulu Hale (City Hall) until Oct. 10. ...

  Julie Uyemura has received the President's Volunteer Service Award for the time, energy and resources she dedicates to the Mililani community and its anti-drug initiatives. U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo presented the award on behalf of President Bush last month. Julie started out as a waitress and climbed the food-industry ladder and is now managing partner of Waipio Outback Steakhouse. She donates food to volunteer groups fighting drugs.       

Julie, a 1988 graduate of Punahou and the University of Oregon, never expected to be an award winner. “;A lot of my classmates went on to be doctors, dentists, lawyers and CPAs,”; she said. “;But when I graduated with a BA in Japanese, I needed to pay off my college debts, so I started waiting tables. Now, as an Outback proprietor, I am able to do something very close to my heart, which is giving back to those who have been kind enough to support my family and me. It is my way of thanking this community for being there for us.”; Right on Julie ...