The Koa'e Kea women, early Hawaiian Airlines hostesses from the 1940s and '50s, are a talented group when it comes to entertaining and they always put on a winning show, heavy on hula, at their annual dinner. But Saturday night at the Ala Moana Hotel they put on a really big show with seasoned pro Cathy Foy-Mahi, pianist-singer Randy Hongo, singer Homer Kuroda and the Naluhoe Trio, made up of Vicky Hollinger, Kawika McGuire and Joe Recca.

The theme was “;Broadway at the Ala Moana Hotel”; and 'twas in that segment that Cathy's star shone brightly. She sang a number of tunes from top Broadway musicals, with Randy joining her in hits from “;Phantom of the Opera.”; Another highlight was Cathy getting the former hostesses on stage to kick up their heels to “;Chorus Line.”; The gals did not kick quite as high as the Radio Musical Hall Rockettes, but they gave it their all.

Hale Kaohu Rowland always does an excellent job as emcee at these affairs, recalling delightful stories about the former hostesses and others in the audience. She recalled the story of “;Baby Halani”; being delivered by hostess Betty Dee Chinn Mock and copilot Bill Hicks on a flight from Maui. Both were there to give details Saturday. Halani could not be located. Bill gave Betty most of the credit.

Hale is also a hula queen and she, her “;hula sister”; Renette Miller and former Waikiki headliner Queenie Ventura Dowsett danced the night away. Hale and five others who danced with Kent Ghirard's Hula Nani Girls performed. They included: Greta Hegerfeldt, Eula Mae Sweet, Marion Zahn, Del Wong and Vivian Luning. Earlier in the evening, B.J. Feldman gave the prayer and Roy Benham started the crowd singing the doxology.

Roberta McFarlane Wong is Koa'e Kea president. Founders of the club are Abigail Chong and Carole Mae Vanderford. A moment of silence was held for former HAL employee Buddy Farden and his wife, Tsulan, both of whom died a short time apart this year, and another HAL worker who died this year, John Ching ...

Ghirard, 90, was honored earlier Saturday at Hula Grill Waikiki with the restaurant's “;I Ola Mau ka Hula”; award for perpetuating hula throughout his lifetime. Twelve of Ghirard's Hula Nani dancers attended and danced at the event. Frances Keawe Tam, Patricia Hew Ching, Isabel Su'a Lee, Winnie Wong Naihe, Mae Lima Parish, Beckley Pang Stanford, Arlene deLaura Tanabe, Deldrien Kanoa, Leialoha Kaleikini, Mary Alice Lim, Alberta Kaloi Reyes and Elizabeth Zinsman Hall danced. Also attending were Joshua sisters Blossom Kunewa and Gladys Brash, Noelani Mahoe, Beverly Noa, Queenie Dowsett, Earl Pamai Tenn, Hula Preservation Society Director Maile Beamer Loo and Ka'upena Wong ...