Two gals with plenty of drive, Drea Kia and Lynn Wells, recently purchased Kailua's HomeQuest Realtors and invited friends to celebrate with them Feb. 25.

Kailua's own Mihana Souza welcomed guests with Hawaiian music and aloha. She had guests sing together during her blessing. The crowd filled the office and spilled out into the halls. There was much toasting. “;The new building is reminiscent of old Kailua style of the of the '50s and the template for the future character of new redevelopments by Kaneohe Ranch,”; Drea said. Compliments went out to Carky Ainlay, whose artwork of island scenes are on the walls. She and husband Jack are the former owners of HomeQuest and still work there as agents. The company has expanded to 18 agents. Drea is principal broker and Lynn is broker in charge ...

The principals in “;La Boheme”; showed up for the Hawaii Opera Theatre's party at Louis Vuitton Ala Moana following Sunday's matinee. LV Hawaii's regional boss Dale Ruff welcomed the guests and HOT's executive director Karen Tiller also spoke. Models Rain Rusden and Hudson Taylor cruised through the crowd in LV's fashions as guests sipped champagne and consumed delicious snacks from Chai's Island Bistro. Chef Chai Chaowasaree was there with a good number of his men in black who served the goodies ...

Mrs. Hawaii 2009 Liana Green-Wright, who went on to make the Top 10 in the Mrs. America pageant, has scored high again. Liana is in the Big Apple working as an intern for Jean-Paul Gaultier for six months. Gaultier produced costumes for Madonna's Blind Ambition Tour in 1990, including her much talked about cone bra. Liana's husband is former UH linebacker Chad Wright. She is the daughter of attorney Michael and Estelle Green ...

THE 16TH Honolulu Festival runs next Saturday and Sunday, showcasing the diverse cultures of the Pacific Rim and Hawaii. Many of the attractions are free, but one of the biggest and best is the Friendship Gala and that will cost you $85, $35 tax deductible. Some of Honolulu's top restaurants are participating in the benefit for the Hawaii Festival Foundation at the Convention Center next Saturday. They are: Alan Wong's, the Moana's Beachhouse, Hakone from the Prince, Halekulani, Mariposa, Nobu Waikiki, Original Roy's, Ruth's Chris, Wolfgang's Steakhouse, 3660 on the Rise, Tango and Satura Cakes. For more festival details, call 596-3327 or visit www.honolulufestival.com.

The Ala Moana Hotel is giving the Hawaii Foodbank a shot in the arm by providing a free buffet breakfast in the Plantation Cafe for registered hotel guests who donate six cans or five pounds of food through April 15 for the Foodbank ...

——— Ben Wood, who sold the Star-Bulletin on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things Saturdays. E-mail him at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).