More than a decade ago, the guys in punk band the Pettyfords signed off with the sentiment of their lone album's title, “;Aloha Means Goodbye.”;

Well, aloha also means a warm hello, and the group is back together for a reunion gig tomorrow at Kakaako's Fresh Cafe, headlining a show that will also include the regroupings of fellow senior punksters Grapefruit and Potluck.

Singer-songwriter guitarists Jeremy Rhode and Derek Watkins, bassist Cavan Nohara and new drummer Steve Bruno (formerly of Buckshot Shorty and replacing original member Roy Murakami, who has reportedly relocated to the Bay Area) were going through their last rehearsal Tuesday night at Pearl City's Exclusive Music Studio, and things seemed to be coming together quite well.

The Pettyfords regrouped three months ago, and “;it felt good,”; Rhode said. “;We didn't miss a beat.”;

“;Playing together, now with Steve, it came second nature to us,”; added Watkins. “;We're just chugging along and it's all going smoothly.”;

Taking their name from their science teacher at Pearl City High School, the Pettyfords started as a trio in the summer of 1996. Rhode, Nohara and Murakami, inspired by bands like Screeching Weasel, Green Day and the Invalids, took their original pop-punk songs out of the Murakami family living room-slash-practice area to high school assemblies and talent shows, later migrating to the then-nascent Honolulu punk scene.

Rhode wanted to fill out the band's sound more, so a year later, Watkins, then a Radford High School student, was invited to join the Pettyfords.

The guys made a name for themselves for four years, and after graduating both Rhode and Watkins went into the Air Force, sustained long-distance relationships that ended in marriage, and returned home to the islands to start families.

NOW IT'S back to music, thanks in part to the blessing of their wives.

“;When we first started the band, we were 16 years old,”; Rhode said. “;Now I'm a 30-year-old, and I still have things to get off my chest.”;

With more life experiences under their collective belts, and additional musical inspirations taken from other veteran bands the Alkaline Trio and the Lawrence Arms, the Pettyfords are planning to include new musical works-in-progress in their upcoming set.

Besides playing their popular songs like the aforementioned “;Aloha”; and “;Winnie Cooper,”; both Rhode and Watkins are looking forward to playing newer material like “;Only the Good Die Young”; and “;Postcards and Photographs.”; Watkins said he's even brought in songs that he wrote soon after the band's breakup.

The Pettyfords are glad that, on Saturday night, they'll be surrounded by the friends they've made from either the old scene or ones they've made along the way.

“;We all hung out together and I always liked their music,”; Bruno said, “;so I was stoked when I was asked to play drums with them now, because Buckshot and this band shared some of the same music styles we both liked.”;

Rhode said: “;We've all matured a little more. It's to the point that, if we played some older songs, I'm sure my wife wouldn't respect me,”; he added with a laugh.