The crowd and the nostalgia were fully present this past Friday at the 2011 NIFTY 50's & 60's Oldies Bash at the Pacific Beach Hotel Grand Ballroom. There were more than the expected 400 hard core dancers considering the three to four deep rows of tables that surrounded the dance floor. Lani and I were seated at Table #69 and there were more numbers following into the 70's and beyond with 10 guests to a table.
I got an e-mail from Sharon Uesugi that parking at the PB is gonna be at a premium with alternate parking at the Waikiki Banyan. Not taking a chance of not finding a parking spot, Lani and I got to the PB a little after 4PM. Fortunately, we got a space on the 4th floor and I gotta tell you that there were more cars after us.
The outside of the ballroom was fully decorated with 50's & 60's memorabilias including life-like posters of Marilyn Monroe and the King, Elvis Presily. A lot of the guy-helpers were dressed like the Fonz with the tidal wave hair-do.
The gals were pretty nifty, too, with their poodle skirts and pigtail hair-do. The gals that greeted Lani and me didn't look like they were old enough to be products of half a century ago but they sure looked cute and nifty and played their role to a "T".
The ballroom was fully decorated that brought memories of the Rock & Roll era.....very colorful. And much credit for this well organized annual event should go to Chairperson Wendell Kwan, the Officers, and his excellent Committee members.
DeeJay for the event was Douglas T. Oshiro of Tapestry. His wife Lisa was also on hand to assist (sorry I didn't get a shot of her). None-the-less the tempo of the music was inviting for Lani and me. No one got on the dance floor at first but the tempo of the Cha Cha got to my dancing feet....then the Rumba, the Swing, and the NightClub Two Step. More dancers got on the floor and the beat went on and on non-stop.
Being a native son of Maui, Lani and I got to meet five nifty gals from Maui High School, a guy and a gal from Kaimuki HS, and two guys from Waimea HS in Kauai.
Lenny Ho who sat at our table with friend Yvonne entered the costume contest and won first prize for his 50's Fonzie look...black jacket, and tidal wave hair-do and all. They are from Kaimuki High School.
There was more than that meets the eye especially when the gals found a guy in the Ladies Restroom. Nah! it wasn't a guy.....only a gal with bulging muscles that burst out of her T-shirt sleeves and a painted moustache above her lips. Scary for the gals but Lani thought a shot of "her" would be an amusing touch for the blog. So it was time to have a little fun....of course Lani insisted that I be in the photo, too. Auwe! Boy! what sacrifices a husband has to do for his main squeeze.
And the beat went on as more dancers crowded the no-room-to-dance floor before the program started. The tempo was heated up with the Twist, the Monkey, the Mash Potato, the Continental, the Rock & Roll, etc. Tom Moffet's presence and voice sure added color to the hip music.
A well deserved break from the maddening crowd came when the Chairperson, Wendell Kwan opened the program with a "Welcome Speech". "He's da Man who has been spearheading "da Bash" every year.
EmCee was Champ, OC16 TV Personality. He was hilarious with the ground rules and the warnings for those who came with oxygen-breathing equipment or on wheelchairs. He kept the program really alive and moving....he was an all-around guy who sees all and knows all about seniors who goes to McDonalds and warning them not to steal the condiments. Whooo boy! Dis guy got eyes behind his head, too.
Okay, it was time to grind after all the energy spent on dancing. Invocation was said by Sharon Feetham.....short and sweet...I liked that. More NightClub dancing.....Electric Slide, Boogie, Twist, Hand Jive, Salsa, Cha Cha, Swing, Bunny Hop, NightClub Two Step, etc.
An Elvis impersonator belted a romantic tune that made some of the ladies swoon and go ga-ga. And if breaking a sweat or dancing your A** Off for the night was your desire...THIS was it!
So far no Nifty 50's & 60's Oldies Bash is pau without a costume contest..ja like last year. I was happy to see that friends Deanie Bates of Aiea Dance Club, Lenny Ho, Yvonne Dias, Gayle Handa, and the "muscle gal" Melanie entered. 
Contest judges were Carol Kai and Melveen Leed. There were more gals than guys in the contest but there were only three winners in each group that received prizes. But all was not lost...every ticket holder got a Nifty 50's & 60's Oldies Bash music CD. Including the take home fabulous centerpieces, everyone was a winner. We got the towering red polk dot balloon. I gotta say that Lani and I accomplished our desire to burn our A** Off and it now was time to hit the road for home.
Another thing...the event was closed to "walk in's"....only those guest who were registered and wearing name badges were allowed into the ballroom. So if you're eyeing up for next years "Bash" be sure to register early. Bettah yet..as soon as the poster or announcement is made public. Neva can tell when the total numbers goin' reach the closing point. Much kudos to Chairperson Wendell Kwan, the Officers, and the guys and gals of the 2011 Nifty 50's & 60's Oldies Bash Committee for a very well planned and entertaining event and most of all for bringing back the "Happy Days".
