SENIOR PROM FOLLIES:

It’s Saturday, May 3, 1980……do you know where your son or daughter is?  Probably at the Hawaiian Regent Hawaiian Ballroom.  Good evening everyone, this is Jeannine “Joan Rivers” here to talk about the couples coming in and what they are wearing to this momentous event.

This year, we can count on the following:

“In” =  slinky dresses, you know, nylon spandex, disco “John Travolta”, spaghetti straps, georgette capes, maribu feathers, Bo Derek braids, Farrah-inspired feather bangs, ruffled shirts for the men accented with embroidered edging, wide bow ties, wide lapeled-tuxedo jackets, satin stripe on the leg seams, French bouquets.  Instead of having Versace, Armani or Donna Karan design their clothes, many of our attendees probably sewed their own gowns and the men probably went to Tuxedo Junction or Celebrity Formals for their tuxedoes.  These pictures were taken before dinner, so if the teenagers look hungry, throw them some raw meat.

First up, we see Niki Tauyan and Roy Dela Cruz, Aimee Harada escorted by Roland.  Dig that perm in Aimee’s hair – the Roseanne Rosanna Dana influence.

Here comes Patty Morrison escorted by buddy Gordon Olayvar.  He’s even got a velvet, or is it heavy satin, bow tie?

The court members always set the pace.  Downy Balga is wearing a shimmering gold lamè (proounced la-may) dress.  Alongside we see Fred Hirayama, , Patrick Oshiro, Georgette Seronio, Sheldon Eltagonde and Caesar Albano.

Karen Tom is escorted by Amado Bermuda (c/o 82).  Checkout that rose lei intertwined with maile that Amado is wearing.

Lois Mitsumori (c/o 81) is Dean Rustic’s date – note the coordinated red boutonnière, the red dress, the red hairpiece, and the red french bouquet.  Eddie Gascon is sitting in the background.

Camera shy Lois and Dean

Michelle Pang gets up close with Jeremiah Malloe.  Michelle looks so cute with that clingy teal dress!

The court makes another appearance.

Manny Bayang is seated with some unknown woman.  He got her a very classy 3-strand pikake lei.

Roy Dela Cruz once again with Niki Tauyan.

Layton Tanaka with an unidentified woman.  Notice how all the men are so chummy when their picture is taken (gee…what should I do with my arm…..guess I’ll put it around my date’s shoulder).  True love? Or wishful thinking?

Trudy Fernandez is seated with an unknown man.  Notice that bashful teenagers of our era, when wearing a strapless or spaghetti strap dress, have that ever-present cape to cover their shoulders.

Patrick Ganhinhin escorts Dodie Haumea.  Dig that wide lapel on Patrick’s tuxedo, accented with the wide satin bias tape!  This picture has a good close-up of those Chinese-inspired umbrella centerpieces with gold favor fans hooked on the edges.

Jeana Respicio and Charles Cabral grace this table.  Don’t you just love those feathers interspersed with the corn-row braids?  Background:  Mike Fetters (c/o 81) with Michelle Parish.

Friends Dianna Tiedemann (c/o 82) and Mark Simao grin for the camera. 

Shane Walden, can we talk?  Sure, not even stopping as his picture is taken.

Scott Yonashiro (c/o 79) with Josephine Enriquez smile for the camera.  Note again the burgundy Crepe de Chine dress.  Background:  Kolyn Thornberg with Jodi Eltagonde.

Leanne Paredes surprised for the camera shot.  See the white maribu feathers.  Back then only certain stores carried maribu feathers, The Ritz being one of them.

Hey is that Mel Hirtzel with Pam Cox (c/o 82)?  If you never know what color your date is wearing, a safe bet is a double white carnation lei.  But Mel is no fool.  You can tell he planned it because the ribbon matches her dress!

Lisa Kaleo is escorted by Wayne Parages (c/o 81).  Notice the vest in the tuxedo – very common back then.

Pals Mike Fetters and Michelle Parish chumming it up.  That is one thick lei she’s wearing – you could almost use it as a haku (head) lei.

The king and queen present themselves, Angie and Caesar.  Sakura Ronczkowski flashes her instamatic camera.

Is that one of the Hudson brothers?  No…………it’s Tom Kraesig with the great Alice Forrest.  This is a nice close-up of the embroidered-edged ruffled shirt.  Alice!  Blue eyeshadow!!!!  Dig it.

Lori Endo stands with the tall David Crosby.  Notice her long-sleeved gloves.  Another staple.

Here’s Sakura again, this time with her date.  In the background, Kevin Johnson, with his ‘fro trimmed down a bit.

Pals Wesley Oda in a pure white tuxedo and Darnette Pang (c/o 79).  In the background, Mr. Destiny himself, David “Kawika” Ho looking at something, probably the DJ (“Can you play “I was made for dancin’” by Leif Garrett?”)

Laura Camp and date Ron enjoying the prom!  Is that Alicia Apostadiro’s back toward us?

Queen Angie getting crowned and Kolyn Thornberg snapping his instamatic camera away.

Mrs. Jean Arakawa babysitting us.

Abe Villanueva (c/o 79) with me.  Abe looks like he could headline for the Society of Seven.

Linda Santiago with date Raymond Sawyer.

Jeannine’s Graduation party follies:

At my grad party (Sunday, June 8, 1980), none of the women were willing to get up and sing.  But the men, after having imbibed in spirits, were quite game.  Left to right, we see Manny Bayang, Roy Dela Cruz, Scott Sakamoto, Dean Rustic, me and Shane Walden.

Manny, me and Dean singing something.  Remember, this is pre-karaoke days, so most music was live, with real musicians.

So where were the women if they weren’t singing with the men?  They were making their plates!  Left to right:  Aimee Harada, Vicki-Jo Brass, Lianne Oshiro and my younger sister.

THE END