Wesley Missions Luau “Broke Da Mouth”
by Barbara Hiura
“Aloha! You gonna have a good time with ono food that’ll broke da mouth! which emcee Leighton Horio said, when welcoming some 170 attendees to the “Hukilau for the Lord” Missions fundraiser dinner held on Oct. 7. Indeed, it was a sell-out meal and the smell of Hawaiian food wafted through the Fellowship hall and out into the patio. Yummy! Everybody had a… how you say good time in Hawaiian? “Ha’aheo e ka ‘olelo!” And that is what all who attended had in spite of the 96 degree weather. With the fans blowing, it was tolerable inside, and eventually no one paid much attention to the heat.
The missions committee out did themselves with a Hawaiian traditional meal all cooked in-house that “broke da mouth” with Kalua pork, chicken lau lau, lomi lomi salmon, chicken long rice, sliced sweet potato, potato-mac salad, pineapple and haupia (coconut pudding). “Onolicious”, of course.
Many thanks to Leighton for being our emcee one who is from Hawaii and speaks the language of the Islands and of course Pigeon. No we didn’t have him read the Bible in Pidgen, but he did give us a lesson on Hawaiian words. Thank goodness no test after. He kept the evening rolling along.
The 16 members of the Wesley Ukulele Band played along with seven of band leader Tina Urata’s hula sisters and included guest artists which literally brought the house down with their entertainment. The band had an incredible blend of vocals and instruments thanks to Smiley Kai and his sound equipment, and the hula dancers swished and swayed to the audiences’ delight. Highlights were Jake Shimada’s instrumental riffs and vocals, hula soloist Mika Yamatake (Bob and Ann Haranaga’s granddaughter) and stealing the show was little Natalie Urata who hula danced and captured the hearts of all who attended. One special number was a favorite performed by her father, Richard Urata who sang “Te Manu Pukarua,” with Junko, the mom, and Natalie dancing, along with hula sister May Serrano. The big crowd pleaser, however, was the audience participation hula, where attendees, learned to dance the Hukilau! They fished for food, shook their booties and thumbed their way to the Hukilau. Now that was fun!
The evenings’ guest artists were Trent Ueunten and Gary Utsumi who sang “Tiny Bubbles,” Joanne Miyahara and Ted Hasegawa did “Over the Rainbow” as a duet, Ashley Cook sang “Hanalei Moon,” our very own music director, Mark Teagle sang “Lahaina Luna”, Dave Land sang “Blue Hawaii.,” and Rev. John Oda lent his voice to “Pearly Shells.” An ensemble number composed of Tina, Barbara Hiura, Becky Soffioto and Jane Wong performed “Local Boys.”
Of course, the evening wouldn’t be a family luau without the costume contest. Winning the best dressed family were the Utsumi’s, Gary, Patsy and their grandchildren, Akemi and Brayden. Best authentic costume went to Shizue Sousa, and best-dressed couple were Jolynda Tresner and Brian Homes. Congratulations to you all.
We have to thank Ed Gibo, who did the lion share of the work as the Luau lead ensuring that everything ran smoothly, from ticket sales, room layout, purchasing food right down to the clean-up. He was ably assisted by John Tanaka. Doris Tabuchi Judy Kanemoto, Jeanne Katsuro and Judy Yasutake. Many thanks to Lynn Tabuchi, Hatty Lin and Kasper Kimura who made the 12 kids truly enjoy the evening with activities and a special bento. We thank them all and many volunteers including the office staff for their dedication and passion.
This event is truly a Labor of love and it took, the mission village to make it all come together with the big push the final two days of meal preparation, setting up tables and chairs, making the Fellowship Hall festive, and serving a great Hawaiian dinner, Hats off and a huge mahalo to all the hands involved and to the service to all of us you provided. God blessed the Aloha spirit and our Hukilau for the Lord.
The missions committee out did themselves with a Hawaiian traditional meal all cooked in-house that “broke da mouth” with Kalua pork, chicken lau lau, lomi lomi salmon, chicken long rice, sliced sweet potato, potato-mac salad, pineapple and haupia (coconut pudding). “Onolicious”, of course.
Many thanks to Leighton for being our emcee one who is from Hawaii and speaks the language of the Islands and of course Pigeon. No we didn’t have him read the Bible in Pidgen, but he did give us a lesson on Hawaiian words. Thank goodness no test after. He kept the evening rolling along.
The 16 members of the Wesley Ukulele Band played along with seven of band leader Tina Urata’s hula sisters and included guest artists which literally brought the house down with their entertainment. The band had an incredible blend of vocals and instruments thanks to Smiley Kai and his sound equipment, and the hula dancers swished and swayed to the audiences’ delight. Highlights were Jake Shimada’s instrumental riffs and vocals, hula soloist Mika Yamatake (Bob and Ann Haranaga’s granddaughter) and stealing the show was little Natalie Urata who hula danced and captured the hearts of all who attended. One special number was a favorite performed by her father, Richard Urata who sang “Te Manu Pukarua,” with Junko, the mom, and Natalie dancing, along with hula sister May Serrano. The big crowd pleaser, however, was the audience participation hula, where attendees, learned to dance the Hukilau! They fished for food, shook their booties and thumbed their way to the Hukilau. Now that was fun!
The evenings’ guest artists were Trent Ueunten and Gary Utsumi who sang “Tiny Bubbles,” Joanne Miyahara and Ted Hasegawa did “Over the Rainbow” as a duet, Ashley Cook sang “Hanalei Moon,” our very own music director, Mark Teagle sang “Lahaina Luna”, Dave Land sang “Blue Hawaii.,” and Rev. John Oda lent his voice to “Pearly Shells.” An ensemble number composed of Tina, Barbara Hiura, Becky Soffioto and Jane Wong performed “Local Boys.”
Of course, the evening wouldn’t be a family luau without the costume contest. Winning the best dressed family were the Utsumi’s, Gary, Patsy and their grandchildren, Akemi and Brayden. Best authentic costume went to Shizue Sousa, and best-dressed couple were Jolynda Tresner and Brian Homes. Congratulations to you all.
We have to thank Ed Gibo, who did the lion share of the work as the Luau lead ensuring that everything ran smoothly, from ticket sales, room layout, purchasing food right down to the clean-up. He was ably assisted by John Tanaka. Doris Tabuchi Judy Kanemoto, Jeanne Katsuro and Judy Yasutake. Many thanks to Lynn Tabuchi, Hatty Lin and Kasper Kimura who made the 12 kids truly enjoy the evening with activities and a special bento. We thank them all and many volunteers including the office staff for their dedication and passion.
This event is truly a Labor of love and it took, the mission village to make it all come together with the big push the final two days of meal preparation, setting up tables and chairs, making the Fellowship Hall festive, and serving a great Hawaiian dinner, Hats off and a huge mahalo to all the hands involved and to the service to all of us you provided. God blessed the Aloha spirit and our Hukilau for the Lord.
The entertainment was provided by the Wesley Ukulele Band (led by Tina Urata, back row center) beautiful hula dancers, and guest artists.
Accolades to our Mission leaders, John Tanaka, Doris Tabuchi and Ed Gibo
Local boy, Leighton Horio, served as the emcee and tested our knowledge of Hawaiian Pidgin.
Mahalo to our cooks and hostesses…Ed Gibo, Judie Kanemoto, Keith Nakashima and Cinthia Fukuda above and below: Ed’s daughter Michelle Gibo, Terri Koike, Joanne Kumano and Bobbie Ueunten.
Helping to check-in were Jim Fukuyama, Shelley Nakashima, and Gene Kinoshita.
The Utsumi family won the best dressed family award: Gary, Patsy and their grandkids, Akemi and Brayden.
Best Couple went to Jolynda Tresner and Brian Homes
Most authentic was Shizue Sousa.
Virginia Bailey and Roger Miller enjoying the evening.
Jim and Kazuko Tengan having a good time.
Our former Office Admin, Ahn Nguyen and his sister Phuong enjoying an onoliscious dinner.
Warren Hayashi, Helen Morimoto, and Rosie Shimonishi taking in the Luau.
On the left: guests from Sacramento Mary Nakamura and her sister Nancy, Carmen Cook, Ashley Cook and on the right, Peggy Cunningham, Barbara Mulford, Liz and Its Yokota and Louise Kinoshita.
Members of the Urata Family, Susumu, Andrew and Rebecca.
Back from Paradise just in time, Rev. John gave the blessing and sang too!
Dancing to the “Hukilau” had members of the audience getting their Hula on.
Posted in Newsletter 2023-10-26