On the Scene

JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARADVERTISER.COM
1. Laughter, tears and fond memories mingled as Jim Nabors, left, and Charlyn Honda Masini co-hosted "A Celebration of a Dynamic Life," a garden party honoring Charlyn's late husband, television industry legend Al Masini, Jan. 8 at Nabors' East Honolulu residence. Robin Leach, second from left, iconic host of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," described Masini, who died Nov. 29 at the age of 80, as a "first-class act" and told guests that he'd worked with Masini for 17 years and "we didn't even have a piece of paper ... His word was his bond." "Star Search" producer Sam Riddle recalled trying out 25 would-be announcers before Masini drafted him to be the show announcer as well as producer. Riddle then stepped back from the microphone and did the booming "Star Search" intro just as he did it back in the '80s.

JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARADVERTISER.COM
5. Ever-fashionable Patrick Gey, left, shared his memories of Masini with Vivian Stackpole and her husband, retired Marine Lt. Gen. Hank Stackpole. Movie producer Chris Lee, Prince Vittorio Alliata di Montereale, media industry executive Garner Anthony, Jim Burns, Emme Tomimbang and pianist Ginny Tiu were some of the other guests who stopped by to pay their respects.

JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARADVERTISER.COM
3. Retired HPD Chief Lee Donohue Sr., left, and his wife, Lucille, shared a table with Cha and Jack "Tihati" Thompson. Donohue, who served a brief term last year on the City Council, represented the panel by reading a proclamation listing some of Masini's career achievements and his many contributions to Hawaii. Cha Thompson recalled her first meeting with Masini in 1998 after he contracted Tihati Productions to work on the Miss Universe pageant. During a break in their meeting, she made him a tuna sandwich.

JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARADVERTISER.COM
4. Local journalism legend Eddie Sherman, top left, caught up with longtime friends Jean Ariyoshi, seated left, and Big Island rancher Larry Mehau and his wife, Beverly Mehau. It's been years since Sherman retired as Honolulu's top "three -dotter" columnist but he was working the party looking for interesting items and entertaining stories just like old times.

JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARADVERTISER.COM
2. Former Govs. Ben Cayetano, left, and George Ariyoshi chatted after the formal memorial program.