HULA REIGNED supreme Saturday at the annual reunion of Koa‘e Kea, the organization of retired Hawaiian Airlines hostesses who flew in the 1940s and ’50s. The love and warmth that flowed at the dinner party was overwhelming. Some 145 people attended the bash at the Ala Moana Hotel’s Garden Lanai room.

Babes Bell got things rolling by blowing his conch shell. Featured during the evening were hula stars Queenie Ventura Dowsett; Beverly Noa; Greta Hegerfeldt; Kanoe “Tootsie” Cazimero; Babes’ wife, Alma; Koa‘e Kea president Vivian Bell Luning and her daughter Kanani Estrada; Leilani Kupahu-Marino; Reynette Miller and Debbie Nakanelua-Richards. Debbie and Reynette wore striking holoku. The hostesses often danced on the HAL propeller DC-3 planes in the old days. Many of those retirees were called up to dance by big-time emcee Hale Kaohu Rowland, also a fine hula dancer. They were backed by the beautiful Hawaiian and hapa-haole sounds of two trios, Naluho‘e — Vicky Hollinger, Kawika McGuire and Joe Recca — and Pa‘ahana — Doug Tolentino, Pakala Fernandes and Kaipo Kukahiko. Joe and Kaipo are also hula dancers and drew much applause for dancing as well.

Kimo Kahoano, after getting big laughs with a talk that included brief impersonations of Don Ho and Danny Kaleikini, stood out further by dancing the late Irmgard Farden Aluli’s “Boy from Laupahoehoe.” Mihana Souza, Irmgard’s daughter, who sang, played guitar and danced, wore her mom’s lovely red holoku. The fourth male dancer, believe it or not, was “Kimo” Han Xu, from China. Adding to the special night were vocals by Juliette Galuteria (state Sen. Brickwood Galuteria’s mom), Lorna Kaeck and Roy Benham.

Abigail Chong, who co-founded Koa‘e Kea with Carole Mae Vanderford, presented HAL official Brian Worth with a $500 check for Hawaiian Air to present to the Japanese who still suffer after the tsunami. The money came from sales of the book “The DC-3 Hostesses.” HAL flight attendant Lori MacKenzie, who worked hard on the book, attended. Also there was the house manager of Carnegie Hall, Kimo Gerald. Kimo, originally from Hilo, is responsible for Hawaiian entertainers such as Nina Keali‘iwahamana, the Brothers Cazimero, Makaha Sons and the Royal Hawaiian Band performing at Carnegie Hall. Working to make the pa‘ina such a success were Brownie Williams, Skippy Sweet, Trudy De La Fontaine, Mercy Bacon and Peaches Smith, who was there with husband Bill Smith, the 1948 Olympic swimming champ …

WOOD CHIPS: How about former UH standout Kealoha Pilares returning a kickoff 101 yards for a touchdown Sunday in his Carolina Panthers’ loss to the Detroit Lions, 49-35 … Greg Salas, Kealoha’s UH teammate who is now with the St. Louis Rams, underwent surgery Nov. 10 to repair a fractured fibula. He suffered the season-ending leg injury Nov. 6 in a 19-13 loss against the Arizona Cardinals. Greg was pictured in the Oct. 24 Sports Illustrated for his outstanding play … Belated birthday wishes to Peace Wong, one of the lucky ones whose birthday was 11-11-11 …

MELVEEN LEED will be singing Saturday, 7 p.m., at the Christmas Crafts and Food Expo at Blaisdell Center in the Pikake Room. The expo runs today through Sunday. More entertainment is scheduled during the weekend. Caroline Infante, expo producer-director, said there will be a large inventory of Christmas gifts fashioned by 400 artisans. Grinds and snacks will be available from 65 food vendors …