It’s one thing to live to be 100 years old, but if you’re going to be around that long, it should be a good life.

Noble Ing’s family and friends threw him a surprise birthday party at the Oahu Country Club on Sunday to celebrate his amazing achievement of living 100 happy years.

It wasn’t one of those turn-out-the-lights, jump out and scream “SURPRISE!” surprise parties. This was more subtle, though the emotion was just as high.

About 80 family members stood as Ing walked slowly into the banquet room pushing his walker, escorted by his son Darwin. When Ing saw all the golden decorations and familiar faces and realized that he wasn’t just having a quiet birthday lunch with his kids, he chuckled and starting thanking everyone. “Oh, gee,” Ing said, “a hundred years goes by so fast.”

Ing was born in Honolulu on Nov. 29, 1915. He graduated from McKinley High School in 1933 and spent his career at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. He and his wife, Loretta, were married for 72 years before she died earlier this year. He has three children, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Ing’s incredibly positive influence has extended far beyond his little family. Since 1957 he has been the Christmas spirit of Pauoa Valley, staging dazzling holiday displays at his modest Pauoa Street house. Every year he had a new theme: the Care Bears in the ’80s, “The Little Mermaid” in the ’90s, “Phantom of the Opera” the year that Broadway show came to town. Everything was handmade with help from his family. People came from all over — even tour groups — to marvel at the little house bursting with Christmas spirit.

In planning the party, his grandchildren gathered together birthday wishes from every politician from Barack Obama to Rod Tam. Retired U.S. Sen. Dan Akaka wrote about Ing’s “deep native Pauoa Valley pride.” Gov. David Ige’s message said Ing “represents inner strength and courage through his life.” Former Gov. Linda Lingle popped up on a video message saying, “Aloha from Springfield, Ill.!” Former Mayor Mufi Hannemann sang “Happy Birthday.”

There was a slide show with scenes from Ing’s many adventures. There he was, young, shirtless and smiling a rascally smile on the beach. There he was in full clown makeup during his stint as “The Famous Dr. J” (he also once had a ventriloquist act with a dummy he named Jackson). There he was, an avid ballroom dancer, spinning his wife around the dance floor. And smiling. Always smiling.

Last year Noble Ing didn’t decorate his house. His wife was ailing. This year he’s not sure. He’d like to but he’s slowing down.

As the party came to a close, a couple of people wished him well on his next 100 years. Someone reminded him that an auntie sitting at the back table just made 102. It sounded like a challenge.

To the party guests, Ing said, “Thank you, and I hope you all reach 100 years or more … and that it’s a happy life.”