Leed wows gathering of ex-Hawaiian Air hostesses

An outstanding night of entertainment was presented by Koa‘e Kea, a group of former Hawaiian Airlines DC-3 hostesses, stewardesses and flight attendants, at their 20th-anniversary dinner party at the Ala Moana Hotel on Nov. 12. Melveen Leed was the highlight and knocked the crowd out with her long list of hapa-haole and Hawaiian songs and her incredible humor.

Hawaiian started hiring hostesses after the flight attendants, who were all men, went to war following Dec. 7, 1941. I love Koa‘e Kea’s anniversary parties and buy a table at them. Melveen has sung at some of my birthday parties with the late Jimmy Borges, who performed at all of my special events. Koa‘e Kea mainstay Hale Kaohu Rowland asked me to help them land Jimmy to sing at their big party three years ago, and I did. Jimmy’s widow, Vicki Borges, and his pianist, Dan Del Negro, were among my guests for this year’s event. Everyone at our table of 10 raised our glasses in remembrance of Jimmy. Miss Hawaii 1949 and HAL vet B.J. Johnston Feldman, my Roosevelt High classmate, gave the prayer before dinner.

A party surprise was kumu hula Lovena West, a former hostess who composed a song about the DC-3 aircraft that early hostesses flew. The audience was charmed as Lovena, Leonard Jenkins and the Naluhoe trio sang “Hula Holo Le‘a Le‘a ka DC-3” as Te Moana Makolo and Caroline Affonso danced. The music and vocals of of Naluhoe — Vicky Hollinger, Kawika McGuire and Pakala Fernandes — brought out more beautiful hula dancers, including Melveen.

Others included standout emcee Rowland, Moana Abiva, Becky McGuire, Gwen Bell, Hula Almeida Caution, Kathy Wada, Likelike Davis and Sharon Chee. Roy Benham, 93, sang “Ke Awa Iki” as Ivanelle Mountcastle Choy danced. Former hostess Pua Paoa McGinniss, Duke Kahanamoku’s niece and Tom Selleck’s personal assistant for 30 years, attended. Special guests honored were HAL flight attendant Lori Mackenzie; HAL Vice President and Corporate Communications Director Ann Botticelli; HAL retiree officer Luane Lau; HAL archivist Capt. Rick Rogers; other former captains Jace Hearn, who was bouncing throughout the large room at age 95, Bob McGuire, Gil Hicks, Padric Evans and Bill DeRego; and Carol Mae Stibbard Vanderford, founder of Koa‘e Kea with Abigail Funn Chong; and a surprising honoree, this columnist …

EARLIER, on Oct. 28, Melveen and Dan performed at my 85th-birthday party at Wolfgang’s Steakhouse. Former Merrie Monarch Miss Aloha Hula Kaula Kamahele danced hula. Keith Cockett was a workhorse, singing with his uke during much the night. Mihana Souza was scheduled to perform, but she was ill so she got her cousin Cockett to do the job. Charlie Beeck deserves praise for organizing the blast. He got us a private room for about 35 people and a delicious menu, working with Wolfgang’s boss Bill Nickerson. Charlie’s ex is Kamahele, a Hawaiian Air hostess. Their daughter Kealoha even made a tasty chocolate cake. Drea Kia and Lynn “Skinny” Crawley worked with Beeck to throw the terrific party. Mahalo to all …

Ben Wood, who sold newspapers on Honolulu streets during World War II, writes of people, places and things. Contact him via email at bwood@staradvertiser.com.