At the 2008 Hoku Awards evening, Marlene Sai (center) is surrounded by (left to right): daughter Cassy, pal Charlian Wright, Harry B. Soria, Jr., daughter Mahela, and pal Wayne Chang.
The June 17, 2008 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards began with 2 veterans nominated in the same category -- Liner Notes of the Year. Robert eventually won the Hoku for Liners, but Harry B. would later win the Hoku for Anthology of the Year ("Bill Ali'iloa Lincoln - Hawaii's Falsetto Poet"). Here Harry B. & Bobby U. celebrate their gifts from the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts.
Here's a closeup of the detail of a spectacular Night Blooming Cereus in Manoa, O'ahu, Hawaii. (Photo: Harry B. Soria, Jr.)
Harry B. Soria, Jr. welcomes hula master George Naope and Hula Records honcho Flip McDiarmid to the 2004 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards. Uncle George was instrumental in the creation of the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival in Hilo, Hawaii. (Photo: Alan Yoshioka)
Harry B. Soria, Jr. makes another pilgrimage to the ultimate Radio location. The historic Radio City Music Hall in NYC is still one of the most amazing showrooms in the world!
Kumu Hula Hokulani De Rego of Halau Hula O Hokulani watches her keiki perform at Summit Rock in New York City's Central Park on Sunday, June 1, 2008, at the All Hawaii Picnic. The halau had performed at Carnegie Hall the previous evening with the Makaha Sons, Nina Kealiiwahamana, Marlene Sai, and a cast of hundreds.... (Photo: Larry Barr)
The Sunday, June 1st, 2008 All Hawaii Picnic at Summit Rock in New York City's Central Park was a fine gathering of folks with Hawaii ties. Many ex Pats from Hawaii turned out to sing and dance, and celebrate their Aloha. Here, the keiki of Halau Hula O Hokulani share dance for the crowd. They had performed at Carnegie Hall the previous evening. (Photo: Larry Barr)
John Koko, bass player/vocalist/cutup of the Makaha Sons clowns with emcee Harry B. Soria, Jr. backstage at Carnegie Hall on Saturday evening, 5-31-2008. "The Makaha Sons with Hawaii's Legends & Japan's Best" was a delightful evening of Hawqaiian music & dance.
Bev Noa, dancer extraordinaire joins Hawaiian Divas Marlene Sai & Nina Kealiiwahamana (L to R) and emcee Harry B. Soria, Jr. backstage at Carnegie Hall on 5-31-2008. The ladies dazzled the audience with superb vocals and hula.
The Makaha Sons backstage at Carnegie Hall. (L to R) Moon Kauakahi, John & Jerome Koko, Harry B. Soria, Jr., & Jeri-Lynn Kealolahilani Koko. Harry B. emceed, Jeri-Lynn danced, and the Makaha Sons knocked it out of the park!
Here the same poster is in a duo set glass case on the day before the "Makaha Sons with Hawaii's Legends & Japan's Best" concert at Carnegie Hall. The poster must be printed in the 3-sheet size. (Poster art by Jasmine Christian)
The large 3-sheet posters are displayed outside of Carnegie Hall in large glass framed cases prior to the show. The poster is moved closer to the front entrance as the concert date draws nearer. Here the "Makaha Sons with Hawaii's Legends & Japan's Best" poster has reached the ultimate position on the afternoon of 5-31-08. (Poster Art by Jasmine Christian)
The view of the Carnegie Hall stage from the audience seats on the ground level. The stage door on the left hand side of the picture is the only access during a show. (The door on the right side of this photo will be sealed during a show.) The stage is about to be struck of the symphony alignment and set up for the Hawaiian show of 5-31-08. (Photo: Harry B. Soria, Jr.)
The Carnegie Hall Hawaiian Show of 5/31/2008 Stage Door Team: (clockwise from top left) Executive Producer Yasuhiko Ariga, Emcee/Co-Producer Harry B. Soria, Jr., John, Head Electrician/Lighting Extraordinaire, & Larry De Rego, Light Calls/Co-Producer. The group are positioned just inside the main door off the Carnegie Hall stage.
Harry B. Soria, Jr. checks in with more authorities in NYC in preparation for the upcoming Carnegie Hall concert featuring Hawaiian music. Our friend Patrick Billups was the ultimate greeter in the Big Apple!
