Aloha From Creek Street!

by Gigi Pilcher

All digital photos by Gigi Pilcher (click for larger versions)

Ketchikan residents enjoyed a bit of the "islands" Saturday night with a Hawaiian Luau to raise funds for the Eagles Cancer Fund. The cancer fund is used to assist Ketchikan residents who have financial needs due to cancer.

The Hawaiian food for the luau was prepared by volunteers who are from the islands and by kamaainas (former long time residents of Hawaii) who have learned how to prepare the traditional foods served at the luau. The menu included pupus (Hawaiian appetizers) and poi.

Toby Dunkin and Mave Garza were two of the many wahines (females) who worked for several days preparing the food, and were on hand to serve it.

Then there was hula dancing by Pam Christianson and Patti Fay Hickox, which included teaching audience participants the "Hukilau".

Among the best entertainment of the evening came from the kanakas (men, commoners), who performed on stage. Pictured here are three menehunes (Hawaiian elfs), led by Ralph Bolton.

Pam, Patty, and Judy led the audience in song, and also gave Hawaiian language lessons.

"Dynamic Dave", a local celebrity volunteer, pronounced the luau (feast) as being ono (delicious). Many of the kanes (males) enjoyed watching their ipos (sweetheart) perform the hula dressed in muumuus and wearing a keis (flower wreath) in their hair.

Sharyl DeBoer, who recently returned from Seattle after completing cancer treatment, said she wanted to say mahalo (thank you) to everyone who has donated and supported her during her long treatment, and wants people to know that she has been told that her cancer is in remission at this time.

The evening was a great fundraiser for the Eagle Cancer Fund, and provided all attendees with a warm and sunny evening in the islands on a rainy Ketchikan night. Aloha !!!!