70's Salute to the Troops.....Hawaii Class of 72's Writeup

Can you believe that it's already been over a week since the 70s Salute to the troops happened? Well for those who were or weren't there here's something from the Hawaii 72 website. Check out the dance floor picture, there was choke people dancing to the "Electric Slide". We'll give our review of the event shortly.

Hawaii '72 Oldies Event Raises $10,000 for Hawaii's 29th Battalion
A capacity crowd of nearly 800 people helped make a hefty donation to the men and women serving in the Hawaii Army National Guard's 29th Support Battalion deployed in Iraq.

A $10,000 check was presented to Brig. Gen. Vernon Miyagi at the "'70s Salute to Our Troops" event at the Renaissance Ilikai Hotel on August 12. The money will be used for a homecoming celebration for the troops, who are more than halfway through a one-year assignment.

"We are thrilled to be able to show how much we appreciate their service," said Suzi Shimada, chairperson of the sponsoring Hawaii '72.

The evening of nostalgic oldies music was highlighted by the guest appearance of former Hawaii pop superstar Liz Damon, who now resides in Las Vegas. She performed hits made famous with her Orient Express group in the '70s.

Hawaii '72 is a non-profit organization made up of representatives from seven Oahu public high schools - Kaimuki, Kalani, Farrington, Roosevelt, McKinley, Castle and Waipahu. It originally formed for a joint 50th birthday celebration, and now assists in community events and charitable fundraising.



The Hawaii '72 Hunks and Hunkettes thanked the capacity crowd with a funky dance rendition of "Shake Your Groove Thing." Dance coordinator Debbie Kikuchi-Chang was front and center of the group, with Bev Uehara (left), Jay Fukuda (second from right) and Jan Heiser (right) at her side.



Hawaii '72's Jan Choy (left) and Suzi Shimada (center) handed a $10,000 donation check to Brig. Gen. Vernon Miyagi, which will be used for a homecoming celebration for the troops now serving in Iraq.



Dancers packed the floor in the Pacific Ballroom of the Renaissance Ilikai Hotel for the "Electric Slide." The benefit evening saw non-stop music and dancing from oldies bands King Pins, Flashback, Greenwood and Soulz.



Former Hawaii pop superstar Liz Damon returned from Las Vegas for a special guest appearance. Damon sang her hits made famous with the Orient Express, on this night backed by the oldies band Flashback, with Lori Nasu and Juli Kam on her right, and Dalton Tanonaka on her left.

Entertainer Les Hee thrilled the crowd with his rendition of Elvis Presley's "American Trilogy" in honor of the 29th Support Battalion. He was the lead guitarist of the Orient Express.

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