Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 25, Number 11, 1 November 2008 — AGE IS NOTHING BUT A NUMBER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

AGE IS NOTHING BUT A NUMBER

At 90 years old, Kenl Ghirard is on a roll. Ghirard marked his September birthday with a celebration at AAission Memorial Auditorium in Honolulu, where former and current hula dancers from his 1950s-era traveling hula troupe Kent Ghirard and the Hula Nani Girls, gathered to honor him in song and dance. "I can't eall them girls anymore," he chided as they danced to old favorites. Pictured onstage with Ghirard is Maile Loo-Ching of the Hula Preservation Society. On Nov. 1 5, Ghirard was further honored with the second annual I Ola mau ka Hula award from Hula Grill Waikīkī, whieh recognizes those who have perpetuated hula throughout their lifetimes. A photo exhibit of Ghirard's private eolleehon from the bygone Hula Nani Girls era runs through Nov. 6 at Honolulu Hale - Photo: Lisa Asato For more photos from the birthday event, visit Ka Wai Ola online at oha.org/kawaiola