Halau Mohala Ilima kumu hula Mapuana de Silva looks on approvingly as Robert Cazimero leads his band through the auana number during rehearsal at the Edith Kanakaole stadium in Hilo on the morning of the Miss Aloha Hula competition. (Photo: Harry B. Soria, Jr.)
Dancers of Halau Mohala Ilima rehearse on the back lawn of the beautiful Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. It was a unusually beautiful sunny day in Hilo, and the halau took full advantage of the weather. (Photo: Harry B. Soria, Jr.)
The HMI (Halau Mohala Ilima) banner is installed in front of our section of the bleachers, making it official. Kumu Hula Mapuana de Silva and Halau Mohala Ilima will be competing for the 33rd consecutive year! (Photo: Harry B. Soria, Jr.)
Halau Mohala Ilima arrives at the Edith Kanakaole multi-purpose stadium for rehearsal on Thursday, April 28, 2011. This is the sign that greets us as we head for the 'caves' under the stadium. (Photo: Harry B. Soria, Jr.)
Harry B. Soria, Jr. sits in front of a vintage microphone on set during the 2 evening musical at the Manoa Valley Theatre called, "Hawaii Four 9". The "Hot Club of Hulaville", Hawaii's Django Reinhardt inspired band created the spoof of "Hawaii 5-0" with a focus on the time when Hawaii believed it would actually become the 49th State! Harry B.'s character was "Harry Ulua", loosely modeled after "Akuhead Pupule". The musical ran @ 7:30 PM on Tuesday, 4/5 & Wednesday, 4/6/2011. (Photo: Richard Hardy)
Harry B. Soria, Jr., (2nd), Barrett De Santos (3rd), and Alan Akaka (5th) are joined by guitarist Danny Carvalho's parents (1st & 4th) following Halau Mohala Ilima's 31st annual Holomua Ka No'eau concert at Hawaii Theatre on Saturday, 4/02/2011. Harry B. & Barrett will serve as van drivers for Mapuana de Silva's Halau Mohala Ilima again at this year's Merrie Monarch Hula Festival. (Photo: Kahulu De Santos)
Maui artist C. J. Helekahi attempts to autograph his new CD while he and Harry B. Soria, Jr. hang out. C. J. had just performed on the Hawaiian Airlines stage at the 2010 Aloha Festivals Waikiki Ho'olaulea stage on September 18, 2010. Harry B. once again had the honor of emceeing the Hawaiian Air stage. (Photo: Sunny-Aloha Miller)
Dallas, Texas - Feb, 2011: Shortly after Super Bowl 45 in Dallas at JerryWorld, it was still snowing. The Green Bay Packers & the Pittsburgh Steelers apparently forgot to take their snow home with them. And there was at least one benchwarmer still in Dallas. Harry B. Soria, Jr. sits freezing in the 13 degree temperatures during the day, which got down to zero at night when you add the windchill factor. This is not the Dallas I remember!......... (Photo: Linda Uesugi)
Harry B. Soria, Jr. describes a detail in the history of hapa haole music for the crowd at the 2009 Hapa Haole Hula Competition, on July 24, 2009, featured as part of the Three Days Of Aloha Festival. (Photo: Amy J Kapuanani Antonio-Claussen)
Harry B. Soria, Jr. emcees the Hapa Haole Hula Competition during the annual Three Days of Aloha Festival at the Esther Short Park in Vancouver, Washington on July 24, 2009. (Photo: Amy J Kapuanani Antonio-Claussen - Ke Kukui Foundation)
Harry B. Soria, Jr. & Roy Sakuma, ukulele emeritus, hang out at a ramen counter restaurant in old town Akasaka during their Japan Christmas Tour of December 2010. Also dining were Kathy Sakuma, Sam & Rinni Ahia, and Danny, Jackie, & Keiki Kaleikini. (Photo: Kathy Sakuma)
An early 1420 AM KCCN Station Aloha publicity photo of Harry B. Soria, Jr.
(Photo: courtesy of KCCN)
A Christmas tree formed by red and green lights climbs the entire face of the towering Akasaka Prince Hotel between Akasaka and Roppongi in Tokyo, Japan. Enjoyed during the 2010 Japan Christmas Tour for U'ilani Japan. (Photo: Harry B. Soria, Jr.)
(L to R) Jackie, Keiki, and Danny Kaleikini in the lobby of the Okura Hotel following a fabulous tempanyaki luncheon during the Japan December Christmas 2010 Tour. This luncheon celebrated a successful concert in Tokyo, featuring Danny Kaleikini, Ho'okena, Roy Sakuma, Sam Ahia, Danny Akaka, & more, with Harry B. Soria, Jr. emceeing. The group traveled on to Kamakura and Hakone, before returning to Tokyo. (Photo: Harry B. Soria, Jr.)
Our final stop on the December 2010 Japan Christmas Tour was beautiful Hakone, Japan. An area famous for hotsprings and onsen hot bath resorts, temperatures were cool enough to escalate the experience. Our Oh-an Christmas show featured Danny Kaleikini, Roy Sakuma, Sam Ahia, Danny Akaka, Lion Kobayashi, and others, with Harry B. (pictured) serving as emcee. (photo: Cathy Sakuma)
