Dinner with Real Word Magazine

Real Word Magazine is a publication that showcases art, photography, poetry and short stories from the people of Hawai'i. The purpose of the magazine is to spread POSITIVE energy and give people an opportunity to showcase their work to a broader audience.

I had the honor of being John "Prime" Hina's guest at a dinner last night hosted by Real Word celebrating the release of issue 1.4, which includes an article on Prime and 808 Urban. Guests included other individuals showcased in the current issue as well as a few from past issues.



It was my first time to Side Street Inn on Da Strip, and it was packed. Our private party was held in a separate room in the back.



The guests got a goodie bag which included a few copies of the current issue of Real Word and a t-shirt. I already wore my t-shirt today. I loooove it.


This is Cheryl DeAngelo pubisher/editor of Real Word and her husband Fred who is an award-winning chef at Ola Restaurant at Turtle Bay Resort.


Photographer Athena Plitcha's photo of her son graces the cover of the current issue.


And here's my buddy Prime. Wooooo hooooo!!!


Nicholas Iwamoto and his mom. Nicholas is the hiker who was brutally attacked on the slopes of Koko Head Crater on Super Bowl Sunday, February 1, 2009. His story is an inspirational account of survival and recovery.


Peter Rockford Espiritu, founder of Tau Dance Theater, now in its 15th year.


Bruce Omori is a staff photographer for Real Word.


Our table: Back row: Chris Marquez, Creative Director for Real Word and Peter Espiritu of Tau Dance Theater. Front row: Kathryn Hansis, Graphic Artist for Real Word, Doris Bitonio, Editorial Assistant for Real Word and Rani Hanohano, HPD police officer!


Michael Harris of KGMB-TV and Brandon. Michael is working on turning Real Word Magazine into a reality show!





Darrell Fox of Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods is planning a reforestation project on the Big Island to replant koa in areas that were once native koa forests.


Born and raised in Nanakuli, Rani Hanohano is an HPD police officer with 10 years of service. She also volunteers and dedicates her spare time to various community organizations around the island. It was a pleasure getting to know Rani.


Charles Souza, one of this year's finalists for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching has been a math teacher at Stevenson Middle School for the past 13 years!



One of the highlights of the evening was when photographer Thomas Kuali'i presented an American flag that had been to Iraq and back to Nicholas Iwamoto whose dream to enlist and serve his country ended on the day that he was attacked.


With all the excitement going on, I forgot to take pictures of the food . . . which was soooo ono! All I got for you is Prime's plate with kalbi, fried pork chop, furikake ahi and garlic soybeans. Sooooorry . . . how could I forget the food!!


At the end of the evening Cheryl announced an upcoming event called Spread the Word to be held on Saturday, December 4 at the Hawaii Convention Center.

Over fifty artists that have been featured in Real Word Magazine will showcase their work at this event. Musicians, poets, fashion designers and dance troupes that have been featured in Real Word will also perform, along with twenty of our island's top chefs who will share their culinary delights. Three non-profit organizations that were featured in the magazine have been selected to benefit from Spread the Word: Project Focus Hawai'i, Makauila, Inc. and Palekana Kai Ocean Safety Team.