SupermanHawaii.com

by Lawrence E. Pacheco

It was most definitely a "year of firsts" for us.

The Superman Fan & Collectors Convention of Hawaii has, traditionally, been held at Leeward Community College in Pearl City. When we "outgrew" the classroom we held it in... it was time to look for a new home. After much searching, the Best Western Plaza Hotel was our best choice.

Achieving the first "special guests" goal was a feat in itself. Having the legendary
Noel Neill as a guest was a dream come true. In true form, Noel was warm, friendly and gracious. I must admit that the event partially felt like an educational venture. There were a few in the audience that knew of Noel, but didn't seem to really understand just how important she is to the legacy and mythology of Superman. After providing the visitors with a brief synopsis, the later film festival, and then having a chance to meet her... you could plainly see that the audience was moved and slightly awe stricken. Those who didn't know then... understand now.

I first met Film Historian John Field back in 1998 at the Superman Celebration in Metropolis Illinois. He is not only extremely knowledgeable about film history, is not only a wealth of knowledge about The Adventures of Superman, but he's truly one of the funniest guys I know! John was clearly a hit at this year's convention (this I could easily foresee) and was a fantastic help through the event's preparation. John's Adventures of Superman Film Festival and SuperToons compilation was wonderful entertainment and left most of the visitors wanting more. I must admit... so did I.

If there's one thing I can tell you about putting together an event like this... it's that you can't do it without dedicated friends to help you through it all. From the planning stages, to the cheerleading stages, to the actual set up and tear down, there's nothing quite like having such strong support. I felt that the time had come to start giving public recognition to the people that continuously devote their time and ideas into making these events work.

Unbeknownst to anyone, the first annual SupermanHawaii.com Award was prepared. This year's recipient was Associate Coordinator Steven Kanzaki. Steven has been my friend for many years and has provided countless ideas and help throughout every step of the way. It was finally his turn to shine... and it was not only well deserved, but it was long overdue.

The fear of leaving someone out in every list of "thank you's" I've ever made is always there. Here's my attempt at being complete:

To the guests:

Noel Neill - You were a truly wonderful guest. You brought a warmth and presence to our event that we've never had before... and doubt we'll ever have again. Thank you.

John Field - Thanks for being so supportive and for coming to share your knowledge, films, and humor with us.

Thank you to the everyone who devoted their time and hard work to this years event! The list includes Napua Ahina, Steven Kanzaki, Jason Fujimoto, Vicky DeSantos, Jason Tayros, Scott Shinsato, Amy Tokuda, Bert Shibuya, and to Sharleen Billedo at the Best Western Plaza Hotel for making the Hibiscus Room available.

Without you all, this event could not have been possible.

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