A fund-raising blast from the past

Danette Goulet

NEWPORT BEACH -- They roamed the halls of Newport Harbor High School in

bell bottoms -- the first time they were in style.

Now all the classes of the 1970s are back and they’re partying to raise

money for today’s generation of students.

They are calling it a “class-less reunion” and still they expect a

turnout of about 800 alumni.

“It was supposed to be our 25th reunion for the class of ‘74,” said A.G.

Kawamura, student body president for the class of 1974 and event

committee chair. “We always have fun putting on a party. This year when

we were planning it, one of our friends, Dan Cohen from the class of ‘73,

says ‘how come you never invite all of us?”’

And so they did. It is now a reunion for the classes of 1970 through ‘79,

with the proceeds going to the Newport Harbor Education Foundation.

The foundation is the private fund-raising arm of Newport Harbor High

School. It raises money to promote academic excellence and enhance

educational opportunities for all students at Newport Harbor.

Alumni are coming from as far as the East Coast and Hawaii to reunite and

relive one of their favorite high school memories -- the legendary local

surf band, Honk.

“They were our high school years. They’re a real beach, fun-in-the-summer

type of band,” Hunter Severt, a 1975 graduate, said of Honk.

Best known for the soundtrack to the movie “Five Summer Stories,” Honk

has many alumni excited to return.

“They were the big surf band and no one can believe they’re getting

together for us,” said Brigit Bush, class of 1974.

Also performing will be Danny Greyshock and the Greysharks and the ‘70s

Classmate All Star Band featuring Phil Marshall and the Ball Bros.

Still, much of the excitement is wondering who will show, said Severt,

who flew in from Washington for her first reunion since she graduated.

“I’ve lived out of state since 1980 and have only kept in touch with a

handful of people,” she said. “It’s so exciting -- no one knows you like

your friends from high school.”

“It’s so exciting just to see the names of people we haven’t seen in so

long,” said Kawamura, who has stolen a peek at the guest list.

The reunion will be at 6 p.m. Saturday at Twin Palms Restaurant in

Fashion Island. Tickets are $100 per person and can be purchased by

calling 1-888-997-5673.

“Our hope was to donate somewhere between $20,000 and $50,000 [to the

foundation] -- or more, depending on how many donations come from

well-meaning souls,” Kawamura said.

If any graduates of the ‘70s have yet to get their tickets, the

“ice-breaker” pancake breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday morning

would be a good opportunity to purchase them, Kawamura said.

The breakfast will be held at Newport Harbor High and is open to all

alumni. The cost is $5 for adults and $4 for children.