The 35th Annual Parent Teacher Fellowship Library Luncheon “Tales of the South Pacific” captured the spirit and allure of the islands. The Pacific Ocean provided a breathtaking backdrop for the more than 300 guests who attended the event on the bluffs of The Montage Resort in Laguna Beach last Wednesday. The luncheon’s Menehune Boutique offered tropical inspired prizes, including a Laird Hamilton stand up paddle board; a beach cruiser, complete with wicker basket and tiki bottle holder; to a Maui oceanfront villa and a Capo Beach bungalow, while the tales that evoked the romantic imagery and adventures of the South Pacific came to life on each and every hosted table.

More than 29 different tropical table tops lined the resort lawn. Guests were lured by titles like “The Little Mermaid,” “The Rainbow Fish,” “Merrie the Little Hula Dancer,” “The Art of the Aloha Shirt” and “Sponge Bob in the South Pacific”…enchanted by “The Blue Lagoon,” “Treasure Island,” “The Bungalow,” “Mutiny on the Bounty” and an “Hawaiian Wedding”… while learning “How To Live In Flip Flops,” the “Legend of the Gourd” and the “50 Places To Sail Before You Die.” The event was filled with aloha tall tales and sunny skies!

This year, HULA hostesses earned hospitality pineapple awards in the following five categories:

MOST OPPORTUNISTIC "Moorea" Table was awarded by the Library Luncheon committee to Jen Duran and Lauren Chalmers for their “All about Hawaii” table because their guests bought the HAP NUI (“the most”) tuition opportunity tickets!

BEST FORM "Fiji" Table was awarded by the Library Luncheon committee to Dana Melsom, Jennifer Barber and Michelle Garcia for their “Little Mermaid” table because they were the table hostesses who completed and submitted all their forms WIKI WIKI (“quickly”)!

MOST CREATIVE "Cook Islands" Table was voted on by all luncheon guests and went to Nazy Fouladirad and Cara Triscari for their “Around the World in 80 Days" table full of ALOHA (“love and affection”) without spending a lot of coconuts.

MOST OVER THE TOP "Bali Hai" Table was voted on by all luncheon guests and awarded to Andrea Toubia for her "Hawaiian Wedding" table that was just HO KA NANI (“Wow”)!

MOST TROPICAL “TAHITI" Table was voted on by all guests and awarded to Hilary Helsing and Traci Arnsten for "The Giving Tree" table that brought the theme, “Tales of the South Pacific,” to life in a dreamy, tropical table top.

Click here for a photo gallery.

Hostess awards were given out at the Montage’s Studio Patio during the HULA Hostess After Party for hostesses and underwriters to linger a little longer, visit with friends and, in the words of one of our table hostesses, “decompress” after all the hard work putting together the beautiful event tables. Hostesses kicked off their shoes, shared some laughs and toasted St. Margaret’s.

Attendees entered the coveted tuition opportunity drawing to win free tuition for the 2016-2017 school year, as well as an opportunity to win stunning diamond dangle earrings from Lugano Diamonds. A magnificent collection of raffle items were on display: Aris On The Coast, Cake, Second Skin Jewelry, a Capo Beach bungalow by The Parrs, Clarissa C Handbags, Laguna Supply, Lugano Diamonds, Lanvin, Laura Aline Jewelry, a Maui oceanfront villa by The Theodoras, Millie, The Montage, a Paris apartment by The Arundales, Pelican Hill, South Coast Plaza, Tacori Jewelers, The Well Fitness Center and Sandra Woodard. Our generous donor tables were beautifully decorated by The Black Iris, Laguna Beach and Floral Creations by Enzo in Costa Mesa.

As guests enjoyed the company of old and new friends, they enjoyed passed appetizers of Thai vegetable summer rolls, miniature crab cakes and cherry tomato and fresh mozzarella with basil oil balsamic injection, and dined on chilled Wiser Farms melon soup with a Moroccan mint and prosecco floater, grilled pineapple chicken salad, toasted coconut and hearts of palm with Maui sweet onion dressing. Dessert featured white rum coconut panna cotta, guava and passion fruit.

The day would not have been possible without the help of these and other dedicated volunteers:

Event Co-Chairs: Jessica Edward, Patti Tomaselli and Michelle Tingler

Director of Library Services: Darla Magana

PTF President: Lynda Collier

PTF Office Manager: Beth Adamany

Treasurer: Lia Kieckhafer

Event Treasurers: Lyn Clute, Gaylene Jones, Tracy Nock and Colleen Ryan

Reservations: Katherine C de Baca and Svetlana Korolev

Technology: Kristy McKnight

Hostess Coordinator: Lisa Payne

Photography: Jennifer Lynn Photography

Tuition Opportunity Tickets: Maggie Chang, Bronwyn Conway, Toni Josephs, Jessica Parr and Kathryn Wong

Boutique Coordinator and Display: Wendy Ballard

Boutique Procurement: Wendy Ballard, Iovanna Couig, Debe Deck, Maggie Flornes, Tim Garret, Cathie Lawler, Rachel Miller, Jessica Parr and Patti Tomaselli