Jicky Ferrer, one of the dozen Most Romantic Men finalists, said he grew apprehensive as he read about his competition's grand gestures.

"I didn't adopt (four) kids!" said the Mililani Mauka man. "I didn't give roses to everybody on a plane, oh, and Mr. Yoza!"

But Ferrer made it, as did Leovigildo "Leo" Ramirez of Makakilo, whose son, Gil, surprised him with the nomination.

"I was thrilled, after all my hard work," said Ramirez, the longest-married of the group. "It's mostly my wife who noticed it, but that my son noticed it, too."

Fellas, meet the rest of your competition: an Iraq War veteran, Chris Deringer, now a national reservist, who gave roses to his wife-to-be as she came off an Aloha Airlines flight to hear her proposal; and of course, Mr. Yoza — that's Andrew Yoza, a Hawaiian Airlines plane cleaner who goes the extra distance in the little things to show his wife he loves her.

Each of these four will receive a prize package consisting of tickets to all of the Hawai'i Romance Festival events, taking place May 2-11, including romantic dinners, movie screenings and live performances by artists such as Boz Scaggs, Gladys Knight, Aaron Neville, Smokey Robinson, Sergio Mendes and Brian Stokes Mitchell. In addition, the Final Four will each receive an Ultimate Romantic Dinner, including a romantic dinner at Morton's, Gold Star limo service, hotel, lei and a bouquet from Watanabe Floral, and etched champagne glasses from Daga.

Read Island Life for details on an April TV special featuring our Fabulous Four, as well as details on how to vote for the Most Romantic Man, who wins a trip to New York. KGMB 9 will follow these four most romantic men in their own environment and profile each one on a "Back to Romance" TV special that is being produced as part of the Hawai'i Romance Festival. From the four, one winner will be dubbed the Most Romantic Man in Hawai'i. The winner will receive the Ultimate Romantic Experience, including a trip to New York City, hotel weekend, romantic dinner, car service and tickets to a Broadway show.

HAWAI'I ROMANCE FESTIVAL

Schedule of events:

May 2: Opening Ceremony. The 10-day festival kicks off at 'Iolani Palace with a performance by the Matt Catingub Orchestra. Aaron Mahi will conduct a blessing and a hula halau will perform. Kahu Curtis Kekuna of Kawaiaha'o Church will invite audience members to renew their vows.

May 4: International Music Night. Sergio Mendes and his band join the Matt Catingub Orchestra at Waikiki Shell. Also on the bill: Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, Martin Nievera, Jake Shimabukuro and South Korean R&B and K-drama singer Kim Bum Soo. Tickets: $25-$150.

May 5: Romantic Night at the Movies. A screening of "Gone With the Wind" at Hawai'i Theatre commemorates the film's 70th anniversary; sponsored in part by the Hawaii International Film Festival. Ann Rutherford, who portrayed Scarlett's younger sister Careen in the film, is an invited guest.

May 6: Dancing With the Stars Hawaiian-style.A Matt Catingub Big Band Dinner and Dance at the Monarch Room, Royal Hawaiian hotel. Guests may dance with Hawai'i celebrities for $10 a dance, with all proceeds benefiting Hawaii Arts Alliance. Ticket price to be announced.

May 7-8: The Most Romantic Songs Ever Written ... Part 2. Hosted once again by Nick and Nina Clooney, these concerts at Hawai'i Theatre are a continuation of a Broadway-style show last year. Tony Award-winner Brian Stokes Mitchell stars, along with Jimmy Borges, Matt Catingub, Anita Hall, Glenn Medeiros and others, performing the next "20 Most Romantic Songs Ever Written," as voted on by a survey of members of the music industry. Tickets: $25-$95.

May 9: Back to Romance. This concert at Waikiki Shell features legendary Motown artist Smokey Robinson, along with male musical artists from Hawai'i who are included on the Matt Catingub Orchestra of Hawai'i's "Back to Romance" CD, including Robert Cazimero, Cecilio & Kapono, Eric Gilliom, Nathan Aweau and Barry Flanagan of Hapa, Kaukahi and Afatia. Tickets: $25-$150.

May 10: The Rhythm of Romance. R&B legend Gladys Knight, soul singer Aaron Neville and "American Idol's Kimberley Locke join Island musicians for this event at Blaisdell Arena. Tickets: $35-$150.

May 11: Pink Night concert and dinner. '70s hitmaker Boz Scaggs headlines this event at The Royal Hawaiian hotel, in honor of Mother's Day. Pink Night benefits the Queen's Cancer Center in the fight against breast cancer. The event includes dinner, a fashion show and concert. Tickets: $250; concert only, $75-$150.