For nearly four hours last Sunday, some of Hawai'i's greatest entertainers staged a farewell concert for our longtime entertainment writer and columnist Wayne Harada.

Melveen Leed, Jim Nabors, Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, the Brothers Cazimero, Danny Kaleikini, Jake Shimabukuro, Society of Seven Las Vegas, Jimmy Borges, Shari Lynn, the reunited Fabulous Krush, Frank DeLima, Augie T. and several dozen others played to a sold-out show at the Waikiki Nei Showroom, with the lei-topped Harada sitting in the center of the audience, taking it all in.

The production came together through the sheer will of Cha Thompson, the co-owner of Tihati Productions, who was adamant about marking Harada's 44 1/2 years at The Advertiser while assisting a local charity — the newspaper's Christmas Fund, which benefits Helping Hands Hawai'i. So many entertainers volunteered to be part of the production that some had to be turned away. In the end, the show raised more than $32,000 for more than 100 needy families.

Cha's volunteer team clicked into high gear and sold tickets, staffed the box office, put ads in the playbill, worked as ushers, ran the lights and sound system and cleaned up when it was all over. Roy Tokujo donated the use of the Waikiki Nei Theatre — worth $25,000 to rent — and playbill ads and donations took care of the other costs. My assistant, Leslie Kawamoto of The Advertiser, tirelessly made sure everyone was accommodated.

To watch an array of talented performers come out and personally thank Harada was impressive and many of them mentioned he had a hand in launching or furthering their careers. Gov. Linda Lingle and others spoke about how Harada was adept at building entertainers up rather than tearing them down. Tom Moffatt, Mayor Mufi Hannemann, Loretta Ables Sayre and even David Copperfield offered touching videotaped testimonies. Were Don Ho and Israel Kamakawiwo'ole still alive, it is safe to say they would have joined the celebration.

At the end, the "Hooray for Haradawood" cast invited the man of the hour onstage and he graciously thanked everyone who had made the afternoon so special.

The next day, Harada was still trying to process it all.

"I'm still in a state of exhilaration," he said. "On a cloud. Wonderful show. Terrific memories."

In many ways, the show was a reflection of Harada's four-decade career, which continues today even in retirement with his Sunday column, his Island Sounds contributions and new blog, "Show and Tell Hawai'i."

"For the most part, many of the troupers started doing what they do now during the early stages of my tenure, so we grew up together, and I think their appearance validated their growth and the grand panorama of all those performers," he said. "It made me feel that, hey, it was worth putting in the time for the paper."

Harada said it was like getting a Lifetime Achievement Award with the entertainers —and his readers —casting their votes for him.