Dance, eat and sing all in the name of a good cause at Saturday’s Philippines Typhoon Relief Benefit Concert.
Dance, eat and sing all in the name of a good cause at Saturday’s Philippines Typhoon Relief Benefit Concert.
The post-Christmas, pre-New Year’s extravaganza features an assortment of top-notch acts ranging from Filipino folk dancers to renowned slack-key guitarists from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. at Aunty Salley’s Luau Hale at 799 Piilani St.
There will be opportunities to win ukuleles, guitars, gift certificates and more during a silent auction. Admission is by donation, and tickets are available at Hilo Guitars &Ukuleles, Downtown Dogs and Marcy’s.
Glenn Cornick, former Jethro Tull band member and concert volunteer, said when he first got involved with the fundraiser, he was moved by the community’s willingness to participate in the relief efforts.
“Then you realize everyone on this island has a connection to the Philippines,” he said. “It’s one of the biggest minorities on the island and everybody is either related to somebody or has friends who are Filipino or you work with somebody, you don’t realize that until you’re put in this position,” he said.
According to the U.S. Census American Community Survey, Hilo is home to 3,019 Filipinos. When one of the largest storms in history struck the country’s central islands on Nov. 8, killing thousands and destroying much in its path, the Hilo community responded by supplying a plethora of donated goods to those in need.
Ken Cameron, owner of Hilo Guitars and Ukuleles, responded by spearheading the upcoming benefit concert. Having previously lived in Cebu City in the Visayan region of the Philippines, he said when he first heard the news about Typhoon Haiyan, he instantly felt compelled to formulate a fundraiser event that would draw a crowd.
“That’s our strong point — the music,” he said.
Cameron has organized multiple benefit concerts in the past, including an Asia Tsunami Relief Concert that reeled in $25,000 in donations for victims of the Dec. 26, 2004, earthquake and tsunami disaster in South Asia.
He hopes Saturday’s event will be a similar success and said he owes many thanks to the numerous community volunteers, local musicians, downtown businesses, including Pacific Sound and Big Island Candies, for their efforts in making the Dec. 28 concert a reality.
“It’s like everyone wanted to participate in it,” Cameron said.
Money from the silent auction, tickets and other sales will go toward the local Congress of Visayan Organization for Typhoon Haiyan relief efforts.
Margarita “Day Day” Hopkins, board member for the local Visayan group, recently returned from the Philippines and anticipates the money will go toward Gawad Kalinga, an organization that works to build villages and initiate livelihood programs and health services for communities around the world, and the Archdiocese of Palo.
Hopkins, of Leyte, said donations from Saturday’s event will go in the hand’s of the people who need it the most.
“People there are continually in need of assistance. Most of the outer layers aren’t affected by the relief efforts,” she said. “So, that’s why I’m more inclined to reach out to the very bottom of the community. They need it the most.”
E-mail Megan Moseley at mmoseley@hawaiitribune-herald.com.