Kokua Team Comes Together Again
Henry Kapono will perform at Kokua for the Philippines. Photo by Dana Edmunds
Just as they’ve done three times before, Hawaii entertainers volunteer their time and talent Sunday at the Hilton Hawaiian Village
Thanksgiving has come and gone, and Christmas is just over the horizon. It’s so easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of the holidays – there are gifts to buy and wrap, parties to attend, meals to cook. But the Christmas season also is about giving back to those in need.
The same group that put on Kokua for Katrina (2005), Kokua for the Pacific (2009) and Kokua for Japan back in 2011 after the earthquake and tsunami hit the East Asian country, have joined forces once again, but this time to raise funds for those affected by Typhoon Haiyan, which struck the Philippines in early November.
“The idea came about when we saw the media coverage,” explains Henry Kapono, who also will perform in the benefit concert. “We did the one for Japan and we all worked together.
The team is already in place.”
Chuck Cotton, vice president/general manager of Clear Channel Media + Entertainment, one of the event’s producers, says this is the fourth Kokua event as a team.
The event is produced by Clear Channel Media + Entertainment Hawaii and Oceanic Time Warner Cable, and producers from Ohana Broadcast Company, Kapono Inc. and Island Film Group will oversee the production, with services provided by NEP Supershooters.
“It’s not that they’re easy (to put on), but we know how to get ahold of one another,” he says. “It requires a lot of work and a lot of man-hours to put on a show like this, and a lot of cooperation.”
Despite the amount of hard work and time that go into this event, Cotton is quick to note that those involved in making this concert a reality are volunteers.
“All of the talent, all the performers, all of the staging and television, that’s donated,” he says. “We don’t write checks to anybody for this event.”
It’s always amazing to see people come together and give of their time and resources for a good cause, and Kokua for the Philippines is grateful for all the help they have received.
Local entertainers are answering the call to help those affected in the Philippines and will perform as part of Kokua for the Philippines, which takes place Dec. 15 from noon to 5 p.m. on Hilton Hawaiian Village’s Great Lawn. (Tickets cost $20 at honoluluboxoffice.com.)
“There are a lot of different entertainers,” Kapono says. “We tried to reach out to international entertainers, but all the ones we knew are on tour right now, but they send their best wishes.
“I think we have a good lineup of local artists. I think it’ll show what we have and what we can do.”
According to Kapono, a number of artists called in once they heard Kokua for the Philippines was taking place.
Kokua for the Philippines organizers are hoping it will be as successful as the 2011 Kokua for Japan event at Hilton Hawaiian Village, which raised $1.6 million for the Japan earthquake and Pacific relief effort. Photo by James Kimo Garrett
“This is what we know,” he says. “Music is always entertaining and people love to be entertained. This is one way we can entertain people and, at the same, time give back.”
Kokua for the Philippines is a radio, television and Internet benefit concert, and all the proceeds (the phone bank and on-site gifts) will go to American Red Cross-Hawaii.
In addition, Cotton says there will be other organizations participating.
“We have invited others because there are other people in the community and other nonprofits that are raising money,” he explains. “We want them to be recognized for their hard work in raising money.”
According to Cotton, Kokua for the Philippines will be broadcast live on local radio (KSSK 92.3, KSSK AM 590, Island 98.5) and television stations (KFVE, KGMB, KHNL, KHON2, KIKU, KITV 4, CW, Me-TV and OC 16), as well as online at kokuaforthephilippines.com and Clear Channel’s iHeartRadio website and app.
The phone bank portion of the event will be hosted by Clear Channel Media + Entertainment Hawaii and local broadcast and cable television personalities. Perry and Price will anchor the show, as they did the two previous Kokua events. Gov. Neil Abercrombie and Mayor Kirk Caldwell, as well as local television news anchors and personalities, are among the volunteers manning the phones, and Cotton says some of the cast of Hawaii Five-0 are expected.
“We encourage people to come and help our friends in the Philippines,” Kapono says. “I know it’s Christmas-time, but it’s a time to spread joy around the world, and the people in the Philippines can sure use it right now.”
Cotton agrees, and says he hopes people tune in and watch, go to their phones and make a donation.
“We want people to come to the event or watch it on television, listen to it on the radio and make a donation to help the people who have been so devastated by this awful storm,” he says.
Visit kokuaforthephilippines.com for more information on the event, as well as ways you can give a gift of hope for those in the Philippines.
The statewide donation number for the phone bank is 808-955-9900 and toll free at 855-905-6582.
ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP
as of Dec. 6
Henry Kapono
Kalapana
Amy Hanaiali’i
Sean Na’auao
Raiatea Helm
Brother Noland
Kealoha
Rebel Souljahz
Roman of Kolohe Kai
Natural Vibrations
Kuana Torres Kahele
Kupaoa
Kalei Gamiao
Sing the Body
Makana
Kristian Lei
Da Braddahs
Honolulu Jazz Quartet
Jordan Segundo
Aidan James
EMKE
Loretta Ables Sayre
Starr Kalahiki
Streetlight Cadence
Taimane
Honolulu Jazz Quartet
Saloon Pilots
Chaotic 5
