Wine and dine to support Hualalai Academy

Wine and food pairings will highlight Hualalai Academy’s “Wine Under the Stars at Hualalai” fundraising gala Feb. 16 in North Kona.

The event is one of the school’s largest fundraisers helping cover what students’ tuition at the school doesn’t cover, including money for technology improvements and student scholarships, said Randy Botti, the Development, Marketing and Technology associate at the school. The cost of the sit-down event at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai is $150 per person, which includes boutique wine and gourmet food pairings, as well as an entry to win an iPad mini.

Almesa Winery in Paso Robles, Calif., is supplying syrah and port-style wines that will be paired with a special menu created by Four Seasons chef Shaun Acosta.

The event will also feature a silent auction in which people can use their smart phones, or a supplied kiosk, to bid on an array of items including trips, lodgings, activities, vacations, art, local goods and services, among others, Botti said.

The online auction is available to all, and buying a ticket is not required to participate, he added.

Tickets are available at the Kona Wine Market or online at bidpal.net/hualalai. Prebidding for auction items has already begun on the website.

Hualalai Academy is a K-12 college preparatory school that uses technology and project-based learning, Botti said. Founded in 1996, some 141 students are currently enrolled at the 21st Century-certified school.