Many of Hawaii’s finest musicians are gathering statewide today for “Maui Ola: A Benefit Concert for Maui.
The Hawaii Island portion of the show is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Parker Ranch Center in Waimea. Musicians include: Mark Yamanaka; Kala‘e and Kalena; Ho‘aikane, the Lim Family, Blayne Asing, Loeka and Kenny T.
It’s a live concert and broadcast fundraiser, where 100% of proceeds will support the communities severely impacted by the deadly wildfires on Maui, through donation portals, including Maui United Way, Hawaii Community Foundation, Hawaii People’s Fund and the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement. There’s no admission charge.
“We are not taking cash. It’s all QR codes,” said KAPA-FM afternoon personality Tommy “Kahikina” Ching, who’ll emcee the Waimea show. “We’re directing people where they can Venmo, PayPal or take a credit card charge. That’s what we’ll be doing. There are several links on the Maui Ola website and we will allow them to go to whatever they choose.”
Donation portals and more info, including were to park and get a shuttle to the event can be found online at MauiOla.com. People are advised to bring their own chairs. Tents are not allowed, and the show is a drug- and alcohol-free event.
Hilo singer-songwriter-guitarist Mark Yamanaka, a 14-time Na Hoku Hanohano award winner, noted that Big Island musicians, as well as those on Oahu at a sold-out show at Bishop Museum, want to be a part of the healing and recovery process.
“Whether or not you raise a lot of money or you raise just a dollar, it’s beneficial,” Yamanaka said. “Music has this effect over people, spiritually, that is healing. Just because we’re not on Maui, that doesn’t mean we’re not affected. To have witnessed all these things is taxing on all our spirits. And for me to be able to perform music is healing for myself and for the audience, as well.”
“Music always is a way to start the healing — always,” added Ching. “And that’s what the musicians are doing. They’re sharing their music and their mana‘o and the audience members can share what they can, whether it’s a dollar, two dollars, whatever. It’s not just about kokua for Maui, it’s about healing for ourselves.”
The sold-out Oahu show, from 5-9 p.m. will be livestreamed statewide, with some pre-recorded segments from Waimea, Ching said.
The live broadcast will begin at 6 p.m and will be available on a number of platforms, including: mele.com, local TV stations — KGMB, KHNL KFVE, KITV, KIKU, KHON, KHII, and PBS Hawaii, plus Big Island radio stations KAPA-FM, KPUA 670 AM and 98.5 FM, KWXX 94.7 FM, B97 and B93.