HONOLULU – April 04, 2011 - Hawaiian Airlines is bringing together the best of Hawaii’s cuisine and entertainment communities to present a special fundraising event in support of Japan’s recovery efforts on Sunday, May 1st – “Lei Day” in Hawaii – at Aloha Tower Marketplace.
“Lei Day for Japan,” a Hawaii cuisine and music extravaganza, will begin at 6:00 p.m. and effectively take over the entire area extending from the Boat Days Bazaar courtyard to The Waterfront at Aloha Tower Marketplace. There will be continuous live entertainment and more than 25 food stations offering the cuisine of Hawaii’s leading chefs, including Roy Yamaguchi, Alan Wong, and Chef Mavro (see list below). Adding to the dining enjoyment, wines will be selected by Master Sommelier Chuck Furuya and provided courtesy of Southern Wine & Spirits.
All proceeds raised by the event will go to the Japan-America Society of Hawaii for donation to the Japanese Red Cross Society.
“We wanted to provide an opportunity for everyone in our community to send their aloha this Lei Day to our friends and relatives in Japan and lend our support to their recovery,” said Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian’s president and CEO.
Among the entertainers honoring the tradition of ‘May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii’ and donating their performances to the fundraising effort will be Keali‘i Reichel, Patrick Makuakane featuring N
ā Lei Hulu I Ka Wēkiu, Jake Shimabukuro, and Natalie Ai Kamauu.
Tickets to “Lei Day for Japan” are $100 per person for general admission, $1,500 for reserved tables with seating for 10, and $5,000 for a limited number of VIP tables with seating for 10. VIP table sponsors will enjoy table service and preferred seating near the music and hula performances.
Tickets go on sale today and can be purchased only at Chai’s Island Bistro at Aloha Tower Marketplace. For more information, visit online at www.LeiDayForJapan.org or call (808) 585-0011.
With its lead donation to “Lei Day for Japan,” Hawaiian’s commitments to fundraising efforts in support of Japan’s recovery have exceeded $100,000 to date. The company is also a sponsor of other Hawaii community fundraising events, including the “Kokua for Japan” live radio and telethon fundraiser, and the “Aloha for Japan” campaign organized by Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz and a consortium of business and community leaders. Hawaiian also has an internal fundraising drive with the company matching employee contributions that has so far raised $20,000 for Japan aid, and has donated transportation to specialized disaster response teams flying from the mainland to Tokyo in support of relief and recovery efforts.
Some of the acclaimed Hawaii chefs and restaurants taking part in “Lei Day for Japan” include:
Roy’s – Roy Yamaguchi
Alan Wong’s – Alan Wong
Chef Mavro’s – George Mavrothalassitis
Le Bistro – Alan Takasaki
DK’s Steak and Sansei Seafood – DK Kodama
Michel’s at the Colony Surf – Eberhard Kintscher
Kauai Grill Culinary Concepts by Jean-Georges – Colin Hazama
The Beachhouse at the Moana Surfrider – Rodney Uyehara
Tango Contemporary Café – Göran Streng
JJ Bistro and French Pastry – JJ Luangkhot
Side Street Inn – Colin Nishida
Poke Stop – Elmer Guzman
Ruth’s Chris Steak House – Leighton Miyakawa
Ola at the Turtle Bay Resort – Fred DeAngelo
Nori’s – BethAn Nishijima
Gate Gourmet – Aldo Romero
Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa – Bryan Ashlock
Morimoto Waikiki – Masaharu Morimoto
12th Ave Grill – Kevin Hanney
The Pacific Club – Eric Leterc
Singha Thai Cuisine – Joy Chaowasaree
Chai’s Island Bistro – Chai Chaowasaree
About Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past seven years (2004-2010) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. In addition, consumer surveys by
Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and Zagat have all ranked Hawaiian the top domestic airline offering flights to Hawaii. Hawaiian was also the nation’s highest-ranked carrier for service quality and performance in the prestigious Airline Quality Rating (AQR)study for 2008 and 2009.
Now in its 82
nd year of continuous service in Hawaii, Hawaiian is the largest provider of passenger air service to Hawaii from the state’s primary visitor markets on the U.S. mainland. Hawaiian offers nonstop service to Hawaii from more U.S. gateway cities (10) than any other airline, as well as service to South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Australia, American Samoa, and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides approximately 150 daily jet flights between theHawaiian Islands.
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at www.HawaiianAirlines.com.