LIHUE — The 11th Annual Kauai Sings Christmas is set for 7 p.m. Saturday at the Kilohana Luau Pavilion.
“Kauai Sings Christmas is always the event that puts me in the holiday spirit,” said local judge and retired attorney Joe Moss.
Kauai Sings is a one to thrice yearly fundraiser for Malama Pono Health Services. The event has raised nearly $300,000 in non-restricted funds for the agency over the past 11 years and this funding is vital to keeping the agency open and solvent.
“So many of our programs, like the women’s clinic or the stop-smoking program are funded by grants with specific uses for the finances,” said Executive Director Mistee Bailey-Myrick. “Those grants don’t allow for basic costs of running the agency like renting our offices or paying the power bill.”
She said events like Kauai Sings and donations from private individuals are necessary to keep a nonprofit health agency like Malama Pono and others in business.
Just this year, Malama Pono has helped with early detection of ovarian cancer in several cases.
“Without our agency, these cancers wouldn’t have been detected in the early stages and the patients might not have had access to vital referrals and treatment plans to help them regain their health without further consequence,” Bailey-Myrick said.
Kauai Sings Christmas is an island favorite and the emcee is Kauai’s beloved Arnold Meister. The show features a band run by Rose Alfiler and many of the island’s favorite singers, including Karen Dickinson, Jason Blake, Alan Van Zee, Daphne Sanchez, Thom Newman, Dolly Kanekuni and many others.
In addition to traditional Christmas songs, there are always some fun surprise numbers for the audience also.
Tickets are available in advance starting at $25. Reserved tables of 10 are also available by calling 246-9577 or visiting www.mphskauai.org.
“It’s been my pleasure to put together this event for over a decade as a volunteer,” said producer Jason Blake. “Sometimes it seems like too much work and then someone bumps into me at the store and says, “You are having the Christmas show this year, aren’t you? We look forward to it so much.” “After someone says that, how could I say no?”
