PRINCEVILLE — Champagne and lighted evergreens, ivory keys and swing music will take over the Princeville Resort ballroom on Saturday, Dec. 8, for the annual Black and White Ball.
The Saturday evening of dancing, auctions and fine dining is a formal, black-tie-optional event that supports the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay, and in turn projects throughout the North Shore community.
An annual affair, the Black and White Ball has drawn together people from around the island for more than a decade and continues to be the largest fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay.
Usually, the event grosses around $27,000 in donations for the club.
“The money goes back to the community — dictionaries for schools, rescue tubes,” said John Oszust, former president and member of the Rotary Club.
The Hearts of Gold project is one focus for the club. It is an ongoing effort to donate and distribute 50 AEDs (automated external defibrillators) to schools and public places around the island, such as the Historic Kong Lung Market Center in Kilauea.
That project also includes hosting CPR classes.
“We’re just past the halfway point on that,” Oszust said. “We’ve installed more than 25 now and have funding for a few more.”
A farmers’ market building at Kilauea Community Agriculture Center is another project the club has been chipping away at, one with a multi-million-dollar price tag attached.
“That’s going to take some time. We’re going to have to pick at it,” Oszust said.
In 2017, the club funded a gazebo at the Kilauea Community Agriculture Center for public gathering — a $35,000 project.
Saturday night, the Black and White Ball will feature gourmet dinner from Executive Chef Hubert DesMaris, live music by Gypsy Spice, and a live auction that with trips and wine up for grabs.
A South African safari is one of the trips that will be auctioned, as well as a week at Mammoth ski area in California and a case of fine wine.
An online silent auction is already live with product baskets from local businesses like Auntie Lilikoi, Kauai Restoration and Cleaning and Salty Wahine, mini photo sessions and personal training sessions, restaurant gift certificates, rounds of golf at Puakea Golf Course and stays at local resorts like The Cliffs in Princeville.
Tickets for the Black and White Ball, which runs from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., are $150 each, tables of eight are $1,200 and reservations are available online.
“The theme this year is really to celebrate the community and Rotary,” Oszust said. “Come celebrate and help us continue along our path.”
Info: hanaleirotary.org
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Jessica Else, staff writer, can be reached at 245-0452 or jelse@thegardenisland.com.
