KALAPAKI – Well over 1,000 local residents and visitors attended the Friends of Bethany Hamilton fund-raiser held at the Kauai Marriott’s grand ballroom Saturday from 3 p.m. – 8 p.m. The packed event turned into a cross-island reunion for many
KALAPAKI – Well over 1,000 local residents and visitors attended the Friends of Bethany Hamilton fund-raiser held at the Kauai Marriott’s grand ballroom Saturday from 3 p.m. – 8 p.m.
The packed event turned into a cross-island reunion for many with participants coming in from every corner of the island.
Jill Smith, one of the organizers of the event, said over 500 items had been donated to make up the sea of items sitting on tabletops. A stroll of the packed hotel room showed most every item had a bid placed on it. Donations ranged from items like a surfboard donated by world professional surfing champion Andy Irons to fine art work to local gift items.
Live entertainment provided by Tommy & Malia and other performers was topped off by a set from classic rocker Graham Nash accompanied by Allen Thomas.
A special booth offering food and refreshments anchored the back wall of event.
Proceeds from the funds raised at the event are going to help cover the medical bills and rehabilitation needs of Bethany Hamilton, the 13-year-old shark attack victim who lost her arm at Tunnels Beach in Ha‘ena on Halloween morning to a tiger shark.
Hamilton’s plight has brought her international media attention including a front page photo in the New York Times. Her first major media interviews are expected to be aired in the near future.
