PO‘IPU — Casablanca at Kiahuna Restaurant was packed all day long Sunday by customers who wanted to support a benefit held for Mike Young. Young, a popular musician and recording artist on Kaua‘i for more than 30 years, and who
PO‘IPU — Casablanca at Kiahuna Restaurant was packed all day long Sunday by customers who wanted to support a benefit held for Mike Young.
Young, a popular musician and recording artist on Kaua‘i for more than 30 years, and who has played nearly every venue, is suffering from cancer and the bills are piling up.
“I am very overwhelmed with all the love and aloha,” Young said. “This place is wall-to-wall people and everybody loving and coming by with good wishes for my journey back to good health.
“These guys didn’t have to do this for me,” he added. “This makes me realize we are all one in this universe.”
Event organizer and Casablanca owner Elizabeth Foley-McGinn said the benefit was for Young’s medical and living expenses. Since he is considering non-traditional care, the insurance companies do not always cover those options, she said.
“He is well loved,” Foley-McGinn said. “A lot of these people are musicians or are people who have come and heard him perform. I have had tourists that have dropped off checks for him knowing about his illness. It’s our way of thanking him for all the years he gave us music.”
The benefit is to help reduce the stress and anxiety that also comes with paying the rent, the bills and supporting a teenage son, she added.
“We’re all just friends and just people in the community that are coming together to help him,” said Janice Tierney, who organized the silent auction.
The donations came from several island restaurants for food and gift certificates. There were also CDs from several area musicians.
The response was very positive, especially being so close to the holidays and a very busy time for everyone, Tierney said.
“Through his music he gives so much,” said Paul Lucas, a vocalist and friend of Young’s. “He always engages the people and gives out so much, and that is why you see this reaction coming back to him. He deserves it, every bit of it.”
Fellow musician Scottie Springer helped put together the music for the event. He brought in all his own equipment and backed up several performers as a drummer.
The music ranged from traditional Hawaiian to rock and roll and even some punk rock, Springer said. They all came out to say Young was an important source of support to them when they started playing in public, and he encourages them to keep performing.
“Right now (Mike) is ready for his next step, but unfortunately he cannot afford it,” Springer said. “So we decided to come together and help him out. That is what you do. This is for life.”
Young is known for volunteering his time to work with children in water activities and is a member of Surfriders.
Young offers his time to perform at all types of benefits and causes. In addition to musicians and fans, his friends at the benefit included members of GMO Free Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i SEED and Malama Maha‘ulepu.
“When you live on Kaua‘i, it’s a small family and you lend a helping hand to your neighbor,” Foley-McGinn said.
Several hundred people turned out for lunch, followed by an afternoon crowd — and then the evening music fans.
Young said that cancer cells are present in his lung, heart and brain. After one round of chemotherapy, he said, the follow-up radiation would be too much. He added that he is staying strong and eating healthy.
The experience has brought him closer to God and has drawn him closer to his family, Young said. His friends helped research his condition and his files are being sent to Dr. Keith Black of Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The renowned neurosurgeon is interested in the case, Young said.
Dot Beach is a cancer patient advocate who has brought several rare cases to the attention of Dr. Black. She said there is much support locally to help people afford help off-island if necessary.
The National Cancer Information Center has a program to help cancer patients with airline tickets, she added. Call 800-227-2345 for more information.
“We are praying for Mike’s successful recovery so that we can all experience many more years of his heartfelt sharing,” Beach added.
Young put his situation in perspective by mentioning that he will perform music this week at services for Kapa Moke Jr., a 3-year-old boy who drowned last week.
“My problems suddenly feel very small,” he added.
To donate to the Mike Young fund, call the restaurant at 742-2929.
• Tom LaVenture, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or by emailing tlaventure@thegardenisland.com.
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