PORT ALLEN — There are few seats remaining for this Sunday’s Whale Watch Boatride Benefit for Hawai‘i Children’s Theatre.
The boat, courtesy of Captain Andy’s Sailing Adventure, will depart the Port Allen Marina at 2 p.m. and return at to 6 p.m.
The cost is $80 per person and includes whale watching, a scuba and snorkeling stop — weather permitting — with food and refreshments provided by the theater group.
“We provide the food and drinks and it’s really fun,” said HCT Board Secretary Debra Blachowiak. “So far, the majority of the people are local with a few tourists and it’s filling up pretty quick.”
Blachowiak said the sailing fundraiser is a children-friendly outdoor event and the main fundraising activity of the nonprofit organization that formed in 1996. The funds from the boat ride benefit go to support the scholarship fund and any left over go to support other organization programs.
The scholarships help area kids to attend the summer theater program. There are morning workshops for beginners to learn basic acting technique, singing, dance, voice and even set construction. The more experienced kids attend afternoon improvisation classes and plan the production of the annual musical.
“It is a four-to-five week session in the summer and culminates with a showcase and performances,” she added.
This year’s Pono Players production in the schools has a theme about bullying that is targeted at younger kids.
HCT has nine annual public performances in a fall production that draw approximately 3,000 guests. The high school interactive performances draw up to 1,600 students.
“We have to have these fundraisers because it helps to keep the ticket prices really low,” said Blachowiak, who also produces the fall production.
Kim Chow, office manager for Captain Andy’s, said the company has provide the boat tour for the Children’s Theater benefit for a decade or longer. They provide the boat and crew for a four-hour tour, and the theater group sells the tickets to benefit their scholarship fund.
“Captain Andy really likes doing things for the kids in the community, and its just something that we can do to help a worthwhile organization,” Chow said.
Visit www.hawaiichildrenstheatre.com or call Debra Blachowiak at 639-2437 for information.
