Hammers n’ Ales

Good beer is one way to attract people to a party.

Plenty of great food helps, too.

Add in a nonprofit, and you’ve got the perfect combination for a wonderful fundraiser.

Hammers n’ Ales to benefit the Kauai Habitat for Humanity is set for 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Poipu Beach Athletic Club on the concert lawn.

“We think it’s going to be a great event and people will have a wonderful time,” said Chris Young, one of the organizers.

Kauai Habitat’s Hammers N’Ales Oktoberfest will feature great food, beers, and music. Food and drink included in ticket price plus a logo tasting glass.

People are encouraged to come out, have a beer, taste some food, enjoy the sunshine and support affordable housing on Kauai, which is in short supply.

There will be food by The Kitchen at Papayas, Lava Lava Beach Club, Mark’s Place, Kauai Island Brewery & Grill, Merriman’s Fish House, Keoki’s Paradise, and DGreen BBQ. Plus, there will be more than two dozen beers to sample and music will be provided by Homestead, Cruz Control, and Not My First Rodeo.

“We’ve got a terrific lineup,” Young said. “Don’t miss this one.”

A similar fundraiser in June for Junior Achievement and the Kauai Humane Society, the first annual Dog House Beer Fest, sold more than 600 tickets and raised about $70,000, which the organizations shared.

Music, games, food and brews were the centerpiece of that party, which took place on the Sheraton Kauai Resort lawn under large tents in the afternoon sunshine.

The success of the beer festival in part led to the creation of Hammers n’ Ales.

“Who wouldn’t like beer, food and music to benefit a great organization like Habitat for Humanity,” Young said.

Young, past president of the Poipu Bay Rotary Club and Habitat for Humanity board member, has been active in raising money and recruiting volunteers for many nonprofits. He knows well of the good work of Habitat for Humanity and wanted to do what he could to help more families get into homes. It didn’t take long to build support and momentum.

Since 1992, Kauai Habitat has built about 135 affordable homes and made critical repairs to 29 existing homes for families whose household income is between 30 to 80 percent of the median Kauai income.

Early this year, Kauai Habitat for Humanity celebrated the groundbreaking for 59 buildable lots at the Phase IIB of the Eleele Iluna subdivision.

The Eleele Iluna project will eventually provide 107 affordable housing units to families with the first dozen families already occupying the first phase.

Peter Wiederoder, president of the Kauai Habitat board, said such projects get family, friends and neighbors involved, because of the volunteer hours involved.

“We don’t just put a house in place,” Wiederoder said. “Because of all the people involved in getting the home built, we build communities. The plans for the more than 30 homes makes Kauai Habitat the biggest in the state, and one of the bigger units in the country.”

Kauai Habitat for Humanity plans to start as much as 30 new homes in the next few months in cooperation with the Department of Hawaiian Homes.

“I applaud Kauai Habitat for providing hardworking families with the tools they need to become proud homeowners,” said Gov. David Ige. “Your self-help model empowers people by giving them the opportunity to build and own their own home.”

Tickets are $55 online through today and $65 at the door.

Info: www.kauaihabitat.org

Leona Sa McDermott, a Habitat homeowner and board secretary, said she hopes Hammers N’ Ales raises funds to help families get into homes, and raises awareness of the need for affordable housing on Kauai.

“We are looking forward to this,” she said.

She became a homeowner through Habitat for Humanity. It requires sacrifice and commitment and overcoming hurdles, she said, but it is worth it, especially when you get the keys to your home and realize you own it.

“I feel I can, with my experience and my journey, I can help hopefully get into a homeowners head, ‘You guys can do it, I did,’” McDermott said.