Whatever Happened To...
An update on past news
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STAR-BULLETIN / JULY 1996
Don Ho talks about entertaining during an interview at the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel.
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Funds needed for Don Ho memorial
Question: What ever happened to plans to build a memorial for Don Ho, Hawaii's legendary musician and entertainer?
Answer: The city and a nonprofit organization are still working on it.
Honolulu 100, a nonprofit organization working with the city, raised about $20,000 from a golf tournament on Aug. 13, said Michael Pili Pang, executive director of the Mayor's Office of Culture and Arts. The money raised on what would have been Ho's 77th birthday fell short of the organization's goal of $30,000 to $40,000.
There's still more fundraising needed if the city chooses to build what it envisions with a bronze statue and a plaque for Ho's memorial in Waikiki. Last year, after Ho died, the city renamed Beach Walk Triangle, at Kalakaua Avenue and Beach Walk in Waikiki, Don Ho Park.
Ho died of heart failure on April 14.
Pang said the city has already started the process for a bronze statue by looking at different designs. However, the final design will depend on the amount of money raised or donated. The statue and plaque can cost anywhere from $50,000 to $300,000, he said.
"We want to make sure it's long-lasting so it won't be just a plaque," Pang said.
Pang said the city would like to unveil the memorial on a key date -- either the anniversary of Ho's death or his birthday. Pang said it's highly unlikely the memorial would be ready in time for the first anniversary of Ho's death next month.
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