TheBuzz
TheBuzz
The nonprofit Centro Hispano De Hawaii, established to provide services to Hispanics in Hawaii, is getting a little help from its friends, who in this case include three-time Grammy-award-winner Celia Cruz. Businesses chip in
for Salsa-ThonReferred to by ardent fans as "La reina de la salsa," or the queen of salsa (music), Cruz will donate a portion of ticket sales for her July 26 concert to the center -- which will begin sales tomorrow. The center is at 2044 S. Beretania St. and is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
The concert was originally planned for Andrews Amphitheater but was moved to the Sheraton Waikiki grand ballroom, Centro Hispano Executive Director Nancy Ortiz said.
The center will also benefit from the June 23 "Salsa-Thon 2002," themed, "Embrace the Heat," from noon to 8 p.m. at McCoy Pavilion in Ala Moana Park.
"Latin Lady DJ" Margarita Valdes conceived last year's inaugural Salsa-Thon as a community event without a fund-raising aspect. It drew 2,000 people, according to Ortiz. The Hawaii Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is providing volunteers.
Valdes volunteers at Centro Hispano "and she knows we don't have funds so she wanted to turn this (year's Salsa-Thon) into a fund-raising event, so that's how it's come to be, through her efforts," Ortiz said.
To help raise funds for the center's beneficiaries, silent auction items have been donated by businesses such as Verizon Hawaii, the Ala Moana Hotel, Oahu Center for the Arts, Mercado de la Raza, Reflections Glass Co. and J.B. Woodcraft. Local crafters will also sell their wares.
It may be preferable to take the kids for turns on Heather's Inflatables before visiting the numerous food vendors, including Aunty's Puerto Rican Kitchen, Shige's Saimin Restaurant, Kalihi Super Stop & Deli, Quick Stop, Uncle Lani's Poi Mochi and Herb Carlos' Famous Malasadas.
While several musicians and dancers will donate their talents for the crowd on hand, attendees will be able to take some of the music home with them. Quiet Storm Records will sell its "Salsa From Hawaii" CD at the event and donate a portion of the proceeds to the center.
Additionally Latin music DJs Alberto Archilla, Rod Moreno, Rodney Perez and Ray Cruz, normally seen only in clubs or heard on the radio will donate spinning and master of ceremonies services to keep the rhythm rolling.
Frankie Villalobos and Valdes, both popular club jocks, will be joined by Cruz and Ortiz in carrying out hosting duties while Ortiz will be doing live call-ins to the studio for her regular 1 to 4 p.m. radio show on KWAI-AM 1080.
Villalobos will have to take his leave early as his show airs on KNDI-AM 1270 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com