In a selfless gesture, the bartenders and staff in the lounge at Nobu Waikiki are staging “;Cocktails for a Cause”; this evening to raise funds for Haitian relief efforts—and will donate 100 percent of their tips to AmeriCares, a nonprofit that is providing aid.

Bar and lounge manager Dave Newman has concocted the Haiti Cocktail, an $8 beverage, for the occasion. Its ingredients were being tweaked last night, but will include rum and brandy and likely will include a garnish of coconut and sugar cane, he told TheBuzz.

The desire to help Haiti's hurting is “;top-of-mind for everybody—everyone's trying to find a way to give back,”; said Erika Kauffman, director of public relations for the Hotels & Resorts of Halekulani.

The fundraiser “;was completely generated by the employees themselves,”; she said. “;That's the beauty of what's going on around the world—people are taking ownership, (and giving) through whatever means they have.”;

She added, “;Cocktails for a Cause—as if we need another reason—reaches out to the cocktail culture. ... It's relevant to how they spend their time, their energies and their social environments.”;

Reservations are available by phone at 237-6999 or at www.opentable.com.

Hawaii businesses, many in the food and beverage industry, are nimble when it comes to such fundraising efforts.

Soul de Cuba Cafe raised $2,100 in a $20-at-the-door fundraiser on Thursday, after Schofield Barracks-based social worker Joana Cuevas shared her idea with restaurant owner Jesus Puerto.

While not a member of Latin Business Hawaii, a Chamber of Commerce organization, “;she helps us out so much,”; said President Marie Villa.

Puerto could not be reached, but LBH Director and Hawaii Hispanic News Publisher Jose Villa was proud that someone in the Hispanic community “;stepped up to the plate.”;

The crowd that attended was “;just really eclectic,”; Villa said, from construction workers “;coming in off the job ... to white-collar workers. It had a real nice vibe to it.”;

Oh yeah, there was also “;great food,”; in the form of all-you-can-eat pupus the restaurant served to the donors.

ON THE NET:

» www.americares.org
» twitter.com/NobuWaikiki
» www.noburestaurants.com/waikiki/index.html
» latinbusinesshawaii.com
» www.souldecuba.com/index.php

KELLY RETURNING TO TIZER

Pacific Business News Editor Jim Kelly will return to his old, inky stomping grounds Feb. 15 when he rejoins the Honolulu Advertiser as editorial and opinion editor.

Honolulu Advertiser Senior Vice President and Editor Mark Platte posted the announcement on his Twitter page: “;Jim Kelly named new Advertiser editorial page editor.”;

“;I sought him out,”; Platte told TheBuzz. “;He's a great guy, has strong opinions and is a good editorial writer.”;

Kelly will report to Platte, a role reversal as Kelly hired Platte in 2000 to serve as his assistant managing editor.

“;That's the cool thing about journalism,”; Kelly said. “;At some point in your career ... you're going to end up working for someone that you hired.”; Plus, “;it's a very small pond. ... I hired Mark in 2000 and we've always gotten along,”; Kelly said.

Kelly succeeds Jeanne Mariani-Belding, who left the paper Friday.