Mahalo to all who attended and contributed to the Masters of Hawaiian Music Slack Key Guitar concert at the La Paloma Theater in Encinitas, California, on October 7, 2023. George, Led, and Jeff gave an incredible and personalized performance, filling the theater with their beautiful music that made each one of us feel like we were back on the island of Maui.
A total of 308 tickets were sold at $75 a piece. The event generated $23,100 in revenue which has been sent off to be deposited into the Hawai’i Community Foundation - Maui Strong Fund! In addition, QR codes were passed out among the audience for those who wished to additionally contribute directly to the Maui Strong Fund. We do not have access to this report from the Hawai’i Community Foundation - Maui Strong Fund for funds raised by the audience attending the Masters of Hawaiian Music concert because this code was a generic code used at all events internationally to raise funds for Maui Strong.
Special thanks to our concert sponsors Ken Weisman-Humu Surf, Steve Lyman, and Michael Esposito for their generous contributions in helping host this special benefit event for victims of the Lahaina fire this past summer. Also, a special shout-out to Denny Berry who served as stage manager for the show and brought a real sense of professionalism and calm to all of us working on the event. Lastly, thank you to Allan Largent, owner of the La Paloma Theater, for providing the venue for the show with such short notice.
In closing, as stated the night of the show, the best way for all of us to continue to support Maui in the months and years ahead in the recovery and re-building of Lahaina, is to plan a trip back to west Maui in the near future. As of two weeks ago this region reopened. George Kahumoku has restarted his Masters of Hawaiian Music Slack Key concerts at the Napili Kai Beach Resort. His Slack Key Workshop is scheduled to occur in May 2024. Tourism is by far the greatest economic stimulus and job creator for the region. Now more than ever the workforce of west Maui needs us to come back and visit! Thank you and God Bless all of you for participating in a very special event. You could feel it that night in the theater the true spirit of Aloha which is why we love and respect the music and culture that is uniquely Hawaiian. Again thank you for support and patronage to this beautiful music form and also for contributing to the Maui Strong Fund.
Mahalo
Jim and Luann Esposito