Dine out, hang out — and help out relief efforts

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor

You already have donated blood, called in a pledge to the "America: A Tribute to Heroes" telethon, cheered the songsters in the "Aloha From Hawai'i" marathon show, supported the movie chains' drive on Tuesday and turned in a check at the office.

All for the victims of the terrorism attacks, of course.

As the nation ponders ways to fight terrorism and the community attempts to return to a sense of normalcy, you can continue to give — and get a little something back in return, in most instances. In other words, go out, have some fun and still help The Cause.

And save Oct. 11 to eat out at a local restaurant, as Hawai'i joins in a nationwide effort to "Dine for America," a benefit for the American Red Cross disaster relief fund. A similar unified effort, "Hearts of Hawai'i Unite," will be observed Oct. 18.

Here's just a sampling of a growing list of people and places doing something special to help those most affected by the terror attacks:

In the clubs

• Azure McCall's CD launch party, from 7 p.m. today at the Hawaii Prince Hotel, will benefit the American Red Cross in addition to the American Cancer Society and Worknet. Tickets are $35, $65 and $125. 841-6665, 944-3325.
• Jay Larrin, Hawai'i's poet of the keyboards, gives a concert of songs of inspiration and hope, at 7:30 p.m. today at the Honolulu Suite of the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel; calabash contributions will be accepted for the victims of Sept. 11; $25. 371-2910.
• Rail, Hawai'i's reigning alternative rock band, will be joined by the Red Door Dancers and Nikki from K-POI FM in a fund-raiser for Aloha United Way, 9 p.m.-4 a.m. today at Wave Waikiki, 1877 Kalakaua Ave. The Wave staff is donating its pay for the night; all proceeds will go to AUW. Open to those 21 and older; minimum $5 donation at door. 941-0424.
• "Mele O Ka Lani," a benefit for the American Red Cross, will be held 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Oct. 13 at the Hawaiian Hut, 410 Atkinson Drive. Performers will include THC, the Wrecking Crew, Pimpbot, Lose Money, the Knumbskulls, 86List and DJs A2Z, Equal, Eric H. Open to those 18 and older; $5. 941-5205.

In the restaurants

• "Dine for America," an American Red Cross benefit, will be observed here Oct. 11. Ed Wary, Hawai'i delegate to the National Restaurant Association, which is organizing the unified effort, has been contacting local restaurants to join his two Dixie Grills and two Auntie Pastos to earmark proceeds to victims. Information: Wary at 261-1580. Among the early sign-ons:

  Anna Miller's, Pearlridge Center, will participate. 487-2421.

  Auntie Pasto's at 1099 S. Beretania (523-8855) and at 559 Kapahulu (739-CIAO) will donate 20 percent of proceeds; employees can donate part or all of their wages or tips that day; customers may make cash donations.

  Bravo Restaurant, at Pearlridge Center, will participate. 487-5544.

  Compadres Bar & Grill, Ward Centre and Lahaina Cannery, will donate all food and drink proceeds, with employees donating a portion of their tips. 591-8307.

  Dixie Grill, 404 Ward Ave. (596-8359) and 99-046 Kamehameha Highway (485-CRAB), will donate 20 percent of proceeds; employees can donate all or portion of their wages, tips.

  Dots, 130 Mango St., Wahiawa. Will donate 20 percent of sales for breakfast, lunch and dinner (excluding liquor). 622-4115.

  Indigo, 1121 Nu'uanu Ave., will participate. 521-2900.

  Jimmy's Lakeside Cafe, 1718 Wilikina Drive, Wahiawa, will hold a pupu party with Hawaiian entertainment, 4-7 p.m., contributing the $20 per person admission to the Red Cross. 621-6800.

  Kengo's at Restaurant Row will have canisters for cash donations.

  Kincaid's, 1050 Ala Moana (Ward Warehouse, second floor); all proceeds to the victims. Also, Kincaid's is offering a $10 dining certificate for a $5 donation to the Red Cross, now through Nov. 9. 591-2005.

  Nick's Fishmarket, 2070 Kalakaua Ave., will sell a special dessert with proceeds to the American Red Cross. 955-6333.

  Palomino Restaurant, 66 Queen St. (in Harbor Court mezzanine); all proceeds to the victims. Also, the restaurant is holding a two-part benefit involving O'ahu firefighters. A "bachelor auction" (one was held last night, another will be held Oct. 4), with Lisa D, KQMQ personality, as auctioneer, enables bidders to win a dinner with a bachelor on the block; a $100 dining certificate donated by Palomino comes with the win. If you don't want to bid for a firefighter, you can still help by writing a check to the New York Fire 911 Relief Fund, which will be accepted by the restaurant and forwarded. Or make a $5 donation to the Red Cross, and receive a $10 dining certificate, now through Nov. 9. 528-2400.

  Ruth's Chris Steak House, 500 Ala Moana (Restaurant Row), Lahaina and The Shops at Wailea, will participate. 599-3860 (O'ahu), (808) 661-8815 (Lahaina), (808) 874-8880 (Wailea).

  Ryan's Grill, 1200 Ala Moana (Ward Centre); all proceed to victims. 591-9132.

  Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar, 500 Ala Moana (Restaurant Row), will participate. 536-6286.

• "Hearts of Hawai'i Unite" takes place Oct. 18. Early sign-ons:

  Don Ho's Island Grill, Aloha Tower Marketplace; 528-0807.

  Sunset Grill, 500 Ala Moana (Restaurant Row); 521-4409.

• Other restaurant events:

  Restaurant Suntory, Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, has a special dinner menu for which 100 percent of proceeds will go to the American Red Cross. 922-5511.

  Dixie Grill, 404 Ward Ave. and 99-016 Kamehameha Highway, features a Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival; a $10 contribution will go to the New York Fire Fighters Fund for each festival T-shirt sold ($15). Ward Avenue (596-8359), 485-CRAB ('Aiea).

  Oktoberfest, Ala Moana Hotel's annual celebration, will donate half of the proceeds of ticket sales to the American Red Cross. The event runs Oct. 9-14 in the hotel's Hibiscus Ballroom; hours: 6 p.m.-midnight Thursday, 6 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday and Saturday, 5-11 p.m. Sunday. $5 admission weekdays and Sundays, $8 Friday and Saturday. 955-4811.

  Pizza Hut restaurants will donate all proceeds from Carryout for Literacy Cards sales to victims, through Oct. 31 (the cards cost $10 and includes a second free pizza for a year with the purchase of one).

On the radio

• New Wave Broadcasting's group of stations (KQMQ-FM 93.1 FM, KDDB-FM 102.7 Da Bomb and KPOI-FM 97.5 KPOI) recently did a unified live broadcast, raising $37,823 for the American Red Cross. The "Spirit of Aloha Fund raiser" is continuing indefinitely.

Elsewhere in the community

• A Stand Up for America March and Rally is slated from 9 a.m. Saturday beginning at Magic Island and continuing to the Waikiki Shell, where a rally is to begin at 11:30 a.m. Similar programs will be held on the Neighbor Islands Saturday, as follows: Hilo — 3 p.m. march, from Kaiko'o Mall parking lot to Kalakaua Park, with rally at 4 p.m. at the park; Kona — 9 a.m. march, from Kailua Pier to Hard Rock Cafe volleyball park, with rally at 10:30 a.m.; Kaua'i — 8 a.m. march, at Kukui Grove Center stage, with 8:45 a.m. rally; Maui — 9 a.m. march, from Maui Community College to Maehara Baseball stadium, with rally at 10 a.m.
• Yard Sale of Aloha, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, at Makena Street and throughout Haiku Village, Kane'ohe (rain date is Sunday). Donations accepted. E-mail: yardsaleofaloha@hawaii.rr.com
• "Smokey Joe's Cafe," the Manoa Valley Theatre hit musical, will do a special benefit for victims, in a just-added closing performance, at 8 p.m. Oct. 14. All seats $50, including show poster. 988-6131.