KAILUA — Contractors pound- ed their hearts out for the American Cancer Society, building two gazebos for a July 9 auction to help raise cancer research fund.

Nearly a month later, they're still awaiting word on how much money their skilled labor turned out to be worth.

After drawing raves when they were unveiled on a float in the Kailua Fourth of July parade, the gazebos didn't attract even one bid at the charity event, said Charlie Schmucker, project organizer.

"I really didn't think it was going to be an easy sell," he said. "But not one bite. Not an offer of a dollar."

The gazebos were designed by an architect and built by craftsmen using high-quality materials, Schmucker said, adding that the mimimum bid of $15,000 each would be the cost of materials and labor if both hadn't been donated to help the fundraiser.

"The reality of what we asked is way below what you'd end up paying if you were to build one on your own," said Lani Almanza, executive director for the Windward Unit of the cancer society.

Schmucker said one of the gazebos finally sold last week for $15,000, but they're still awaiting bids on the other. He reasoned that the July 9 venue, the park at Kailua Beach, may have been too isolated and that the auction didn't get enough publicity.

"I tried to market them in the wrong neighborhood," he said. "I think that was my downfall. I think the town side of our island needs to know they're available."

Schmucker is used to the hard sells. Two years ago he and the same team of contractors built a playhouse for the cancer society and auctioned it for $16,000, but was unable to deliver to the winning bidder's home on a Lanikai hillside. The bidder pulled out and other interested parties weren't able to meet the upset price. Schmucker was not willing to give the house away for too small of a price.

Finally, an anonymous bidder stepped forward to purchase the playhouse for his daughter after reading about it in The Advertiser, but decided instead to give the structure to HUGS (Help, Understanding & Group Support), a nonprofit organization that supports the families of seriously ill children. That same anonymous bidder donated $2,500 toward the material for this year's projects, he said.

Most of the material for the gazebos came from Hardware Hawai'i Ace building-supply company. ABC Supply, a roofing-supply company, also contributed to the project.

Schmucker has been raising money at the Windward Relay for Life for seven years. He stumbled across the fundraiser after returning from a fishing trip that was a reward for successfully beating cancer seven years ago. He donated his catch to the relay, earning $120 for the organization. Each year, he has done more and eventually involved the Kane'ohe Yacht Club fishing fleet members and his wife, Dianne, who would make New England clam chowder and fishburgers for the Cure Cafe.

The year he built the playhouse, his crew of builders and fishermen brought in $25,476 for the Cancer Society. This year, his goal was $40,000. The Cure Cafe and the first gazebo brought in about $28,000, he said.