"It was like reliving the tsunami tragedy all over again," said chef Chai Chaowasaree, who spearheaded an Aloha Tower Marketplace "Tsunami" fund-raiser in January and who is again coordinating a similar event for Katrina victims. "I kept seeing and hearing similar stories about the desperation and predicted deaths.

"If we (chefs) can band together to help the people who were devastated by the tsunami," Chaowasaree said, "then surely we can help those in our own backyard."

Scheduled for Mon., Sep. 19, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Aloha Tower Marketplace, the "Chefs for Hope" fund-raiser will benefit the Salvation Army. Tickets will cost $150, which is tax deductible. Corporate tables for 10 are priced at $5,000 and $10,000.

"The response has been unbelievable," said BJ Dorman, Salvation Army's divisional development director. "The generosity of Hawaii residents is truly heartwarming."

To date, the Salvation Army has collected more than $51 million in donations nationally, all of which will go directly to support the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

"We've already served well over 600,000 meals at our more-than 100 mobile canteens and two, 54-foot long mobile kitchens," Dorman said. "We're getting locals calling and asking if they can go to the area to help out. We even had one local woman who offered her brand new house in Austin, Texas, to house people who've been displaced by Katrina."

Island chefs will offer their culinary talents during next Monday's event.

Among them will be Le Bistro in Niu Valley Shopping Center chef and owner Alan Takasaki, who once lived and worked at The Hotel Iberville in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

"I've been staying up until 2:30 in the morning watching the news," Takasaki said. "And I've been trying to get in touch with my old roommate who still lives down there."

For the event, Takasaki will be preparing Southern-style barbecue shrimp, the first dish, he said, he had when he first moved to the French Quarter.

"It's hard to see the images on television," Takasaki said. "I just can't believe what's happened to the city."

Joining Takasaki and Chaowasaree will be chefs from 3660 on the Rise, Roy's, Hiroshi's, d.k Steakhouse, Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar, Side Street Inn, Chef Mavro's, Diamond Head Grill, Mariposa, Dean Okimoto of Nalo Farms, Alan Wong's and Fred DeAngelo of Olino Events.

Na Leo Pilimehana and C & K will be among the entertainers who will be performing during the evening. A live auction will also be featured, offering such items as first-class, round-trip tickets with Hawaiian Airlines.

"We're expecting up to 1,500 people that night," said a raspy Chaowasaree, who has been working day and night in preparation for this fund-raiser. "If it was anything like the last tsunami fund-raiser, we should raise more than $200,000 for the Salvation Army."

This comes as welcome news for Maj. Jeff Martin, Salvation Army's divisional secretary for programs.