Memorials to Don Ho are thousands of dollars away from becoming a reality, but supporters of separate campaigns to honor the crooner — one with a sidewalk star in Las Vegas, the other with a bronze statue in Waikiki — remain confident they will succeed.

A granite block on the Las Vegas Walk of Fame, which would cost $15,000, could be in place later this year, said Tony Ruivivar, leader of the musical group Society of Seven and the driving force behind the effort.

Ruivivar said $5,000 has been raised, much of it through a golf tournament last summer. Another $10,000 to $15,000 would be needed to fly Ho family members and other Hawai'i dignitaries to Vegas for an unveiling celebration.

Closer to home, the nonprofit group Honolulu 100 wants to place a statue at a small park on the corner of Kalakaua and Beach Walk, but has only raised $20,000 of the estimated cost of $200,000 to $250,000.

But Linda Wong, president of the group, which previously organized the city centennial, said she's optimistic that the job can be done by next April.

The statue of Ho would be placed at the park, which the city renamed Don Ho Memorial Park last summer. The statue would be a gift to the city and subject to city council approval.

No design has been selected, but two Hawai'i artists and a foundry in New York submitted proposals, Wong said. Additional proposals likely will be sought as well, she said.

"We are still in the very preliminary stages of getting the information we need to get the project off the ground," she said.

Ho family members still need to be consulted on the design and whether the singer should be standing or seated at the keyboard of his organ.

"I think it will honor the memory of Don Ho," Wong said. "We want to do a good job because people from all over the world will be coming to see this."