In celebration of National Red Cross Month, the Hawaii State Chapter of the American Red Cross is holding its annual Hats Off event on Friday and Saturday.

Off-duty firefighters, police, military, members of various community clubs and other volunteers at various locations across Oahu will take their hats off as a salute to the Hawaii Red Cross and in doing so, encourage the public offer a donation.

All proceeds go directly to the Hawaii Red Cross and will stay in the Islands. Donations may also be made online at www.hawaiiredcross.org.

On Friday, the event is scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Tamarind Park and the four corners of Bishop and King Streets. There will be Red Cross information booths, demonstrations including disaster preparedness, first-aid training, lifesaving skills and more. Booths will feature the Lawyers for Red Cross Bake Sale, Red Cross first aid and disaster kits plus massages. Radio KSSK will broadcast a 14-hour Hawaii Red Cross radioathon including interviews and stories of disaster victims, lifesavers, first responders and volunteers.

On Saturday, volunteers will collect donations from 11 locations on Oahu including Wal-Mart stores at Keeaumoku, Pearl City, Mililani and Kunia from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

"In Hawaii, we respond to around 100 disasters every year (one every three days) providing emergency assistance and emotional support to victims of everyday disasters like house fires and floods," Coralie Chun Matayoshi, CEO for the Hawaii State Chapter of the American Red Cross, said in a news release.

"We are not a government agency and rely on donations from the people of Hawaii to provide these critical services to our community. In addition to responding to disaster victims with care and compassion, we help prepare families and businesses for disasters, including first-aid for pets, teach lifesaving skills to 33,000 people a year, and provide emergency communications for military service members and their families. All of the funds we collect from Hats Off will go to the Hawaii Red Cross to support local services for Hawaii's people."