PORT TOWNSEND — Get a taste of the Aloha State without leaving the North Olympic Peninsula during a benefit luau Saturday.
The fundraiser, “Northwind Goes to Hawaii,” will be at 7 p.m. at the Northwind Arts Center, 701 Water St.
Admission is by a suggested donation of $25 at the door.
Proceeds will benefit the arts center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2002 that promotes and sponsors arts educational programs, lectures, literary readings and visual arts workshops.
“This is the latest in our series of fundraising events that provide a fun, full evening of entertainment at our beautiful arts center,” said Polly Lyle, Northwind development and fundraising chair.
The event “will transport attendees to Hawaii — with dance, music, Hawaii-inspired desserts and a Hawaiian fashion contest,” Lyle said.
Organizers encourage advanced reservations because seating is limited to 65. Email hawaii@northwindarts.org or call 360-531-3971 to reserve seats.
Hawaiian attire urged
Attendees are encouraged to wear their finest or strangest Hawaiian fashion, Lyle said.
Artist Max Grover, who Lyle said is well-known for his Aloha shirt collection, will be the judge of Port Townsend’s first Krazy Kane (male) and Wacky Wahine (female) in the Aloha Wear Contest, Lyle said.
“Awards created by a local artist will be given, but they will not meet Northwind’s usual high artistic standards,” Lyle joked.
Hawaiian-style entertainment will be provided by Kelly Kainani Bonsell and L.a.Jones, Lyle said.
Bonsell was born and raised on the Island of Maui, where she started dancing hula at the age of 5 with her kumu hula, or dance teacher, Lyle said.
Bonsell has studied hula throughout her life, traveling through the Hawaiian Islands, Europe and Japan.
She began dancing professionally for Old Lahaina Luau in Maui in 2002 and became its assistant director.
In 2009, she moved to Washington state with her husband and three children. She brought the art of hula to the Haselwood Family YMCA in Silverdale, where she teaches dance classes.
Jones, who lives in Port Townsend, has been playing lap steel guitar for many years, according to a news release.
Jones studied at the Honolulu Conservatory of Music. His repertoire includes traditional and hapa haole Hawaiian music. He will be accompanied by Michael Townsend on the acoustic guitar.
For more information, call 360-379-1086 or email info@northwindarts.org.
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Reporter Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or at cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
