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Tickets are still available for the Honolulu Police Community Foundation’s fourth annual fundraising gala at the Sheraton Waikiki Ballroom from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday.
An estimated 300 to 400 people attend the annual event, said Lee Donohue, foundation president and former Honolulu police chief.
This year’s banquet will honor retired Hawaii Chief Justice Ronald Moon and Tihati Productions founder Cha Thompson for their contributions to law enforcement and the greater community.
Moon is being recognized for his involvement in the youth program Kick Start Karate. He is chairman of the education committee and supervises the scholarship program.
Thompson is a former chairwoman of the Honolulu Police Commission.
The gala raises funds for two purposes: scholarships for college students and equipment for HPD programs left unfunded by the city.
Donohue said the foundation has provided the money for everything from gear for HPD’s mounted horse unit to automatic external defibrillators.
More recently, the foundation has paid for more than 60 Taser guns used by HPD officers, Donohue said. Another 17 are expected to be bought with foundation money soon, he said.
The foundation provided six $1,000 scholarships in 2010 to Hawaii youths attending colleges on the mainland.
Among the awardees was Nathan Yang, an ‘Iolani School alumnus who graduated several weeks ago from Pepperdine University. The four-time scholarship awardee recently was accepted to Duke University’s School of Law and is considering a career in international law.
Individual tickets to the gathering are $200. Tables of 10 are available for between $2,500 and $25,000. For information, call 942-3873 or 396-1733, or visit honolulupolicecommunityfoundation.org.
