Parrot Heads mix fun with fundraising in party before Buffett’s Shell concert

With Jimmy Buffett rolling into town, it’s no time for the Pau Hana Parrot Heads to be wastin’ away in Margaritaville.

Instead, the local group of Buffett fans is scrambling to organize a party before tonight’s concert at the Waikiki Shell, and it’s not just for fun. Like other events held by the club, this celebration will be for the benefit of the community.

"Every other year, Jimmy Buffett comes here for a concert, so this year we’re having a fundraiser as a pre-concert party," said treasurer Nelson Lam­pert. "We’re going to be raising money for the USO."

The Pau Hana Parrot Head Club is part of Buffett’s national fan club, a network of clubs that also put on charity events. The clubs are required to do community service to be part of the national organization, making members eligible for discounted concert seats, email notification of concerts and other benefits.

There are about 30 regular members of the Pau Hana Parrot Heads who get together every few months for what they call "a flocking," Lampert said. When Buffett gives a concert, however, up to 300 people can be expected at pre-show parties.

"The exciting thing is that he never gives more than about six weeks’ notice for a concert, and this time he only gave us five weeks’ notice, so it’s also an adrenaline flow to get things up and running," Lam­pert said. "Because we’re the local club, we’re responsible for getting tickets for all the other fan clubs, and I just purchased about 60 tickets the other day for people who are flying in from the mainland for the concert."

The club works to ensure the pre-show events faithfully fulfill the club’s motto "to party with a purpose." Food and beverages for today’s "5 O’Clock on the Beach" party will be all provided at cost, and the $10 entry fee is mostly for hall rental. Charitable funds are raised through auctions and raffles, Lampert said.

"We sort of fund the party, but then the object is to get people in there to participate in the fundraising part of it," he said.

Deane Leidholt, vice president of the organization, said the last party raised about $2,500, which also went to the USO. With the relatively short notice for this concert, proceeds might not reach that amount this year, but it’s really the camaraderie that makes the effort worthwhile, he said.

"The club officers and board of directors pretty much get together and all do it," he said. "We volunteer and do it, but we have fun at the same time."

Leidholt is a longtime Buffett fan who said he’s "embarrassed to admit that I remember when ‘Margaritaville’ came out." (That would be 1977.) He’s been to Buffett concerts and Parrot Head celebrations in Florida that are like tailgate parties.

"The actual tailgate party … is almost as good or better than the concert," he said. "You get to wander around and see all these people dressed up crazy and having fun and stuff."

But the concerts are special, too, because "we get up closer to the stage, and that makes it nice," Leidholt said.

The Pau Hana Parrot Heads have organized donation drives on behalf of the Hawaii Food Bank and Aloha United Way and manned water stations at charity runs. Some members have boats and take part in reef and beach cleanups, Lam­pert said.

Their dedication to Buffett stems from his music and its relaxed "trop rock" spirit.

"We all like his music because it’s really like island music," Lam­pert said.

The party here will feature John Canizzarro, a Gulf Coast native who performs New Orleans blues, trop rock and classic rock, and local duo Borderline, which blends country music with other contemporary styles and local favorites.

The party will be from 1 to 6 p.m. at a venue at 2933 Kalakaua Ave. within walking distance of the Shell.

Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band will perform on their "Welcome to Fin Land" tour at 7 p.m.