Benefit concert raises $747,044 for homeless outreach

A Hawaii for Hawaii concert and telethon raised $747,044 to help the Institute for Human Services continue its homeless outreach in Waikiki, but organizers are still pushing to hit a $1 million goal, which would move more unsheltered mentally ill and substance-abusing residents off the streets.

“We certainly stretched the goal from last year, where we raised $400,000. This money will go a long way to help people who want to go home to their loved ones and enjoy a better life than they are living in the street,” said Jerry Gibson, Hilton Hawaii area vice president. “But it would mean so much to IHS and to the people that they serve if we could continue the kindness and aloha and get to our $1 million goal.”

Contributions from Saturday’s concert and telethon came from more than 200 businesses and thousands of individuals throughout the state. More than 400 people, including a cross section of visitor industry and community leaders, turned out for the second annual benefit, held Saturday on the Great Lawn at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Entertainment was provided by Henry Kapono and Friends and ran simultaneously with a celebrity telethon and TV broadcast, which was aired during the event.

Sharon Crofts, Bank of Hawaii vice chairwoman, presented a $50,000 check, the largest of the night.

“Like many other companies and organizations in Hawaii, the bank realizes that ending homelessness is a group effort,” Crofts said. “Homelessness is a personal issue for me. My brother suffers from mental illness and is homeless in California, so I know firsthand just how difficult it is to provide assistance. We need to realize that there is no one-size-fits-all solution and provide the comprehensive care homeless people really need so they may start on the path to transforming their lives.”

While the volume of homelessness in Waikiki has been a top tourist complaint, Salt Lake City visitors Andy and Candace Teerlink attended the event to show their support and understanding.

Over the last decade Utah has significantly reduced chronic and family homelessness. However, the Teerlinks said homelessness in their state remains a problem and requires a major coordinated effort to solve just like it does in Hawaii.

“It’s amazing to see the money that goes to it. It’s a total group effort,” Andy Teerlink said. “We have a very kind community in Salt Lake. It’s very similar to Hawaii.”

Kimo Carvalho, IHS community relations director, said the nonprofit needs more support to meet its Waikiki goals for the next two years. IHS has pledged to move 280 homeless individuals off Waikiki streets for each program year.

The nonprofit also plans to beef up shuttle service and case management, and pursue court-ordered treatment and guardianship programs to assist the region’s chronically homeless.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell, who attended the concert, said it “always pays” to invest in IHS. The city contracts with IHS for Housing First, the Hale Mauliola Navigation Center and a number of other “successful programs,” Caldwell said.

“Through their successful outreach, they reduce demands on emergency services and impacts on tourism and our quality of life,” he said. “IHS changes lives. They are on the front lines of helping our homeless population, and in doing so they make Oahu a better place for all of us.”

IHS is accepting funds through Monday. To donate call 447-2845, email info@ihs-hawaii.org or visit HawaiiForHawaii.com.