Hui Hosts Mad Hatters To Help Hawaii Kai Heiau, Habitat

By JUNI WENDELIN FASTING

Livable Hawaii Kai Hui throws a Mad Hatter Garden Party from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. April 12 at The Oahu Club, which will be decked out with bright colors and bizarre items, like big butterflies.

Entertaining are Bobby Moderow Jr. and strings by Mid-Pacific Institute students. Cha Cha Cha Salsaria and Bubbies will take care of food and sweet treats. Silent and live auctions are planned, along with a maddest-hat competition, door prizes and wetland tours.

Host for the evening is KITV’s Kenny Choi.

It’s the hui’s third such garden party, and president Elizabeth Reilly is excited to see what hats visitors dig up. “The funniest was a gentleman who wore the tiniest hat I have ever seen,” Reilly recalled.

She’s happy about the official transfer of Hale Ka Lae property from The Trust for Public Land to the hui,- so volunteers can continue to preserve and restore the Hawea Heiau complex and Keawawa wetland as a teaching tool, cultural treasure and endangered bird habitat. This past year, volunteers removed more than 346 invasive trees and shrubs. The hui will present a preliminary master plan for the wetland at the party.

Tickets are $60 per person in advance, or $70 at the door (with $30 tax-deductible). Keiki age 5 and younger are admitted free of charge, and children over 5 are half the adult ticket price. To order, go to hawaiikaihui.org or mail a check to Livable Hawaii Kai Hui, P.O. Box 25493, Honolulu, HI 96825.

Silent auction items are being accepted through April 9. For details, call 864-8081 or 224-8357. By the way, guests without their own hats can borrow hats at the party.