HUGS Hosts an 80’s-themed Gala on May 14, 2022 “Big Hair for HUGS” to celebrate 40th Anniversary and Honors Island Energy Services

April 5, 2022

HONOLULU – HUGS (Help Understanding & Group Support), a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Hawaii’s families with seriously ill children, will host its annual gala on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at the Bishop Museum Great Lawn.

This will be HUGS first in-person gala since 2019. To celebrate HUGS 40th anniversary, the gala will be an 80’s-themed event and is called “Big Hair for HUGS,” with the name playing off of the “big” hair styles of that decade. The HUGS Gala will honor Island Energy Services for their many years of support of HUGS through the years, and their contributions to the community.

Big Hair for HUGS begins at 5:30 p.m. with no-host cocktails, a raffle and silent auction with mobile bidding. The gala will feature four food stations: MW Restaurant, The Pig & the Lady, Nui Kealoha by Chef Kealoha Domingo and Burgers on Bishop. The special evening will be hosted by Billy V and spinning the night’s 80’s tunes will be DJ Kool-E of 102.7 Da Bomb, and will also include a special live performance of a melody of 80’s hits by New Hope Oahu.

“We are looking forward to a fun and exciting evening as we hold our first in-person gala since COVID began,” said Joan Naguwa, HUGS Executive Director. “Since it’s our 40th anniversary and a while since we did an in-person event like this, we wanted to make it different from the past galas we’ve done. HUGS began in 1982, and the 80’s is just a fun and nostalgic theme, so we thought to take everyone back to the 80’s at our gala where it all began.”

Table sponsorships of 10 are available at $3,500, $5,000 and $8,000, and General Admission tickets are available for $350 per person. To become a sponsor, purchase a General Admission ticket, or donate to the event, please contact HUGS at 808-732-4846 or info@hugshawaii.org. Funds raised will make a difference for Hawaii’s families with a child living with a serious illness.

Media Contact:
Alex Wereszczynskyj
alex@hugshawaii.org