Pacific Biodiesel, Mana‘o Radio Present Live Concert Event to Benefit Ukraine

(Pacific Biodiesel/Biobased Diesel Daily) Hawaii’s renewable energy pioneers and founders of Pacific Biodiesel, Bob and Kelly King, announced April 6 that Pacific Biodiesel along with Mana‘o Radio 91.7FM KMNO will present “A Concert for Ukraine in the Maui Sunflowers.” This live music event featuring performances by a variety of Maui musicians will be hosted April 24 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Kings’ family farm in Maui’s Central Valley, where a 35-acre field of sunflowers—the national flower of Ukraine—will be in bloom. Proceeds from this benefit concert will be donated to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), whose humanitarian work in Ukraine is focused on meeting the most critical urgent needs as the situation for children and families there continues to deteriorate.

Maui musicians scheduled to perform at this event include George Kahumoku Jr., Gail Swanson, Arlie Asiu Band, Soul Kitchen, Benny Uyetake, Rowdy Love, Jimmy Dillon & Dayan Kai, Brown Chicken Brown Cow String Band, and Marty Dread and the House Shakers with guest Nara Boone. Sponsors Hawaiian Electric, Maui Tropical Plantation, Maui Disposal and Hawaiian Paddle Sports are covering expenses and allowing UNICEF to receive a maximum donation from concert tickets to direct to the cause.

One-hundred percent of ticket sales, as well as a portion of the proceeds from farm-stand and food-truck sales during the event, will benefit UNICEF USA’s Ukraine efforts. READ MORE

Pacific Biodiesel founders Bob and Kelly King announced May 5 that “A Concert for Ukraine in the Maui Sunflowers” presented by Pacific Biodiesel and Mana‘o Radio on April 24 has raised $72,000 for UNICEF USA to support children in Ukraine during this time of crisis. The benefit concert and farm tour event, which sold out in less than two weeks, was held at the Kings’ farm in Maui’s Central Valley where 35 acres of sunflowers—the national flower of Ukraine—were in full bloom.

More than 400 people were in attendance, including 320 ticket holders with reserved tent seating plus musicians, volunteers and vendors. One-hundred percent of ticket sales and donations, as well as a portion of proceeds from farm stand and food sales during the event, were directed to UNICEF USA for Ukraine Emergency Relief. These funds were doubled by a generous donation match from philanthropists Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez announced shortly after ticket sales began.

Maui musicians who donated their time and talent to perform at this benefit concert included George Kahumoku Jr, Gail Swanson, Arlie Asiu Band, Soul Kitchen, Benny Uyetake, Rowdy Love, Jimmy Dillon & Dayan Kai, Brown Chicken Brown Cow String Band, and Marty Dread and the House Shakers with guest Nara Boone.

“Maui’s music community quickly came together in support of Ukraine for this benefit concert,” said Michael Elam, board president of Mana‘o Radio. “Initial plans were for two or three hours of music, but the more musicians we spoke with, the more signed up—and before we knew it, we had a daylong lineup of incredible musicians eager to take part. This type of event that brings our Maui community together in music is exactly what Mana‘o Radio is about. It was our pleasure to partner with Pacific Biodiesel to host this very special event.”

During the event, special guests Vladlena Bugay and her Ukrainian family, who were vacationing on Maui when the war began and are now refugees here, participated in the opening blessing, shared their story and sang the Ukraine National Anthem alongside Maui’s Gail Swanson who performed the anthem on flute. Later, Maui County councilmembers Kelly King and Gabe Johnson presented to the Bugay family a Maui County Resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Sponsors Hawaiian Electric, Maui Tropical Plantation, Maui Disposal and Hawaiian Paddle Sports covered most of the event expenses, allowing 100 percent of ticket sales to be donated to UNICEF USA, which is providing life-saving programs to respond to the needs of children in Ukraine affected by this war. READ MORE