Ocean Aid Hawaii Debuts in Waikiki
CeeLo Green has five Grammy Awards, a BET Award, a Billboard Award, and a Brit Award. Photo courtesy of Ocean Aid Hawaii.
Ocean Aid Hawaii, a benefit concert, debuts in Honolulu on Sunday, April 30 with the goal of eradicating plastic pollution from the ocean. The outdoor music and arts festival with the motto “Love The Sea, Plastic Free” will feature renowned funk, hip-hop, reggae, and Hawaiian musical acts, along with notable environmental speakers.
The annual Ocean Aid Hawaii takes place at the Waikiki Shell on Sunday, April 30 from 4-10 p.m. Gates open at 3:30 p.m.
“Our team is thrilled to bring this amazing one-day concert experience to Hawaii to raise awareness of plastic and marine debris,” said Campbell Farrell, pioneer Jaws (Peahi) big wave surfer, executive director of Love The Sea and co-creator of Ocean Aid Hawaii. “My life’s most memorable moments have been in the ocean, and I want to do everything I can to protect it for future generations. This is an incredible way for people to get excited about the cause and learn more about how they can get involved.”
Ocean Aid Hawaii attendees can look forward to musical performances by CeeLo Green, Grandmaster Flash, Bootsy Collins (accompanied by Prince’s backup band), Maxi Priest, Henry Kapono, Ohio Players, Fishbone, Ron Artis II, Ekolu Kalama, DJ Lethal (House of Pain and Limp Bizkit), DJ Mateo (Fun Lovin’ Criminals), DJ Big Daddy Carlos, and more. Stand-up comedian Steve Byrne serves as one of the evening’s hosts and ambassadors for the cause.
Ocean Aid speakers and award recipients include entertainment guru and author Ken Kragen, producer of We Are The World; Captain Charles Moore, oceanographer and racing boat captain; millennial scientists Miranda Wang and Jeanny Yao of TED Talks; Mark Schulman, drummer and celebrity speaker; Hank Cohen of Trifecta Entertainment and producer of Live Aid; Michael Chugg of Michael Chugg Entertainment and promoter of WaveAid and Ocean Aid Hawaii; Hannah Bernard of Hawaii Wildlife Fund; Stuart Coleman of Surfrider Foundation; Kahi Pacarro of Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii; Kahi Kahakui, renowned local ocean conservationist; Kai Lenny, world champion waterman; and Captain Hayden Smith of New Zealand’s Sea Cleaners.
Additional Ocean Aid activities will include an information coalition corridor, interactive art installations, marine debris sculptures, island favorite food trucks, cultural hula and haka dance performances, wrestling exhibitions by WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi of the Samoan Dynasty, and setting the world record for the largest drum circle for a charity festival (Guinness Book of World Records).
Ticket prices include:
- $399 – Ultra VIP experience includes reserved stage front seating, access to VIP lounge with complimentary bar and cuisine from Chef Chai, environmentally friendly facials and massages from Beauty Bar, gift bags, a meet and greet with artists, and music by DJ Lethal (House of Pain and Limp Bizkit) and DJ Big Daddy Carlos
- $199 – Terrace Level reserved front stage seating, gift bags, shave ice and cotton candy
- $149 – Terrace Level reserved seating
- $69 – General Admission Lawn
“Growing up in Hawaii, I have always had a spiritual connection to these islands, particularly to the ocean,” said Big Daddy Carlos, co-creator and executive producer of Ocean Aid Hawaii. “Our team is beyond excited to bring Ocean Aid to Hawaii and give back to the islands that have given so much to us.”
Proceeds from Ocean Aid will benefit Love The Sea and its coalition of local environmental organizations including Surfrider Foundation, Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii, and Hawaii Wildlife Fund, among others.
The concert will set the stage for the nonprofit’s future activities, which include education, marine research and conservation programs. Love The Sea will hold other events throughout the year to raise funds to benefit and save the ocean from plastic pollution and marine debris. Additionally, Love The Sea plans to create a scholarship program to help deserving students take their first step toward becoming advocates in saving the world’s oceans by keeping them free of plastics and other pollutants.
The Ocean Aid team consists of notable environmental activists, educators and entertainment industry powerhouses. On the board of directors are Jim Reding, Big Daddy Carlos, Ava Berman, and Campbell Farrell. Serving on Ocean Aid’s advisory board are Kahi Pacarro, Michael Chugg, Ken Kragen, Captain Hayden Smith, Captain Charles Moore, Hannah Bernard, Deborah Bassett, Mark Schulman, Hank Cohen, Brandon Friesen, Stuart Coleman, and Bootsy and Patti Collins.
For more information about Ocean Aid Hawaii and concert updates, go to www.oceanaidhawaii.org. Follow Ocean Aid on Facebook @OceanAidFest, Twitter @ocean_aid or Instagram @ocean_aid.
About Ocean Aid Hawaii / Love The Sea
Ocean Aid Hawaii is an initiative of Love The Sea, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that supports a local and global network of ocean stewards, working towards the eradication of plastic pollution in the world’s oceans, achieved through effective direct action, innovative educational outreach and strategic policy making campaigns that mitigate the prolific use of plastics plaguing our local and global environment. www.lovethesea.org