The 30th annual Walk in the Country Gala is coming up Aug. 8 at 5 p.m. at Four Seasons Resort Oʻahu at Ko Olina. The event, which is sponsored by Southwest, benefits the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaiʻi, whose mission is to enable all young people to reach their full potential.
The Boys & Girls Club of Hawaiʻi — which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization — serves more than 14,000 youth, ages 7 to 17, each year on Kauaʻi and Oʻahu. The organization’s Clubhouses and outreach sites offer development programs that highlight health and life skills, education, technology and career development, and character and leadership development.
The event starts in the ballroom, where guests can enjoy the opening festivities before the gala continues at the Ko Olina lawn. Attendees can sample a variety of wines in the ballroom, enjoy live music, browse the event’s silent auction, participate in the live auction, and enjoy dishes from participating vendors.
The vacation marketplace — which features numerous curated travel opportunities to destinations around the world — is a new feature at this year’s gala. Tickets are still available for the event.
Walk in the Country started 30 years ago as a gathering of friends, good food and great conversation, as individuals came together to support local youth. While the event has grown over the years, its welcoming spirit as remained the same; it’s a celebration of community and brighter futures for Hawaiʻi’s keiki, according to Paddy Kauhane, Boys & Girls Club of Hawaiʻi president and CEO.
“We are so honored to celebrate 50 years of Boys & Girls Club of Hawaiʻi with our supporters, partners and community at this year’s Walk in the Country Gala,” she says. “Every dollar raised from this event directly supports our programs to provide keiki with mentorship, meals and life-changing opportunities.”
This year’s featured vendors and dishes include:
Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa: Aulani signature Mickey chirashi (Mickey-shaped sushi rice with furikake, Ora King salmon, local big-eye tuna and Japanese hamachi with shiso, pickled ginger, daikon and fresh chives)
Corner Rolls: Artisan crispy spring rolls
Duke’s Waikīkī: Braised short rib luau, white rice, lomi lomi tomato
Four Seasons Resort Oʻahu at Ko Olina: Canapes (roasted Yama sweet potato, onion jam and brie crostini, Palusami tartlet with taro leaf, coconut cream and lomi lomi tomato in a pastry shell); traditional Hawaiʻi-style roasted suckling pig (roasted whole pig with furikake five-grain rice, lomi lomi tomato scramble, pork and Maui onion jus, and pork crackling dust); smoked Spam musubi brulee (Black forbidden rice, kimchi emulsion and quail egg)
Eggs ʻn Things: Chocolate butter mochi Rocky Road waffle
Hula Grill: Lobster corn chowder (taro, ‘Ewa sweet corn, Durok bacon, ponzu marinated ikura and taro chips)
Keoki’s and Duke’s Kauaʻi: Seared ‘ahi with cold noodles
Maya’s Tapas: Roasted pork belly shakshuka with housemade garlic flatbread
Monkeypod Kitchen: Grilled lamb chops, North Shore creamed corn, Kalamata olives and Ho Farm tomato salad; housemade corn bread and Vadouvan butter
Yatai Sushi: Spicy tuna, California and vegetable hand rolls
Complimentary valet parking will be available for all event guests.
For more information, visit BGCH’s website.
“We could not further our mission without the generous support of all our vendors and community members,” Kauhane says. “Mahalo nui loa to everyone who has supported us over the last 50 years, and into the 50 ahead.”
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Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
