Kiwanis looking for auction items for annual luau

The strains of "Blue Hawaii" will waft through the Carson Nugget on Saturday as the Carson City Kiwanis hosts its 17th annual luau.

The luau will feature the Bird of Paradise Hawaiian Dancers, music and dueling Elvises.

"When you go upstairs at the Nugget, it really feels like Hawaii," event chairman Ronnie Hannaman said.

Musician Craig Fletcher will perform, and there will be dancing after dinner.

While all but a few of the tickets for the luau are sold, Kiwanians are seeking donations from businesses for an auction.

"Not only do business support Carson City, they do have the opportunity to showcase their products," Hannaman said. "The best thing is that the monies do go back into the community. Not a penny raised goes to administration."

Auction items vary from oil changes to a slot machine donated by International Gaming Technology.

"You name it, we've got it," she said. "There are paintings, massages, lots of wines and glasses."

Items will be auctioned off in front of the 400 people who are expected to attend.

"We try to group them with other items and have a wine basket, for example," Hannaman said. "We give credit to everyone who donates."

According to Hannaman, while the luau often sells out, tickets sometimes languish until the last moment.

"This year, we basically said we've got to have your order by such and such a time, or we're turning your tickets back," she said.

There were only a dozen tickets left last week, so chances of buying one are slim.

The luau is Kiwanis' largest fund-raiser. Money raised goes to support several community charities, including the Kiwanis scholarship program, the Carson River cleanup, Meals on Wheels, taking needy children shopping at Mervyns for school clothes and the Carson City library.

"Our programs benefit children and seniors," Hannaman said. "We have lots of speakers looking for support. While lots of our programs run from year to year, we are pretty open to new things."

The luau is 6 p.m. in the Carson Nugget ballroom. Call Hannaman at 841-9673, with donations or for information.

Contact Kurt Hildebrand at hildebrand@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1215.