Rising up to make a difference

by Alyssa Amasol

One organization’s efforts to raise money here in Hawaii are reaching across the globe. Rise Up Hawaii is an organization dedicated to making a difference in the world by spreading awareness of social injustices and inspiring communities to institute real change. They utilize talents of local artists as a creative way to fundraise for non-profit organizations invested in causes they want to raise awareness about. 

“We are a grassroots movement that emerged with a mission to educate and promote positive activism within our communities through the use of our creative talents,” a statement on their website said.

Rise Up Hawaii started in 2010 when the earthquake rocked Haiti. Founder Joel Gaspar used to help put concerts together for Invisible Children so people came to him wanting to put together a benefit concert for Haiti. In March 2010, he helped organize Rise Up for Haiti at SoHo Mixed Media Bar in Chinatown, a collaboration with The American Red Cross. They featured 30 musicians and raised about $3,000. With the success of this event, Rise Up Hawaii could not stop there.

“It was supposed to be a one time thing but it got so big and lots of people wanted to be involved that it turned into a movement,” Gaspar said.

They decided to do an event every other month for a certain cause. The goal of Rise Up Hawaii is “to team up with non-profit organizations and help them raise money,” Gaspar said. “We’re pretty much like a crutch to help them out.”

“We try to teach people not to wait for the world to change but to actually get up and do something,” Gaspar said.

Since their establishment in 2010, they have put on five benefit events for various causes and teamed up with six non-profit organizations on the local, national and even international level.

In May 2010 they hosted another benefit concert, Rise Up Against Animal Cruelty, in collaboration with The Hawaiian Humane Society and The American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. They featured acoustic sets, slam poetry, hip-hop freestyle battles, food and drinks at Tropics Café. They raised $650 for The Hawaiian Humane Society for Animal Cruelty. However, when people asked where the money went and how it was being used, Rise Up Hawaii had no answer other than it was being donated.

To close up 2010, Rise Up Hawaii took a new approach and instead of teaming up with another non-profit organization, they took the money directly to the cause. In November 2010, Rise Up Hawaii hosted a benefit concert for Hawaii’s homeless at Fresh Café, their largest event so far. All proceeds from this event went to a special project called “Project Care Package,” where bags containing first aid kits, flash lights, blankets, hygiene items, and canned foods were put together and distributed to Hawaii’s homeless that desperately needed it. Along with the benefit concert, they also featured a special screening of “Blue Tarp City” directed by Henry Mochida and had special guest, Representative Tom Brower, who talked about HC114, a bill that Rise Up Hawaii tried to pass into legislature.

In May 2011, Rise Up Hawaii teamed up with The American Red Cross again to put on Rise Up for Japan in a much more intimate setting at Blue Ocean Thai. With six performers and three artists showcasing their work, Rise Up Hawaii raised about $150 in donations that all went to help with relief efforts in Japan.

More recently, Rise Up Hawaii collaborated with Sunday Jams, an organization housed in Hawaiian Brian’s that provides a comfortable environment for people to develop their musical talents. They hold open mic nights every Sunday night and occasional band nights. Together, Sunday Jams and Rise Up Hawaii have teamed up with Charity:Water to raise $5,000 by the end of the year to provide an impoverished village in Africa with one clean water well. In November 2011 they held a hip-hop night at Ka Lounge featuring over eight musicians and DJs to help raise awareness and funds for Charity:Water.

Their goal is to raise $5,000 to help build a water well in Africa. With one water well 250 people will be supplied with clean water for life. Between August and November they’ve raised more than $2,000 to support this cause.

“It’s a life-changing thing,” Gaspar said. “When we think numbers, it’s a lot, but we could actually make a huge difference.”

Rise Up Hawaii desires to educate young people and inspire them to make a difference with whatever they’re been gifted at.

“I've had the honor of performing at several of Rise-Up's charity events, and I have to say, they are a great bunch to work with,” said Amanda Frazier, a musician who performed at Rise Up for Japan. “Their events not only bring a wide range of people together to raise money for charity, but they are able to raise awareness to the local community about situations happening all around the world.”

Rise Up Hawaii has gained supporters through their partnerships with organizations like Sunday Jams and Innovative Concepts, a church that meets in Hawaiian Brian’s and sponsors Sunday Jams. One supporter, MJ Rodriguez made herself available to help.

“I think when you look at it, there’s 46 total people but the people who actually put it on is a small group of about 8 or 10 people,” Rodriguez said. “A small group with big ambitions… Their passion is contagious.”

In their partnership with Sunday Jams, a fairly novice group housed at Hawaiian Brian’s, Gaspar went to them with his idea to raise money with Charity:Water.

“It brought a sense of humanity that I feel like Sunday Jams is very much a part of,” said Duane Fukumoto, co-director of Sunday Jams.

For recent graduate of University of Hawaii at Manoa and co-director of Sunday Jams Chaz Umamoto, was on the Rise Up Hawaii committee and thought it was important to partner with other local organizations for a good cause.

“Being a musician myself, I played in a band with gigs every other week and it gets tiring,” Umamoto said. “But when you’re playing for causes like Haiti or Japan it makes you feel good about yourself. It takes the focus off yourself and onto something bigger.”

Through all their benefit concerts, Rise Up Hawaii has made an impact locally, nationally and internationally. Their efforts to change the world have impacted Hawaii by bringing awareness to many people. Follow their efforts at www.riseuphawaii.org.