KAPAA, Hawaii, Aug. 18, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Courtyard by Marriott Kauai at Coconut Beach in Kapa'a is proud to announce an upcoming charity event for the "epicurious" appetite for the extraordinary, "A Passion for Performance," hosted by and featuring three of Hawaii's most creative artists: James Beard Foundation winner-legendary Chef Sam Choy, the classically French-trained Courtyard Marriott Executive Chef Lucas Sautter and Grammy-award winning musician, John Cruz.
On September 30, 2016, The Emerald Island's Courtyard Kauai at Coconut Beach, 650 Aleka Loop, Kapaa, Kauai provides the magical setting for "A Passion for Performance." Ten percent of all proceeds from this unique collaborative celebration of culinary fusion and musical excellence benefits the Kauai Concert Association. Reservations can be made at 808-320-3624.
Founded in 1974, the Kauai Concert Association (KCA) brings world-class music and performing arts to Kauai as well as providing musical education opportunities.
Your once-in-a-lifetime "epicurious" evening starts at 5:30 p.m. with an extraordinary reception showcasing the true aloha spirit with Hawaiian music, pupus and handcrafted Koloa Rum cocktails, created especially for this benefit. Immediately following, indulge in a specially curated five-course gourmet experience as you are entertained by one's of Hawaii's most celebrated and original musicians, John Cruz.
The intimate www.courtyardkauai.com in Kapa'a is operated by Davidson Hotels & Resorts under license from Marriott International, Inc. Davidson Hotels & Resorts is one of the most respected, successful and creative lodging companies in the industry, specializing in branded and lifestyle hotels in the full-service and premium urban select-service segments. For more information about Davidson Hotels & Resorts, visit www.davidsonhotels.com.
###
About Davidson Hotels & Resorts
Davidson Hotels & Resorts is an award-winning, full-service hotel management company providing management, development/renovation, acquisition, consulting and accounting expertise for the hospitality industry. Amassing one of the purest full-service hotel portfolios in the industry, Davidson's proficiency ranges from the upper-upscale to near-luxury segments with nearly 12,300 rooms and 1.4 million square feet of meeting space across the United States. A trusted partner and preferred operator of Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and Starwood hotels, Davidson delivers hospitality and creates value for owners with every single hotel. More information can be found at www.davidsonhotels.com.
About Marriott Hotels
With 500 hotels and resorts in nearly 60 countries around the world, Marriott Hotels is evolving travel through every aspect of the guest's stay, enabling the next generation to Travel Brilliantly. Boldly transforming itself for mobile and global travelers who blend work and play, Marriott leads the industry with innovations, including the Great Room, Future of Meetings and Mobile Guest Services that elevates style & design and technology. All Marriott hotels participate in the award-winning Marriott Rewards frequent travel program that allows members to earn hotel points or airline miles for every dollar spent during each stay. For more information, visit www.MarriottHotels.com. To join the ongoing Marriott conversation, like us on Facebook (Facebook.com/Marriott, and follow us on Twitter (Twitter.com/Marriott, @Marriott).
About Sam Choy
Sam Choy is a chef, restaurateur, and television personality known as a founding contributor of "Pacific rim cuisine". Choy is an alumnus of the Kapiolani Community College Culinary Arts program. In 1991, Choy founded the Poke Festival and Recipe Contest. In 2004, Choy was awarded the James Beard Foundation Award America's Classics Award for Sam Choy's Kaloko in Kailua-Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii. The award recognizes "beloved regional restaurants" that reflect the character of their communities. Choy has appeared in several food TV programs, including Iron Chef America. In 2015, Choy broadcast a series on YouTube, Sam Choy in The Kitchen. Choy has designed special Hawaiian inspired dishes for American Airlines first class passengers to and from Hawaii.
About Lucas Sautter
Chef Lucas Sautter is a French-trained classic chef and a graduate of Scottsdale Culinary Institute in Arizona. Beginning his culinary career at 16 years old as a dishwasher, Sautter worked his way through America's kitchens before becoming Executive Chef at Courtyard by Marriott Kauai at Coconut Beach in Kapa'a. Sautter worked at the Classical French, AAA Five Diamond Award and Mobil Travel Guide Four Star Restaurant, The Tack Room in Tucson, Arizona as well as executive chef of Basilico Restaurante Italiano in Olympia, Washington. Sautter is a member of the American Culinary Federation.
About John Cruz
Winning the first Grammy ever for Hawaiian music, Cruz grew up in Palolo Valley on Oahu. After seeking a theatrical career in the Northeast, Cruz returned to Hawaii in 1995 to help his brother Ernie record his album. At the time, Ernie was in the immensely popular band, the Ka'au Crater Boys. He invited John to play bass with them as well as his own songs during their shows. The exposure to large crowds gave John's music a substantial fan base before it was even recorded. When his first album, "Acoustic Soul" was released in 1996, it made an artistic and commercial impact like few other recordings in Hawaiian musical history. "Acoustic Soul" won two Na Hoku Hanohano Awards in 1997 -- one for Contemporary Album of the Year and one for Most Promising Artist. In 2005, Cruz added a Grammy Award to his list of honors. His original song "Jo Bo's Night" was featured on the compilation CD Slack Key Guitar Volume 2, which won the first Grammy ever awarded for Hawaiian music. In October 2011, John's rendition of the traditional Hawaiian song "Hi'ilawe" was released on the official Hawaii Five-O soundtrack and featured on an episode of the hit show. In October 2006, a documentary film on his life, "Made of Music - The Story of John Cruz," debuted at the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival in Honolulu. A few weeks later, it was honored with the Aloha Visionary Filmmaker Award at the Molokai Film Festival.
About the Kauai Concert Association
The Kauai Concert Association (KCA) began in 1974 with a mission to bring world class music to Kauai. The organization presents between 3-10 concerts per season. In honor of our 40th birthday, we are returning to our classical roots. Our current mission is to provide quality classical and modern performing fine arts and to provide musical education opportunities. Each year, KCA awards scholarships to talented and worthy students of the musical arts. Past recipients have included students of piano, violin, sax, trumpet, drums, tap, ballet, and modern dance. Recipients are encouraged to participate in our events and are invited to attend concerts and receptions to witness and meet first-hand the outstanding artists that perform on Kauai under the auspices of the KCA. This coming season, we plan a total of five educational performances to be held at schools. Educational services provide an opportunity for students and adults on Kauai to interact personally with world class artists in various genres of the performing arts.
Kauai Concert Association has been administered for the past 30 years by an all-volunteer staff. Volunteers have selected performers, arranged transportation and hotels, hosted after concert dinners, advertised and sold tickets along with all other aspects of the performance. In the last two years, in order to maintain its planned growth, staff positions have been added to the organization. Volunteers remain integrally involved in the organization.
Photos accompanying this release are available at:
