Radio personality Larry Price best described yesterday's Hurricane Katrina benefit concert at Kapono's at Aloha Tower Marketplace, calling it a "Category 5 aloha bash."

Final numbers were not available, but in its first three hours the concert raised $60,000 in pledges from a statewide television audience and more than $5,000 from ticket sales to the concert, said Oceanic Cable creative director Jon Brekke, who served as executive producer of the live TV simulcast. Organizers formed a nonprofit, "Kokua for Katrina," and all money raised will go to the American Red Cross to help victims of the Gulf Coast hurricane.

"This is at the top, the best yet of anything I've been involved in," said singer Henry Kapono, noting that more than 400 people from the local TV and radio industry and entertainers volunteered for the event. "A lot of people put energy in this and it's something that came from the heart."

There are plans to produce a DVD of the benefit concert to raise more money, Kapono added.

The 4 to 6 p.m. portion of the concert was shown on Hawai'i's four TV network affiliates, PBS Hawai'i and Oceanic Time Warner Cable. It is believed to the first live event produced here shown by all local TV stations. The organizers — primarily Kapono and his wife, Lezlee Kaaihue, attorney William Meyer III, Oceanic's Brekke and Lisa Dowd — pulled it together in 10 days.

Meyer, an entertainment attorney who partnered with Willie K. to organize the 9/11 local benefit concert on Sept. 22, 2001, was at a Grammy awards banquet in Waikiki on Aug. 31, days after Katrina struck, and talking to entertainers about a relief concert for the hurricane victims. At the same time, Kapono was working on a similar project.

On Sept. 2, the two met and began working jointly on the benefit project. They organized a luncheon on Sept. 7 at the Plaza Club, attended by all the local radio and TV general managers. "By (Sept. 12), all of them were aboard and it was a matter of delegating responsibilities," Meyer said.

There was no shortage of entertainers willing to volunteer, Meyer added. "I've been working on artist rights for years and I can tell you that for every paying gig local entertainers have, they do two more for benefits," Meyer said. "They are a very giving group."

Meyer said Outrigger and Hilton hotels provided accommodations and Hawaiian Airlines air transportation for Neighbor Island performers.

Keali'i Reichel, Barry Flanagan and Jake Shimabukuro wanted to perform but had Mainland commitments, Meyer said. But yesterday's lineup included the stage debut of the new duo Barefoot Natives (Eric Gilliom and Willie K.), Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, Kalapana, Charles Brotman, Yvonne Elliman and Cecilio & Kapono. BET, Opihi Pickers, Kanalo and Okla Da Moc were among the performers in the night concert.

"So many people just dropped everything and worked together for 10 straight days to pool all our resources," Lezlee Kaaihue said. "I think the No. 1 thing is we all know here that (the Katrina disaster) is close to home and it could happen to us so we feel for them. We want to send them aloha."

Hawai'i is the heart of the world, Kapono added.

Cyndy Aylett of Kailua and her niece, Meilani Long of Kaimuki, were among the early arrivals to Kapono's.

"It's a nice thing, kokua for Katrina, and wonderful entertainment," Aylett said. "I've seen New Orleans in its glory and it's hard to imagine what it is now. The thing is, it could happen to us and I don't think we're prepared for it."

David Leong of Pearl City observed that despite high prices here, local people have always been willing to give money to help others.

"It's just our aloha," Leong said. "We give to help others.

"I'm just impressed," he added, "how organized this event is. It's very impressive and professional."

There's another benefit for hurricane relief tonight from 6 to 9 p.m. at Aloha Tower Marketplace called "Chefs for Hope." It will feature Chai Chaowaseree, Alan Wong, Roy Yamaguchi, D.K. Kodama, Russell Siu, Mavro, Colin Nishida and many others. Tickets are $150 per person and the format is like Taste of Honolulu.

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.