20th Anniversary Luau
Celebrating 20 Years of Makapo Magic at NAC and Beyond
Presented by
The Evening
An evening by the water that takes you back to the islands — to the culture, the spirit, and the tradition of outrigger paddling that has shaped every paddler, volunteer, and family who has ever been part of the Makapo Ohana.
From the moment you arrive, you will feel it. The warmth of the Makapo ohana welcoming you in. The scent of a luau dinner prepared by King’s Hawaiian. The sound of Hawaiian music carrying across the water. Hula. Laughter. Stories from the paddlers who show up every week and remind us why this all matters.
This is a celebration rooted in aloha — and it belongs to everyone who has ever believed that the water should be accessible to all. Twenty years of Makapo magic did not happen by accident. It happened because of people like you.
Why We're Celebrating
This is a great place to add a tagline.
Twenty years ago, five blind athletes and legendary outrigger coach Billy Whitford put the first all-blind outrigger crew on the water at the 2006 Queen Liliʻuokalani Outrigger Canoe Race — and proved that blindness is no barrier to the open ocean.
What followed was two decades of Makapo magic — built almost entirely on the dedication of volunteers who showed up, week after week, because they believed in what the water can do for people.
The proceeds from this event will fund a critical transition: moving Makapo from a volunteer-run organization to one anchored by a strong, small paid staff — ensuring that our programs are permanently available to every person whose life has been touched by disability. Proceeds also support launch and expand a new adaptive rowing program in collaboration with the Newport Aquatic Center — giving people with disabilities access to an exciting new sport and creating more pathways to the water.
Makapo Aquatics is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization — EIN 20-8663200. All sponsorships and donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Sponsorship Opportunities
The 20th Anniversary Luau is made possible entirely by sponsors who believe adaptive paddling belongs in Orange County for the next 20 years. Sponsorship opportunities range from $200 to $5,000 — from ensuring a paddler and their family are in the room, to reserving a table for 10 guests, to taking an exclusive sponsorship of the entertainment, bar, florals, or AV for the evening. Every dollar beyond event costs goes directly to the programs, scholarships, and equipment that keep the water accessible to every person who needs it.
Floral and Lei Sponsor — $5,000 (exclusive)
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Exclusive branding at the floral and lei experience — the first thing every guest encounters.
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Covers the cost of floral leis for every guest at the event.
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Recognition on table centerpieces and florals throughout the venue.
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2 reserved seats. Logo in the program. Dedicated social media spotlight.
Entertainment Sponsor — $4,000 (claimed)
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Exclusive naming rights: “Entertainment presented by [Your Name]” on stage and in the program.
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Verbal recognition by the emcee. Premier logo placement on stage signage, program, and event slideshow.
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4 reserved seats. Dedicated social media spotlight. Recognition in the post-event impact report.
Bar and Beverage Sponsor — $3,000 (exclusive)
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Exclusive bar naming rights plus a signature drink named in your honor.
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Logo on bar signage and drink menus. Verbal recognition by the emcee.
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2 reserved seats. Logo in the program. Dedicated social media spotlight.
AV and Technology Sponsor — $1,500 (exclusive)
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Logo on the opening and closing slides of the event slideshow.
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Recognition with the 20th anniversary tribute video.
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2 reserved seats. Name in the printed program.
Sponsor a Paddler - $200
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A personal, mission-driven gift.
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Every Makapo paddler and their family should be in that room — at no cost to them. A $200 paddler sponsorship ensures they are. Your name will be listed in the printed program as a Paddler Sponsor, and you will receive a personal thank-you from the paddler you sponsored.
The foundation of this celebration.
Every table at the Luau is a sponsorship. Your $2,000 reserves seating for up to 10 guests and directly underwrites paddler and family attendance — making sure the people this event is built around are in the room. Twenty tables are available.
What you receive:
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Reserved table for 10 guests
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Name or logo recognition in the event program and signage
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Acknowledgment during opening remarks
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Priority invitation to future Makapo events
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Connection to 20 years of adaptive paddling history
Questions?
Ready to sponsor a table, donate a prize, or learn more?
Agnes Teague, Co-Chair — agnes@makapo.org
Patti Bray, Co-Chair — patti.ebray@gmail.com
RJ De Rama, Co-Chair — rj@makapo.org
makapo.org
