For social media addicts, a good Internet connection is as vital as air. Fortunately, attendees at the 2010 Honolulu Twestival won’t have any problems posting updates to Twitter, making friends on Facebook, and uploading photos to Flickr without a hitch. Clear has graciously stepped forward to be our official Wi-Fi provider at Oceans 808. Honolulu is fortunate to be among the first places to receive “4G” wireless data coverage, and you’ll be able to experience it and learn more about Clear at the event.

The Honolulu Twestival is grateful for the continued support of Farmers Insurance Hawaii. The company sponsored the first Honolulu Twestival last year (as AIG Hawaii).

In addition to its event sponsorship, Farmers Insurance Hawaii will be at the Honolulu Twestival to tap the collective mind of the island social media community. For every person who signs up on-site for the community forum at www.MyFarmersHawaii.com, they will donate an additional $2.50 to the cause.

“This year we are celebrating 55 years of service in Hawaii,” said E-Marketing Manager John Tapper (@tapperj). “We will be asking people at Twestival to help share their thoughts on how to make Hawaii a better place in the next 55 years.”

You can follow Farmers Insurance Hawaii on Twitter @FarmersHawaii, or become a fan on Facebook.

Farmers is the third largest provider of personal lines insurance in the country, serving more than 15 million customers. The company’s local agents can help you with auto, homeowners and a wide range of other insurance and financial services products. Through the support of Farmers Insurance Hawaii, every dollar raised in Honolulu Twestival ticket sales will go to Concern Worldwide.

Buy your tickets now, and enjoy good music, good food, and good people at the Honolulu Twestival on Thursday, all for a good cause. We’ve just added even more great prizes to be given away, so don’t miss it!

We are once again thrilled to announce another addition to the 2010 Honolulu Twestival music lineup! The entire team welcomes Candy Diaz to the stage!

Some songwriters write for themselves — to vent their feelings, their frustrations, even their fears. Candy Diaz cares about her listeners.

“When I write songs, I try to incorporate how I genuinely feel about my subject matter, whether it’s a storyline or something based on my actual experiences,” she says. “When someone listens to my music and has that ‘Ah-ha!’ moment, it makes me excited because that means I’m connecting with them and gaining the ability to look at my songs in a different way.”

The 28-year old Roosevelt High School graduate has made those connections since she was able to hold a microphone. She’s sung at every family party, performed at every school recital and even helped her father sell karaoke systems at the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet when she was just 5 years old. Yet for every Brown Bags to Stardom or radio station battle of the bands she’s done, Candy can also name drop with the best of them.

Jack Johnson. Eddie Vedder. Matt Costa. Dave Matthews. Tim Reynolds. Justin Nozuka. Don Carlos.

As a member of the all-female songwriters collective The Girlas, she’s played alongside and shared the stage with some of the biggest names to come through Honolulu in the last 8 years. Now she’s making the transition to being a solo artist, with her debut album set for release later this year.

“I’m excited,” says Candy. “I hope that people enjoy listening to my music as much as I enjoy writing these songs.”

Besides her music, she also relies on social networking to connect and interact with fans. Between her website, www.candydiaz.com, and her Twitter account (@CandyDiaz), Candy likes to think she’s only a click or two away from inspiring others and being inspired herself.

“I know I love music, and I know others love music because it makes them think about underlying issues that affect all of us,” she says. “I just want to be creative while making connections with those who may enjoy what I do.”

Get a first-hand taste of Candy’s beautifully sounds at the Honolulu Twestival on March 25th where she joins an amazing lineup of soothing and acoustic local artists who have given their time in support of this charitable event.

Get your tickets online now! $20 gets you in, great pupus, two included drinks (and selected drinks for $3 thereafter), great music, great people… all for a good cause.  Every dollar raised in ticket sales goes direct to Concern Worldwide, the global beneficiary of this global event.

The Honolulu Twestival is coming this Thursday, a local pau hana to wrap up a global charity fundraiser. It’s got great live music. Good food. Wonderful people. All in support of a good cause. What else do you need?

Prizes! Like last year, a number of great local companies and individuals have stepped forward to offer special giveaways to Honolulu Twestival attendees. From hotel room nights to nights on the town, from food to one-of-a-kind goodies, there’s something for everyone!

And everyone at the Honolulu Twestival is automatically entered to win, no additional purchase necessary. Of course, you can always purchase additional prize tickets for $5 each… and all monies will go directly to Concern Worldwide, and the Honolulu Twestival city fundraising total!

Here are just a few of the prize sponsors for the Honolulu Twestival… and there’s more to come! The only way to win, though, is to attend. Buy your tickets now! They’re $20 in advance, online, or $25 at the door. And 100 percent of ticket sales go to charity.

For details, visit the Honolulu Twestival Prize Page! Thanks to all the prize sponsors for their support of the Honolulu Twestival, with a special shout out to @NathanKam and @Melissa808.

Once again, Hawaii-Aloha.com is proud to sponsor the Honolulu Twestival. Its founders, Yaling and Bruce Fisher, were instrumental in putting together the first event last year, and remain active members of the planning team in 2010.

Hawaii-Aloha.Com is an online travel company specializing Hawaii Vacations. The company separates itself from its competition by offering personal service from 14 agents who are either born and raised in Hawaii or have lived here most of their lives. The company’s mission is to connect people who want to visit the islands with professional agents who actually live and work as travel professionals in Hawaii.

“Hawaii-Aloha.Com are big supporters of Twestival,” says Bruce Fisher. “We believe in the grassroots approach of this organization and especially appreciate the fact that 100 percent of the proceeds of the tickets that are sold go directly to the charities that are being supported.”

“This year’s charity such an important organization because it creates public awareness about so many humanitarian issues,” adds Yaling Fisher.

About Yaling

Yaling Yu is native of Taiwan who moved to the United States in 1992 and got her bachelors degree in marketing, management and retailing at Southern Illinois University after studying engineering working with micro fibers in the garment industry for 3 years in Taiwan. She then went on to get her Masters Degree in Fashion Design at Western Michigan University with a strong focus on marketing, CAD and computer science. Yaling began Hawaii Aloha Travel in 2000 after to moving to Hawaii to start a new chapter in her life and to fullfill a lifetime goal of being a business owner. Under her guidance Hawaii Aloha Travel has grown to become one of the largest locally owned travel agencies in Hawaii

About Bruce

Bruce is originally from Miami Beach Florida, but has lived in Hawaii for the last 19 years where he received a bachelors degree in Psychology from Hawaii Pacific University. Bruce became a pioneer in the internet marketing field in 1996 in Hawaii when he created and then later became the CEO of HAWAII-ALOHA.COM inc. Bruce has used his knowledge to create, manage and market hundreds of websites in Hawaii. In 2000 he partnered with Yaling to create Hawaii Aloha Travel and has devoted his skills exclusively to managing and developing the company. Bruce has a passion for success and helping others around him to achieve their personal and financial goals.

Dr. Tyrie Lee Jenkins, one of Hawaii’s premier anterior segment and laser refractive surgeons, clearly sees value in the Twestival mission. The Honolulu Twestival is proud to welcome her aboard as a sponsor of this year’s event, taking place next Thursday, March 25.

Dr. Jenkins has been practicing ophthalmology in Hawaii for nearly two decades. Her thriving practice reflects her business acumen, passion and skill. It’s also built on a philosophy of community responsibility.

Dr. Jenkins was a national early adopter in laser vision correction. She was active in the study that led to the FDA approval of LASIK and performed Hawaii’s first LASIK procedure in 1997. She regularly participates in ongoing research in her field. To date Dr. Jenkins has performed over 20,000 refractive surgeries and continues to bring the freedom of glasses and contacts to many. She offers a variety of technolgies to help people live a life free of glasses or contacts.

As part of medical missions to China and Western Samoa, she has helped improve access to eye care in underserved areas. She measures success not in profits alone but in community good. She is currently working on her Master in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Jenkins established Na Kauka for the Cure (Doctors for the Cure™) as part of the Komen Breast Cancer Foundation’s annual Race for the Cure™. She’s president of the Women’s Fund of Hawaii, which makes grants to grassroots programs that benefit women and girls in Hawaii, and is on the board of Hawaii Public Radio. Previously she has been on the board of Hawaii Opera Theater and Goodwill Industries.

Dr. Jenkins has been recognized by Junior Achievement of Hawaii, Pacific Business News, U.S. Small Business Administration and the YWCA. In 2009 she was named one of the top-rated physicians in her field in Hawaii by her peers – fellow physicians in the top five percent of medical practitioners across the nation.

Besides her own practice, Tyrie Jenkins, M.D. Eye Care, she is medical director of the Laser Eye Center of Hawaii, Hawaii’s only locally owned center devoted to laser refractive surgery; she co-owns The Surgical Suites, a freestanding outpatient eye surgery center.

Hawaii real estate company Prudential Locations, the largest locally owned and operated real estate company in the State of Hawaii, has joined the 2010 Honolulu Twestival as a sponsor.

“We are firmly committed to being at the forefront of technology and innovation in the field of Real Estate, and Twitter is representative of those ideals,” said online marketing manager Joe Segal (@surfer9joe).  ”We use Twitter as a communications tool quite often (@hirealestate), and we are excited to help support the charity that the proceeds of Twestival go to, Concern Worldwide.”

Prudential Locations is a multi-faceted real estate company with a rich kama’aina tradition in the islands of Hawaii that boasts four decades of extensive local experience and connections to offer its clients. To benefit customers, the Prudential Locations website shows every home, land, condo and real estate listing on Oahu, Maui, Big Island, Kauai, Molokai, and Lanai, with detailed property information to assist its clients.

By being a leader in real estate market research and knowledge and continually training more than 240 real estate agents, Prudential Locations produced more than $1 billion in sales in 2009. Prudential Locations Hawaii is ranked in the top four percent of all Prudential Real Estate affiliates and recently earned the distinction of Hawaii’s top brokerage firm for both transactions and sales volume by the RIS 2008 Power Broker Survey.

Prudential Locations was established in 1969 with offices and affiliates throughout the state, and is an independently owned and operated member of the Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc.

The Honolulu Twestival is jam packed with great live music, raffle prizes that are still to be announced, great food and drinks and good people coming together for a good cause. We’re honored to have some special guests joining us on Thursday March 25th, whose talent and social media savvy will be key to keeping the fun flowing all night long.

Dave Lawrence (@DaveLawrence) is a veteran radio personality with long runs in major markets Honolulu and Boston. Currently a news anchor on Hawaii Public Radio, the prestigious statewide voice of NPR in the islands, Dave hosts local news and interview segments as part of award-winning NPR shows like afternoon drive staple All Things Considered and popular morning program Weekend Edition. Blanketing approximately 1.2 million people in radio market #64 and beyond, the two channels, KHPR and KIPO, pushed through six towers and frequencies on Oahu, Maui and The Big Island, reach six islands and a combined listening audience in excess of 50,000 listeners. HPR has a unique position in a state with no commercial news radio or other similar competition; so far this year, their listeners have heard Dave interview many well-known performers making visits to Hawaii, including Elton John percussionist Ray Cooper, Rev. Al Green, The Beach Boys, Bon Jovi and others. Dave’s been with HPR since 2009.

Previously, Dave was the Afternoon Drive Personality & Music Director of 105.9 KPOI, Honolulu for over five years from 2002 - 2008. At the time the leading rock station, earning recognition for consistent male 25-54 dominance and strong 25-54 adult showings, Dave consistently ranked number one with men 25-54 and 18-49, including top two averages in four-book composites, year after year. His show was known for strong connection with local listeners and celebrities alike. Hundreds of interviews with stars like Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, Vince Neil, Slash and many others are now featured along with new conversations in the monthly Classic Interview Player online magazine at his site.

Dave also appeared hosting a rock news and video segment, Dave On The Rock, with Hawaii TV/comedy icon Andy Bumatai on The Andy Bumatai Show during it’s latest run in 2009, getting experience on-screen, working with this gifted local entertainer, legendary in the islands as a sort of local Jay Leno and one of Dave’s biggest fans in the local media.

Before Hawaii, Dave’s commercial radio experience began in 1992 at iconic rock station WBCN, Boston, where he stayed until 2001, working through the years as a Production Assistant, Afternoon Drive Producer with top afternoon drive DJ Mark Parenteau, Howard Stern Show board-op and Copywriter; in 1997 he added CBS Radio classic rock sister station WZLX, Boston to his work routine, as Morning Drive Producer for radio legend Charles Laquidara, Weekend and Fill-in Personality, and Production Assistant. He left ‘ZLX in 2002 for Hawaii.

Prior to WBCN, Dave was Music Director and Afternoon Drive Host at WERS, Boston, the Emerson College powerhouse FM with the widest reach in Boston. Dave recorded and produced their first-ever CD, 1993’s NACB award winning “WERS Presents Live On Gyroscope”.

DaveLawrenceOnline.com is his official site, filled with the rock, news and Hawaii-related content that DLTV On Shovio delivers,  as well as social media links, live Hawaii images, surf reports, and other related material.

A nightly rock news and video report, DLTV On Shovio airs weeknights, Monday through Thursday on Shovio AT 10PM EST/7PM PST/5PM HST, bringing viewers the latest rock news and video with fresh rock news, Tour Tracker Video from current shows, events and tours, relevant video flashbacks, and special guest interviews, all broadcast live from Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Traci Toguchi (@TraciToguchi) is a Renaissance Chick. She is a singer, songwriter, actor, marketing strategist, holistic entertainment/e-coach, evolving web developer (CIW certified), and former Miss Hawaii interested in all things tech, art, food, green/organic, and entrepreneur-focused.

Recording Artist/Songwriter/Publisher, including writing and singing the theme songs for “Better” (U.S. syndication) and “More” national TV shows

- Hoku Award nominee for Female Vocalist of the Year

- Miss Saigon Broadway tour cast member

- Actor in TV and films including Lost, Hawaii, BlackMale, The Karate Kid Part II, CDW Technology national commercials

- National Anthem Singer on ESPN live worldwide broadcasts. Won talent competitions including Amateur Night at the Apollo in Harlem, New York.

Besides the above, Traci also enjoys spending time with her loved ones, being an aunt, hiking, playing the guitar, watercolor painting, and researching, exploring and living sustainably. Says Traci, “I’m inspired by people who choose to see the good and let that be their guide through the ups and downs in life.”

Traci Toguchi online: http://www.tracitoguchi.com

Shaggy Jenkins (@ShaggyLive) is no stranger to social media or the public spotlight. Being born in a small town in North Carolina can do amazingly funny things to a person. If you ever needed proof, there’s Shaggy.

Raised in Bessemer City, North Carolina and often surrounded by trailer parks and little else, Shaggy started doing stand up comedy in 6th grade. It was in high school that a random field trip to a radio station sparked his interest in radio and broadcasting. Since then, he’s worked in dozens of markets as an imaging producer until 2003 when he came to Maui to retire from producing. In 2005, “The Big Hawaiian and Shaggy Morning Show” debuted and raised a lot of eye brows with its irreverent attitude and skits. In 2007, Shaggy went on to do his own mid day show and become head of KNUQ, the first every roots reggae station in the United States on the FM band. Shaggy Jenkins is the Program Director for Q103 on Maui and is heard Monday through Friday from 2pm to 7pm.

Shaggy online: http://www.shaggylive.com

Get your tickets online now! $20 gets you in, great pupus, two included drinks (and selected drinks for $3 thereafter), great music, great people… all for a good cause.  Every dollar raised in ticket sales goes direct to Concern Worldwide, the global beneficiary of this global event.

Another fantastic artist has joined the Honolulu Twestival lineup: Lehua Kalima. Now there’s there’s no excuse to miss this incredible pau hana party on Mar. 25th. Sure, the Honolulu Twestival movement is harnessing “the power of social media for social change” — but frankly, Oceans 808 will be the place to be for anyone who wants to have a good time, socialize and listen to some of Hawaii’s greatest musical lineup!

Lehua Kalima is a female singer/songwriter from Hawaii.  A member of the group Na Leo Pilimehana for the last 25 years, Kalima has recently begun work on a solo album with original tunes which run the musical gamut from neo-soul to country to folk to soft rock. Joined by talented musicians Shawn Pimental and Kaleo del Sol, Kalima and company will relax your mind and get you grooving.

The entire Honolulu Twestival team would like to thank Lehua and band for her participation in the 2010 Honolulu Twestival.

Connect with Lehua on Facebook and Twitter or better yet come down and relax to the groove at Honolulu Twestival on Thursday March 25th.

Get your tickets online now! $20 gets you in, great pupus, two included drinks (and selected drinks for $3 thereafter), great music, great people… all for a good cause.  Every dollar raised in ticket sales goes direct to Concern Worldwide, the global beneficiary of this global event.

We’re grateful to welcome Design Nabi aboard as a 2010 Honolulu Twestival sponsor! Mahalo to owner Ji Sun and company for stepping up to help make this great event happen.

Design Nabi offers over 10 years of experience, having evolved from web development to now include social media tools for business, nonprofits and individual clients. Online development services include:

• community building

• brand management

• strategic planning

• web strategy

• training

For more info, please visit http://www.designnabi.com and follow @jschawaii on Twitter.

Every dollar raised in ticket sales to the Honolulu Twestival goes direct to Concern Worldwide. So the fantastic event on March 25th is made possible only through great sponsors like Design Nabi… and an army of hardworking volunteers, generous musicians, and other partners. If you’d like to sponsor this great event, please drop us a line!