New Hawaii foundation launches local TV game show

A newly established foundation, the Hata Foundation, has come up with a new way to raise public awareness and support so it can raise more money for its nonprofit grantees, which include Hawaii Foodbank, Child and Family Services and the Next Step Shelter.

"In turbulent times it's so difficult to solicit, and if you're a new foundation it's even much more difficult," Liz Hata-Watanabe told the Star-Advertiser. One of the founders of the new group, Hata-Watanabe is a member of the family that started Y. Hata & Co., a top Hawaii food distributor.

She came up with "Hawaii's Big Deal," dubbed “Hawaii's first-ever reality poker tournament filmed for charity,” as an innovative awareness-building tactic. The show will air on KHON-TV on Saturdays at 5:30 p.m., starting Aug. 7, and also be shown on the website hawaiisbigdeal.com.

"We're going to put on a really great tournament for people so that we can get the name of the foundation out there ... to further our work helping Hawaii's keiki," Hata-Watanabe said.

Winners of the show’s 13-week season will enjoy a trip for two to Las Vegas with accommodations, food and other perks provided. They will also qualify for a final tournament after one year with a similar but larger prize. Players will be chosen randomly from those who register free online through the Hawaii's Big Deal website.

The show began taping at Aloha Tower Marketplace on July 26 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Shoots are open to the public and the host is Gregg Hammer of the Gregg Hammer Band and Clear Channel Radio's KDNN-FM 98.5.