LUAU for LOVE

The Luau — An entire day of fun, food, entertainment, prizes, music, and more for the entire family.

Ticket Price Includes the Following: Awesome Hawaiian Entertainment & Show with music and dancing by multiple artists and performers including Jonathan Carriera, Lopaka Young, Keenan Kamae, Ann Marie, Earl Essig, and many more. Spectacular Elvis Aloha Show Magic Show by Jamie the Magician Fun and Entertainment with Scottie the Parrot Food:  Salad and a Plate of WhaPaGetti's Spaghetti (available throughout the afternoon) Swing dance lesson and exhibition Tahitian Extravaganza (Keiki event) Photography Island Special drawing for door prize for those who purchased tickets in advance Also Available for Optional Donations: Hawaiian Gifts, Crafts, and Homemade Bake Items Photos with Scottie the Parrot Raffle Tickets for Prize Drawings that will include a Hawaiian Quilt, Hawaiian Car Seat Covers, Overnight  Stay at the Marriott, and many more items Additional Plates of Food (1st one is included)

Sunday, September 16, 2007 All-Day Event 1:00 - 9:30 PM   A Benefit for the Recovery of the Much-Loved Midwest Hawaiian Performer and Owner of the Tiki Terrace Restaurant Jim Zuziak   Event held at Rob Roy Golf Clubhouse 505 East Camp McDonald Road Prospect Heights, IL (847-253-4544) Ticket Prices $15.00 - Age 12 and over $7.50 - Children under 12 Advanced Ticket Sales at the Barefoot Hawaiian Shop Advanced Ticket Purchases Include Entry for Special Door Prize Drawing Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door on the Day of the Event All Proceeds (not simply profits) Going to the Zuziak Family for the Medical Treatment and Recovery of Jim Zuziak Ticket Holders May Come and Go as They Wish Throughout the Day Opportunities to Make Additional and Optional Donations in Return for Goods, Prize Drawings, Photo Opportunities, and More

 

The Love — The story of one man's fight to live and the love that surrounds him

June 17, 2007 —  One of the most beloved and known persons in the Midwest's genre of Hawaiian Entertainment fell seriously and nearly fatally ill.  It was on that Sunday that a very fit and healthy Jim Zuziak, while out on business for his very popular Tiki Terrace Restaurant, suffered a massive stroke.  At age 28, the stroke was caused by a clot that broke free within Jim's vascular system.  Neither Jim nor his doctors were previously aware of clot danger.

Jim was taken to Lutheran General Hospital and the next few days looked dismal.  Despite the best treatment, care, and medical staff available, Jim's condition and fate lied entirely out of the abilities of medical science.  Jim's doctors presented the Zuziak family with the most horrifying of news: "Jim has only about 4 days to live."  It was suggested the family begin 'making preparations'.

Being an extremely spiritual and faithful Christian family, the Zuziak's refused to accept this as the final diagnosis and decree in Jim's life.  Knowing the power of prayer, they called upon all their friends for support and to pray for Jim.  The outpouring of support that followed was incredible.  Email communication was being distributed in masses, phone calls were being made, and word of mouth and announcements at major Hawaiian events spread the need for support throughout the area.  Over the next few days, thousands of prayers were said by hundreds of persons.  Friends, customers of Jim's restaurant, admirers of his performances began showing up at the hospital to support the family.  There was nearly around-the-clock support by someone in the hospital's ER Intensive Care ward family waiting room.

THE PRAYERS WERE HEARD AND ANSWERED!  About 3 days after Jim was admitted, Jim's condition not only stabilized somewhat, but it began to improve slightly.  Hope and life was back in the picture.  With an explanation beyond medical science, doctors could only attribute this to the combination of miracle and Jim's very strong will to live.  Prayer and support continued, and over the next few weeks Jim's condition improved to the point that he was no longer considered 'critical'.  In a more recent development, the source of the clot was finally located - a small tumor on his heart that allowed the original clot to break free and would be a source for further strokes. On August 28 Jim underwent a successful surgery that removed this tumor.

With Jim now out of danger, he still has a very long road of recovery ahead of him.  He still remains partially paralyzed and needs a great deal of therapy, including physical, speech, occupational, and more.  And he still needs all our prayers and support.

Jim Zuziak is very well known to many Hawaiian culture enthusiasts in the Midwest.  Having performed regularly for the Barefoot Hawaiian, Jim is one of the best male Hawaiian performers in Chicago in Hawaiian and Tahitian dance and in his spectacular Samoan Fire Knife performances.   Jim, along with his two brothers, Scott and Phil, is the owner of the well-known Tiki Terrace restaurant and of A Custom Production, the prop and decor company responsible for manufacturing and provided much of the Hawaiian decor you see at major events throughout the greater Chicago region.

Needless to say, Jim's contributions to Hawaiian culture has been appreciated by many thousands of individuals in the Chicago area.  And whether you know Jim's personally or not, if you have had any exposure to Hawaiian culture in this area, we are certain you have been touched by his influence.

The Luau for Love — Putting It All Together in a Fund-Raising Day of Entertainment

Jim has a long road of treatment and recovery ahead of him.  We kindly ask for your support by attending the Luau for Love.  Everything is being contributed for this cause by the many person who love Jim, contributing their time, money, service, supplies, and more for this event.  Not a single individual associated with putting on the Luau for Love is receiving a single penny — not even for reimbursement of expenses.  This means that every penny of your ticket price or of anything else you buy at the event will go directly to the Zuziak family to help pay for the treatment Jim has needed and will continue to need for his long recovery period

You can help with the end result that we all want to see: Jim performing for us all on stage again some day.  When that day comes, it will be a Luau of Love.  Help us make that day happen.

The Schedule of the Day's Festivities

Following is the schedule (subject to change) of the day's activities for the Luau for Love.

• 1:00 PM — Doors open
• 1:00 - 7:00 — Food service
• 1:00 - 7:00 — Bake sale, sale of Hawaiian gifts and crafts
• 1:30 - 1:45 — Musical Entertainment by singer Ann Marie 
• 1:45 - 2:00 — Raffle Announcements
• 2:00 - 2:30 — Tamari'I Tahitian Display
• 2:00 - 2:30 — Scottie the Parrot - See tricks and play games with Scottie
• 2:30 - 3:00 — Photos with Scottie the Parrot - Have picture taken with Chicago's favorite bird
• 2:30 - 3:00 — Mystifying Magic Show by " Jaime the Magician" (Some secret tricks possibly revealed)
• 3:00 - 3:30 — Tahitian Display by the Barefoot Hawaiian Professional Dance Team
• 3:30 - 4:00 — NaMele Aloha Show - A Show and Performance by Mr. Earl Essig and Company
• 4:00 - 4:30 —  Musical Entertainment by solo artist Mr. Jonathan Carriera
• 4:30 - 5:00 —  Musical Entertainment by solo artist Mr. Lopaka Young
• 5:00 - 6:00 —  The Spectacular Elvis Aloha Show (Yes, Elvis is in the building)
• 6:00 - 6:30 — Musical Entertainment by solo artist Mr. Keenan Kamae
• 6:30 - 7:30 — Performance by Special Guest Musicians Uncle Ben, Calvin, and Kaleo
• 7:30 - 8:00 — Swing Dance Lesson and Exhibition by Lou Chatroop and partner
• 8:00 - 9:00 — Evening's Showcase Performance by the Barefoot Hawaiian Band and Dancers
• 9:00 - 9:30 — Raffle drawings and drawings for door prizes and gifts
• 9:30 PM — Exit and doors close