Manny Pacquiao's Waikiki Shell concert, but...

Manny Pacquiao's concert in Waikiki Shell canceled, but there will be two events.

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Manny Pacquiao Brought Back to Life in Hawaii: No Concert But Two Events
by Kevin Riley

Manny Pacquiao is a praying man, everybody knows that.

And prayers are exactly what it took to resuscitate Pacquiao's much-desired trip to the Aloha State for a little meet and greet with the sunbathed people of Hawaii.

Just 24 hours after his Waikiki Shell shindig went up in flames due to lower than expected ticket sales, Ryan Chang of Island Fire Productions, and Ben Sesepasara of Big Ben Entertainment informed me that the Filipino boxer's plans to visit the island of Oahu were back on.

"It's so hectic right now...everyday is a blur," Chang said during a late-night phone call to discuss Pacquiao's replacement plans. "[We] made some major, major deals to make this happen with Manny's camp, Manny did what it took to make it happen. He really wanted to come to Hawaii so he really helped us out."

With the Joshua Clottey championship fight in his rear-view mirror, and the Sarangani province congressional elections straight ahead, Pacquiao was relishing the opportunity for some rest and relaxation in paradise Sesepasara told me on Tuesday, shortly after the Mar. 21 concert was canceled. He was looking forward to seeing some of his passionate fans that have supported him since he first came blazing out of General Santos City, Philippines, more than 10 years ago to put his stamp on the sport of boxing—Hawaii is home to nearly 300,000 Filipinos.

Now, instead of performing with the MP Band at the Shell this Sunday evening, Chang and Sesepasara have arranged for Pacquiao to appear at a Friday night, nightclub event for the partying crowd of Honolulu. And a meet-n-greet/photo-op/autograph/gala event at Aloha Stadium on Sunday for the families of Honolulu. Old, young, and everybody else in between.

"It's going to be an all day event on Sunday," Chang said. "We're going to put up a big tent area, it's going to be a huge thing."

Home to Hawaii's largest flea market, Aloha Stadium will be going forward with both events come Sunday, providing for what is sure to be a high-energy, family-oriented, festive atmosphere at the location that is only a stone's throw away from Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial.

"Everybody will get a chance to do a meet and greet and either take a picture or get an autograph with Manny," Chang said. "And prices will be very reasonable."

With the star-power that Pacquiao possesses, that is the important thing—giving people the opportunity to meet the seven time world champion and pound-for-pound king.

And thanks to their new plans, Chang and Sesepasara are providing a much better opportunity for the people of Hawaii to catch a glimpse of the best boxer alive. Certainly much more than the 8,500 that the Waikiki Shell would be limited to.

As far as the MP Band goes, maybe they'll make an appearance too. "We're gonna try to get them to perform, eight of his band members are coming. I don't know who, I just know that eight (of them) are coming. We're booking the airfare first thing in the morning."

It appears that somebody's prayers in Hawaii were answered to see Pacquiao this weekend.

And now everybody gets to enjoy them.

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For tickets, please call 808-780-1975

or e-mail islandfireproductions@yahoo.com