Thrifters, eco-shoppers and luxury fans with dollar-size budgets will converge on the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall Aug. 24-26 when Goodwill Industries of Hawaii hosts its biggest treasure hunt ever, "Goodwill Goes GLAM!"

More than 50,000 items for men, women and children will be spread out over 20,000 square feet of retail space. The sale will be highlighted by the best of designer apparel and accessories amassed from donations to Goodwill’s retail stores, plus new items donated from retail partners in the Ambassador Business Program.

The ambitious event will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. all three days, with $4 admission. A three-day $25 Fast Pass allows for bypassing entry lines, use of the Red Carpet Lounge and expedited checkout. Those who purchase a VIP Fast Pass for $70 will also be able to enjoy a reception, fashion show and pre-sale Aug. 23.

Goodwill will make the most of its community ties through the fashion show, which brings together the green and often serendipitous fashion experience. It will open with "Goodwill Goes Green," a collection of re-purposed designs created by 2012 University of Hawaii fashion graduates with materials gathered from Goodwill. This will be followed by "The Elements of Goodwill," which draws on the talents of five local stylists — Reise Kochi, Crystal Pancipanci, Rene Rodriguez and the House of Kagamida (Kyle Kagamida and Allie Lee) — who are using Goodwill apparel and accessories to piece together eight ensembles based on the elements of earth, wind, fire and water.

For Rodriguez the search was easy. His work and daily exercise routine put him in the vicinity of the Kaimuki Goodwill store, where it was not unusual for him to stop in three or four times a week in search of brightly colored pieces that would evoke fire.

It was harder for Kagamida, who got his start here and now works as a freelance celebrity wardrobe stylist in Los Angeles for such clients as Jessica Alba, Rachel Bilson, Kristen Bell, Catherine Zeta Jones and Katherine Heigl. He partnered with longtime friend and fellow stylist and fashion blogger Lee, who said, "(We) haven’t worked together much since he’s moved to L.A, so I am really excited to be reunited on a style project."

With Lee doing the legwork here, the two collaborated in pulling pieces from the Goodwill stores through cellphone snapshots.

Kagamida, who’s versed in red-carpet styling and dealing with high-end designers, said, "Working with Goodwill is a lot different from my regular styling jobs because it’s obviously not as easy to find things that I want. Also, the fact that we’re working with a company rather than an individual makes it harder to portray a vision because you need to think of the company’s brand image."

Despite the need to wade through dozens of racks to find suitable pieces, Pancipanci said, "Styling for ‘Goodwill Goes GLAM!’ has been so much fun and definitely a pure creative release. I kept my work process the same: be open, pull whatever catches the eye, go through everything and trust in the unknown.

"I am the ultimate bargain hunter, and working with Goodwill vintage items is always fun because there are definitely hidden treasures to be found. When you find a piece that completely inspires you or when can put a complete designer look together for under $20, and give back to a great cause, it’s a very rewarding feeling."

ACCORDING to Goodwill Industries of Hawaii CEO and President Laura Robertson Smith, this marks the first time the organization is hosting an event on this scale.

In addition to rewarding loyal Goodwill shoppers with a memorable shopping experience, Smith said the organization aims to raise awareness of its work beyond its renown as a source of affordable vintage, designer and secondhand chic.

"A lot of the public knows we do something good in the community, but they’re not aware of our program of career development, which is more important than ever," Smith said. "Since 2008 the number of people we serve is up 15 percent. We’re seeing more and more people who have to work two or three jobs to make ends meet because they’ve had their hours cut, and the age of people coming to us for help is increasing.

"We serve many different people. All they need to do is call 836-WORK (9675), and we can help them get into one of our employment or training programs."

At a minimum, job seekers can get assistance in fine-tuning a resume, practicing interview skills and finding job openings. Others need assistance in changing their career paths, and the organization is able to find jobs for 1,400 annually.

In a year, about 15,000 people statewide make use of Goodwill’s services, including free tax preparation and help for immigrants, youths and people with developmental disabilities.

"We invite people to come to the event, and we’ll have booths set up where they can talk to our staff," said Smith.

And, of course, there will be plenty of shopping, and, just as at the stores, 91 percent of sales from donated merchandise will go toward Goodwill’s mission.

Locally the recycling of merchandise prevents 13 million pounds of would-be "trash" from going to landfills. "People really like the idea of recycling, giving their items a second life, which is important for the environment," Smith said. "There’s a lot more feeling of social and environmental responsibility."

Volunteers are needed for "Goodwill Goes GLAM!" To sign up, visit www.higoodwill.org.