Members of the state’s visitor industry and their partners braved the rain in Waikiki on Saturday night for the first Hawaii for Hawaii concert, which raised more than $400,000 for the tourist district’s homeless residents.

Held on the Hilton Hawaiian Village’s Great Lawn, the concert was similar to Kokua for Japan, Haiti and the Philippines — local concerts that raised millions for relief in those countries. Only this event was more poignant since the money collected will go to the Institute for Human Services, which runs the state’s largest homeless shelter, to expand the Waikiki outreach it kicked off in November with support from the Hawai‘i Lodging and Tourism Association.

"We’ve raised millions for other countries when they’ve had disasters, but homelessness is one of the biggest challenges that we could ever face here in Hawaii," Hilton Area Vice President Jerry Gibson said.

Honolulu resident Paula Powell was among the 1,300 concertgoers who didn’t let bad weather keep her from supporting Waikiki’s homeless residents.

"The concert was a surprise from my kids for Mother’s Day. They thought it would be a good way to support the community," said Powell, who had a front-row seat. "I couldn’t agree more. I’m not moving, no matter how much it rains."

Lots of big names joined the industry effort, too. Henry Kapono, John Cruz and Brother Noland, who together call themselves the Rough Riders, made their Oahu debut at the concert. Other local artists, including Hapa, Amy Hanaiali‘i, Jimmy Borges, Starr Kalahiki, Taimane, Makana, the keiki hula dancers of Halau Hula Olana and comedian Kaleo Pilanca, also embraced the charity event.

"Every day, I drive around our beautiful island and I notice that there are more people living in tents and on cardboard," Pilanca said. "I know that they need help, but in my mind, I think, what can I do? I’m only one person. That’s why I’m a million percent excited about being part of something that will make a major difference in our community."

To be sure, homelessness has presented challenges for Hawaii tourism, especially in Waikiki. Visitors have been increasingly dissatisfied with nuisances like unhygienic conditions and negative encounters. And, worse yet, Waikiki’s homelessness is amplified by the district’s mile-long footprint and its economic importance.

"We are so proud of what IHS has accomplished in such a short time with the donation from the visitor industry," said George Szigeti, HLTA president and CEO.

Gibson said he hopes that the concert will help fill a budget shortfall so that the agency can continue with all of its programs and services. The concert aimed to build on a $200,000 cash contribution from HLTA, which helped IHS leverage $824,000 of its own funds to launch its Waikiki pilot program.

Additionally, the visitor industry has provided hundreds of thousands of in-kind furniture and bedding donations to make housing immediately ready for residents to move in.

In the first six months of the program, IHS has served about 138 unsheltered homeless people in Waikiki. Of those, IHS moved 52 into shelters, placed 24 into housing and helped 30 move out of state.

Bonnie Bay, the 100th person whom IHS got off the streets of Waikiki, said she’s grateful for the assistance. Bay and her husband, Woodley Lokkon, were longtime Waikiki workers, but became homeless in Waikiki after losing their public housing benefit in February 2014.

"Being homeless in Waikiki was scary. We never slept because we were afraid. We saw people selling drugs and their bodies," said Bay, who has four children. "Whenever we could, we would stay in the hotel lobbies. Often, we got kicked out. When they said we had to leave, it was always a terrible feeling. We felt so much shame."

But thanks to the generosity of many, Bay and her family will soon have a permanent home in Arkansas with her sister. She worked with IHS to save enough money to pay for half of the plane fare and visitor industry contributions provided the rest.

"I hope they raise enough money at the concert to keep this program and other programs going," Bay said. "There are so many people homeless in Waikiki. When I pass by and it’s pouring rain, I feel so sorry for the people who are out there."

Mark Steiner, executive vice president of DVD Now, which supplies entertainment to many Waikiki hotels, did his part by bidding on auction items to up the ante for a good cause.

"From a visitor industry standpoint, homelessness is a big concern," Steiner said. "Hilton is one of our biggest clients, so we are here to show our support. It’s fantastic what IHS has done. Getting one person off the street is good, more than 100 is great."

Connie Mitchell, IHS executive director, said meeting the concert goal will go toward sustaining the Waikiki outreach through 2016, which is important since the agency is running short on project funds and has further to go.

"We think that there’s more than 400 people living homeless in Waikiki," Mitchell said. "It’s going to take a consistent effort to get them housed and to help Waikiki’s newly homeless."

Kimo Carvalho, IHS’ director of community relations, said the agency is on track to meet its initial goal of moving 260 people off the streets of Waikiki. In addition to stepping up street outreach in Waikiki, IHS also has launched shuttle service to its shelter and opened up a one-stop service center in Moiliili, he said.

IHS outreach worker Rayna Brown said the added services have helped the organization gain more traction.

"The shuttle service persuaded one Waikiki woman to stay in the shelter after 20 years on the streets," Brown said. "When she made that choice, it brought tears to my eyes."

Carvalho said a community referral program, which has been embraced by hotels, Waikiki businesses and residents, also has helped IHS reach more of the district’s homeless residents.

"The community is really stepping up and together we are making a difference," he said.