"Mana Maoli," the new double CD, springs to life in a marathon nine-hour benefit performance (with plenty of extras) Saturday at Andrews Amphitheater on the University of Hawai'i-Manoa campus.

Like the album, the concert will be a mix of Hawai'i's biggest music stars and backyard jammers — all lending a hand to raise money for Halau Ku Mana Public Charter School for Native Hawaiians, which will also use the opportunity to build community awareness for its project and shed light on a looming dilemma. By December, the school must vacate its Manoa location (the former Paradise Park). It has yet to find a new home.

"Lots of performers are pili (supportive or close) to the school," said Micky Huihui, the school's 'ohana/community development director and a member of Ooklah the Moc, one of the musical acts on the disc and in the show. "Ooklah did the concert the last time, and they totally support me in this," said Huihui. "But that's what this has become: involving 'ohana and strong supporters."

O-shen, Hawai'i's innovative world music singer-composer, was quick to join the effort, thanks to his longstanding friendship with Keola Nakanishi, the driving force behind Halau Ku Mana.

"First of all, Keola was a personal friend, long before he started making plans for the school, though I never took him seriously. But I'm really happy with what he's done; I'm really proud of him and what he stands for. That type of school just doesn't get much funding. So I'm definitely more than happy to help out with the good cause. I love to support the Hawaiian community and especially the young kids going to these schools," said O-shen.

"If my name will help draw a few more people to the show, I'd be happy. That's also why I took part in the (CD) project."

Another advocate is rising local recording star Paula Fuga, who released her first solo CD in May. "It's a good way to expose my music and a good way for me to help support the children (of the charter school), who are going to be the leaders of tomorrow," she said.

Fuga, who grew up in Waimanalo and got some "American Idol" TV exposure in the season with Hawai'i's Jasmine Trias and Camile Velasco, said it's give-back time.

"Hindsight is 20-20. I never knew what I was missing because I never had it," she said of her early upbringing away from the limelight. "I now can give back to the community in so small a way because I have been blessed with this gift of music. It's only right that I share it, since it was given to me freely, so why not give back freely? I've always wanted to sing, to one day have an album. I've done that now, when everything fell in place at the right time. I took risks, I have my own label, and I'm doing what I'm supposed to do — take care of myself, take care of my (extended) family. The most beautiful gift I have is being able to love my work."

Fuga's tune "Country Road," on the "Mana Maoli" disc, hooked her up with homegrown star Jack Johnson — she approached him about the song, and he recorded it with her for "Mana Maoli." He also invited her to join his Kokua Festival lineup earlier this year.

Johnson is one of the few who declined to appear in the weekend show but he has a good reason: his wife, Kim, gave birth to their second child last weekend.

Otherwise, Nakanishi — the school's director since its founding in 2001 — said it was relatively easy to assemble the day-and-night slate of music.

"Practically everyone we asked said yes, and not one person is getting a dime," said Nakanishi.

Indeed, the album, the concert and the ongoing campaign to raise the profile of the charter school — one of 12 in the Na Lei Na'auao Charter School Alliance — have been built on a foundation of volunteers.

"When we started thinking of the album, and then the concert, we just told everyone of our successes as well as our challenges," he said. "While money is an issue, it was secondary to awareness and support. It was about connections — finding people who knew people who had time to donate. Or people who could identify or secure a site, or someone who had some weight to help provide more funding for the charter school."

"We had about 200 involved — when you add up singers, backup people doing harmony, engineers — to get that CD recorded and out," said Nakanishi.

"If you count everyone who will be on stage for the concert, along with show promoters and others involved, I'd say we'll have more than 240 participating," he said.

Nakanishi's chief problem this week has been to set the tone and the pace for the show, sprinkling big names among the up and coming, and accommodating the schedules of performers who have other gigs the same day. He declined to say who was opening and who was closing the program, but provided this loose guide: "Going on early: Natural Vibrations, Henry Kapono, Willie K. Appearing later: Ooklah the Moc, B.E.T. Everyone else will come on in between."

With an initial "Mana Maoli" pressing of 2,500 CDs, Nakanishi has an additional 2,500 en route. Even with minimal marketing, the CD is already getting airplay, particularly on Maui and the Big Island. "There's been some national interest, too," said Nakanishi.

"The concert is completely a labor of love," said Huihui. "We have volunteers who are parents, students and staff at the school — and UH has been so awesome" with support.

Huihui emphasized the event is an alcohol-free celebration of music. "Our thinking is that if it's OK for the kids and the kupuna, it's OK for the concert."

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.