Traditional Hawaiian Dance Troupe Ka Pa Hula Kalama O Ha’aheo accompanied by the three-piece band Kua’aina setting the tone to enjoy the Aloha spirit throughout the evening.  

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Elvis is in the building! Anticipation mounted as another year brought another full house to the Veterans Community Center in Citrus Heights. Center family and friends gathered for their annual fundraising “Island Celebration” on Aug 22.

The opening act was again members of the traditional Hawaiian Dance Troupe Ka Pa Hula Kalama O Ha’aheo accompanied by the three-piece band Kua’aina setting the tone to enjoy the Aloha spirit throughout the evening. The band also accompanied Elvis on his Hawaiian songs. 

After an hour of Hawaiian song and dance, a different kind of dancing was about to commence. Finally, as the eager audience awaited the entrance of Elvis, he arrived and soon there was a whole lot of blushing going on. Elvis wasted no time combining his romantic numbers with his well-known playful serenading style, kneeling at many a lady’s side, pointing and winking and inviting them to dance.

Volunteer Dianne Weber handing out the infused water at the Tiki Bar.

Several danced including our Mayor MariJane Lopez Taff who danced to almost the entire “Shake, Rattle and Roll” with Elvis. A few lucky ladies received one of Elvis’s long thin, well sought after ‘sweaty scarfs.’ 

Other songs included “Jail House Rock,” “Blue Hawaii,” “Viva Las Vegas” and the “Hawaiian Wedding Song.” Elvis’s showpiece, “How Great Thou Art” concluded the show.

One highlight took place during the final 8 p.m. encore performance hour. Elvis surprised Michelle with “A Portrait of My Love” for them to dance to celebrate her and her husband Dan’s 45 anniversary on that day. Dan had requested that song saying it is “everything I feel about this woman.” The audience all joined in.

Lloyd’s mom Leslie stopped by with a “comfort horse.”

Food is always a major part of a luau. The traditional Hawaiian buffet dinner, always a favorite, prepared with loving hands by Kitchen Manager Emma Brown, and her daughter Julia, would not be complete without Emma’s perfectly cooked spam to go with the slow cooked kalua pig, chicken teriyaki, a special white rice and sauce from Guam, Emma’s home country, exotic looking tropical fruits including star and dragon fruit, a sweet Hawaiian macaroni salad and Hawaiian salad. Dessert was pineapple upside down cake and macadamia nut cookies. All washed down with lightly infused water from the Tiki Bar.  

Elvis tribute artist Lloyd Aron Douglas has been entertaining smaller, more intimate audiences such as the Veterans Center and small theatres for 15 years. When not entertaining his fans, Douglas’s day job for the past six years has been serving his community as a mounted deputy sheriff with the San Joaquin Sheriff’s Office. He has been in law enforcement for over 20 years. In the end Douglas had put on a show fit for “The King.”

Elvis sérénades Mayor Mari-Jane Lopez Taff.

Besides the garage sales, this luau is the center’s main fundraiser for the year. All proceeds go to helping provide a free “safe room” for all military veterans who visit. The center is run entirely by volunteers and funded solely by donations and our two fundraisers.  One hundred percent of proceeds support the mission to serve veterans through various resources, activities, and midday meals five days a week. Those who have not personally experienced the horrors of war firsthand cannot appreciate the importance of a true “safe space” the center provides its veteran. There are still World War II, Korea and many Vietnam veterans who can only speak of their war trauma only to others with like experiences.

Their belief: Together we truly are one “ohana” (family) with the same purpose, to serve those who have so dutifully served us!” ‘Family’ the true meaning of “ohana.”

These events have become a tribute to the memory of VCC co-founders Jim Rounsvall who passed away in 2021 and Jeanne who passed away Aug. 10.

The outdoor garage sales and indoor estate and Elvis Presley collection sales have been rescheduled to Oct 2 and 3 from 8.a.m. to 4 p.m. Donations will be accepted through Oct. 2.

The center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, contact 916-806-4852 or [email protected].

Elvis wasted no time combining his romantic numbers with his well-known playful serenading style, kneeling at many a lady’s side, pointing and winking and inviting them to dance.