Bruno Mars closed out his 24K Magic World Tour at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu on Sunday.
The Hawaiian-born singer also donated enough money to provide 24,000 Thanksgiving meals to residents of his native land. According to the Associated Press, Mars provided funds for the Salvation Army-Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division’s 48th annual Thanksgiving Dinner meal program.
Major Jeff Martin, the divisional leader of the charitable organization, was elated about the singer’s generosity.
“We are humbled and honored by this generous donation from Hawaii’s own Bruno Mars,” Martin said. “Bruno is a shining example of how people in Hawaii step forward and take care of one another and we are grateful to him for his aloha [compassion] and kokua [help].”
Mars played his third consecutive night at the 50,000-seat arena. Before performing the last shows of his 200-date tour, he shared his full-circle journey through a childhood photo of himself singing in a Hawaii shirt.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp7qQc1BnGL/?utm_source=ig_embed
“Let’s have a good time tonight Hawaii!,” Mars captioned the Instagram post. “Most importantly, let’s show love and aloha to everyone driving down and attending the concert. I’ve missed you all and I can’t wait to perform and sing on the island I call home.”
The 24K Magic World Tour began in March 2017 in Belgium and supported Mars’ multiplatinum 24K Magic, which won six Grammy Awards earlier this year, including song, album and record of the year.
In a 2016 interview on 60 Minutes, the Grammy Award winner discussed how his hard times growing up in Hawaii shaped his music.
Despite sleeping in a place without a bathroom or had only one bed for the family, Mars told Lara Logan, “We had each other, and it never felt like it was the end of the world.”
He continued, “Maybe that’s why I have this mentality when it comes to the music. Because I know I’m going to figure it out, just give me some time.”
Now that Mars has figured out his musical signature, gained success and wealth, he helps those who need it most.
In August 2017, the musician donated $1 million to help combat the Flint, Michigan water crisis.
The Salvation Army’s Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division program feeds more than 2,000 people each year at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall during the Thanksgiving season. With Mars’ sizeable donation, the effort will extend to homebound residents across the islands.
This year’s luncheon will take place on Nov. 22.
