The September 11th attack
Festival proceeding as planned

By Beverly Creamer
Advertiser Staff Writer

Emphasizing that Hawai'i is "open for business," first lady Vicky Cayetano yesterday joined in announcing that Hawai'i's fifth annual French Festival will proceed as planned, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Hawaii Community Foundation's September 11th Fund to benefit victims of the terrorist attacks.

Festival creative director Dean Christopher said three Japanese tour companies are putting together special tour packages to encourage visitors to come here for the week-long festival Oct. 27-Nov. 4. In the past, tourists from Japan have made up about 35 percent of the attendance at events that include Paris haute couture fashion shows, art exhibits, culinary events, film showings and in-store events at shops with French connections.

"Let's show the world Hawai'i is a safe place to visit and we are open for business," said Vicky Cayetano. "More than ever we need to encourage the kinds of events to bring back visitors."

The first lady agreed to divert the more than $20,000 in proceeds anticipated from the festival's centerpiece event — the Fashion Ball — to the September 11 Fund instead of her own project, the Washington Place Foundation, formed to assist with restoration of the historical governor's residence.

The annual festival, which planners said generates $3 million worth of TV specials and other media coverage in Japan and elsewhere, is paid for by a $2 million donation by a consortium of business, including 15 of the state's largest corporations with First Hawaiian Bank the major underwriter.

"As business leaders, we decided this was the best way we could help Hawai'i and our own companies and employees toward recovery," said festival president Joyce Okano Reed, regional vice president of Chanelz.