Wai'anae having a bash

By Will Hoover
Advertiser Leeward O'ahu Writer

Patty Teruya isn't given to idle talk.

This weekend, the Leeward Coast town will do just that, becoming the first community to throw its own Sunset bash.

"Not only are they underwriting it, they're planning it, structuring it, soliciting all the vendors, laying it out and making all the decisions," said city deputy managing director Malcolm Tom. "This one's going to be very unique."

The community has pitched in to help raise the estimated $40,000 needed to stage the event, with money coming from sources as small as individual craftspeople and as large as Ko Olina Resort. But money can be hard to come by in this financially downtrodden area, and organizers turned innovative for more than half of that amount, enlisting the help of a nonprofit group and applying for a grant from the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

Confidence is so high here, it doesn't even deter organizers that on the eve of the big bash the grant hasn't been approved yet.

It's a confidence born of a resounding success at the first Wai'anae Sunset on the Beach event, held in March.

The Wai'anae community had been wary of expecting too much from the effort, at Teruya's urging, to stage that first Sunset festivity at Ma'ili Beach Park.

But when an estimated 50,000 people showed up, that reluctance evaporated.

Carol Aiwohi, owner of Aunty's Seaside Cafe, one of the event's vendors, spoke for many in the community when she said Sunset on the Beach had succeeded 10 times beyond her wildest dreams.

"I do think this was an economic turning point in Wai'anae," Aiwohi said.

It was about that time that members of the City Council began criticizing the money spent by the city to sponsor all the Sunset on the Beach and Brunch on the Beach festivals, an amount ultimately pegged at nearly $1.5 million for 44 weekends of the events.

In response, an indignant Teruya said, "Tell any of those council members who don't want it that we'll be glad to take it over out here."

Meanwhile, folks in Wai'anae asked Teruya to push for another Sunset show as soon as possible, in the hope of making it an annual event.

To pull it off, Teruya decided that Wai'anae would have to foot the bill.

The city, said Tom, is merely acting as facilitator this time, and that the destiny of the Sunset activities is to have them be more community-based.

"There's no blank check from the city anymore," said Mark Suiso, a member of the Wai'anae Coast Neighborhood Board. "The city council has pretty much put a lid on the sponsoring of these events. This time we're trying to have the community groups take on the responsibility."

Merrie Aipoalani is vice president of Valley of the Rainbows, the area nonprofit organization co-sponsoring this Sunset event.

"We're doing it in partnership with the city," said Aipoalani. "But it's actually the community groups that are going out and getting sponsors. Each business is making a contribution by paying for their own tents."

Aipoalani said it will take about $40,000 to finance the two-day event.

To help with the expenses, Aipoalani said, her organization has applied for a $25,000 grant through the Hawai'i Tourism Authority's new County Product Enrichment Program.

Manny Menendez, executive director of the city Office of Economic Development, which is administering the program, confirmed that the organization's proposal has been submitted and is under review, along with other applications.

But when or if Aipoalani's organization gets the money remains to be seen.

"We're confident that we will get the money from the tourist industry, being that we are attracting tourists," she said.

In addition to thousands of event fliers distributed around O'ahu, the attraction has received radio, television and newspaper coverage, as well as promotion by the city in Waikiki.

Teruya said that because Sunset is being financed through a nonprofit organization, it will cost organizers less than the city paid the first time — $61,000 — because contractors can take advantage of the group's tax-exempt status.

For example, under normal circumstances, the comfort station would cost about $6,000 for two days. Because of tax breaks, organizers will end up paying about half that amount.

And although the grant money is not a sure thing, Teruya said she has been able to meet expenses through restaurant vendor and open-market fees.

Vendors pay $375 each to rent their tents, while crafts workers pay a $100 fee.

In addition, some vendors have made extra contributions.

The Ihilani Hotel and Spa, at Ko Olina Resort, made an 11th-hour donation of $5,000 that saved the day, said Teruya, who works in the city's Neighborhood Commission office.

"When I heard the news of Ko Olina's donation, I was literally in tears," said Teruya. "Ko Olina's generosity is not only making this event possible, it is a true reflection of the spirit of the Wai'anae Coast."

Teruya believes this weekend's activities will be an even bigger success than the first Wai'anae Sunset. She predicts 80,000 people will cram into Ma'ili Beach Park.

No matter what the turnout, Wai'anae, for now, has become the standard by which Sunset at the Beach efforts outside Waikiki will be measured.

But is Teruya confident that Wai'anae can actually pay for such a blowout? She said the final tab will be paid off, no matter what.

"Never fear, Patty's here," she said, with only a trace of nervousness in her voice.

Staff writer Curtis Lum contributed to this report.

Reach Will Hoover at whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8038.