Brunch on the Beach moving to Kapi'olani Park

Advertiser Staff

The city is moving its popular Brunch on the Beach program to Kapi'olani Park, a change that will save a projected $100,000 per year, city managing director Ben Lee said yesterday.

The first such brunch on the lawn will be Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. near the Kapi'olani Park bandstand.

Brunch on the Beach, launched in July 2001, has been held on a stretch of Kalakaua Avenue near Kuhio Beach. Waikiki restaurants set up food booths and musicians entertain.

Moving it to the park will save about $10,000 per event, Lee said, because the city won't have to lay down artificial turf, set up a stage or close off the roadway. The city is planning about 10 brunches per year, he said.

"We think the bandstand is a great venue," Lee said. "All the restaurants that we talked to and all the hotels will set up food booths along the makai side of Kapi'olani Park, where it doesn't require closing off the roadway — so it also saves cost because we don't need as much traffic control, signage, coning, etc."

The following Brunch on the Beach will be held Aug. 18 in conjunction with the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival.

The city will not hold Brunch on the Beach in September and December because of conflicting Aloha Festivals and Christmas activities.