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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Tuesday, July 23, 2002

Talks to save hula show under way

By Shayna Coleon
Advertiser Staff Writer

A group of potential sponsors for the Pleasant Hawaiian Hula Show, formerly known as the Kodak Hula Show, is in negotiations to save the attraction from shutting down at the end of next month, a Hogan Family Foundation representative said.

The foundation, a philanthropic arm of Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays, announced two weeks ago that it will no longer donate $500,000 a year to keep the show going. The foundation rescued the show in 1999 when Kodak gave it up.

"We're talking to potential sponsors, but it's too early to disclose any of them," said Frank Hogan, a Hogan family representative in Hawai'i. "And in all fairness we don't want to name any of them until we know for sure."

Frank Haas, a marketing consultant for the Hawai'i Tourism Authority, said the organization could use money from its county and product enrichment fund to help support the event.

"Anything that provides a positive experience is something we're interested in," Haas said. "But it also needs to be economically feasible."

The hula show, a 65-year-old attraction, is performed three times a week at the Waikiki Shell. About 32 dancers perform at each show.