Kailua deals with difficulty in 'Sunset' preparations

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer

Kailua will host the second of the "new" Sunset on the Beach events this weekend, but it's clear that not everyone is sold yet on the switch to a regional festival.

About 15,000 people are expected to attend if the weather holds, said Pohai Ryan, executive director for the Kailua Chamber of Commerce, which has taken the lead in planning.

Ryan, who helped organize the first Sunset on the Beach in Kailua, said she had a good core committee but things got off to a rocky start and persuading more people to participate was difficult. Participation from Waimanalo and Kane'ohe has not been as good as hoped, with one still smarting from the city's refusal to grant its own event and the other questioning the value of trying to draw customers in Kailua.

"It's very taxing to work with a multitude of personalities," said Ryan, adding that the end result is always good even though the frustrations increase with the number of communities involved.

Once held in a single community, the events now invite three to five towns to participate. The city, which had carried most of the financial burden of the Sunset events, changed the format largely in response to the poor economy and a tighter budget. Communities now must provide not only the planning and organization but the money, which can run about $50,000. The Hawai'i Tourism Authority has grants available for such activities, and the Windward Sunset will get some money.

The idea of a regional Sunset in the Park didn't sit well with Waimanalo organizers, who wanted their own Sunset on the Beach to spur economic development opportunities, said Andrew Jamila Jr., a Waimanalo Neighborhood Board member and a planner for the regional party.

"I was a little bit sour grapes because we wanted it in Waimanalo," said Jamila, adding that his community considered not participating at all. "But now, down the line we're all friends."

Community spirit ultimately won out, and Waimanalo was able to secure many of the entertainers, who are all playing for free, Jamila said. The community also is sending over vendors, including Sistah's Ono Fried Ice Cream, C & L Orchids and Sumo Connection.

Others were invited to participate, but said they would wait until the event came to Waimanalo or that transporting everything to Kailua was too difficult, Jamila said.

Kane'ohe businesses gave similar responses, leaving one of the largest Windward communities contributing few participants. The head of the business group there said the short planning period and poor communications contributed to the low turnout.

Ed Kemp, president of the Kane'ohe Business Group, said he was unable to get in touch with the chamber. He said he either got recorded messages or was unable to leave messages. In addition, planning for the event began about six weeks ago, leaving little time to organize, he said.

Kemp didn't know how many businesses got the word about the event, saying the business group has about 100 members but there are three times as many merchants in Kane'ohe.

"Some of the businesses see no long-term benefit in publicizing their activities in Kailua, but that may be short-sighted on their part," he said.

Ryan said Kemp only called last week and that she did call him back. She said volunteers did everything they could to spread the word in Kane'ohe, including handing out packets of information. She had hoped the business group would take the lead in the area, and acknowledged that planners will have to find a better way to get the word out.

"It's really a matter of people finding the initiative to participate," she said. "I've had his members call me to say this is the absolute best way to promote reasons to come to Kane'ohe to do business. It's cost-effective because ads are so expensive and you have a captive audience."

Reach Eloise Aguiar at 234-5266 or eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com.