$50,000 deposit missing for marathon's show
By Jim Dooley
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Honolulu Marathon Association has asked the FBI to investigate what happened to about $50,000 it paid for now-abandoned plans to stage a Waikiki Shell concert by Irish entertainer Van Morrison at the close of the 2003 marathon, association president Jim Barahal said yesterday.
Full refunds for tickets or early registration fees are available through the Honolulu Marathon's offices by calling 734-7200, or by sending a written request to 3435 Wai'alae Ave., Suite 208, Honolulu, HI, 96816. Refund requests may also be made over the Internet at honolulumarathon.org.
The deposit money went to New York-based entertainment promoter Ken Vangel, who said he was authorized to negotiate the concert appearance on Morrison's behalf, Barahal said.
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But the day the marathon announced the concert, Barahal said he was contacted by another New York promoter, Ron Delsener, who identified himself as Morrison's "North American representative" and said Vangel had no authority to negotiate concert appearances for Morrison.
The Marathon Association then announced that Morrison, whose hits include "Wild Night," "Moondance," "Brown-Eyed Girl" and "Gloria," would not be appearing at the Dec. 12 post-race concert and lu'au.
Vangel could not be reached for comment in New York yesterday.
Barahal said Vangel came highly recommended by a longtime marathon participant and business associate. Vangel has been in regular contact with Barahal about the deposit money, Barahal said.
"He's not not hiding. We're in communication with him. I just talked to him today," Barahal said yesterday.
Nevertheless, the marathon race producers have asked the FBI to look into the matter.
"We have been contacted by the marathon association, but I can't say anything more than that," Special Agent Larry Futa of the Honolulu FBI office said.
In another concert controversy involving Morrison, the veteran rock star is embroiled in a civil trial in England involving allegations that he reneged on a concert performance commitment last year.
In that case, the owner of a hotel in western England originally claimed damages of $32,000 but later alleged that Morrison's cancellation drove the hotel to the edge of bankruptcy.
The trial is in recess while a judge reviews the plaintiff's request to increase his damage claim to $480,000.
Morrison has denied any liability in the case, and his attorney called the hotel owner's latest claims "scandalous," according to British press accounts of the case.
Barahal said the missing money has damaged the marathon association's efforts to bring famous entertainers to Hawai'i to perform at the post-race festivities. Last year former Beach Boy Brian Wilson was the featured performer.
But Barahal said plans are moving ahead for the event.
"Is the lu'au dead in the water? Definitely not," he said.
Reach Jim Dooley at 535-2447 or jdooley@honoluluadvertiser.com.
