The Hawai'i International Musical Conference could begin as early as 2006 and bring tens of millions of dollars in tourism revenues to Hawai'i, said Gibson, executive director of the California Music Awards for the past 27 years.

"The crater is just one aspect of a multi-venue, five-day event," Gibson said. "It's bigger than just the crater. The crater is a factor, but I'm very respectful of the community's concerns."

In order for the event to go forward, it will need permits from the state land board, and those would carry restrictions to address residents' concerns over traffic and related issues, said Peter Young, director of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

"We have a master plan for Diamond Head and it indicates that large events like this are a permitted use," said Young. "I believe it will be fun and a good opportunity to hear good entertainment."

Gibson has been in discussions with the DLNR, which oversees state parks, and community members, and the Diamond Head/ Kapahulu/ St. Louis Heights Neighborhood Board will take up the proposal tonight. The concert in the crater would not be a return of the old festivals that drew 20,000 people and resulted in problems ranging from fires to fights to parking troubles, Young said.

This concert, which is not scheduled yet, would attract an older crowd — 50s and up — and would allow ticket-only entrance to about 7,500 people, said Gibson. Walk-ins or same-day ticket sales would not be allowed. Parking would be off-site and concert-goers would be shuttled in. Emergency vehicles would be assigned inside the crater for the concert.

Accompanying workshops, conferences, forums and roundtable meetings would be held at such facilities as the Hawai'i Convention Center, Maui Arts & Cultural Center and Neal Blaisdell Center Arena, with other events on the Big Island and Kaua'i, said Young.

To offset any problems encountered because the event would interfere with regular visitors to the crater for a day, the promoter has offered to make a donation directly to the state parks in lieu of a fee, which often gets waived, said Young.

The crater is considered a national monument and is one of O'ahu's most well-known landmarks. An estimated 4,100 visitors hike Diamond Head daily.

Hawai'i is the perfect backdrop for such a festival, said Gibson, from its popularity as a tourist destination to its geographic location and ability to draw international participation.

The proposal doesn't seem anything like the festivals of the 1970s, said Karen Ah Mai, chairwoman of the Diamond Head/ Kapahulu/St. Louis Heights Neighborhood Board. "This time the concept is a limited number of people, so it's not the super-huge crowds of the 1970s."

Those festivals drew big-name acts such as Fleetwood Mac and Santana, but they also had problems, according to newspaper accounts. There were arrests for drug and alcohol use, and a Kailua teen fell to his death during a concert in 1975.

The festivals ended because of the controversy created by the criminal activity and criticism from residents over noise, trash and traffic. But Gibson and Young emphasized that the proposed festival would be nothing like those of 30 years ago.

"I've been supportive of the idea," said the DLNR's Young. "It's a good use of a state park, one of our most popular." However, he said, "I don't want people to feel the idea is being forced on them."