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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Family festival donates $80,000 to Hawaii park

Advertiser Staff

An $80,000 donation from this year's Honolulu Family Festival will help pay for repairs and new fitness equipment at Ala Moana Park, city officials said.

Parks director Lester Chang said the money will go toward replacing a popular but worn exercise station near the Magic Island side of the park, and adding a second one on the 'ewa side.

"We are proud to be able to contribute to this effort for the second year and look forward to next year's event in August," festival chair Fran Kirk said.

The festival will be held at Magic Island for a third time next summer, Mayor Mufi Hannemann said.

This year's four-day festival was held at the end of March, but the next one will be held in August to make it more summer-oriented, Hannemann said.

"I really believe this is the kind of event that should be welcomed at Ala Moana, and the kind of event that brings the magic back to Magic Island," Hannemann said after accepting the gift from event co-producer Fernandez Events.

Meanwhile, Hannemann said the city will not remove any trees at the park to accommodate a music festival that another group has proposed for April, as some environmentalists had feared.

The Outdoor Circle had raised concerns after organizers of the proposed Blue Planet Festival approached the city about relocating several trees to provide unobstructed views of a stage.

Hannemann said the city had quickly ruled that idea out, and would not remove any trees unless they are damaged or diseased and would need removal regardless of the festival plans.

Chang said any damaged trees that are removed would be replaced.

Hannemann said officials are still evaluating whether to allow the music festival to be held in the park.