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COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII
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RESOLUTION NO. 91 U7
Draft 2
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A LONG TERM
AGREEMENT WITH THE MERRIE MONARCH FESTIVAL, TO LEASE A PORTION
OF THE FORMER COUNTY OF HAWAII REAL PROPERTY TAX OFFICE
SITUATED AT 865 PI`ILANI STREET IN HILO, HAWAII.
WHEREAS, the Merrie Monazch Festival is considered the world's premier forum for
people of all ages to display their skills and knowledge of the art of ancient and modem hula; and
WHEREAS, the presentation of the Merrie Monarch Festival has led to a renaissance of
the Hawaiian culture that is being passed on from generation to generation. The week-long
festival includes art exhibits, craft fairs, demonstrations, performances, a pazade that emphasizes
the culture of Hawaii and athree-day hula competition that has received worldwide recognition
for its cultural and historic significance; and
WHEREAS, in preparation of the Merrie Monazch Festival, hula studios and instructors
in Hawaii and on the U. S. mainland, and internationally, hold classes, workshops, and seminazs
throughout the year to teach the art of hula, the meaning of Hawaiian chants and songs, the
Hawaiian language, the making of Hawaiian clothing and crafts, and the history of the Hawaiian
people; and
WHEREAS, the Merrie Monarch Festival is the focal point and catalyst that supports
and draws together the extensive network of instructional hula studios, hula masters, instructors,
researchers, professors of Hawaiian studies and students of all ages who aze committed to the
perpetuation and advancement of the Hawaiian history and culture; and
WHEREAS, the Merrie Monazch Festival will be celebrating it's 44`h annual
presentation scheduled for April 12, 13, and 14, 2007, and the financial economic benefits to the
Big Island according to the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism
translates to millions of dollazs annually; and
WHEREAS, the entire Big Island business community has grown to depend on the
Merrie Monarch Festival as a consistent and dependable stream of revenues that helps sustain
jobs and opportunities for the people of our island and whereby the television coverage as well as
the video productions of the festival provides the Big Island the opportunity to be seen world
wide; and
WHEREAS, for many years the Hilo Naniloa Hotel has graciously provided a home for
the Merrie Monazch Festival office free of charge, and it has been determined that the space
would no longer be available to the festival organizers; and
WHEREAS, the Hawaii County Council understands how important it is that the Merrie
Monarch Festival organization have a year round presence and a home base facility that allows
them to organize, plan, and facilitate the yeaz long process it takes to prepaze for the upcoming
annual Merrie Monarch Festival; and
WHEREAS, the center of activities associated with the Merrie Monarch Festival is at the
County of Hawaii Ho`olulu Sports Complex, which consists of the Afook-Chinen Civic
Auditorium, Aunty Sally Kaleohano Luau Hale, and the Edith Kanakaole Multi-Purpose Stadium
which is the site of the annual Merrie Monarch Festival; and
WHEREAS, the County of Hawaii owns the former Real Property Tax Office building
situated on 865 Pi`ilani Street, in Hilo, Hawaii, and it would be a tremendous paztnership to
allow the home office of the Merrie Monazch to be located in a portion of that building. The
building sits adjacent to the Edith Kanakaole Multi-Purpose Stadium and Aunty Sally Kaleohano
Luau Hale, and this would allow the heartbeat of the festival to be located strategically, centrally
and conveniently for participants and spectators of the festival; and
WHEREAS, the desired location is currently home to the County of Hawaii RSVP
program, and there is a current plan by Administration to relocate this program to another
County site in the neaz future. If the relocation plan is executed by Administration, only then
shall a portion of the building be provided for lease to the Merrie Monazch Festival; and
WHEREAS, the Hawaii County Council recognizes the value and positive cultural and
economic impacts that the Merrie Monazch Festival brings to our Big Island Community, and it
authorizes the Mayor to enter into a long teen lease agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Hawaii County Council strongly urges the Mayor and his
Administration to locate and make available to the Merrie Monazch Festival organization a
portion of 865 Pi`ilani Street, Hilo, Hawaii, for an office, however, in the event that this site is
not available, then a viable site in close proximity to the Ho`olulu Sports Complex shall be made
available to allow the Merry Monarch Festival organization to establish and maintain an office as
soon as possible; and
WHEREAS, the County of Hawaii can utilize the lease agreement between the County
of Hawaii and the East Hawaii Cultural Center as the model for a lease agreement whereby the
lease is for 20-yeazs at $1.00 a yeaz; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that the
Mayor is authorized to enter into a long term lease agreement for 20-years at the cost of $1.00
per year plus utilities with the Merrie Monazch Festival organization; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that at such time that the County of Hawaii RSVP
program is relocated to another site as planned by the Administration, aportion of the former
real property tax office situated at 865 Pi`ilani Street, in Hilo, Hawaii, shall be deemed the home
office of the Merrie Monazch Festival, unless that site is unavailable, in which case a viable site
in close proximity to the Ho`olulu Sports Complex shall be made available to allow the Merry
Monazch Festival organization to establish and maintain an office as soon as possible; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Honorable
Mayor Harry Kim, Finance Director, and the Merrie Monarch Festival office at the Naniloa
Volcano's Resort.
Dated at Kona Hawaii, this 4th day of April 2007.
INTRODUCED BY:
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAII
COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE
COUnty Of Hawal`i AYES NOES ABS EX
Hilo, Hawaii FORD X
HIGA X
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by HOFFMANN g
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the IKEDA
County ofHawai`ion April 4, 2007 X
JACOBSON g
NAEOLE X
ATTEST: PILAGO g
YAGONG X
_ YOSHIMOTO X
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' ; - eference: C-220.4/F'C _ 6 q
~ICOUNTY CLERK CHAIRMAN SIDFiV OFFICER RESOLUTION NO. 91 u~7
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