FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                   April 17, 2007

Release No. M-36-07

CITY WILL HOLD KALIHI ECONOMIC SUMMIT

ON APRIL 26

            Mayor Mufi Hannemann and the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development will hold an economic summit on revitalizing Kalihi from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 26 at the Farrington High School auditorium.

            “This is just one in a series of Kalihi Pride events we’re planning over the next few months,” said Hannemann.

            “Kalihi is one of Oahu’s oldest neighborhoods, and many, many people in today’s Honolulu have roots there,” said Hannemann, who grew up in Kalihi. “For many people, it was their family’s first home in Hawaii, as it was for my family.

            “Kalihi remains a fascinating, diverse mix of cultures, tastes and languages, but it could use an infusion of economic horsepower,” said Hannemann. “We hope to follow the model of our highly successful Chinatown Summit in June last year, which produced a wealth of great ideas and actions.”

            City Economic Development Director Ann Chung, said, “The goal of the Mayor’s Kalihi Economic Summit is to bring residents, businesses, community leaders, private organizations and the City together to come up with practical, concrete ideas to make Kalihi a better place to live, work and raise families.”

            The summit will draw a wide range of participants, from the Kalihi Business Association and Kamehameha Schools to the Filipino Chamber of Commerce and the Building Industry Association of Hawaii.
            The summit will begin at 4 p.m. with Flavors of Kalihi, a sampling of heavy pupu dishes from many well-known Kalihi eateries.

            Following that, Mayor Hannemenn will present the keynote speech, discussing the City’s commitment to revitalizing Kalihi and will be followed by presentations on:

• Supporting Kalihi’s Businesses, by the Kalihi Business Association, Filipino Chamber of Commerce, Empower Oahu and Day in Kalihi.
• Developing Kalihi’s Wokforce, by Work Hawaii / Oahu Worklinks, Honolulu Community College, Building Industry Association, and the Pacific Gateway Center.
• Economic Revitalization, by the Kamehameha Schools and Urban Land Institute.
• Empowering Kalihi’s Youth, performance by Farrington High School’s Hope Through Music program.

            All interested business persons and community organizations are invited to attend the Mayor’s Kalihi Economic Summit, but registration is requested. To register, call 237-3678, e-mail info@kalihisummit.org or visit www.kalihisummit.org. April 23 is the registration deadline.

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Contact:

            Bill Brennan, 527-2968

            Mark Matsunaga, 527-5767