FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                     May 3, 2007

Release No. 43-07

MAGAZINE’S READERS RANK HONOLULU NO. 7 AS AN ARTS DESTINATION

            Mayor Mufi Hannemann today praised readers of AmericanStyle magazine for selecting Honolulu as the No. 7 arts destination among mid-sized U.S. cities.

            The ranking is reported in the magazine’s June issue, which reports on AmericanStyle’s 10^th annual reader poll on Top 25 Arts Destinations among large, mid-sized and small cities. The mid-sized cities (population 100,000 to 499,999)  were, in order: Pittsburgh, Pa.; Albuquerque, N.M.; Las Vegas; Scottsdale, Ariz.; Atlanta, Ga.; New Orleans; Honolulu; Miami, Fla.; Tucson, Ariz.; Savannah, Ga.; Minneapolis; Tacoma, Wash.; Salt Lake City, Utah; Buffalo, N.Y.; Colorado Springs; Cleveland, Ohio; Providence, R.I.; Kansas City, Mo.; Ann Arbor, Mich.; Alexandria, Va.; St. Petersburg, Fla.; St. Louis, Mo.; Tampa, Fla.; Athens, Ga., and Cincinnati, Ohio.

            “This is great recognition for Honolulu,” said Hannemann. “The ranking confirms that we’re on the right track with our efforts to make Honolulu a premiere arts destination. This recognition also shows how much the arts are appreciated by Honolulu’s residents and visitors.   

            “I am grateful to everyone who helped Honolulu earn this distinction, particularly the arts community for coming together to create an environment that facilitates and welcomes the arts in our City,” said Hannemann.

            As a City Councilman a decade ago, Hannemann championed the creation of an art enterprise zone that has helped to turn Chinatown into a hotbed of art with places such as The ARTS at Marks Garage.

            Complete results of the AmericanStyle survey are available in the June edition.      

-30-

Contact:

            Dymian Racoma, Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts,

527-5288