FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                            November 22, 2006

Release No. M-122-06

MAYOR ANNOUNCES TESORO WILL SPONSOR

SUNSET ON THE BEACH THROUGH 2007

            Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann today announced that Tesoro Hawaii has signed on to be the presenting sponsor for the popular Sunset on the Beach events from January through December of 2007. In addition, Tesoro Hawaii will be the presenting sponsor of five community Rediscover Oahu events in 2007.

“Public-private partnerships have been a hallmark of our administration,” said the mayor. “We are pleased that Tesoro has agreed to step forward to help the Waikiki Improvement Association and the City carry this popular program forward.  With this generous sponsorship, Tesoro Hawaii is showing its willingness to be a good corporate citizen and a good neighbor by investing in the community.

Joining the mayor in the announcement were Tesoro Hawaii’s Production Manager Chuck Snyder, WIA President Rick Egged and WIA Events Coordinator Janet Maduli.

Tesoro Hawaii will provide $65,000 that will enable the Waikiki Improvement Association to continue offering Sunset on the Beach one weekend a month for the next year.

“Meeting the state’s demand for refined petroleum energy products is important to us, and we feel it’s equally as important to meet other needs in our community as well.” Snyder said.  “We’re always looking for ways to support initiatives that are important to Hawaii’s people. Partnering with the City, the Waikiki Improvement Association, the Hawaii Tourism Authority  and other organizations as a sponsor of Sunset on the Beach is one of those initiatives.  We’re planning to take Sunset on the Beach to a new, exciting level to benefit both local residents and visitors to our Islands.” 

Egged said, “This guarantees we will continue at least through December of 2007.  This is very exciting because we’re continuing an event that’s of great value to the community. The Waikiki Improvement Association extends a big mahalo to Tesoro Hawaii and to Mayor Hannemann for his strong support for wholesome activities and events for Waikiki.”

The Sunset on the Beach events usually are held on Saturday and Sunday evenings, with movies shown free to the public on the 30-foot screen at Queen’s Beach in Waikiki. In addition, food and refreshments are available for sale, and live entertainment leads off each program. With the ocean on the right and world-famous Diamond Head on the left, Sunset on the Beach draws thousands of people.

Sunset on the Beach, Rediscover Oahu and the related, daytime Brunch on the Beach, were begun years ago as City functions. City crews did all of the setup and the City paid for a lion’s share of the costs.

 When he took office last year, Mayor Hannemann followed through on a longstanding promise to cut direct City spending on the events by reaching out to private partners to help the Waikiki Improvement Association agreed to assume the lead responsibility for putting on the beach events.

“These are worthwhile events, because they draw local people to Waikiki and create many opportunities for visitors to interact with them in a positive way,” said Hannemann. “We’re also grateful that the Rediscover Oahu events will continue reaching out to other communities on the island.”

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Contact: 

            Bill Brennan, 527-6928

            Mark Matsunaga, 527-5767