Latest news with #BlaisdellCenter
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
State, city officials urge safety on roads during graduations
State and city officials are urging patience and caution as graduation ceremony season gets underway, creating potential traffic jams. Officials are expecting 46 state high school commencement ceremonies for more than 11, 000 students across Hawaii, including 25 on Oahu, with many to be held at Blaisdell Center, Waikiki Shell, and Hawai 'i Convention Center. Graduation ceremonies for 10 University of Hawaii campuses, meanwhile, are scheduled to take place this weekend. 'Graduation is such a special time for our students, families and schools. We're proud of the Class of 2025 and excited to celebrate all that they've accomplished, ' said state Superintendent Keith Hayashi. 'With so many ceremonies happening across the state over the next two weeks, we're asking everyone to plan ahead, expect heavier traffic near venues, and drive with aloha. Mahalo to the City and County of Honolulu and all of our partners for helping to keep these celebrations safe and smooth for everyone attending.' To mitigate traffic and make all the events more enjoyable for everyone, the City and State are jointly alerting graduates, their families, and their friends, to important information regarding City venues :—Parking lots will open two hours in advance of ceremonies at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center campus and the Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell—Parking will cost $8 per vehicle at the Blaisdell.—Parking is free in the lot at Waikiki Shell.—No tailgating or picnicking is permitted at the Blaisdell or Waikiki Shell. The City Department of Transportation Services said it will be monitoring traffic flow around city venues and coordinating traffic lights to keep vehicles moving. DTS reminds the public that alternative transportation options such as The Bus and Biki reduce the number of vehicles on roads and in parking lots. 'Motorists are asked to slow down and drive with aloha to ensure safe, fun, and memorable graduation ceremonies, ' said city officials in a news release. The Hawaii Department of Transportation, meanwhile, says residents can anticipate increased traffic near graduation venues, and encourages them to us GoAkamai, Google maps, and Waze to plan out their routes ahead of time. DOT is urging everyone to travel safely on Hawaii's roads, considering a 51 % jump in traffic fatalities so far this year, due to contributing factors such as speed, impairment, failure to yield, and other errors. 'One of the best ways we can honor and celebrate our graduates is to prioritize safety on our roadways to prevent more fatalities, ' said DOT Director Ed Sniffen in a news release. 'This includes following the posted speed limit, obeying all traffic laws, not driving impaired, and avoiding distractions while on the road, whether you're driving a vehicle, a pedestrian, or riding a bicycle or motorcycle.' Public graduation schedules are listed at the following links :----See more : 0 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? .
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Honolulu City Council considers sponsorships for public facilities
STAR-ADVERTISER / 2014 A sponsorship between a private supporter and the city would create alternate revenue streams that can go toward the upgrading and modernization to the 60-year-old Blaisdell Center. 1 /2 STAR-ADVERTISER / 2014 A sponsorship between a private supporter and the city would create alternate revenue streams that can go toward the upgrading and modernization to the 60-year-old Blaisdell Center. STAR-ADVERTISER / 2019 The name change of the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center in 2020 was part of a sponsorship agreement between the University of Hawaii and Bank of Hawaii. 2 /2 STAR-ADVERTISER / 2019 The name change of the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center in 2020 was part of a sponsorship agreement between the University of Hawaii and Bank of Hawaii. STAR-ADVERTISER / 2014 A sponsorship between a private supporter and the city would create alternate revenue streams that can go toward the upgrading and modernization to the 60-year-old Blaisdell Center. STAR-ADVERTISER / 2019 The name change of the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center in 2020 was part of a sponsorship agreement between the University of Hawaii and Bank of Hawaii. A Honolulu City Council measure to allow private sponsorship of city parks and other public facilities to garner more revenues for the city is scheduled for further review today. Introduced in January by Council member Radiant Cordero, Bill 4 revisits aspects of a prior law, Ordinance 17-16, that established nonproperty tax revenue sponsorships in 2017. That law all but disappeared after the pilot measure's five-year repeal clause took effect in 2022. As drafted, Bill 4 would seek to 'create and enhance public-private relationships, including with individuals, corporations, and other organizations, through the creation of commercial sponsorships.' 'Private sponsorships will create alternate revenue streams that will increase the city's ability to deliver services and to maintain city assets, including its facilities, parks, programs, equipment, and tangible property, and provide enhanced levels of service and maintenance beyond the core levels funded from the city's general fund for the benefit of users and the community at large, ' the bill states. The bill would allow the director of a city agency to enter into a sponsorship agreement, but only for a term of less than five years, with a financial contribution of less than $50, 000. 'All sponsorship agreements for a financial contribution of $50, 000 or more must be approved by a resolution adopted by the Council, ' the bill states. 'All sponsorship agreements for a period of five years or more must be approved by a resolution adopted by the Council.' Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. During the Council's Jan. 29 meeting, the panel reviewed and adopted Bill 4 on the first of three readings. Winston Welch, executive director of The Outdoor Circle, said his environmental group generally opposed the bill's current language. He said Hawaii's 1926 law that prohibits outdoor signage and billboards—created with the advocacy of The Outdoor Circle during Hawaii's territorial days—should not be overlooked. 'Our concerns are especially about the signage, and I think the reason why this bill was not utilized before (was because ) it became toxic, ' Welch said at the meeting. 'And we don't need to go down that road again.' Such an ordinance also contributes to the 'over-commercialization of our public spaces, ' he added. But Council Chair Tommy Waters challenged Welch's assertions that the new measure would harm the environment. And he noted that under Bill 4 all sponsorship agreements must first be approved by a resolution adopted by the Council. Waters said the potential for revenue-generating sponsorship 'was vitally important ' to the city. Bill 4 is also being advanced with accompanying legislation. City Council Resolution 50 urges the city Department of Enterprise Services to specifically pursue the sponsorship of naming rights for the city-owned Neal S. Blaisdell Center. Typically, naming rights means the city may grant individuals or organizations the opportunity to have their names associated with a facility, like a stadium or arena, in exchange for financial contributions. 'Such a sponsorship would provide the city with an alternate revenue stream and thus enable it to make much needed upgrades and modernization improvements to the more than 60-year-old Blaisdell and increase services offered to users and the community at large, ' the legislation indicates. As an example, the resolution notes that in 2020 the University of Hawaii and the Bank of Hawaii entered into a 10-year, $5 million sponsorship agreement for the naming rights of the Stan Sheriff Center—now known as the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center—at UH's Manoa campus. DES Director-designate Dita Holifield has said her department was excited to pursue this revenue-generating opportunity to improve the Blaisdell campus. But Holifield noted that based on discussions with the city Department of the Corporation Counsel, existing city laws do not allow for the sponsorship of naming rights. The Blaisdell Center, originally called the Honolulu International Center, was built in 1964. Today's City Council meeting begins at 10 a.m. inside the City Council Chamber, 530 S. King St.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Naming rights plan for Blaisdell Center under Council review
A plan for the city-owned Neal S. Blaisdell Center to become a greater source of nontax-based revenue for the city and county is underway. To that end, Honolulu City Council's Resolution 50 urges the city Department of Enterprise Services to pursue the sponsorship of naming rights for the entertainment venue at 777 Ward Ave. Typically, naming rights means the city may grant individuals or organizations the opportunity to have their names associated with a facility, like a stadium or arena, in exchange for financial contributions. The Blaisdell Center, originally called the Honolulu International Center, was built in 1964. 'The Blaisdell is the city's premiere event host site due to its variety of individual venues, convenient central location, and available parking inventory and has hosted an extensive variety of events, from world renowned concert tours and Broadway productions to trade shows, graduations, cultural performances, and sporting events, ' Resolution 50 states. 'Such a sponsorship would provide the city with an alternate revenue stream and thus enable it to make much needed upgrades and modernization improvements to the more than 60-year-old Blaisdell and increase services offered to users and the community at large, ' the legislation indicates. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. As an example, the resolution notes in 2020 the University of Hawaii and the Bank of Hawaii entered into a 10-year, $5 million sponsorship agreement for the naming rights of the Stan Sheriff Center—now known as the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center—at UH's Manoa campus. Per that agreement, the UH Athletics Department purportedly receives funds over the course of 10 years, ending in 2030 'and decides how best to utilize the funds to improve UH athletic serv ices and address budget challenges, ' the legislation states. 'Sponsorship agreements, such as BOH's sponsorship agreement with the UH, illustrate the potential for the city to create alternate revenue streams that would increase the city's ability to deliver services and to maintain city assets, including city facilities, parks, programs, equipment and other property, all while avoiding increased financial burdens on residents, ' the resolution states. DES, which operates and maintains the Blaisdell Center, the Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell, the Honolulu Zoo and six municipal golf courses, is the only city department with an operating budget primarily funded by revenues generated from public events and activities, the agency states. During the Council's Committee on Innovation meeting Feb. 13, DES Director-designate Dita Holifield said her department was excited to pursue this revenue-generating opportunity to improve the Blaisdell campus. 'We are in full support of this idea and the intent of (Resolution 50 ), ' she said. But Holifield noted that based on discussions with the city Department of the Corporation Counsel, existing city laws do not currently allow for the sponsorship of naming rights. 'However, I will go to the ends of the world to figure out how to make this happen for everybody, ' she proclaimed. 'I am more than excited about all of these opportunities, and I have a lot of experience in all the different types of sponsorships where there are events or advertising or naming rights, etcetera, etcetera.' 'So you can count on 100 % support from us, ' she added. 'Just turn me loose and I'm ready to go.' In response, Council member Augie Tulba—who co-sponsored Resolution 50 with Council Chair Tommy Waters—said the potential passage of Bill 4, related legislation that seeks to allow private sponsorship of city parks and other public facilities, could benefit this resolution. As drafted, Bill 4—introduced in January by Council member Radiant Cordero—would seek to 'create and enhance public-private relationships, including with individuals, corporations, and other organizations, through the creation of commercial sponsorships.' In appreciation of such support, the measure states it's 'the policy of the city to equitably acknowledge the contribution of private sponsors.' If adopted, the new bill would allow the director of a city agency to enter into a sponsorship agreement, but only for a term of less than five years, with a financial contribution of less than $50, 000. However, Bill 4 has already received pushback from the community. Winston Welch, executive director of The Outdoor Circle, objected to the measure's potential violations of state signage laws that prohibit large, view-obstructing outdoor signage and billboards—like those readily found on the mainland—to be placed around the Hawaiian Islands. On Feb. 11 the Council's Budget Committee recommended a committee draft of Bill 4 be passed on to the full Council for possible second reading review and adoption. The Council's next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday. At the Feb. 13 Innovation Committee meeting, Tulba, chair of the panel, said he was 'excited about the passing of Bill 4 so that we can really (go ) full throttle.' Council member Esther Kia 'aina was also excited over the prospects of Resolution 50 and its possible benefit toward Blaisdell Center. 'Just three words : 'Go get'em, '' she declared. In response, Holifield said the city wanted 'to be very intentional ' in proceeding on this naming rights plan. 'So anytime that we ask for an investment, a return on investment is expected, ' she added. 'That's the only word of caution, but I do have a lot of experience, so I'm not going to let anything bad happen to us whatsoever.' The committee eventually reported Resolution 50 out for full Council adoption. In November 2023 the Neal S. Blaisdell Center Arena reopened following a $9 million renovation that began earlier that year. The renovation included new energy-efficient lighting, new restroom facilities and safety improvements. The arena renovation is part of a $43.6 million project for renovations to the entire 22.4-acre Blaisdell Center campus, overseen by the city Department of Design and Construction and DES.
