TheBuzz
TheBuzz
A new energy behind
an old fitness fair
There will be something different about this year's Family Fitness Expo Feb. 14-16 at the Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall.
CORRECTION
Thursday, February 13, 2003» An item in "TheBuzz" column on Page C1 last Thursday said incorrectly that "The Magic of Polynesia" show was owned by Cove Entertainment Inc. The show was established by Roy Tokujo, of Cove Entertainment, and Robert Iwamoto Jr., chairman and chief executive of Roberts Hawaii. Tokujo's interest in the show was purchased by Iwamoto several years ago.
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at corrections@starbulletin.com.There may be more tchotchkes in the goodie bag you take home, more entertainment, more enthusiasm among exhibitors and more excitement in general.
If any of those is true it may be because of a change that is not visible to most -- new ownership and management.
Pacific Expositions Hawaii LLC,the company behind the Family Fitness Expo, the Spring New Products Show, the Home and Garden Show and the Food and New Products Show has been purchased by Roy Tokujo, who is also president and chief executive officer of Cove Entertainment Inc. Its best-known properties are Magic of Polynesia, Paradise Cove Luau and Maui's Ulalena.
The purchase reunites two business units once owned by Irv Weled. He sold the entertainment division to Tokujo and moved to the mainland in 1986. The expositions side was given to Weled's son Steve, who himself moved to the mainland three or four years ago, Tokujo said.
Rather than continue to run the company long-distance, "he decided last year to see if we would be interested to obtain (the company)," said Tokujo.
A confidentiality agreement prevented him from disclosing the price.
Tokujo brought back Pacific Expositions veteran Tara Chanel Thompson to serve as general manager.
"I feel that she has the right energy and kind of expertise in order to make this company work like it did before," Tokujo said.
Thompson has challenged participants to be entertaining and engaging. "I don't want people just going home with a bag of brochures," she said in a statement.
The official name of the upcoming event this year is the "17th Annual Hawaii USA Federal Credit Union Great Aloha Run/Family Fitness Expo." Just trying to say it all at once may leave you feeling that you've just completed a cardiac stress test.
The expo and Carole Kai's charitable fund-raising Great Aloha Run have been connected for 10 years. "We are hoping we can make it a bigger event so we can donate more money to Carole's charity," Tokujo said. In keeping with the fitness theme, Tokujo noted that health has many aspects, including physical, mental and spiritual, and said this year's signature sponsor will offer financial health tips to attendees.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com
