Honolulu event celebrates isle’s creative industries

When story-pitchers want TheBuzz to feature something that is not strictly business-related, they invariably push the economic impact.

Armed with impact details, your columnist relented, this time.

"Art on the Block," from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday on the municipal grounds at Skygate, will include several arts disciplines -- performing, fine crafting, painting, cultural and of course culinary, because folks gotta eat.

The event commemorates the 40th anniversary of the City's Commission on Culture and the Arts, established in 1968 to preserve the artistic and cultural heritage of Oahu residents.

Beyond the festival and anniversary, however, the City hopes to acknowledge that all-important impact.

The state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism estimates that Hawaii's creative industries produced $2.3 billion in output in 2005, according to Georja Skinner, chief officer of its Creative Industries Division.

The division includes the Arts and Culture Development Branch and the better-known Film Industry Branch.

The division works to support creative industries' "growth and sustainability as well as businesses and entrepreneurs," Skinner said.

"Our mission is to advocate and accelerate the growth of our arts, culture, film and digital media sectors locally and globally."

The State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, while not directly involved in "Art on the Block," widely collaborates "to strengthen the arts and culture infrastructure," said Ronald Yamakawa, executive director.

"We strongly believe that Hawaii's arts and culture are what set us apart from other sun-and-surf tourist destinations."

Singers Jasmine Trias and Kristian Lei are co-billed with cultural performances by Kenny Endo's Taiko Center of the Pacific, the Gee Yung International Martial Arts Dragon and Lion Dance Association and others.

Painters, photographers and fine crafters will display and sell their wares, from paintings and photography, to ukuleles and other woodworkers' finery and various types of glass art including jewelry.

The many demonstrations will include glass blowing, kim chee making, pottery throwing -- as in making ceramics using a potter's wheel -- and something most folks see only on TV news at New Year's time -- mochi pounding.

The culinary world will be represented by Agnes' Portuguese Bake Shop; Soul de Cuba Cafe; Elena's Home of Finest Filipino Foods and others.

Mayor's Office of Culture and the Arts
www.honolulu.gov/moca

Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin. Call 529-4747, 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