Centennial Magic

The mayor announces the city's plan to hold a carnival at Magic Island

Mayor Mufi Hannemann is looking to turn back the clock to celebrate the city's 100th birthday.

Hannemann announced that the Honolulu Centennial Family Festival will be held at Magic Island, the same spot where carnivals and circuses used to be during his youth. The mayor, along with City Council officials and event organizers, presented the news during a news conference, which included a group of Jefferson Elementary School third-graders to see how they would react yesterday.

"I like what they said about the games and the rides and the pet show," said 8-year-old Tiffany Schwartz. "Actually, I like all of it."

Hannemann said, "This is for the kids right? That's why I wanted to do this. It's a family festival so this is our target audience."

The four-day festival will be held from March 30 to April 2 and will showcase rides from E.K. Fernandez, along with canine performers from the Purina Incredible Dog Team, and the Nock Thrill Show, described as a 150-year-old circus that includes motorcycle high wire acts and performers on 85-foot-high poles.

Other activities involve a backyard circus where up to 20 children become the circus performing stars, and other local music and entertainment.

"It's not a coincidence this place is called Magic Island," City Council Chairman Donovan Dela Cruz told the children.

Scott Fernandez of E.K. Fernandez said Magic Island is a "great venue" compared to other locations they have set up their rides.

"It's right in town, plenty of parking," he said. "People can go shopping or go to the beach and then come to the carnival.

"This is going to be a dynamic event."

One of the event sponsors, Hawaii Medical Service Association, also has plans for a three-mile family-fun walk to be held in conjunction with the festival beginning at 7 a.m. April 1.

Admission to the centennial carnival/circus is free, although scrip will be sold for rides and concessions. City officials are also looking for community organizations to sign up for fundraising opportunities to run concession stands and cleanup.

Hannemann said a portion of the proceeds from scrip sales will help pay for the restoration of Honolulu Hale.

Not that the children understood all of the nitty-gritty, though they did grasp the important stuff.

"They said they're really happy to have this carnival because it's been a hundred years and they want to have fun again," Tiffany interpreted.

Presale scrip will be available starting Jan. 19 through nonprofit organizations. For more information, call 275-3030 or visit www.honolulupride.com.