TheBuzz Erika Engle

HPR shows to take business focus on arts, world outside

Since Hawaii is lucky enough to have two public radio stations, each will get its own new show.

"The Business of the Arts," to be hosted by former Honolulu Symphony Executive Director Bob Sandla, will focus on the business side of nonprofit arts organizations in Hawaii.

"Business Beyond the Reef," will pertain to anything business related on the international scene that is of interest to Hawaii.

The first show will debut at 6 p.m. Sunday on KHPR-FM 88.1. It will delve into what makes Hawaii's nonprofit arts organizations tick and what it takes to keep them thriving.

"As a community, we value our symphony, the theaters we go to, the public radio we listen to," said Michael Titterton, president and general manager of Hawaii Public Radio.

"But most of us have a far greater grasp of the business workings of our telephone company or other utility company than we do of the Honolulu Symphony or Manoa Valley Theatre."

Fundraising activities are "just the tip of the iceberg of the business," he said. The show will help to explain why symphony tickets cost what they do -- and why ticket income doesn't cover as much of the operating expenses as people might think it should. "And that's not just here," Titterton said.

He believes the show will be of great interest to arts community supporters and players.

"There's a big slice of our constituency who is interested in the arts beyond the beautiful picture or the lovely sound an orchestra makes," said Titterton.

"For anyone who is concerned with the quality of life in their community in such a way that they're personally active in it, then of course, the machinery behind the show biz of it is of profound interest."

The first week's program will focus on community theaters on Oahu including Diamond Head Theatre, Army Community Theatre and Manoa Valley Theatre. The second will feature the Hawaii Arts Alliance, Ballet Hawaii and the Contemporary Museum.

In addition to serving in arts management in Honolulu, Titterton served with symphonies in Orlando and Jacksonville, Fla., and serves on the Ballet Hawaii board.

Topics for the second show have seemingly no limit and will include living and working overseas, Hawaii's fishing industry and the import and export of education services.

"This new program is planned to be a weekly exploration of Hawaii's unique place in what (author Thomas) Friedman sees as being a completely flat Earth, a completely level playing field," said Titterton. He was referring to "The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century," a book about the current phase of globalization and its impact.

"Business Beyond the Reef" will be hosted by Alvin Adams and produced by Hawaii Public Radio News Director Kayla Rosenfeld, with assistance from Steve Craven.

Adams is not a well-known broadcaster, but his resume pretty much inspires a Wayne and Garth "We're not worthy, we're not worthy," chant.

Oh, c'mon. Surely some HPR listeners have seen that movie!

Retired from the Foreign Service, Adams has served as U.S. Ambassador to Peru, Haiti, Djibouti and as the principal deputy to the Ambassador at Large for Counter Terrorism. Those are just some of his credentials. He also served as the chief executive of the United Nations Association of the United States.

A U.S. State Department citation for valor bearing his name honors Adams for "acts of heroism, taken at great personal risk, to protect the safety and well-being of President Aristide during the September 1991 coup in Haiti."

Now a full-time Hawaii resident, he serves the Bishop Museum as counselor to the president for international affairs and in many volunteer positions with various organizations.

The show debuts at 5 p.m. June 6 on KIPO-FM 89.3.