Media release from Hilo Downtown Improvement Association

BLACK & WHITE NIGHT – Downtown Hilo’s Biggest Party

The streets of the historic Downtown Hilo district will be filled with music, laughter, families, and friends at the 12th Annual Black & White Night this Friday November 2nd from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. and beyond. At least twenty different venues from one end of town to the other will host free music and entertainment and over 50 shops open late for shopping also offering free refreshments and special activities. “Every year thousands of people enjoy Downtown from top to bottom discovering all that we have to offer with so many restaurants, hundreds of shops and galleries plus two museums, a discovery center and, of course the East Hawaii Cultural Center’s art gallery,” said Alice Moon, executive director of Hilo Downtown Improvement Association, one of the presenting organizations.

A Treasure Hunt Map lists businesses participating in a special “discovery” activity where participants get a stamp from at least 25 locations and have a chance to win some of the thousands of dollars worth of prizes. This year the map is only available online at www.downtownhilo.com and in the October 31 issue of Big Island Weekly. A limited number of maps will be available at Grand Central Station which will be set up near EHCC on Kalakaua Street and opens at 5 p.m. on Friday. The street will be closed from 2 p.m. until midnight to accommodate a larger crowd and encourage safe dancing in the street. The line up there ranges from Country music to jazz to rock and roll (see schedule below) and at 9 p.m. all treasure hunters gather there for the prize drawing.

“We always let people know that they are welcome to dress up but they don’t have to, we see people in tee shirts and tuxedoes, ball gowns and muu muu, as long as it’s black and white it’s all good!” said Moon. “This year we have secret judges roaming town who will be presenting cash awards to Best Dressed couples, individuals, youth and most creative outfits and winners will be announced at Grand Central Station just before the drawing.”

An added attraction this year for those who really want to dress up, dance the night away and enjoy pupus, desserts, cheeses and a no-host beer and wine bar, the Black, White & Gold Ball takes place from 8 p.m. until midnight at the Kaikodo Building. Classic big band dance music will be offered by the Marius Stranger’s Island Swing Orchestra and a special appearance by the talented Hilo High School Ambassadors will have everyone dancing to the hits of the early 1960s. “We’re asking $50 per ticket for the 50 years DIA has worked hard for the community; a great price considering all the goodies that come with the ticket!” said Moon.

The ball celebrates the Hilo Downtown Improvement Association’s 50 years of service to the community as the only 501 (c)6 non-profit organization to specifically focus on the economic, social and cultural health of the area. “There are several businesses that have been in and remain operating in Downtown for fifty years or more that we will be honoring at the ball,” said Moon.

The businesses include Agasa Furniture, First Hawaiian Bank, F. Koehnen Ltd. & Koehnen’s Interiors, Hawaii National Bank, Hawaiian Telephone Company, K. Taniguchi Ltd. & KTA Super Stores, and Petroglyph Press. “The DIA has been able to make major contributions to the betterment of the Downtown area thanks in large part to these businesses that have weathered all the various storms and economic downturns with us over the last fifty years. It’s important that we thank them and acknowledge their contributions, made bittersweet with the imminent closure of Koehnen’s Interiors,” Moon said.

Tickets to the ball are available at the Hilo Information Center temporarily located next to the Mooheau Bus Station in a large brown trailer or by calling 935-8850. “We have limited tickets still available at this time and expect they’ll sell out before Friday,” said Moon, encouraging people to purchase their tickets as soon as possible.

Black & White Night is presented by the DIA in partnership with Oceanic Time-Warner Cable, Big Island Weekly and New West Broadcasting and sponsored by Café Pesto, KTA Super Stores, EmbroidMe, Petroglyph Press/Basically Books, and Day-Lum Rentals & Management Inc. Over fifty-five businesses have also contributed financially as participants in the Treasure Hunt and are donating prizes for the drawings making the event one of the largest publicly supported events on the island. For more information call (808) 935-8850 or visit www.downtownhilo.com

Black &White Night 2012 Schedule of Events

5 p.m. Grand Central Station Opens on Kalakaua Street next to East Hawaii Cultural Center with hosts Yisa Var & Kaohu “KJ” James, Gordon Bracknell & Friends take the stage with Country Music; Hilo Town Tavern: DJ Mike Eye, Sapience, Soda x, phreewill, vendors & art until the wee hours; East Hawaii Cultural Center: Fall Arts Festival Opening Reception; Bayfront Kava Bar: Live music until way late!

5:30 p.m. Koehnen’s Interiors: Vocalist Valerie Simpson joins Tom Sawicki & John Parker aka The Jazz Brothers; Synergy – Patricia’s Transitions: Jazz Joose with Kathy on flute & Tom on guitar; M. Claire Boutique: hosts an informal Fashion Show

6 p.m. Grand Central Station: Yisa Var & Girl’s Nite Out gets everyone into the dancing mood; Café Pesto: Randy Parker plays easy listening Hawaiian contemporary; One Gallery: Tropical Pops with Cymber Lily Quinn on harp, flautists Tom Geballe & Frank Musacchio on bass; Casa de Luna: solo guitarist & vocalist Daryl Castillo; Mokupapapa Discovery Center: Kanilehua Chorale, under the direction of Pedro Ka’awaloa (also at 7 p.m.); 100% Moxie: Open Mic hosted by Margot; Le Magic Pan: Father & son jazz duo; Extreme Exposure Gallery: Lito Arkangel plays contemporary Hawaiian music; Palace Theater Lobby: Leslie Harlib, Cabaret Comedienne at the Piano; KapohoKine Adventures: take a musical journey with Timeless; Day-Lum Rentals & Management: Two Hot Chickens rock & roll your night away

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Dreams of Paradise Gallery: Jazz Ensemble featuring vocalist Elaina Welch, Gary Washburn on keyboard, Bruce David on drums, & Moon Brown on Saxophone. Celebrate owner Suzan Starr’s birthday with pupus & of course, birthday cake; Connections Public Charter School: Friends of Indian Music

7 p.m. Grand Central Station: Hilo High School Ambassadors; KTA Super Stores: Chet DeCambra Band; Palace Theater Lobby: Harmony On Tap (HOT), cool women making hot music for a good cause

7 p.m. & 8 p.m. Yoga Centered Studio & Boutique presents Elevated Artistry where acrobatics & dance meet with the intention of self-healing and bliss

7:30 p.m. Aloha Insurance Services: Life in Pursuit plays mellow acoustic rock ala Jack Johnson

8 p.m. Palace Theater Lobby: Lilikoi Leslie & The Palace Pops – Hilo’s new hot-jazz dance band; Grand Central Station: Wendell Ing & Friends rock and jazz with dancing in the street to close out the GCS line up & get folks primed for the Treasure Hunt Prize drawings!

9 p.m. Treasure Hunt Drawings at Grand Central Station – must be present to win!

9 p.m. – 11 p.m. 100% Moxie: Maka Gallinger & Band

Postcards from a Stranger is an interactive installation during Black & White Night presented by Kalani, Hawaii’s largest retreat center, located on the Puna coast. Visit the Kalani “post office” at GCS, and write a friendly or inspirational note to a complete stranger. Your postcard will be delivered by our postal workers, who will be roaming the streets of Hilo. It’s one more way to feel good during Black and White Night – both giving and receiving!