MEDIA RELEASE

Hawai`i Island Chamber of Commerce Request for Proposals for `E Malama `Aina Sustainability Festival Event Producer

Hilo, Hawai‘i — The Hawai`i Island Chamber of Commerce (HICC) will bring the second annual ‘E Mālama ‘Āina Festival (EMAF) to Hawai`i Island on November 7, 2009. Last year, the festival drew an estimated 2700 people to Hilo’s Mo`oheau Park to learn, talk story and share sustainability practices in a recreational setting. The Chamber is seeking an experienced Event Producer to collaborate with Chamber staff and the many business organizations that will be partners for this year’s festival.

As turbulent conditions continue — from Wall Street to the fuel pump, mortgage foreclosures to the rising costs of grocery staples – our country is facing the toughest of economic climates since the 1940’s. Now more than ever, citizens are inspired to adopt alternative approaches to meeting their daily needs. EMAF is the Chamber’s response to promoting a solution to this situation. Sustainability is not just a buzz word, it is a way of life that can improve the “triple bottom line” – people, planet and profit.

“This is an exciting opportunity for a professional Event Producer to work with the Chamber on bringing a fantastic sustainability festival to our island,” said Judi Steinman, Executive Officer of the Chamber.

The EMAF is produced by the HICC with cooperation from the University of Hawai‘i – Hilo Conference Center and the Downtown Improvement Association. Last year, the festival was supported by many local businesses including Big Island Toyota, Puna Geothermal Venture, HPM Building Supply, Young Brothers, Thirty Meter Telescope, KTA Super Stores, and HELCO. These businesses sponsored villages with sustainability themes, such as alternate energy, transportation, learning and agriculture.

EMAF brings together business leaders, teams from the private and public sector, farms – big and small, traditional and cutting-edge – as well as schools and community service organizations at one site designed to inspire event attendees.

The Event Producer will oversee the entertainment, organization and coordination of the festival, villages and booth spaces, which will be sold to organizations wishing to participate in the event. Interested parties should email exec@hicc.biz for details. The RFP is available at the Chamber’s website, www.hicc.biz or by emailing exec@hicc.biz. All submissions are due by 4PM on June 29, 2009. Hard copies of the proposals must be printed double-sided and submitted in duplicate. An electronic version of the submission also must be submitted by email to exec@hicc.biz or on CD by 4PM HST on Monday, June 29, 2009. Applicants assume all responsibility for delivering the RFP on time.

The E Mālama‘Āina Festival is a project of the Hawai‘i Island Chamber of Commerce. Founded in 1898, the Chamber is a private, non-profit organization comprised of businesses and professionals in the community who work together to make Hawaii Island a better place to live and do business. The Chamber’s mission is to provide leadership through services and advocacy for the business community while promoting the economic well-being of the island as a whole. The Chamber has more than 730 representatives and 370 businesses. Located in Hilo, the County seat of Hawai‘i Island, HICC serves members from East Hawai‘i as well as member businesses throughout the island, the State of Hawai‘i, the nation, and internationally.