STORY:
Diamond Head Centerpiece Of Hawaii 2000

The often photograph but never duplicated Diamond Head will be lit up as the "Beacon of Hawaii" on New Year's Eve. The distinctive landmark will be the centerpiece of a series of "Hawaii 2000" events targeted at increasing tourism and boosting the state's economy. The theme of the celebration is "Hawaii 2000, the Dawn of the New Millennium".

According to a story in the Honolulu Star Bulletin, a spokesperson for the Hawaii Millennium Commission said details of most of the events are still be working out and won't be announced until mid June although the aim of the group is to bring 500,000 tourist to the islands next year.

But the commission is giving an overview of events that it is working on:

The Diamond Head New Year's Eve celebration will be the last stop for a 24-hour live broadcast by the Millennium Television Network.

In February, a parade from the Kakaako Waterfront Park to Chinatown will usher in Chinese New Year. Organizers hope to have a world-record, 2,000-foot-long dragon dance.

On Valentine's Day there will be a mass wedding ceremony on Waikiki Beach where hundreds of couples will renew their vows.

In the spring, The "Diamond Head Down" sky-diving event over Kapiolani Park and Wheeler Air Force Base will take place.

In May, a scuba-diving event off Waikiki will promote Hawaii as an ocean-activities destination.

The commission's program is scheduled to end with a year-end party at Waikiki Beach to see in the year 2001.

The volunteer commission, appointed by Gov. Ben Cayetano, consists of 11 at-large members and one from each of the counties.

Source: Honolulu Star Bulletin

DATE: 5/27/99

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