Outrigger Hotels hydrofest brings military-civilian community together.

Pearl Harbor, Hi--Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Departments at military installations nationwide continue to experience drastic cuts in appropriated fund support. To help offset the funding shortfall, managers are being encouraged to seek additional financial support for MWR programs through civilian commercial sponsorships.

Some installations, such as Miramar Naval Air Station and Moffet Field, host major air shows, supported in part by commercial sponsorships. Other military installations are also entering into first-time relationships with the private sector off base.

In 1990, Naval Station Pearl Harbor decided to take advantage of its greatest natural asset in staging the largest water sports event and MWR fund-raiser ever conducted on any military installation in the world. The Outrigger Hotels Hawaii Hydrofest at Pearl Harbor has since become an annual event, sponsored by more than 25 local and national business organizations including, title sponsor Outrigger Hotels, Long Distance/USA-Sprint, Blockbuster Video, Matson Navigation Company, Napa Auto Parts, Pepsi Cola, Bank of Hawaii, Budweiser, RJ Reynolds, Royal Crown Cola and others.

The event, held in October of each year near the historic USS Arizona Memorial, hosts the ten fastest boats in the world, unlimited hydroplanes. The Pearl Harbor event is the last race of the Unlimited Racing Commission season and usually determines the overall season high points championship. The boats race on a 2.5-mile oval course during an action-packed weekend of fun and excitement, competing for over $160,000 in prize money.

More than 100,000 spectators come each year to see the race and stunt aircraft shows, Formula Ford auto races, jet and water ski demonstrations, a maritime expo, rides and games for the youngsters, as well as live entertainment by the Pacific Fleet Band and some of Hawaii's top entertainers.

The Navy, working together with corporate sponsors and local civilian volunteer groups, brought the Outrigger Hotels Hydrofest to Hawaii in November 1990, under the direction of former Naval Station Commanding Officer, Adm. Dennis C. Blair.

Since the first hydroplane screamed across the pristine waters of Pearl Harbor, the Navy has raised more than $400,000 for MWR programs and facilities for sailors and their families in Hawaii. Funds from the first three Hydrofests have been used to renovate a base swimming pool, construct aerobic and basketball facilities and build sand volleyball courts. A new bathhouse was also constructed on Ford Island with funds from Hydrofest. The bathhouse was built as a thank you to the residents of the historic island community for hosting the event on the shores of Ford Island.

Part of the attraction for the general public is the ferry boat ride to and from Ford Island. The island is only accessible by ferry boat and the free boat ride is sponsored by Bank of Hawaii during Hydrofest weekend. This popular sponsorship opportunity takes spectators where the action is, giving both Bank of Hawaii and spectators maximum impact. Funds from Hydrofest have also helped the Naval Station MWR Department provide better services, programs and activities for Navy families, continuing youth activities and other MWR programs which have been hard hit by the loss of increasingly scarce appropriated dollars.

"We recognize that in today's financially restrictive environment we have to find other sources of revenue to continue these programs, or cut back and even eliminate some of them," said Larry Warnken, Naval Station Pearl Harbor MWR director. "The Hydrofest is Pearl Harbor's way of fighting back, instead of cutting back. With funds from events like Hydrofest, MWR can continue to provide programs and activities that contribute to a strong Navy family environment," Warnken continued.

No one realized four years ago that the event would become one of the premier sporting events in Hawaii. "It's better than we ever dreamed," Adm. Blair said after the first Hydrofest set new records for a single sporting event in Hawaii. "It's a tribute to the strong commitment from various Navy commands in the Pearl Harbor area as well as interservice support. Everyone worked together to make it a success, including our corporate friends in the civilian community."

The immense logistics and marketing effort for an event like the Outrigger Hotels Hydrofest entails months of planning, community support and the help of more than 1,000 volunteers from Navy, Air Force, Marine, Army and Coast Guard installations in Hawaii, as well as from the civilian community. According to Warnken, the volunteers are the "grease for the engine," that makes Hydrofest such a success. Volunteers do it all. They sell tickets, drive buses, staff parking lots, conduct pit tours, assist with maintenance and much, much more.

The added support of a wide variety of local and national corporate sponsors makes the event possible.

"Without sponsorship support, we simply couldn't do it," Warnken explains. "The cost involved in bringing the boats and their support trailers and equipment to Hawaii is staggering. Sponsorship dollars help offset these expenses and make the event possible."

Local companies are especially excited and eager to |give something back' to the local military community. "It's a great event. The community supported awareness it generates is just wonderful and that's why we're involved," explains Lorraine Keopuhiwa-Blackwell, advertising and promotions manager for ALPAC-Pepsi Cola. "We're very pleased with Hydrofest and expect to be involved with it for the long haul."

ALPAC-Pepsi Cola promoted Hydrofest by offering discounts and free admission on more than 30 million specially designed Pepsi Cola and 7-Up cans which are distributed six weeks before the event each year.

"When we first heard about Hydrofest, we thought it would be an excellent vehicle for us to get the Pepsi name out there in the marketplace and to get national exposure. That's very important to us," Keopuhiwa-Blackwell said.

Not only does the event represent a great relationship between the Navy and the business community in Hawaii, it also adds to the overall image that attracts tourists to the Islands. "This is a great event for the State of Hawaii," Governor Wahiee said during the Hydrofest on Ford island where the governor himself participates by racing in the Formula Ford automobile competition. "The Hydrofest project brings everyone together for a great weekend at Pearl Harbor for a great cause," Governor Waihee told a group of military and civilian business leaders during breakfast at his home just before the 1992 Hydrofest got underway last October.

David Carey, president and chief operating officer for Outrigger Hotels Hawaii, said the company plans to be involved as the title sponsor of the event for many years to come. "It's one of the outstanding events in Hawaii," Carey said. "We're very pleased with the way it's turned out. It's good for Outrigger Hotels, it's good for the Navy, and it's good for Hawaii."

"The exposure we're getting is beyond my expectations," Lawrence M. Johnson, president of Bank of Hawaii said. "We will definitely be involved in the future."

Ed Doty, president of Eagle Distributors (Hawaii Budweiser franchise), summed it up best when he said: "We were pleased, once again, to be a sponsor of the Outrigger Hotels Hydrofest. We've seen three years of successful sports marketing and three years of major support for the Pearl Harbor MWR programs. We're proud to be a part of this."

Warnken says his staff is busy working on plans for an even bigger and better Hydrofest next year.

"We're growing every year and learning as we go along. We'll continue to make improvements and to provide a wide range of fun activities for the public to enjoy during the Hydrofest weekend," Warnken said. "It's a win-win situation for everyone."