 Welcome to Think Tech. We're raising public awareness on technology, energy, diversity, and globalism. This show is center stage I am your host Donna Blanchard, proud managing director of Kumakuhua Theater And we are coming to you live from Pioneer Plaza in the heart of downtown Honolulu, very near Kumakuhua Theater I am excited to let you know that my guest today makes things happen all over this island and you finally get a chance to hear from the man himself His name is Mark Turone. He's an event producer here in Hawaii. Welcome, Mark. Great to be here. Thanks for having me Yeah, I'm really you do a lot of very cool things. I didn't realize how far you're reach you reach all the way up to the North Shore. That's right That's a new project working with the Hawaii Polo Club this year and so we have great polo matches every Sunday That's out in Mokolia So there's two polo fields that people are aware of here in Hawaii the ones in Waimanalo and we're up in Mokolia on the North Shore really beautiful area. So I started working with them this summer and it's been great. I Saw some of the pictures on the website polo dash. What is it polo? Yes a white polo.com And I had no idea You know, I know there's a history of Piano Panayolos and Hawaii and I didn't realize how popular a sport Polo is here that we have to polo It's a great point a lot of people Don't realize that but it is popular here and it actually dates back polo was in Hawaii before it was in America in the mainland goes back in the 1800s originally a sport from India and It's been here since I believe the mid 1800s and one of the players Shared some stats about how many horses how big the equestrian lifestyle is here in Hawaii And it's something like 20 30,000 horses in Hawaii Which you know driving around a while who you wouldn't certainly only a million people on the whole island So that's yes, I would imagine there's probably a good number on the big guy But anyways yet so great equestrian culture here actually on this island a little hidden But we've got that whole area Dillingham Ranch is right across the street from Hawaii polo and You feel it when you drive up, you know There's no traffic on that side of the island and so you get there so quickly and once you pass You know you get into Wailua and that area it becomes the big open ranch lands and it just has this impact You can't miss it's it's really the country and when you get to our property We're right on the beach beautiful view out towards, you know we're looking out at Waimea Bay and up at Kuhugu Point and You know really really great view and then on the other side when you're standing Next on the ocean side you're looking up at the Waianae Mountains And it's actually the tallest mountain range on a while who the one peak is almost a mile high It's over 4,000 feet high. So it's it's stunning. It literally is like that. That's It's a big project and I was I was had my concerns about making that level of commitment about 20 weeks of years this season and And the reason we're really drove me is just what absolutely wonderful special place it is there Oh, so this goes through Labor Day the season goes through Labor Day exactly So it's every Sunday the gate opens at 11 Matches start at 1 30 and they go till about five o'clock and immediately after every week We've got live entertainment. We had Barry Flanagan out in June this weekend. Jeff Peterson is playing You know, he's been on he's had songs on two Grammy award-winning albums Six Hoku Awards, you know, one of the best acoustic guitar players really in America It's played with Eric Clapton and Boss Gags and Super special so he's performing Susan Polo matches in this Sunday and we're doing a tribute To the first lady of Hawaii polo. It's Elizabeth Murph daily and she is a former player herself We have great photo here. That's this weekend and I love that. It's that energy She you know one of the great ambassadors of polo here in Hawaii So her husband and her found in the club over 50 years ago. So they've been having consecutive every year there's been a polo season for 53 years now And so we're doing a tribute to she's affection known as Murph to her family and friends she you know still a prominent member at the clubhouse and you know still holds court every just about every week and So excited about that celebration. We've got the highest The fastest polo this season. There's a tournament this weekend So there's gonna be to the semi-finals on Friday That's not a public event, but they'll have that to see who ends up in the finals And we'll feature the finals on Sunday. We've got a Polo players are ranked up to 10 goals the highest is about 10 goals I think it's less than 50 people in the ever in the history of polo I've ever had a 10 goal rating and one of our visiting players from New Zealand is a five-goal player, which is really That's near all-star level at the pro level. Oh, okay, so some really exciting polo this weekend got Jeff Peterson the tribute to Murph we've got I believe some some roles convertibles another really nice car is coming out to help with that celebration They're always fun to see you encourage tailgating. Yeah tailgating is absolutely welcome It's kind of bring your own anything if you'd like coolers grills beverages really whatever you wish really one of the best tailgate properties in Hawaii because you have that We actually get one eye weather. So I don't I don't want to jinx us, but traditionally Very dry out there. So the whole rest of the North Shore can be rainy and we'll be dry out on that side of peninsula. So Great weather. He's great views trade wins. Yes tailgating the gentleman on the right. He insists that he's the older gentleman there that last picture His folks say that he makes sure we you know insist that we come out every single weekend That's one of our biggest polo fans right there on the right. It's a really diverse wonderful audience We have a lot of young folks as well That's Mike daily his father stuck started the club. He was a GM After his father and now his son is the general manager Devon daily and Charlie will do in there Just so happens He not only is basically the rules commissioner for us polo. He's also one of my best friends from high school We came fell into that Naturally, didn't you? Yes, there's a couple ties there. It's helped me. I was it was meant to be Will you a fan of polo before you started working with I grew up in Palm Beach, Florida? And just west of us is really the polo capital of the world, Argentina is you know has the best polo ponies And it's the biggest part of it's more ingrained in the culture there than anywhere else but the biggest polo events in the world happened at Wellington, which is Basically grew out of my hometown So that's kind of an offshoot of Palm Beach. It's just west of Palm Beach, Florida And so yeah, we used to go out to polo matches when I was a kid and they were big deal and big fun But I wasn't you know, I wasn't an addict or you know, this this you know, I wasn't fanatical about it but definitely enjoyed it and Out here, it's it really one of the things I love is the lost spirit is really ever-present And it reminds me I grew up playing lacrosse. That was my sport from elementary school through college And I ran a club program here and this this Used to run an international tournament every year And what's unique about Hawaii is With the lacrosse it trans I see the same thing with polo and that is you've got some literally some of the best players in the world That are often on the field and but they're not they're not doing it here for flash They're really doing it the love of the game is the driving force And so these polo matches that you see on Sunday, you know, it gets heated, but it's not you know when the game's off You know everyone's You know sharing stories and having a good time together and it was it really is the love of polo at the root of it You can feel it you can see it. Oh very cool So let me ask you this because I I know we have a lot of other things that we need to talk about that you do So you're encouraged to tailgate See the match and then stay for the music which is awesome in God's country exactly No, you hit it nail on the head. So There's different times that come out some people like to come out early, you know and go back earlier I love coming out, you know before I was there, you know from the crack of dawn till the last person was not quite the crack of Dawn, but they're pretty long days. I like that kind of later shift You come for the last match starts around 3 30 So you come in around 3 you catch that the full you know all the last match Which is the fastest match of the day and then you've got great entertainment from 5 to 7 We go all the way to sunset So you're there from like 3 to 7 which is you know a nice period of time and we're right on the beach We've got great swimming. There's a huge beautiful channel It's great for swimming. We've got outdoor shower. So really, you know, oh our our tagline is Sunday in the country And that's because it really is this this full day experience You know you can you know bring it a lot of people bring their I don't know the formal name But it's that cornhole, you know that game where you toss the hole in the board I'm a big bachi fan in those great areas for playing bachi, you know fishing diving It's really all there. It's it's a full experience. How much does it cost to get in great question? It's free for cakey under 16. So 15 and under is totally free So for a family it's cheaper than going in the movies because general mission is $12 And then there's a discount two-dollar discount for military and lifeguards and And cakey's free. So literally it's it's less expensive than going to movie And you could bring anything you want if you want to go that route We'd also have great vendors on site Lulu's Mexican Grill is there every single week and really it's good the best Mexican There's some Mexican restaurants that I feel are on par with her, but there's no one I think that's better. Oh, and so she has a very diplomatic of you. It's true though I you know, I'm a big fan of Maria Bonitas here. Oh, yeah, I love the love the family and I love their food Lulu's is is is fantastic and she mixes up every week She has something different and then we have a food that an additional vendor food vendor every week last week It was square barrels. They came out and they did the asado style grilling right on site with with a kiave wood and you know They do gourmet burgers and all kinds of wonderful things. So It's also easy. You don't have to pack things you just just come out and we have everything right there for you We have a bar on site With with everything you could ever want And good fun and we do themes so our Junthin was summer breeze kicking off the summer and then this month is Paniolo, Poina and next month is sustainable harvest So we're gonna have all kinds of different sustainability entities including some merchants There's some boutiques that you know with the fabrics that they use and that the way that You know, they the kind of that the way they handle the textile rather than working a sweatshop It's you know, it's a sustainable way to do things So we're gonna be showcasing that throughout August and our season finale Labor Day weekend Awesome, okay So it is a mouthful. There's a lot going on. So you're the guy who and I know you you are a promoter By yes, absolutely. So you want to do that? Let's let's talk about what it is that you actually do So you're booking did they already do this they had before you got on board? Yes, you had the music and all of that music was a lot of fundamentals were there So yeah, the music's been going ever since I've been familiar with Polo. They've always had the music right after So my focus was to to build on the eight They really had a great product to begin with and try to see how we could polish that and and make it a bigger more Bigger creator experience. So, you know, my ideas that I brought to the table are the themes. It's a long season and so You know, you know business There's there's a lot of reasons why we do this But the end of the day you have to pay the bills, you know, we've got someone out there, you know They got a huge polo field is 350 yards long So just make just the water to keep that that alive in a dry region out there Oh, yeah, there's a lot and then your maintenance staff and and all that and all the ponies obviously Each match a six-trucker match would use each player would have six different ponies. So and there's four players on a team So that's 24 polo 24 ponies on a side. So 48 got 48 horses involved in a full polo match So there's obviously a lot that you have to invest there So when you're looking at the business, you're saying you know, if I just There's one of the you know effective promoting is you work pretty hard and you're handing people flyers and you're you know You'd figure out ways to have people see your brand and see the experience that you're offered But if you just pound the pavement like that every week Everybody goes deaf and you know, you're not going to break through. So on the business side The themes help you have something new and fresh every month So that's I brought that concept out and it's been great because we with the program When you make that commitment, you're not exactly sure how to you know if you're gonna get the program you envisioned and Been really happy with I'm biased because I put the program together But I think it speaks for itself on paper if you go to white polo.com and you look at what we did in June What we're doing this month next week. We'll be announcing the details of our August sustainable harvest theme but we had a great program and So those are the things that I brought that bringing the themes. We also Some at the entertainment we you know We were able to invest some more in the entertainment and have some some artist names that people are more familiar with and And some people that really focused on on music as a full-time profession And you know next month we've got one artist. I'm not allowed to announce yet But he's one of the most popular artists in Hawaii We'll be announcing that next week and our season finale is with Taimani who's you know really Wonderful musician, you know of household name for with most households here in Hawaii and And just someone with a great career and it's nice to have her to a big showcase there For our season finale Before we go to break if I've never seen I've never seen a polo match before never in my life. It's time. All right Am I gonna be able to understand what's going on? Is it basically trying a bunch of people trying to get a thing into a net? That's a great question on Yes, and for it boils down to there's the goal is to post so you have to you're hitting the ball in between two posts and it's four on four and The the number one rule is and it's it goes to safety And you can as long as you know this rule we talk about the rules every week So we've got a full you know full PA system and announcing going on during the match So if you come to polo, you know, you know, we have some rules pamphlets and things like that So we're ready for people that have never seen polo before and the one major rule is when you hit your shot You have a clear line to that ball where no one's allowed to cross that line Within reason if it's really far ahead then you can cross the line But for there's a good distance where you have a direct line that ball no one's allowed to cross And that's it's for safety because you've got you know polo polo pony's going at full speed And if you take a tumble, you know, the fatalities are not, you know, they happen unfortunately polo from time to time in August we're actually celebrating a former white polo player who Who lost his life at at at playing at our fields in the 80s out of pocket Very successful local entertainer. He was on a lot of he had leading well, he had support great supporting roles in some of the original high 5-0's and He was in the cocktail singer in Don Hosevain and very successful here And one of the greatest players ever in Hawaii is a five goal rated player Which is the highest any Hawaii players ever been rated And there's an accident in a fall and so that's why you know, the rules are critical. I was critically important And that's the one so you understand like okay, why is it someone running in like that and but easy to pick up Okay, good, and it's the sport of Kings. Didn't I learn that in trivial pursuit? Okay, we're gonna go to our break now. Thank you very much for that explanation We're gonna talk about Now we're gonna get into all of the other things There are a lot of stuff that you do down in Chinatown and why why you do those I'm so happy about that. I'm glad we're getting that look forward to it. Okay, we're gonna take a little break Please stay put we'll see you on the other side Aloha, this is Reg Baker with business in Hawaii We're a show that broadcasts every Thursday at 2 o'clock We would love to hear from you and you can reach us in several different ways We have a hotline that you can call in at 415-871-2474 Or you can email us at think tech Hawaii calm or you can tweet us at think tech H I Looking forward to hearing from you and seeing you on our next show Aloha Aloha everyone, I'm Maria Mera and I'm here to invite you to my bilingual so Viva Hawaii on think tech Hawaii Every other Monday at 3 p.m. We are here to talk about news issues and events local and around the world Join me Aloha Jackal University of Hawaii football team under Rolovich is gonna kick butt this season in case you didn't understand me University of Hawaii football team is gonna kick butt under Rolovich this season So be sure to follow us on think tech Hawaii and he bought you top. I'll be at every game and remember aloha Hi, welcome back. This is center stage on the think tech Hawaii digital series If you would like to ask us a question while we're talking or add to the conversation You may do so on Twitter just tweet to at think tech H I and we will see you on the screen right here Also, if you would ever like to join us in the studio audience, you can do that just email J That's J. A Y at think tech Hawaii comm and he will hook you up. Okay. We're talking with event producer Mark Tarone So I know you foremost from hallow blue. Yes Did you is that your baby? Did you invent? The perfect description that is my baby Okay, that's how I've been what I've called it from the get-go and I did did create that so that was Going to Lahaina and seeing the Halloween celebration. They have a huge Halloween celebration for it's they've kind of had some They cancelled it not too long ago and they brought to trying to bring it back But for many years they had about 20 30,000 people on Halloween night in Lahaina huge event so I was there in In the 90s three times and the costumes were amazing that the energy that people were amazing and there's but there's nothing else There was no programming You know just just getting a drink was like a battle, you know so it was just not other than the costumes the experience was was disappointing for me and so a lot of hallow blue came out of wanting to Inspire people and give them something to be proud of their community and have this this, you know this arts and and celebratory experience That they they were proud of you know and and and made them I don't put a smile on them face But so many could plan on for the year and say this is one of the reasons why I love living in Hollywood. Oh, cool So it involves there's costumes. There's a fun run. Yes. So we have the whole blue marathon Raising money for our art stop profits So we got to work with Kumakua theater the first year We did that which was two years ago for the whole hallow blue marathon and it's that's not really marathon It's just like a round of black. Yes. We now it's again. It's a little longer, but very short. Absolutely It's a joke of a name and every runner raises money for local arts and culture nonprofit So that's what great something new that we added and it's really two stages. We have We start about about five o'clock this year might move it up to 430 and now we're down in the regal section of historic Honolulu, so our main stage is on the front lawn of the white star art museum to move there last year We loved it everyone that came down loved it and the white star museum loved it So it's really a match made in heaven and we'll be back there this year So we start everything off down there and we close Richard Street and Hotel Street between Richard and Alakaya So you have the big lawn in the white star art museum. We do a VIP section inside the museum Which is amazing work they've done there with their the courtyard that they have in the back I don't know if you've seen that and actually at a night. It's really beautiful really really well done and Multiple stages in the street So the entertainment that that you that I didn't see in Lahaina that you see here is you know last year We had Booker T. Jones. He's a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner and he was our headliner, you know and we also had Taimani performed and Mike Love one of a Local artist who was really having breakout success recently and that's going to continue because he's so talented so Great local artists and also at least one national headliner every year So that's the street festival from the music goes from about five to ten and you know we've got great food vending and lots of things there and Then we moved to clubs afterwards. So usually there's about eight to ten clubs people want to go later then they'll go to about two in the morning if you'd like to go that route and We have the section on Hotel Street between Newt Wano and Smith Street Which is kind of the town square for for that section of Chinatown and so that's closed to vehicles so it's a nice congregation area to meet friends and branch off from there and So all the clubs there and some other ones that participate and great entertainment there And we're likely going to be adding a new location as well as part of that We were at capacity last year and we're looking at partnering with a great property here in downtown Honolulu that will expand our capacity also Even add a great piece to our story because you know now we're we could something once we switch to the new location last year Something that I really love personally and it is valuable to I believe all of Hawaii is we're celebrating Just about all of historic Honolulu, you know So we go from that regal section, which is right next to Ilani Palace and the White State Art Museum You know the YWCA there the state Capitol Those are you know the you know historic properties and that you know, literally the Kings King and Queens area So we start there and we finish in Chinatown Which is really the blue collar part of historic Honolulu that supported, you know all of that supported the rest of the island So there's it's the only event that I know of that incorporates both of those and that's that's a huge piece of our history You know and How blue is not just some big crazy party. It's it's it's Halloween aloha is really the root of it and Folks who've been there. I think we'll nod their head that that is a good description and And you haven't been here come down. You'll feel that It's a great diverse group that comes You know over half of the people last year were over 35 years old So if you look at other street festival events in Honolulu except unless you're like at a high-end food event But if you do ones that are focused on music and you know costumes You usually have a not as diverse of a demographic So we do surveys every year and actually last year over 90% of our attendees had a two-year degree or higher So people aren't just coming for the big crowd or you know to drink a beer in the street They really love the energy Interaction with the people in the costumes and you know the music programming that we have and the whole experience so very cool So it really is a community event Absolutely, and that's that's that was the vision from that was my hope from the get-go That one in my head was based on I stumbled upon a European Street Festival in the 90s just after I graduated college I get to go to Europe for a bit and Everyone in the whole town was at the event You know it was literally you know tutus that you know Probably 90 years old that we're out and you know part of it to the little cakey to the whole nine yards And there was no exclusiveness. It was it was just everyone This was it was this congregation of the entire community. I mean not every person was there but it was a range of the whole thing and It's powerful one of my one of my personal mantras is Inclusivity there's nothing more powerful than inclusivity You know when you bring people together when you see that that makes happening There's bonds energy that's created that is I really believe that's the most powerful force there is in humanity That's very cool. Did you feel like you were inspired then back in the 90s and thought this is what I want to do No, I obviously I noticed you know it was I I hadn't seen something an event like that before so it stuck in my mind because of that And then when you're you know when I was looking at hobble Lou and Murph has been doing that great St. Patrick's Day celebration every year So I said well look China town. This is this is the perfect placement this type of event and when I say Well, what would be the ideal event? Yeah that that European Gathering came to mind. It was a driving force very cool, and you This is what you do. This is your main form of it is now. Yes, so for many years I had two hats and I'm an attorney a graduate of UH law school here and But I did sales for about 16 17 years with a company called Lexus Nexus, which is a great experience the Great business great company great organization so many good people there And I worked with a lot of my clients are wonderful people that I learned a lot from and so I love it Was great to be in sales for that long to really get it ingrained in what you do And it's just it's a matter of it's a method of communication, you know and you know You are one of our leaders in the arts business, you know the business of the arts community and we can say that That's not just a term I throw out there's there's real substance in that with the success You've had a Kumu Kuhua theater. I've been a partner at the arts at Mars garage for seven years now And you really made a difference there in the last year massive massive difference and so Thanks. Yes. Thank you. That's one of the reasons I'm so happy to be here and you know I'd be comfortable because I felt Really lucky and fortunate to spend some time to get it. Wow. I really appreciate that sunshine blown up Thanks And I'm really glad that you're there Doing this and I absolutely agree when you get people together a Silly little story 4th of July had plans to go do things and it rained, you know Yes, so my friend and I are what do you want to do? What do you want to do? I don't know and we were looking at movies and decided on finding Dory because It's the it's a community thing, you know You can't be outside doing a community thing But at least you go and you know you're gonna be and there were two twos and little kids You know it had that really lovely feel so I would never think of that It's yeah, it's that movie experience and that kind of movie is that's just the ticket to We're literally to bring those people together. Yeah. Yeah, so what do you have on the horizon? What's coming up? You got two minutes left. Yes Well, I'll be just coming up So there's a photo for me from last year that we shot down the White State Art Museum Can tell there but it's a fun and so that's Halloween weekend the main day is October 29th the Saturday before Halloween and There's a couple other there's there's some properties that have opened their doors For some some large-scale concerts that I'm looking at with some people and seeing if something could definitely work there We're just trying to figure out what that's gonna be initially And I've been doing some working on some projects with Ron Artis the second Amazing, you know, that's a big word but but it's apt Extremely talented artist, you know, you made of his family his father Ron Artis and his mother She's a trained trains operatic singer and classical singer And his father was at the highest level of music in LA played with Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson So they moved their whole family the Hawaii ended up in Hollywood and all were homeschooled all Ron and his ten brothers and sisters And they would play music for the public every day They're right next to coffee gallery was their house So it was open and literally people come in and and they would play music not all day But every day they would do live performance and it were they weren't jam sessions They were it was it was, you know music training their dad's his major dysplinarian their late father great great individual and so I've had a pleasure of doing a number of things with Ron this year and Music is a huge driving force for me as well. And that is the there It's music purity at it at its best, you know, it's it's gone and on about that But that's been great. He's releasing an EP with his trio In August he's gonna be at the blue note here on this island. He's gonna be a charlie's a fabulous room Yes, great room and bring such fabulous artists to Hawaii. So it's been great to see so working with him and you know last year I partnered with Taimani and Did her work with her for her debut at Hawaii theater? So it was her first big major ticketed show She's you know plays lots of great festivals around the whole state and really around the world now but she had done a big ticketed show here in Hawaii and She did a full theatrical production, you know, we She did choreographed different choreography different dancers Narration she wrote all the narration. She wrote seven or eight songs just for that piece Major undertaking so where do people go if they want to hear about everything that you've got going on? Yes, right now It's roots music Hawaii calm