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The Mayor's Office of Culture and the Arts (MOCA) was founded in 1971 after the passage of the Percent for Art law in 1967 that established the Art in City Buildings Program.         The mission of MOCA is to promote the value of arts and culture throughout communities in the City and County of Honolulu. MOCA's objectives are to attain per-eminence in culture and the arts; to perpetuate the artistic and cultural heritages of its entire people; to promote a community environment, which provides equal and abundant opportunity for exposure to culture and the arts in all its forms; and to encourage and provide equal opportunity for the development of culture and the artistic talents of the people of Honolulu.        Guided by the belief and affirmation of cultural self-determination, MOCA works as a partner and catalyst for increasing opportunities, awareness and involvement in cultural activities for the benefit of all.  In this capacity, MOCA administers the Art in City Buildings Program, culture and Arts Programs, and a Collaborative Arts Program.        Over the past 40 years, the Commission on Culture and the Arts has assisted the City in acquiring more than 900 items that share and perpetuate the cultural heritage of Honolulu.   These items are now available for viewing through our on-line database.  Please click on the link below for more information on the City's  collection.   The Art in City Buildings Program

Mayor Mufi Hannemann and Culture and the Arts        For more than a decade Mayor Mufi Hannemann has taken the lead in creating opportunities to use the arts as a catalyst for economic development and community revitalization in Honolulu.   Mayor's Office of Culture and the Arts      In 2005, his first official year in office, Hannemann spearheaded the creation of the Mayor's Production Grant Program which provides grant support for the creation of new artistic works in the performing arts, literature and short film.  This is the only grant program of its kind in the state of Hawaii.  Since the introduction of this program $140,000 has been granted and resulted in an economic impact of more than $518,000 in the cultural economy.        In addition to the Mayor's Production Grant Program, Hannemann has established collaborative partnerships with community arts organizations through granting programs to assist low income and migrant families, and community building projects through the arts.  These programs have resulted in a $17.5 million impact in the local economy.        Also in 2005, Mayor Hannemann successfully held a year-long celebration for the 100th anniversary of the City and County of Honolulu as a municipality.  The centennial celebration featured signature events and community outreach programs and raised funds to assist in the restoration of Honolulu Hale (City Hall) to its original beauty.        Under Mayor Hannemann's leadership, City facilities were made available for non-profit groups to exhibit their art in a public setting, giving them an opportunity they otherwise would not have to showcase their works.  As a result of his efforts more than 40 art exhibitions are being held each year in Honolulu Hale and Kapolei Hale and attract more than 40,000 people to view the art.  Supported organizations include the Korean Artist Association of Hawaii, ProjectFocus, Oncology Nursing Society, local schools, Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Association of Hawaii Artists, African American Diversity Cultural Center Hawaii, Ikebana International Honolulu Chapter 56, Sumi-e Society of Hawaii, Na Lei Aloha Foundation, Hawaii Project Citizen, Organization of Oil Painting Pals, Tzu Chi Foundation of Hawaii, American Institute of Architects, and many more.        In 2007, Mayor Hannemann reached out to the community to be actively involved in the caretaking of the City's public art by launching the Adopt-a-Sculpture program.  Several organizations signed up within days of the program's introduction.        In December 2009, Mayor Hannemann and the Hawaii Arts Alliance will host the "Arts in Crisis: A Kennedy Center Initiative" event in the City's Mission Memorial Auditorium.  The event is in partnership with the Kennedy Center to address the challenges non-profit performing arts organizations are facing during these difficult economic times.   Direct City Support      Founded in 1900, the Honolulu Symphony is recognized as the oldest American orchestra west of the Rocky Mountains.  Mayor Hannemann has supported the endeavors of the Honolulu Symphony's annual performance season.  Over the past four years, Mayor Hannemann's partnership with the Honolulu Symphony has resulted in a $17 million impact in Honolulu's cultural economy.        Mayor Hannemann's devotion for the arts is also exemplified through the Royal Hawaiian Band (the only full-time municipal band in the United States).  The band currently performs and marches in more than 300 concerts and parades each year.  His leadership has brought the band international recognition in 2005 as the band embarked on a goodwill tour to Japan where it performed with ten Japanese hula troops.        Mayor Hannemann's facilitation of public-private partnerships led to the development of Honolulu Zoo's orangutan habitat, veterinary clinic and Keiki Zoo, as well as attracting the 2008 American Youth Soccer Organization's National Games and U.S. Youth Soccer Far West Regional soccer tournaments to the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex.        Hawaii being the multi-cultural melting pot of the Pacific, Mayor Hannemann has facilitated partnerships with various community organizations to host festivals and events that promote and perpetuate the various cultural heritages in our state.  Through Mayor Hannemann's leadership the City provides much needed financial and logistical support for the Month in Chinatown, Rediscover Oahu and Sunset events in Makiki, Ewa Beach, Waimanalo, Ala Moana Park, Laie, and Waianae Coast; Honolulu Family Festival at Magic Island, Okinawan Festival, Korean Festival, Aloha Festivals, Hawaii Farm Bureau's Farmers' Markets, Hawaii Book and Music Festival, Haleiwa Arts Festival, and First Friday events in downtown Honolulu, to name a few.        Knowing the importance of Hawaii's cultural treasures, Mayor Hannemann has worked diligently to save Waimea Valley from development in order to protect this historical and cultural site for future generations.        Under Mayor Hannemann's leadership, the Honolulu Film Office has taken a leadership role in the planning and development of Honolulu's film industry to ensure it becomes a vital, vibrant part of a diversified and sustainable economy.  Honolulu is recognized as the production hub for Hawaii, generating 50-75 percent of the statewide production expenditures.        Hannemann helped found the Hawaii Council of Mayors, the organization of the state's four county mayors that collaborates on inter-county issues, lobbies for state legislation, and works together on matters affecting local government.  At the National level he also enlisted their membership and participation in the USCM.        In an effort to help support local arts organizations and artists in Honolulu during these difficult economic times, Mayor Hannemann will be offering a neighborhood guide to culture and the arts to be available to visitors and at various arts organizations on Oahu.   Arts Industry      In 1997, as a member of the Honolulu City Council, Hannemann introduced legislation to create an arts enterprise zone in downtown Honolulu, modeled after Arlington County's, Virginia Arts Incubator Program.  In 2001, in collaboration with the Hawaii Arts Alliance the ARTS at Marks Garage opened as a result of his legislation.  Today activities by ARTS at Marks Garage serve nearly 30,000 people and more than 1,000 artists each year.        Mayor Hannemann led the effort to revitalize Honolulu's Chinatown as a culture and arts district by obtaining a $400,000 Ford Foundation grant and holding a successful Chinatown Summit.  These actions yielded concrete steps such as the offering of free Wi-Fi service in more than 80 access points in the area.  This effort also snagged Honolulu a national outstanding achievement award.   Partnerships      Understanding the vital role literacy plays in our society, Mayor Hannemann has served as the honorary chair of the Hawaii Book and Music Festival for the past four years.  Held on the Civic Center Grounds, the festival attracts more than 20,000 people in support of literacy.  Proceeds from the event benefits Read To Me International and Hawaii Literacy.        Since 2007, Mayor Hannemann has partnered with the Hawaii Museums Association and the Hawaii Arts Alliance to promote October as Arts and Humanities Month in Honolulu.  During Arts and Humanities Month, Mayor Hannemann and these organizations encouraged residents to participate and celebrate the occasion by visiting a museum, art gallery, historic site, or cultural treasure in Honolulu.   United States Conference of Mayors      As mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, Mayor Mufi Hannemann championed numerous initiatives to transform Honolulu to an even greater city to live, work and raise families.  And as chairman of the United States Conference of Mayor's (USCM) standing committee on Tourism, Arts, Parks, Entertainment and Sports he has succeeded in making tourism and the arts part of the USCM's 10-Point Plan for America's cities.        During the 2008 presidential election, Mayor Hannemann, on behalf of the USCM lobbied candidates Barack Obama and John McCain to include tourism and the arts in their national platforms.  On behalf of the United States Conference of Mayors, Mayor Hannemann participated in ArtsVote New Hampshire in 2007 and 2008 to advocate for continued federal funding for the arts.         Mayor Hannemann also introduced the concepts of a Mayors' annual award to honor outstanding chefs and restaurateurs.  At the annual USCM winter meeting in January the first ever Mayors Culinary Cup will be presented by USCM in conjunction with the National Restaurant Association and The Culinary Institute of America.

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