Episode 28: Department of Enterprise Services
On this episode of the One O'ahu Podcast, new Department of Enterprise Services (DES) Director designate Dita Holifield joins host Brandi Higa to discuss her decision to join the City and County of Honolulu, the upcoming opportunities for DES to support the relief efforts for Maui fire victims in a very major way, and the research she did, prior to joining the City, to learn more about DES’ services and facilities.
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The Department of Enterprise Services (DES) oversees operations at a wide range of City recreational facilities, including the Neal S. Blaisdell Center, the Tom Moffatt Waikīkī Shell, the Honolulu Zoo, and six municipal golf courses. The department also coordinates all of the City’s concession contracts, including those in the pavilions along Kūhiō Beach in Waikīkī. DES is the only City department with an operating budget primarily funded by revenues generated from public events and activities held at Enterprise Services facilities.
Joining the City and County of Honolulu
Mayor Rick Blangiardi on July 20, 2023 announced the appointment of Dita Holifield (Simeona), a talented leader and innovative media executive with a proven record of success in sales, marketing and events management, as the new director designate of the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Enterprise Services.
“One of the reasons is because of the Mayor,” explained Dita Holifield on her reason to join the City. “Rick Blangiardi is my hero in media and to see him bring his new style and energy to the City. Who wouldn’t want to be on that team? So that was my number one reason.”
Holifield has spent the past nine years as general manager of the seven radio stations in Hawaiʻi owned and operated by Salem Media Group, including Country 97.5 Honolulu, Honolulu’s Decades 107.9, and 95.5 FM The Fish. Since 1997, she has also managed her own successful live events business and is the owner of The All-American Rodeo, the state’s largest rodeo show.
Help for Maui
Following the tragic fires on Maui, several groups have reached out to the Department of Enterprise Services to utilize City space for benefit concerts and fundraising events.
“We have had already a tremendous outpouring of people that want to jump in and raise money,” said Holifield. “So, we’re going to look at all the opportunities and do the best job we can to get those efforts and turn that into relief for the people of Maui.”
Stay connected with Mayor Rick Blangiardi on social media for updates (Facebook - Mayor Rick Blangiardi, Twitter - @MayorRickHNL, and Instagram - @MayorRickHNL) on upcoming fundraising events and other ways to help from O‘ahu.
Secret Shopping
On this episode of the One O‘ahu Podcast, Dita Holifield describes one of her priorities for the department, which is improving the customer experience at entertainment events at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center and the Tom Moffatt Waikīkī Shell.
“The one thing that I did when I thought I might be considered for this position, I decided to secret shop,” explained Holifield. “I went to Jo Koy and I was in the long lines whether it was to just park. I went to Bonnie Rait at the Concert Hall. I went to the Shell with the Symphony. I wanted to see what were the great things we were doing. But I also wanted to see how it felt to go through the process.”
For more on upcoming events, visit https://blaisdellcenter.com/events-calendar/
