Episode 34: More workforce housing and a new MOCA executive director

This week, Mayor Rick Blangiardi joins host Brandi Higa on the One O’ahu Podcast to talk about his message to the public ahead of Fire Prevention Week in the City and County of Honolulu, increasing housing for the spectrum of need in Honolulu, and the new executive director for the Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts.

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Fire Prevention Week

Mayor Rick Blangiardi requested Honolulu Hale be lit in the color red from sundown on Sunday, October 8 through sunrise on Saturday, October 14 to observe Fire Prevention Week. The City and County of Honolulu observes Fire Prevention Week each year, along with the nation, during the week of October 9th in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire that occurred on October 8, 1871, and killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 individuals homeless, and destroyed more than 17,400 structures.

“Our message is government can’t do it all alone,” explained Mayor Blangiardi when asked about his message to the public this Fire Prevention Week. He went on to say, “against natural disasters right now, if you are in or around areas that you have some control over and can help mitigate fires, please do.”

This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention,” aims to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and their ‘ohana safe when cooking.

Adequate housing for the spectrum of need in Honolulu

Mayor Blangiardi recently delivered remarks at the local observation of UN World Habitat Day. On this week's episode of the One O'ahu Podcast, he explains this year’s theme: “Adequate housing for the spectrum of need in Honolulu.”

“It’s recognizing that across our workforce, in wanting to keep people here in Hawai‘i, that we have people earning at all different levels and different capabilities of paying,” explained Mayor Blangiardi. “So it’s not just about building it on the lower end for people who are maybe working a minimum wage job and providing housing for them, but it’s also going up the ladder on the other side for young working professionals… and making sure there’s reasonable places for them to live as well.”

MOCA’s new Executive Director
Mayor Rick Blangiardi on October 3, 2023 announced the appointment of Ka‘ili Trask O’Connell, a respected leader, marketer, and strategic planner, to be the new Executive Director for the Mayor’s Office of Culture and Arts (MOCA). Mayor Blangiardi discuses what stood out about Trask O’Connell and his expectations for this office moving forward.

As the head of the Mayor’s Office of Culture and Arts, Trask O’Connell will play a vital role in advancing and preserving O‘ahu’s vibrant cultural landscape. The MOCA Executive Director reports directly to the City’s Managing Director, Mike Formby, and works closely with the Mayor, community stakeholders, and arts and cultural organizations to develop and implement policies, programs, and initiatives that support and promote arts and culture across Oʻahu.

For more on Trask O’Connell’s hiring, visit: https://www.honolulu.gov/cms-csd-menu/site-csd-sitearticles/1611-site-csd-news-2023-cat/55240-10-03-23-mayor-blangiardi-appoints-ka%E2%80%98ili-trask-o%E2%80%99connell-as-executive-director-for-the-mayor%E2%80%99s-office-of-culture-and-arts.html