The city is agreeing to co-sponsor this month’s Queen Lili‘uokalani Keiki Hula Competition, giving event organizer Kalihi-­Palama Culture and Arts Society a significant break on what it normally would pay for using the Neal S. Blaisdell Center Arena.

The move will allow organizers of the 43-year-old event to broadcast live on TV for the first time, said Trisha Kehaulani Watson­-Sproat, the society’s president.

This year’s Keiki Hula Competition takes place July 19-21.

The specifics of the arrangement have yet to be worked out. Last year the nonprofit paid $17,000 for rent and $11,000 for “variable costs” such as labor and cleanup services. The rent already has been paid, and the variable costs are typically calculated after the weekend, said city Enterprise Services Director Guy Kaulukukui.

“It’s about $28,000, so we’re looking at how we can equitably split that,” Kaulukukui said.

It’s a precedent-setting move for the city in one sense because no other party that uses Blaisdell Center has received any breaks. But city officials pointed out that the city picks up the tab for variable costs at the annual Thanksgiving dinner at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall through a similar co-sponsorship.

Watson-Sproat said it’s appropriate for the city to co-sponsor the hula festival. She pointed out that nearly 10,000 children have participated in the three-day event, which celebrates Native Hawaiian culture.

More than 7,000 people are expected to attend this year’s event to watch performances by 20 halau and more than 400 dancers, Watson­-Sproat said.

“I believe we’re in a unique position to work with the city and perpetuate a traditional cultural practice,” Watson-Sproat said. “I hope that if another Native Hawaiian group that has been practicing their culture for nearly four decades and came forward that they would receive similar support from the city.”

TWO COUNCIL resolutions pressing Mayor Kirk Caldwell to reach a sponsorship are on the agenda of today’s 10 a.m. Council meeting at Kapolei Hale, but they are moot at this point since Caldwell has told the competition’s officials and Council members that they’ve agreed to a waiver under a co-sponsorship arrangement.

Technically, only the mayor can decide to waive rental or fees at city venues.

Councilman Ernie Martin, who introduced the two resolutions, said it’s proper for the city to host events that perpetuate the Hawaiian culture.

“We should look for more opportunities in this regard and I am pleased that the mayor has agreed to a co-sponsorship of … the competition,” he said.

Hawaii County provides Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium in Hilo free to the Merrie Monarch Festival and its hula competition for its weeklong event each year, Martin said.

Councilman Ikaika Anderson also urged Caldwell to seek a partnership. “This is a marquee competition, and the Merrie Monarch is a marquee competition that showcases the host culture.”

Kaulukukui said he does not believe the sponsorship will lead to a slew of other hula competitions or nonprofits asking for breaks to use the Blaisdell or other city venues.

“I’d say it’s a singular event” due to its cultural significance and the number of years it’s been held, Kaulukukui said. “I don’t think there’ll be many other potential opportunities like this for us.”

Keiki Hula first started holding its competition at Aala Park, but it’s been held at the Blaisdell for as long as Watson-Sproat can remember.

Through last year Keiki Hula has been broadcast on a two-week delay. But a number of kumu felt it important for the event to be broadcast live, Watson-Sproat said. “For them the feeling was it would be in the best interests of the halau and the competition,” she said.

GOING TO a live broadcast costs Keiki Hula about $40,000 more, Watson-­Sproat said.

Not everyone is happy about giving Keiki Hula a special break.

Tasha Lopes submitted written testimony opposed to Martin’s resolutions, pointing out that Keiki Hula receives grants from both the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

“Having the fees waived just for the keiki to be live on television is not acceptable to me,” Lopes said in emailed testimony.

But others testified for city sponsorship, among them kumu hula Sonny Ching of Halau Na Mamo o Pu‘uanahulu, the Oahu Council of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs and the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement.