Senior Advisor - Communications

"With a background in sports marketing, Lenny Klompus earns raves
for packaging Governor Lingle’s message so well."
MidWeek, January 18, 2006

As a senior advisor to Governor Lingle, Klompus is responsible for ensuring that the Administration’s messages are effectively communicated to the people of Hawai`i, as well as to key national and international officials. In this capacity, Klompus oversees the Governor’s and Lt. Governor’s media relations efforts, as well as marketing through Web-based communications, public service announcements, print and video information materials, events and all other external communications. He also works closely with directors and public information officers from state departments and agencies to ensure that lines of communication with the public remain open and are inclusive.

Prior to joining the Administration, Klompus promoted professional and amateur sports events for 30 years. A sports pioneer in many respects, Klompus produced games for cable television before ESPN was in existence. In the late 1970s he was the first person to broadcast a basketball game live from Japan. He also initiated the first football doubleheader when he produced the Aloha and O`ahu Bowls. From the 1970s to the early 1980s Klompus owned and operated MetroSports, a marketing firm that represented clients such as the Baltimore Orioles, Washington Redskins, University of Notre Dame football and basketball, PAC-10 basketball and University of Maryland football and basketball.

Klompus was instrumental in getting the Aloha Bowl certified in 1981 for its first game in 1982, and was involved in game operations in various capacities for 19 years with his wife Marcia. Through Aloha Bowl Charities, Klompus is credited with reviving the Aloha State Games in 1993 after being asked to handle the event by the state Department of Business and Economic Development. This Olympic-style sports festival featured thousands of amateur athletes competing in events from archery to yachting. In 1997, through his Bowl Games of Hawai`i organization, he moved the Hula Bowl from O`ahu to Maui, where he met and worked with then-Mayor Linda Lingle in a public-private partnership.

The Klompus’ sold the Aloha Bowl/O`ahu Bowl in 1999. Two years later he sold the Hula Bowl after being asked to join the public sector and support Governor Lingle’s efforts to bring about her “New Beginning.” Klompus received a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Maryland.