It looks like Daniel Dae Kim of ABC LOST fame will be gainfully employed in television at least for a little while longer as CBS has confirmed that they are signing him to star in the remake of Hawaii Five -0. Lost has officially wrapped so now Kim is free to look for other roles. There was speculation a few weeks ago that the series wouldn’t even be filmed in Hawaii but all of that has been put to rest as location scouts arrived yesterday and filming is apparently going to begin in mid-March. Kim will be playing the role of Chin Ho Kelly which was originally played by Kam Fong.
Kim has set roots in and has become a full-time resident of Hawaii.He is part owner of the designer burger franchise "The Counter" in Kahala which ironically was the site of many of the Hawaii Five-0 episodes and home to a statue of Jack Lord only a few hundred yards away.
CBS says it expects the pilot to be delivered in April and to have a final decision in May with the premiere sometime in the fall. If the series is picked up picked up, production would go into full swing in the summer. It’s still uncertain who will be playing the role of McGarrett but rumors are circulating that Alex O’Loughlin is on the top of the list which makes sense since he’s been in several CBS productions most notably Moonlight, where he played private investigator and vampire Mick St. John.
Posted by Bruce Fisher follow me on twitter @alohabruce
Related posts:
Hawaii Five-0 coming back at you
Hawaii Five-0 Bust of Jack Lord
February 8th, 2010
If you’re planning a multi-island vacation chances are you’ve discovered that the only way to get around is by airplane. Unfortunately, we do not have a ferry or small ships that will take you from island to island. While you may want to get to your destination quickly, you may want to consider taking one of the smaller commuter airlines so you can see amazing views. There are a couple of commuter airlines that fly smaller planes which allow you to see Hawaii in ways that you can only do from the air. You can actually save some money because if you’re planning to do a helicopter ride or even take one of these small planes for sightseeing tour, the price can cost $200 or more.
A local commuter airline called Island Air has been doing these hops for many years. They operate 46 flights a day serving Oahu, Maui, Kona, Molokai and is the only carrier which serves the island of Lanai. The airline flies 37 seat Dash 8-100s and 8-200’s which are turboprop jet engine planes that are perfect for interisland travel and sighseeing at the same time and very reliable. The planes fly anywhere from 5000 to 12,000 feet in the air which give you great views of the islands and allow you to see valleys, coastlines, and even waterfalls. People have even reported seeing whales breach from these commuter planes.
A even smaller commuter airline called Pacific wings flies to select locations across the islands serving mostly smaller airports. They fly nine passenger Grand Caravan Cesna’s and since they’re going to remote locations Hana on Maui and Kalaupapa on Molokai the spectacular views you’ll experience are second to none. Remember these planes are really small so if you afraid of heights or have any issues with flying you may want to think twice before embarking on one of these interisland flights.
If you’re interested in taking one of these flights make sure you let your agent know and we can certainly put together a package that includes one of these smaller planes so you can have fun on your interisland hop. If you’re just on one island and you still want to take a flight for sightseeing purposes there are companies that offer trips from Oahu and Kauai.
The smaller planes sometimes cost more than the larger planes however, the experience might be one that you be sharing with your friends for a lifetime.
Posted by Bruce Fisher follow me on Twitter @alohabruce
February 8th, 2010
The Maui whale Festival began over the weekend on Feburary 6th with the Run for the Whales event; a 5 km run/walk and half Marathons on the southern coast of the island. The month-long festival is a series of whale themed events produced on Maui by the Pacific Whale Foundation every February. A lot of the events are free and open to the public which is a great thing to participate in if you’re visiting Maui on your Hawaii vacation. You can learn about these magnificent creatures and also enjoy opportunities to appreciate the music and culture of Hawaii.
The Maui Whale Festival which began in 1980 is one of the longest running events held on Maui. This year marks its 30th anniversary and will be bigger and better than ever. The festival celebrates and honors thousands of humpback whales which make a long trek to Maui from the northern borders off the coast of Alaska each year while here, the whales mate, give birth and care for their young.
Other upcoming events include an inaugural Keiki ECO-day conference in February 19 which is designed to promote positive interaction between children and the environment and to promote real action on the part of kids. Later in the evening there’ll be a sustainable dinner and comedy show called laugh @ da Park starring local celebrity and award-winning comedian Augie T. For more information and reservations call 808-249-8811 ext.1. On Sunday, February 21 you can embark on a very special whale watch lead by the Pacific whale foundation president and founder Greg Kaufman. You’ll had out to see on the double deck catamaran perfect for whale watching. Early reservations are encouraged in its $49 for adults and $34 for children call 1-800-942-5311 ext. 1 for reservations.
There’s a lot more going on this year so please contact the Pacific Whale Foundation to get more information and make whale watching part of your Hawaii vacation. www.pacificwhale.org.
Posted by: Bruce Fisher follow me @alohabruce
February 7th, 2010
Well, the totals are in and last year 6.5 million visitors arrived into via air and cruises to Hawaii which was actually off 4.5% over 2008. When you break it down to dollars the Hawaii Tourism Authority said the total spending by air visitors was $9.9 billion last year which was a drop of 11.7% as compared with 2008. The total visitor days for folks arriving to the islands decreased 4.3% from last year but interestingly the length of stay 9.4 days is the pretty much the same as it was in 2008.
From the perspective of our agency (HAWAII-ALOHA.COM) we didn’t see as much of a decline in business as other companies selling Hawaii in 2009. We did well in the markets we always do well in which includes California and especially Texas. Some of our agents here had the best years ever, but there was no question that the global recession and things like the H1N1 epidemic took its toll and wreaked havoc among the airlines and the hotels. This was good news for our customers in many ways because they were able to get more bang for their buck. Many of the four and five star properties were playing in the price point sandbox of the more budget hotels.
I think we’re seeing a turnaround in the conditions we saw for pretty much the duration of 2009. In December we saw a big spike in traffic to our website and as a result more bookings. At this point we’re booking almost at 2008 levels. With more airlift promised and prices holding out, I think we are certainly turning the corner and coming out of the tourism slump Hawaii has been in the last 12 months. The numbers were seeing from HTA seems to qualify this because total visitor arrivals rose 24% in December as compared to the same period in 2008. Additionally, visitor spending increased .5% and total visitor expenditures were 955.2 million with an average daily spending of 163 per person which is just off four dollars from the same month one year earlier.
Even with all of this "stabilization" we still see the hotels and airlines being very aggressive in their campaigning for new customers. We continue to see new specials almost every day and I think the last year has forced suppliers to be more creative in their approach which I think still bodes well for the consumer. If you’re thinking of booking your Hawaii vacation now’s the time to do it in my opinion because we don’t know how long these great prices will continue to hold out as the market is obviously recovering.
Posted by: Bruce Fisher Follow me on Twitter @alohabruce
February 7th, 2010
One of the great things about visiting Hawaii is all of the free events and festivals that take place throughout the year. While we can’t list all of them here in this post these are some that we think are really worth checking out. Please keep coming back for more geat ideas for your Hawaii Vacation
On Maui
March 13: 13th Lima Wela. Guests can enjoy the sounds of Lima Wela, or “Hot Hands,” a musical trio of Willie K, Joe Cano and Avi Ronen. Arguably Maui’s fastest guitar trio, they bring together a confluence of sounds such as Latin, Hawaiian, jazz, rock and rhythm n’ blues. McCoy Studio Theater, in the Maui Arts and Cultural Center. Kahului.
March 13-14: Ocean Arts Festival. Visitors can join in on a celebration of the migration of the Pacific Humpback whales at the Ocean Arts Festival. They can also attend educational presentations, view marine-themed art for sale and treat the kids to art contests, whale photo displays and a Creature Feature touch pool. Lahaina.
March 27: Maui Start! Heart Walk & Health Fair. Clients can exercise for a good cause with a 1½- and three-mile non-competitive, invigorating walk around Keopuolani Park. Kahului.
On the Big Island
March 4-25: Sweet Bread Baking at the Traditional Portuguese Oven. Do your clients have a sweet tooth for sweet bread? Here, guests learn the history of how this Portuguese creation was introduced to Hawaii. They will also learn how to bake bread the traditional way in a reproduction of a Portuguese oven. Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Kealakekua.
March 1-29: Nature Walk. Visitors explore one of Hawaii’s rainforests at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Learn everything from the working of the forest ecosystem to the way the indigenous Hawaiians incorporated the rainforests into their culture. Niaulani.
March 13: Kona Brewers Festival. The 15th annual Kona Brewers Festival provides a chance to enjoy Hawaiian beer and participate in other events, such as a Brewers Pa’ina (dinner), a golf tournament and the Run for Hops. Kailua-Kona.
On Kauai
March 28: Kauai All-Girls Rodeo. Come see some of the toughest athletes Hawaii has to offer during the All-Girls Rodeo in Kauai. The local cowgirls will undoubtedly earn clients’ respect and admiration with their speed riding and roping, as well as their dedication to their community. CJM Country Stables. Admission is free. Koloa.
March 26-27: 2010 Kauai Orchid and Art Festival. The Spring Fantasy orchid show at the Kauai Orchid and Art Festival is a showcase for amazing flower arrangements. At this major attraction, there will also be concerts featuring contemporary Hawaiian music and craft and food sales. Hanapepe.
On Oahu
March 13-14. The 16th Annual Honolulu Festival. This celebration of epic proportions highlights the people and diversity of the Pacific and Asia through a showcase of art and culture. Expect to see more than 5,000 participants and visitors at the festival, which is one of the biggest cultural events in Hawaii. The culmination of the festival is a Grand Parade through Waikiki. Honolulu.
March 18-20: Heiva I Honolulu. This dance exhibition featuring the dances of Tahiti and French Polynesia is infused with the rapid-fire drumming characteristic of these South Pacific cultures. Honolulu.
March 27-April 11: Hawaii’s Woodshow 2010. This is a unique opportunity to witness some of Hawaii’s best craftsmen working on a variety of indigenous wood. Exhibits will include furniture, art, musical instruments, bowls and more. Academy Art Center, Honolulu Academy of Arts. Honolulu.
February 7th, 2010
One of the common questions I get after booking a Hawaii vacation package is; "How do I get the seat I want on the airplane?". Contrary to what many people think, seats can be assigned up until 24 hours before travel. Of course this depends on how many actual seats are still available. For example, if the plane is full obviously it will be difficult to get an assigned seat prior to getting to the airport.
In general, it’s best to book in advance to get the seats you want. Seats become available on an airplane usually 330 days before the flight with the exception of Delta and Northwest who make their seats available approximately 200 days in advance. Each individual airline has their own rules about assigning seats but there are some things that you can do to ensure that you get the seats that you’re looking for on the plane. When we book airline tickets we automatically generate a seat assignment. We’ll try to get a seat that is closest to the front and if it’s two people we get window and aisle by themselves. We do this to get the seats put on the record as soon as possible so that if needed, we can change the seats as they become available if the seats that are assigned are not what our customers want.
One of the great things about flying to Hawaii is that for the transpacific part of your flight the airlines are using larger planes such as the 767 and the 777’s which have over 250 seats. So unless you are booking last-minute there’s a very good likelihood that you would get the actual pre-assigned seat you want. Even with plentiful availability there are times when a preassigned seat is just not possible which happens more these days because airlines try to fill the planes to capacity. When this happens there’s really no need to panic or get upset. It also doesn’t mean that you won’t have a seat on the plane. When the airplane gets to a certain capacity, usually in the neighborhood of 80% to 90% preassigned seats, the airline begins to withhold seats from normal pre-assignment. This is mostly to give them some flexibility at the airport so that when folks want to be seated the gate agents can accommodate them.
Sometimes no matter how much we assure a customer that we will get a seat assignment for them they still feel uncomfortable having us (the travel agency) assign seats for them. That’s really not a problem at all because once we create your booking you are free to try and get seats on your own either through their website or by calling them. When doing so, please make sure that you give them your record locator number, also referred to as a "PNR" is a number recognized uniformly to all airlines and is usually different than the booking number we assign you for our internal records. Doing your own seat assignment can be especially important if you have someone who has special needs or who was very tall. For example you may want an exit row which can only be assigned 24 hours before the plane leaves. Many airlines today and allow for this to be done online as long as you sign a waiver explaining that you will assist in the emergency.
There are times when you get onto an airplane and you’re just not happy with your seat for whatever reason and you see some seats open on the plane. When that happens, it’s time to play musical chairs. Watch very closely and as soon as the door closes then move to the seat you see available. Don’t do this before the door closes because you might get one of the flight attendants a little annoyed. As a rule of thumb you’ll find more empty seats towards the back of the plane.
Hopefully this helps you understand some of the issues that arise regarding seat assignment. Please make sure you check with your agent to discuss seating at the time of booking and for the most part you’ll get the seat you want.
Posted by: Bruce Fisher follow Bruce on Twitter
February 6th, 2010
People who live in Hawaii are freezing. We are in the midst of a cold snap that has sent temperatures plunging to below 70 degrees overnight - nearly 65 degrees! It is so cold that people are wearing long sleeves and …. SOCKS!
I am serious. The trending topic in my Twitter/Facebook streams today was the need to wear socks. It is an indicator of winter weather here, much like a down jacket on the mainland. My sister is bracing for yet another ice storm in Kansas, my brother has moved mountains of snow in Colorado but in Hawaii, I am considering wearing socks!
This is really an issue. My entire shoe wardrobe is three sets of slippers (flip flops), one pair of hiking boots and some sneakers I bought to wear to the gym but never do. So, I don’t really have anything to wear my one pair of socks WITH except hiking boots or gym shoes. Neither of them is as comfortable as my slippers. I really need to get some of those socks from Japan that look like foot-mittens (big toe divided from the rest of the toes like the thumb/fingers divide in mittens). That would let me wrap my frosty toes in sockly warmth and still wear slippers.
Actually, I feel the chill in the air but sweaters have been a little too warm and my bare feet are fine. However, it truly does not take long to adjust to the minor changes in temperature on the islands. "Cold" weather is 70 degrees or below, "hot" weather is 80 degrees or above. Many, many days stay right in the 70-80 degree range. Back in Colorado, the temperature would fluctuate by ten degrees in the time it took to consume a bagel. So even though the temperature isn’t as cold as it is in Colorado, if you plan on taking a Hawaii vacation anytime soon, pack socks just in case.
Posted by Cindy Scheopner Follow me on Twitter @Scheopner
February 4th, 2010
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to visit the Trump Waikiki and for the most part the property lives up to its luxurious name. This is the first ultra-modern luxury property built on Oahu in many years. It reaches 38 stories in the air, has 462 beautifully appointed guest rooms and is just a block from Waikiki Beach. The property has all of the amenities you would expect from a Trump including their Attache concierge service which gives guests individual attention; providing everything from personal shoppers to specialized activity itineraries. The hotel has some fine dining restaurants and room service 24/7.
The guest rooms are all exquisitely furnished and modern with lots of wood tones & Hawaiian influences. Most of suites that are available at this point are the studios which are nice size, have a large bed, huge marble bathroom with his and her sinks & a soaking tub, as well as a full galley type kitchen. There also two and three-bedroom suites and a spectacular three-bedroom multilevel suite which overlooks the ocean, higher floors.
While there’s no question that this is a property that most anybody will be happy with, there are a few things worth mentioning that you need to be aware of if you’re staying here. First off it’s not really on the beach, but if you do get a oceanview they did a good job architecturally of making sure that you actually see the ocean. Since the property is situated across from Fort Derussy Park, partial and city views are still magnificent. There is a nice infinity pool on the property however, it is quite small and there’s really not much of the views since the pool deck is on the eighth floor which overlooks other buildings.
Currently we’re seeing some good pricing for this property starting at about 285 per night so you may want to check it out if you’re looking for this kind of luxury and want to take your Hawaii vacation to the next level.
Posted by: Bruce Fisher
Twitter: @AlohaBruce
February 4th, 2010
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LOST fans and stars shared their love of the show at this weekend’s Hawaii premiere. Fans waited for hours on the beach for the sneak peek. When the time came for the red carpet arrivals, stars returned the favor. They waved, smiled, signed autographs and posed for innumerable photos. I was with the fans at the fence near where limos dropped off the stars — not inside with press access but right amid the fans. I’ve posted photos below that I took with a simple point and shoot camera, I’m sure everyone near me has similar souvenires.
Honestly, I am not a real fan of the show. I have seen it, but right now I don’t really follow any TV series very regularly, especially not one that requires me to keep up. But I am a true fan of these stars. They were so gracious, it is hard to imagine what more they could have done. It was truly an evening of aloha!
Posted by Cindy Scheopner. Follow me on Twitter: @Scheopner
February 2nd, 2010
It really can be hard to believe that one man has touched so much history in his life, but Uncle Bill Tapia has been at the right place at some of the most interesting times.
I met Uncle Bill last year when he was in Honolulu for the Ukulele Festival in Kapi‘olani Park. Although we’d never met before, his story was familiar to me because, as a writer for Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle, I wrote an official birthday message to celebrate Uncle Bill’s 100th birthday that was presented to him in concert.
Unfortunately though, my boss read the message and declared I had completely screwed up. He said there was no way Uncle Bill could’ve played his ukulele as a 10-year-old on the streets of Honolulu to welcome troops returning from the First World War. My boss said that there was no way Uncle Bill could’ve possibly played at the grand opening of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in 1927.
In the end, unbeknownst to me, he rewrote much of the document, saying Uncle Bill played for troops at the Royal Hawaiian upon their return from that “other war” that ended in 1945 or something crazy. It was finalized, signed and sent before I had a chance to protest. Upon later discovering this mess, I was mortified and left with no way to fix the problem. I was deemed a crappy researcher, when the reality is that Uncle Bill has lived the most extraordinary life. Often credited as the first musician to play jazz on the ukulele, UncleBill has performed with likes of Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, Elvis Presley and along with Hawaiian musicians including King Bennie Nawahi, Sol Ho‘opi‘i and Andy Iona.You can learn more about Uncle Bill at www.myspace.com/billtapiahawaii
Fast forward to last year and I find myself at the grand reopening of the Monarch Room at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, listening to the beautiful music of Makana when he introduces Uncle Bill Tapia, who is sitting just two tables away from us. At the end of the show, we get to chatting with his friends and soon find ourselves sitting at Duc’s Bistro in Chinatown, listening to Uncle Bill performing songs on his ukulele just for us. I wanted to apologize to him for the Governor snafu, but he’s such a sweetie, the story was lost in the beauty of the night.
That’s the spirit you can experience firsthand at the upcoming Ukulele Legends in Concert at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 10, at the Waterfront at Aloha Tower Marketplace. The concert will feature ukulele playing by the 102-year-old Uncle Bill Tapia, 82-year-old Eddie Kamae and 75-year-old Herb “Ohta-san” Ohta. A fundraiser for the Ukulele Foundation of Hawaii, the concert kicks off a four day celebration culminating with the Ukulele Picnic at Kaka‘ako Waterfront Park.
Tickets are available by contacting the Honolulu Box Office at 550-TIKS (8457)or online at http://honoluluboxoffice.com. Seating options include a VIP section in front of the stage, along with a bento for $65 or general admission seating for $30. In addition, a full bar selling food and drink will be available.
By Laurie Cicotello
Kahuna Matata Media
follow Laurie on Twitter
February 1st, 2010
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