Everytime Kelly and I watch Mark Kanemura perform on So You Think You Can Dance, she asks me the same question over and over: “Doesn’t Mark look like a combination of my cousins John and Bryan?” I’ve got to say she has a pretty strong case. What do you think?
Mark Kanemura
John and Bryan Watai.
Okay, so maybe it’s a stretch. But from some angles, we swear they could all be related.
As the Kam family anxiously awaits the premier of Big Brother 10 tonight on CBS, it’s apparent that plenty has already taken place in the BB household according to various blogs like Big Brother Blog and Big Brother Addicts. Living in Hawaii, we’re used to being “spoiled” because of the time difference, so we need to be careful what we search for out there, although it’s still fun watching the show even if the outcome is known.
In looking at the cast of characters this year, it’s an interesting mix as always and should make for interesting TV. I’m tapping my psychic powers and picking 29-year-old Angie (pictured to the right) to win it all, not just because she’s easy on the eyes, but because she’s Korean like me and was the Guinness-chugging champion for women at Irish Kevin’s bar in Key West (according to her bio on the CBS BB site).
If anyone wants to challenge my prediction, I’m always up for a little friendly wager competition. With that, let the backstabbing, backdooring, confrontations, and alliance forming begin!
Need I say more? A whole new season of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations begins airing on the Travel Channel tonight at 10 p.m. EST (7 p.m. HST) as he visits Laos. I’m been a huge Bourdain fan before, during, and after his visit to the islands last year. I still get chicken skin thinking about his Hawaii show. Great episode.
Fellow Bourdainians can watch all of last season’s episodes on the Travel Channel today. Can you say No Reservations marathon?
And is it just me or does Oceanic Cable here in Hawaii need to get on the Travel Channel HD bandwagon? I feel like I’m getting “jipped” everytime I have go down the dial (channel 325) to watch all my favorite shows. Can you imagine watching Andrew Zimmern eating bugs and whatever he eats in HD? Awesome!
If you agree, please join me in contacting Oceanic Cable with your “demand” via its online Help Desk or by calling 808-643-2100 and let’s get Travel Channel HD to our TV sets in Hawaii soon!
I’m going to be honest that I haven’t really been following Big Break Kaanapali very closely this season. From some of the various comments left on the blogs, it sounds like things have gotten pretty heated on the golf course which was expected. I’ll have to wait for the marathon to air on The Golf Channel.
The final showdown between Kim Welch (pictured above) and Sophie Sandolo is coming up this Tuesday and the winner will be playing some serious golf on the LPGA Tour.
For what it’s worth, at the beginning of the season I made a freak prediction that Kim would win it all and I’m 18 holes away from finding out if I’m psychic. I’m setting my DVR right now.
Ralph Pagano works the Legends of the Pacific luau a the Hilton Waikoloa Village. The food and entertainment is fantastic!
The last two days on Hawaii’s Big Island have been great. We’ve had great weather and Ralph has been working his a$$ off to make enough money for his plane ticket home. As fans of Pressure Cook know, if he fails to do that, there is a penalty. Want to know what that is? Click here. Can you figure out what it is? I’d be a fool to giveaway the ending, so you’ll have to watch the Hawaiiepisode in December to find out what happens.
But what I will say is more and more people each day have been recognizing Ralph and the guy’s got quite a following. And it’s really no surprise why after watching him in action. He’s passionate about food, genuinely interested in the places he visits, and goes out of his way to make everyone he encounters feel comfortable. For a high-profile celebrity, Ralph is really down to Earth.
So enough of the sappy “man-crush” kind of talk. Let’s recap what he did the remainder of his time in Hawaii. I’ll let the following pictures do the talking.
Mike and Leslie of Wailea Agricultural Group in Honomu put Ralph to work harvesting delicious hearts of palm. This stuff has quickly become one of my favorite vegetables.
Wasting no time after the harvest, Ralph headed to the new Sansei Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Bar in the Queen’s Marketplace at Waikoloa with the fresh palm hearts and went to work. The “Ralph Special” that night was a wonderful seared ahi with hearts of palm salad and a little poke on the side. This dish was “broke da mouth.” Sansei Chef/Owner DK Kodama flew in special for the evening. And “just so happen,” my mom (Rhonda) and dad (Gary) stopped by for dinner and a photo with Ralph. BTW, everything at Sansei is ono…really can’t go wrong.
For the grand finale, Ralph was introduced to the famous Hawaiian luau. He helped get the pig in and out of the imu, prepared a couple of dishes for the night, and worked the crowd. Hilton Waikoloa Village Executive Chef Kenny Omiya was impressed with the end product and so were the guests.
So mission accomplished, right? You’ll have to wait and see.
I found out yesterday that this is Ralph Pagano’s first time to Hawaii, so he’s been enjoying every experience and challenge he’s encountered. The past two day’s of Pressure Cook filming have been intense and it’s been interesting to see how one of my favorite shows on TV is made. Here’s a few photos to give you a “sneak peek” of what’s been going on. Just an “appetizer” if you will!
Day two, Ralph prepares breakfast for a bikini shoot at the Outrigger Reef on the Beach. Photographer Dave Miyamoto and the models of Pualani Hawaiiswimwear reap the rewards of a delicious breakfast after a long morning of work.
Ralph finds a true slice of Hawaii paradise in Kaaawa Valley at Kualoa Ranch.
Along the way, Ralph runs into some locals who just returned from a tako tournament. What an amazing scene to see all the squid hanging in the the garage.
The production crew from MOJO network’s Pressure Cook with Ralph Pagano arrived yesterday on Oahu and I have the privilege of working with them this week on the filming of the Hawaii episode. It’s been a long time coming and it was good to finally meet show producers Sandy Green, Brian Reichelt, and Sunny Antrim of Helicon Media in person after many telephone conversations and e-mail exchanges over the past few months.
I’ll be blogging about the production along the way, so fans of the show, stay tuned for a little “behind the scenes” coverage. In case you’re wondering, Ralph (also of Hell’s Kitchen season one fame) is one of the nicest guys (celebrities) I’ve ever met.
And if you want to watch the show online, visit Hulu.com where you’ll find all the episodes of season one.
Working in public relations and representing a client whose mission it is to get TV shows to Hawaii, it’s critically important to keep up to speed on the shows making headlines. But factor in a long work day, 10.5 month old baby boy, and husband duties, even our DVR can’t keep pace.
So thank goodness for sites like Hulu.com which makes watching TV’s most popular shows on the Internet at your leisure a cinch! And did I mention that it’s all FREE! A couple of my favorites these days are Three Sheets with Zane Lamprey and Saturday Night Live. BTW, they’ve got full-length movies on there too! According to Hulu’s website:
Hulu’s ambitious and never-ending mission is to help you find and enjoy the world’s premium content when, where and how you want it. We hope to provide you with the web’s most comprehensive selection from more than 50 content providers including FOX, NBC, MGM, Sony Pictures Television, Warner Bros., Lionsgate, and more to deliver premium programming across all genres and formats, television shows, feature films, and clips. Watch full-length episodes of current primetime TV shows such as The Simpsons and The Office the morning after they air, classics like Miami Vice and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and clips from Saturday Night Live, In Living Color, and others. Hulu also offers full-length feature films like The Usual Suspects, Ice Age, Sideways, and The Big Lebowski as well as clips from films such as Napoleon Dynamite, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Devil Wears Prada and many more. Hulu is free and ad-supported — available anytime in the U.S.
If you don’t believe me, give it a try. But don’t blame me if you can’t break away from your computer and happen to become a TV junkie…or media junkie as I like to call myself.
It’s a wrap! Eric the Sound Guy, me, Zane, Shay (Ocean Vodka), Garrett (Maui Brewing Co.), and Curtiss the Cameraman below.
After finishing up on Oahu, the Three Sheets crew moved to Maui on Sunday. Again, I’m not going to disclose too much (you’ll need to watch Three Sheets Hawaii in January on MOJO HD) but since you’ve been asking, here’s a little recap of our recent shoot on the island.
Zane at the Ocean Vodka facility in Kahului. This stuff is awesome!
The show wouldn’t have been complete without a visit to Ocean Vodka and its “unmarked” distillery in Kahului. Zane had a bast getting to know the family that makes this unbelievably delicious handcrafted spirit and also getting hands on working in the factory. By the way, there was a “Three Sheets First” that occurred during this visit, so you’ll have to watch the show. Let’s just say it involves the number 1-9-2. Any guesses what this means?
Zane also visited a new bar in Lahaina called the Mai Tai Lounge on Front Street. Sorry, no photos of this one as I was responsible for taking care of Curtiss the Cameraman’s light on the floor below all the action.
Yesterday, we shot the open of the show which included a little spoof on the whole Magnum P.I. thing! This open alone will be worth tuning into the show.
Then Zane was invited to a backyard paina to drink it up local style. The segment will speak for itself when you see it, so I’ll keep you hanging there. The folks from Ocean Vodka were in attendance, along with Garrett Marrero of Maui Brewing Company. I became a big fan of their Coconut Porter during a visit to Maui with the family a month or so ago. Garrett and Zane broke it all down and tasted a few of the brewery’s offerings. Ocean Vodka cocktails were also abundant and a good time was had by all. George Kahumoku Jr. also showed up and played some Hawaiian music, while girls from the Old Lahaina Luau showed Zane how to hula.
Garrett from Maui Brewing Company with Zane and guests.
Everyone yelling “Three Sheets Hawaii” for the camera. Curtiss the Cameraman and Eric the Sound Guy with the lovely girls from Old Lahaina Luau. Zane with Grammy Award-winning entertainer George Kahumoku, Jr.
Zane with Shay and Garrett. Producer Christina with the guys. Zane being entertained.
The production winds down over the next couple days with more fun stuff on the schedule. Stay tuned for more vague updates. Once production wraps I’ll get into more detail as we head towards January’s airing of the Hawaii episode.
As a fan of the drinking show Three Sheets with Zane Lamprey on MOJO HD (Oceanic Channel 1561), it was amazing to finally meet the man himself on Oahu the other day at Duke’s Canoe Club (Outrigger Waikiki). You never know what these celebrity encounters will be like, but Zane is as cool as they come and the guy is funny as hell!
Don’t have HD cable? No problem. You can still watch the show online at MOJOHD.com or Hulu.com.
I’ve been working with Zane’s production team (Christina, Curtiss, and Eric you guys are awesome!) to get the show to Hawaii since the beginning of the year and all the hard work has finally come to fruition. A little PR project for my client the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau to showcase a little different side of what Hawaii is all about.
Shooting a scene with Zane on the beach in Waikiki. Those familiar with the show, that’s Curtiss the Cameraman and Eric the Sound Guy to the right.
I’m not going to give away anything about the show, but I can assure you the stuff we’ve been filming the past two days on Oahu have been great. Things even the locals here probably didn’t know about.
We’re off to Maui today for more fun and exploration of Hawaii’s drinking culture. I’ll try to post more tidbits along the way. Oh, and by the way, Pleepleus the monkey made the trip too!
FORE! The Golf Channel’s Big Break Kaanapali (ladies edition) begins its new season tonight at 4 p.m. HST (with repeats at 6 and 9 p.m.). Beautiful Kaanapali Beach Resort will be in the spotlight for the next 12 weeks and from the looks of the preview below, the show is sure to include some drama on and off the golf course.
My prediction to win it all? Kim Welch. Don’t ask me why. I just a hunch. Who do you think will take the top prize?
One of the things I love about living in Hawaii is the golf! We’ve got more than 80 courses to choose from on Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and Hawaii Island and with warm weather year-round, Mother Nature rarely gets in the way of a round of golf in the islands no matter what season it is.
As a “golf-a-holic,” I love watching golf on television as well. Which is why I’m excited for Big Break Kaanapali (BBK) to start on theGolf Channel in April. I haven’t been following the show that closely as of late, but with the ladies returning to battle it out at Kaanapali Golf Resort on Maui, I have a feeling this is going to be “must see TV.” Kaanapali Resort General Manager Ed Kageyama sent me a sneak peek of the BBK trailer and this season certainly looks like it’s going to include some drama - both on and off the golf course. Click here to watch the trailer yourself.
For a “behind-the-scenes” look at what happened on Maui, visit the Kaanapali Golf Resort’s special page dedicated to the show. I’m was bummed that Stephanie Sparks, who I’ve gotten to know pretty well over the years working with her on HVCB Aloha Season projects, wasn’t part of the show. But life goes on.
And last but not least, from one golfer to another, here’s a couple of great Hawaii golf course resources to help you plan your next tee time:
Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau’s Golf Guide
Anthony Bourdain came to Hawaii. He saw. He conquered. And in the end, he loved every minute of his time in the Hawaiian Islands! YES!
So why were all of the locals (including yours truly) holding our collective breath as the Hawaii episode of No Reservations aired on the Travel Channel last night? Well, because it’s Bourdain we’re talking about here. No one could have guessed whether a dash of Spam Musubi and good ‘ol dousing of Aloha Spirit would be enough to win the heart of this “tell it like it is” chef. But it did, as well as many other experiences the bad boy chef had while he was in Hawaii.
A $3,000 aloha shirt from Bailey’s, out of this world Puka Dog in Waikiki, delicious grinds at Ono Hawaiian Food, hanging out with the island’s top chefs at Side Street Inn, a visit to the famous North Shore of Oahu, all the SPAM he could eat at New Uptown Fountain, a typical local backyard BBQ, exploration into tiki drinks at La Mariana, and visit to volcano on Hawaii Island was the perfect recipe to prove to Bourdain that Hawaii is much more than sun, sand, and surf. Surprisingly, he even managed to enjoy himself at the Paradise Cove Luau.
The show was a fantastic showcase and representation of the way Hawaii people live and eat in its truest sense. Bourdain dove right in to the local lifestyle enjoyed here in the islands and opened his mind and heart to everything the encountered. The result was a new appreciation for a place he doubted before, but grew to love in one short week. Funny how Hawaii does that to people sometimes.
To all involved in this endeavor to welcome Bourdain to Hawaii…much mahalo! Mr. Bourdain, we enjoyed your presence here in the 50th state, are totally stoked you enjoyed what you saw/ate, and hope you come back to visit again soon!
For the low down and further insights into the production, be sure to visit my colleague Michael Ni’s blog.
UPDATE: The ‘No Reservations’ homepage just posted a Hawaii guide which outlines Bourdain’s travels throughout Hawaii. A couple things missing are New Uptown Fountain where he filmed the SPAM segment with David Choo and the backyard paina (party) in Kalihi with radio personalities Lanai and Kaleo. Bourdain also flew Hawaiian Airlines to get to Hawaii.
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Today is the day I’ve been waiting for (I think) since last December when Anthony Bourdain came to Hawaii to tape an episode of No Reservations. The one-hour Hawaii show airs tonight (8 p.m. HST) on the Travel Channel and the world will find out exactly what Bourdain thinks about the Hawaiian Islands, our culture, people, and cuisine.
Was bringing the show to Hawaii a brilliant idea to share a unique side of paradise with travelers across the mainland? Or was this an initiative for our client - the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau - that we’ll all want to forget about soon?
The moment of truth will be delivered in a few hours.
I’ll be anxiously watching with my team and colleagues at Side Street Inn tonight. For the record, I’m sticking with my positive outlook that Bourdain will love Hawaii. And not like the outcome of the show can change at this point, but just for fun I visited Bourdain’s MySpace page this weekend to request his friendship (which he accepted). I’m taking this as a good sign of things to come.
