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TheBuzz Erika Engle |
Living their dreams in
the islands and on televisionTHE Fine Living cable channel show "Hawaiian Castaways" aired again Sunday and spiked up business for some local companies. Most of the people profiled were malihini who came to the islands on vacation and wound up becoming kamaaina.
Each time it airs, the phone starts ringing and Web visits jump and sales are made.
"We've seen a definite impact, and with e-mail I guess we're seeing almost immediate impact," said photographic artist Kim Taylor Reece.
"My business manager couldn't get off the computer today."
There were book and calendar orders via the Web site, but aside from commerce, there was also great desire to learn more about Hawaii.
"We get letters that show a lot of interest in Hawaii and the culture of Hawaii, and I think it has a whole trickle-down effect. They want to come over and be on vacation in Hawaii," Reece said.
"The business is nice, but at the same time it's rewarding for us to be part of something that shares a whole cultural and ... emotional perspective of Hawaii. I think that was brought out in the program."
Former Miss Aloha Hula Natasha Oda also was featured in the show as one of the dancers Reece has photographed. "She is one of the most dramatic and dynamic dancers and one of the sweetest, most humble people," Reece said.
She is on the cover of his 2004, 25th anniversary calendar, which is nearly sold out. "The distributor doesn't have any more ... we wanted the calendar to last until January but it's already gone." It and other samples of Reece's work are free at www.kimtaylorreece.com.
In business, life and getting publicity, it's all about who you know or who knows you.
"I really should thank the Oahu Visitors Bureau for steering them in our direction," Reece said.
The question of who knew Michael "Mickey" Sussman also got him featured on "Hawaiian Castaways."
An executive with the production company had once featured Sussman in a segment of "Eye on L.A." more than a decade ago.
Sussman has lived on Kauai for 30 years, making custom guitars and violins.
A melange of musicians in different genres comprise Sussman's client list, from Lou Reed and Taj Mahal to legendary Hawaiian artists such as Ray Kane and the Brothers Cazimero. Sussman was thrilled that the show featured Shilo Pa, "an up-and-coming Kauai musician who is really composing some amazing music." Pa plays one of Sussman's koa guitars.
Prices for his custom guitars start at $3,800 but vary widely. Violins start at $12,000, according to his Web site at www.anaholastringedinstruments.com.
"That was a pretty good production. They spent a lot of time with the background stuff and they worked me big time. It was good, though because of the response I've been getting," Sussman said.
"It's an example of how the media can positively be used to educate and inform people, instead of deceive them."
"I don't mass produce and I don't have employees," Sussman added. But, "if I do get a lot of orders, I'm prepared to deal with that."
Others featured on the program included Warren Botanicals Inc. President Sharon Warren; the Naish Hawaii family of windsurfing, kitesurfing and regular surfing outfitters; French transplant Jean-Yves Kervarrec, former maitre d' at Halekulani's La Mer restaurant; and Orchid at Mauna Lani beachboy Gary Medina. Originally from Hawaii, the show featured Medina as a kamaaina who left to find fame and fortune on the mainland but realized his error after two years and came home.
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Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin. Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached at: eengle@starbulletin.com