Kauai film industry vet
assumes his old position

Kauai County officials have appointed Art Umezu as the island's film commissioner.

Art Umezu: The new film commissioner held the job once before in the late 1980s

Umezu has been working at the post on an interim basis since August. He replaces Tiffani Lizama, who resigned in July.

Umezu, 53, was executive assistant to former Kauai Mayor Tony Kunimura and also served as the county's film commissioner in Kunimura's administration from 1986 to 1988.

During his film commissioner tenure, two Hollywood movies were filmed on Kauai: "Throw Mama from the Train," starring Danny DeVito, and "Island of the Alive" with Michael Moriarty.

Umezu also worked with Kauai singer Glenn Medeiros for the filming of the music video for his hit song "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You," shot in 1988.

Umezu helped bring the Hawaii International Film Festival to Kauai in 1986. He served for nine years as the Hawaii liaison for the late Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune and his family. In the mid-1980s, Umezu was the entertainment editor and photographer at the Garden Island newspaper.

Umezu, as a music executive, has recorded many Hawaii artists, including Stacie Taniguchi, Nick Castillo, Maila Gibson, Robbie Kaholokula, Lady Ipo Kahaunaele, Abra Cummings, Mandy Thronas, Kaawa Solomon, Leahi and New Generation.

A Kauai resident since 1975, Umezu was born and raised in Tokyo and now lives in Wailua.