Daniel Dae Kim signs up for 'Five-0' remake

“;Lost”; star Daniel Dae Kim has signed on for CBS' remake of “;Hawaii Five-O,”; playing Detective Chin Ho Kelly, the role originated by Kam Fong.

A CBS representative confirmed that the pilot will be shot in Honolulu. Location scouts arrived yesterday and filming begins in mid-March. Though specifics were not released, CBS assured, “;We will go out of our way to make it as authentic as possible.”;

According to typical television series schedules, the pilot would be delivered in April, and CBS would make a decision by May. If the show premieres in the fall, full production would begin in the summer, when “;Lost”; has officially wrapped, freeing Kim and, presumably, the Hawaii Film Studio.

Un-sourced Internet reports claim that 35-year-old Australian actor Alex O'Loughlin is in consideration for the Steve McGarrett role, though CBS insisted, “;We haven't cast anyone yet.”;

Welfare offices closure plan stirs fear

Advocates for the poor said yesterday they are worried a proposal to close welfare offices in Hawaii could create hundreds of new state worker layoffs and reduce access to food stamps, cash assistance and medical benefits.

The Department of Human Services' cost-cutting plan would consolidate some 50 welfare eligibility offices into two large processing centers, one in Honolulu and another in Hilo.

The needy would lose basic services because the new processing centers would accept communications only by phone, fax or e-mail—technologies that the poor often cannot afford, said Kanani Kaaiawahia Bulawan, of Waianae Community Outreach.

Some of the poor would resort to crime, said Nora Nomura, deputy executive director for the Hawaii Government Employees Association.

“;Whether you take food stamps or not, you're going to be affected because people will be desperate and act out in other ways, so our society will be feeling it,”; she said at yesterday's informational briefing at the Capitol.

The department told the union of its idea to consolidate welfare offices in a Jan. 29 letter, but no public announcement was made.

The letter calls for layoffs, but it does not indicate how many people would lose their jobs or how much money the state intends to save. Nomura estimates between 200 and 400 layoffs.

Mayor to give update on rail project

Mayor Mufi Hannemann plans to use the Capitol auditorium tomorrow to deliver an update on the status of the city's $5 billion rail transit project.

The presentation, entitled titled “;Jobs, the Economy, and Our Island's Future,”; is scheduled for 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

The program also is scheduled to include a question-and-answer session with Hannemann and a panel featuring economist Paul Brewbaker; Jennifer Goto-Sabas, chief of staff for U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye; First Hawaiian Bank board chairman and Hawaii Business Roundtable executive committee member Don Horner; and American Institute of Architects member Shaun Ushijima.

The event is free but seating is limited.

Members of the public are asked to RSVP by today to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call 768-6136.