Tomimbang focuses new show on health

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

'Emme's Island Living' Premieres at 6:30 p.m. Saturday; continues on Saturdays KGMB 9 Emme's first guests are Robert Cazimero and Wili Moku.

The premiere episode features entertainer Robert Cazimero and deejay Wili Moku, both of whom talk about how diabetes changed their lives.

The conversations are revealing, Tomimbang said: "At one point, when the three of us were on the set, Wili, who has lost his legs to diabetes, told Cazimero, 'You would be the poster boy for how to do it right; you lost weight, started exercising and you're taking care of yourself. And I would be the poster boy for how not to do it.' "

Tomimbang said "Emme's Island Living" will cover a broad spectrum of topics, including healthy living, living with illnesses, disease prevention and detection.

Future shows will take on stress, depression, makeovers, menopause and dyslexia. There's even a "healthy home" segment on interior redecoration.

The show, co-produced by Robert Pennybacker, will be videotaped on location at a Heritage model home at Lehiwa Ridge in Mililani Mauka.

The Tomimbang show has triggered the demise of another locally-produced show on Channel 9, "Island Chefs," hosted by weather anchor Guy Hagi.

The cooking program, produced by Charlotte Simmons and directed by Kevin Luke, will end on May 3.

"It's not like the cooking show was doing badly," said a disappointed Luke, who added that station general manager Rick Blangiardi has decreed that Hagi will beef up his presence as a weather anchor instead.

"Island Chefs" airs at 4:30 p.m. Saturdays. These programs are still coming: a visit to the Kapi'olani Community College culinary program, Saturday; an Opera Night segment at Donato's restaurant, April 19; a session with Chai Chaowasaree of Chai's Island Bistro and Singha Thai, and Beth-Ann Nishijima, of Nori's in Hilo, April 19; and a Hale 'Aina show, May 3.