By Elizabeth Kieszkowski
Advertiser Features Editor

How do you feel about our "Hawai'i's Bachelor" contest?

Starting in February, we invited entries from single men and women, then asked readers to vote on their favorite guy, who would date and rate 10 women, narrowing the field until left with just one.

We're not about to suggest it's an original idea, but for a newspaper it's an unusual project.

"American Idol" and its huge national following caught the attention of the media last year, and when "Idol" had a Hawai'i contender in Jordan Segundo, local enthusiasm for such competitions was obvious. Classmates at Segundo's high school, Farrington, held two rallies for him, not only before but after his TV appearance. Enthusiasts packed a viewing party at Dave & Buster's.

In the meantime, "The Bachelor," "The Bachelorette" and "Joe Millionaire" made a big impact on national television and here in Hawai'i. Conversations about what was happening on these programs took place in workplaces across the Islands, including The Advertiser newsroom.

Television programmers took notice, rearranging schedules to emphasize the craze. In Island Life, where we cover the twists and turns of pop culture, we took note.

Even before the programs took hold, MTV, which prides itself on its appeal to teens and young adults, paved the way for reality programming with its shows "The Real World" and "Road Rules." The programs caught the attention of young viewers in a big way: They saw their own lives magnified in the adventures of the players as they adventured, squabbled, and made and broke connections.

Many of the programs have been criticized for their staged, sensational qualities. In fact, the reality show "Are You Hot?" seems to have gone too far in this direction.

However, many of them, including "Survivor," "Idol" and "The Bachelor," have a core appeal that our relationships writer, Tanya Bricking, wanted to explore. The shows reveal something of human nature, our competitive drive and desire to relate — and the way these influences often compete.

After a long planning process and a lot of legwork by Bricking, we decided to launch our own contest. We decided it would not include the elements that have been most criticized in others.

There is no monetary reward for participating in "Hawai'i's Bachelor," though for a few participants — including winning bachelor Kelly Komoda, an elementary school teacher who moonlights as a model — the exposure can be a fringe benefit.

Nor is there any emphasis on "beating" other players.

But there are elements of competition and strategy. The contestants needed to put their best faces forward to readers if they hoped to be chosen, as Komoda was. It was a source of some teasing that a man with a young, exceedingly pleasant demeanor was chosen by readers rather than someone who appeared more aggressive. We don't know if those who voted for Komoda on our Web site were men or women, but it seems to me an interesting case study.

As for the women who entered, they needed to impress online voters as well as Komoda. Their interactions with each other and with the sole guy in the group have been under scrutiny. Some have confessed to feeling competitive; others say it's all about making connections. Just as in off-the-record relationships, attitude, perseverance and presentation count.

Some readers have questioned whether the "Hawai'i's Bachelor" game is too frivolous at a time of war and international unease. We have concluded that as Americans continue on with their lives, pursuing entertainment and playing the mating game, our contest is legitimate, providing a snapshot of our culture. Our mission statement declares that The Advertiser will inform, educate and entertain, and I think the "Bachelor" has been an entertaining, engaging look into relationships and local culture.

Most readers seem to agree. The "Bachelor" game has been one of the most talked-about series featured in the newspaper in recent memory. And with its online-only videos and dating diaries, it's an enormously popular part of our Web site. It has taken more than 1.7 million hits since its launch last month. And we still have two dates to go.

On a more serious note, we published a comic in Island Life on Thursday that some readers found offensive. It was. In "Quigmans," the artist used an image of the Buddha to comment on the alienating effects of heavy traffic. We shouldn't have run it, and we apologize.

Reach Elizabeth Kieszkowski at 525-8034 or ekieszkowski@honoluluadvertiser.com.