Hawai'i's own talent show seeks stars
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
Before there was "American Idol," there was "Hawai'i Stars." The popular local talent contest, a Sunday night TV habit for eight years, will return to KHON-Fox 2 on April 6, running Sundays through Nov. 23.
"Hawai'i Stars" is a talent show for singers only. Contestant rules: When to audition: • O'ahu: 6 to 8 p.m. March 13, Esprit Lounge, Sheraton Waikiki Hotel; another audition will be held at Dot's in Wahiawa, at a time to be announced. • Kaua'i: noon March 15, Kukui Grove Shopping Center, Lihu'e. • Big Island: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 16, Prince Kuhio Mall, Hilo; 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., Keauhou Shopping Center, Kailua-Kona. • Maui: 3 p.m. March 22, Ka'ahumanu Shopping Center, Kahului. • Taping dates: Shows will be taped at Ala Moana's Centerstage on March 30, April 17, May 15 and 30, June 26, July 18, Aug 14, Sept. 11, Oct. 2 and 23; hour-long final show Nov. 23 at a site to be announced. • Admission: Free, public invited.
A call for talent is under way on all islands. O'ahu singers compete this Thursday at the Esprit nightclub at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel.
If you can sing ...
"When we kick off with a preview show April 6, we're adding a public voting element," said Carole Kai, who will again co-host with Kimo Kahoano. Kai, one of the producers with Hawai'i Star Presents, said there would be a few other new wrinkles.
"We'll have two regular judges and a third each week whose votes will be tallied with the viewers' choice," she said. So viewer input will be one-fourth of the yardstick to pick the 2003 "star."
Audiences will be able to vote for an hour after the telecast, with the weekly winner announced during the 10 p.m. Channel 2 News and again the next day on the morning news — yet another new feature of the show.
Rick Blangiardi, general manager of the Fox affiliate, is eager to relaunch "Hawai'i Stars," recognizing the overwhelming popularity of the "Idol" show and the history of "Stars." "We'll give it the old Sunday slot," he said from Orlando, Fla., last week.
"After 'Jan Ken Po' went off the air" — also produced by Hawai'i Stars — "Rick asked if we could bring back 'Hawai'i Stars,' " said Kai's producing partner, Dirk Fukushima. "(The popularity of) 'American Idol' has been a factor."
Preliminary auditions are being held to assemble a field of 45 contestants to compete in six qualifying rounds until the final show. The first week's winner will compete the next week to remain in the race, with the runoff continuing each week.
Again, the Ala Moana Centerstage will be the site of the taped contests.
The show will air twice Sundays, at 6:30 and 11 p.m., but viewers can vote only after the 6:30 p.m. telecast.
"Hawai'i Stars" has been a favorite for wannabe singers as well as judgmental viewers. It originated in 1993 on KHON and moved to KITV for two seasons before returning to KHON. The last segment aired April 1, 2001.
Professional entertainers Sonya Mendez and Tony Conjugacion will serve as anchor judges.
"We're working with the judges, and we want them to have more edge than before," Fukushima said. While the producers don't want to have a mean-spirited executioner like Simon Cowell of "American Idol," they are hoping judges will be more specific in their yeas and nays, "perhaps reflecting what the folks at home are thinking," he said. Cards will give contestants from 6 to 10 points, with no fractions this time.
The grand-prize winner will get a recording contract with a local label. Six finalists will receive first-class round trips for two to Las Vegas. The finale will be moved to a venue that is yet to be named.
