Television coverage has viewers fixated

By Zenaida Serrano Espanol
Advertiser Staff Writer

Lisa Tam of Honolulu watched with a heavy heart as the events in Iraq unfolded on her television set Wednesday afternoon.

"My husband's cousin is a Marine and he is actually on the front in Kuwait," said Tam, 30, who was among thousands of Hawai'i residents glued to their tubes to catch the latest on the war.

With network and cable news stations covering the war around the clock, viewers are tuning in — whether for several minutes or several hours — to get closer to a conflict thousands of miles away.

Tam spent her day off from work at home with her set on for at least 14 hours. Sometimes she was fixed to the screen, sometimes she just listened to the news while doing household chores.

"It's really sad," said Tam, who thought of her husband's family while watching the news. "So we have been keeping track of it."

At Eastside Grill in Puck's Alley, four of the 18 television sets at the sports bar are on a news station covering the war, said owner Robbie Acoba.

"Everybody wants to watch it," said the 36-year-old from Mo'ili'ili.

Acoba himself has been following the TV coverage closely, staying up until 4 a.m yesterday watching the news.

"I think it's important to know what's going on ... and we gotta make sure we kick butt," Acoba said and laughed.

Kalihi resident Daena Derego, 23, tuned in to the news for half an hour early Thursday morning. But that was all that she could take.

"My boyfriend is in the Navy, so I try not to watch it," Derego said.

Although Derego's boyfriend hasn't been deployed, the thought of him leaving makes her feel uneasy, she said.

"I just want to know the basics of what's going on," she said.

Cheryl Shinogi of Mililani said she also feels uncomfortable thinking about the events in Iraq. She remained fixed to her television at 9 p.m. Wednesday, finally turning it off about two hours later.

"It's depressing," said Shinogi, 39. "You can only watch so much of it."

But Kip Kawamoto of Kalihi said he plans to continue following the television coverage, even though the 21-year-old has strong opinions against the war.

Kawamoto got home from work at about 11 p.m. Wednesday and stayed up until 2 a.m. watching the latest developments and a repeat of President Bush's address earlier that afternoon.

"I love this country," Kawamoto said, "and I guess that's what keeps me into it."

Reach Zenaida Serrano Espanol at zespanol@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8174.