Judging by the past two days, his popularity doesn't wane much here in the middle of the Pacific.

Especially yesterday, when the actor/restaurant owner/stunt man/martial artist/philanthropist announced to a packed crowd of fans and media that he would like to film "Rush Hour 3" in Hawai'i.

Chan, in town to promote his new movie and for the grand opening of Jackie's Kitchen, his restaurant in Ala Moana Center, envisions chases through waterfalls and the ocean, with pursuits even in jungle terrain. He said his partners are checking the feasibility of filming the movie on O'ahu, with a 75 percent to 85 percent likelihood it will happen, though his fish-out-of-water co-star Chris Tucker favors Japan or Bangkok.

"The producer-director decides," said Chan yesterday at a press conference at his restaurant. "And I'm the producer-director."

A 2005 timetable is likely, but no budget was mentioned.

All this is welcome news for those who monitor the film scene here. And apparently for the fans who pressed their faces against the restaurant window to get a glimpse of the star.

"That would be great," said Donne Dawson, manager of the Hawai'i Film Office. "We would love to work with him, but they've not been in touch with us yet."

"It's wonderful that someone like Jackie values us as a production center," said Walea Constantinau, Honolulu film commissioner. "It's that kind of top-of-momentum that would grow the industry."

Chan, who looks boyish at 50, has become a global brand name thanks to a string of film successes combining his physical comedy and martial-arts kicks. His latest flick was inspired by the 1956 original, though Chan orchestrated a few of his own kicks and twists. He came to Honolulu on Tuesday to premier the movie as a benefit for his Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation.

His other reason for coming to O'ahu was to formally launch Jackie's Kitchen, which had a "soft" opening last December at Ala Moana's third level.

"I want to try all kinds of things," he said. "I like to challenge myself. If I fail, OK. At least I tried. Whatever I do, I want to do with quality. Quality is very important."

That said, Chan has diversified his empire and said he isn't afraid to take risks or make mistakes.

"I have clothes with my name ... jeans, shoes, jackets, everything," Chan said. "I have Jackie's restaurants — we call them seafood (places) — in Hong Kong, in Japan, in Korea. We'll try to open in Los Angeles and New York. Also, a clothing shop; I think this year, we'll open 50 shops all over China."

And he's been testing his singing, though he abhors the solitary nature of being in a recording studio behind a glass wall. "I cannot stand being in the studio myself," he said. Besides, it takes as long to do a CD as a movie, and films are more fun, more satisfying."

He also sings the theme song for his next Hong Kong film, which marks a dramatic change to his movie persona.