Salonga was saving her voice for the shows here (she had a touch of the flu), so she declined a telephone interview, but opted to answer some questions via e-mail. She's eloquent via the Internet, with candid responses and a hearty attitude about who she is and where she's going.

Q. Folks still remember you as Kim from "Miss Saigon." Is that a problem when you create such an iconic impression, in that anything else is a tough act to follow?

A. No, it's really special when you as an actor are remembered for a role as great as that. It was really cool to have the opportunity to originate the role of Kim, and I know that I will forever be identified with "Miss Saigon" as a result. It was definitely the biggest break of my life, and I'll always be thankful for it. And yes, it definitely is a huge act to follow, so I try to keep the attitude of not trying to necessarily upstage or top it. That would be near impossible.

Q. What are your plans for this series of Hawai'i shows? Surely, some tunes from "Saigon," "Les Miserables," "Flower Drum Song," shows you've been associated with. And the Disney repertoire, too? What are your goals, when you hit the road in "your" show as opposed to a structured theatrical endeavor?

A. The repertoire will contain some jazz, some standards, a lot of show tunes. Definitely "Saigon" and "Les Miz" will be in there ... and maybe a Disney tune, too. When I do a concert, I try to let the songs reflect my singing voice outside of the more recognized material. I choose stuff that I love to sing, want to sing, or just feel like singing.

Q. How has your ethnicity fueled your ambitions to do things in London, New York or anywhere else in the world? And in the Philippines, they cherish their idols, don't they?

A. When I did "Les Miz" in New York, I wanted so badly to prove that blind casting did indeed work. I had already been refused an audition because of my Asian (ancestry), so that only gave me the drive to prove these guys wrong. I do most certainly celebrate the fact that I am Asian. No way to hide it, why not flaunt it instead? Yes, Filipinos do cherish their idols, because in these people, Filipinos see hope, that because these particular people made it, perhaps they can make it, too. They see someone they can relate to, someone to be proud of.

Q. You're newly married; how did you meet Rob Chien? How has the life of "Mrs." changed your lifestyle and influenced your career?

A. I met Rob through his cousin Christine (a native of Honolulu), when she and I were doing "Flower Drum Song" together in Los Angeles. No, he isn't in show biz, but he does have a sweet singing voice. We both love to sing, and that's one thing we had in common. The one difference I've noticed about being a "Mrs." is how it affects my work. When receiving offers to perform outside of Los Angeles (as well as outside the U.S.), I now think about how it will affect "our" life, as opposed to just "my" life. I can't also just fly about for work, I have to consider how it's going to affect him.

Q. You've been to Hawai'i before; are you able to work in time for some rest and recuperation? What's first on your list of things to do (other than prep and perform) once you're here? What memories do you have of our fair city, and what are your plans?

A. The last time my husband and I were in Hawai'i, we were able to just relax. We headed to Ko Olina for a day, then on to Maui to join his dad and family. It was so nice to just be able to enjoy sitting by the beach, get some sun, and not worry about anything. We always look for spots that serve great local food (Portuguese sausage, eggs and rice), and shave ice. Ahhh ... I'm looking forward to eating great local fare! Spam musubi, here I come!

Q. Besides stage and recordings, have your aspirations to do a movie that would also take advantage of your voice (beyond providing vocals for an animated character, of course).

A. I would love a career doing a weekly TV drama or comedy, but having said that, nothing can quite replace the immediacy of a live audience. That's something special.

Q. Is there a specific role you'd like to do, inasmuch as revivals are always part of the theatrical landscape? Since you've done both — creating an original role, Kim, and putting your new spin on an earlier character, Mei Li (in "Flower Drum Song") — which is the greater challenge?

A. The greater challenge is putting the new spin on an old character. When you have a definitive version already in people's minds or recorded on film, it's tough to portray something that will inevitably be compared to the earlier version. Creating a role from scratch, as much of a challenge as it is, doesn't come with the ghosts of previous portrayers. It's fun, though, doing both.