"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" will not be filmed on Kauai as mentioned here last week. Christina Gizoni, a Lionsgate representative, said in an email: "While we have not yet released the filming locations, Kauai will not be one of them." Further comment was not forthcoming. Mea culpa. …
Yes, the filmmakers did scout Hawaii locations, prompting buzz online and in blogs since June about Kauai. But it’s a no-go. …
In the latest casting news, Variety reports Amanda Plummer, daughter ofOscar-winning Christopher Plummer, will play Wiress, a former tribute and an ally to Katniss Everdeen, portrayed by Jennifer Lawrence, in the sequel. …
SHORTS OF SORTS: Congrats to Jeff Cadiente, the stunt coordinator for "Hawaii Five-0," who scored his second Emmy nomination for the CBS series, this time for the "Kame‘e" episode.He earlier earned four noms for Fox’s "24." He’s a darkhorse, however, since the competition includes the popular "NCIS: Los Angeles," as well as "American Horror Story," "Criminal Minds" and "Grimm." Good luck, nonetheless. The Emmys will be televised Sept. 23 on ABC. …
The luau show preceding the Lani Misalucha production at the Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel, was abruptly shuttered last month — not enough patronage for the endeavor staged on the terrace of the Jimmy Buffett restaurant. Misalucha, nonetheless, has launched "Return to Paradise," with updated material, in the Magic ofPolynesia Showroom. Among the newbies: a couple of Broadway tunes and a swing segment of popular classics like "Chattanooga Choo-Choo," rendered as "Honolulu Choo-Choo." Further, backup singers Starr Kalahiki and Tricia Marciel now have additional vocal and dance supportfrom Shawna Masuda, Carissa Coleman, Nalani Higgins Bee, Alana Sena and Abby Resulta. …
PERSONALITIES: The 2012 Miss Kauai, Lei Ui Kaholokula, was invited to participate in the 50th anniversary celebration of the Sister City program between the County of Kauai and Suo Oshima in Japan, which happened Saturday. The hula dancer, who is the daughter of musician Robbie Kaholokula and kumu hula Puamohala Kaholokula, and the granddaughter of the late Jimmy Kaholokula of "Pua Olena" fame, entertained and conducted a hula workshop for the Suo Oshima community. Suo Oshima is an island town — population 23,000 — known for its sweet tangerines. There’s a lot of history between the two cities: Suo Oshimanatives were aboard the City of Tokio, a ship that brought Japanese laborers to Hawaii in 1885, and the county in Japan built a $14 million multipurpose recreation-sports facility, at Green Stay Nagaura, to honor its friendship with the Garden Isle. Suo Oshima even has a replica of the historic Lihue county building. …
ALOHA SPIRIT: Kudos and a shaka to Dr. Lawrence "Larry" Tseu, an active philanthropist and a model for giving and sharing. The Hawai‘i Arts Alliance will bestow the Alfred Preis Honor award upon Tseu at a dinner Jan. 19 to recognize his big heart — and bigger pocketbook.
A retired dentist with nearly 50 years of service, Tseu has had a lifelong passion to help folks achieve their goals, particularly kids from disadvantaged upbringings. Since he grew up in Kalihi and shined shoes and sold papers to earn money, he now values giving back. You go, Dr. Tseu! …
And that’s "Show Biz." …
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist; reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com; read his Show and Tell Hawaii blog at www.staradvertiser.com.
