Who would you say are the TOP 5 celebrities with Hawaiian connection?

[Tiger Beer]

Who would you say are the TOP 5 celebrities with a connection to Hawaii?

[alohabear]

Don Ho
Bette Midler
Tom Selleck
Jack Lord
Keanu Reeves

[scrivener]

This is kind of a weird question, but my initial thought:
Nicole Kidman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicole_Kidman)
Duke Kahanamoku (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_Kahanamoku)
Jason Elam (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/1383)
Michelle Wie (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Wie)
Barak Obama (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barak_Obama)

[kimo55]

Sammy Amalu
Hot Dog Annie
Lippy Espinda
Waltah Clark
Tosh Togo

[Palolo Joe]

Don Ho
Nicole Kidman
Chad Rowan
Michelle Wie
Jake Shimabukuro

[Glen Miyashiro]

Buster Crabbe
Actor and Olympic gold medalist. Punahou boy.

Charles Lindbergh
Long time Maui resident. Buried in Hāna.

Oprah Winfrey
Talk show host and actress. She's a big landowner in Hāna these days!

Steve Case
Former chief of America Online. Another Punahou boy.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
Wrestler and movie star.

[kimo55]

Oprah Winfrey
Talk show host and actress. She's a big landowner in H?na these days!



ugh. she no connection to da aina except as anodda one o dese people who help drive up our property tax astronomically.




Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
Wrestler and movie star.

part Samoan and champion weight-y eyebrow lifter.

[lurkah]

Anybody feel like including Dwayne "Dog" Chapman? :eek:

[kimo55]

looks like you do...

[Miulang]

Sam Choy (going be on Iron Chef America dis Sunday opposing Cat Cora!)
Keanu Reeves
Don Ho
Duke Kahanamoku
Bruddah IZ


Miulang

P.S. Oprah not one bad wahine...she bought one ranch and is keeping it as ranchland...oni get 2 houses on top all dat pasture. Da place she bought up Kula side; you tinking about George Harrison...he had one hale on da way to Hana. And technically, Charles Lindbergh is buried in Kipahulu, which is outside Hana.

[cezanne]

The first random things that come to mind:
Don Ho
Michelle Wie
Jack Johnson
Keanu Reeves
Kelly Preston

[lurkah]

Jack Johnson
At da risk of sounding malihini-ish, who is Jack Johnson?

[Miulang]

At da risk of sounding malihini-ish, who is Jack Johnson?
hahaha! You just like me...at da Gathering, BB was talking about Jack Johnson. And I said, "Who dat?" She said he was one singer. She gave us one CD of his songs she wen burn, but I neva listen yet.

Miulang

[kimo55]

Jack Johnson. local haole boy made good.
mellow rock?

local fave.
big and growing following.
check out his backward video.

[alohabear]

Elvis has Hawaii connections too.

[LikaNui]

Athletes Bryan Clay and Brian Viloria could be on the list. Probably not top 5, but maybe top 20 or thereabouts.

[scrivener]

I considered them, but while I don't question their success in their fields, I do question their status as "celebrities." Of course Daniel Inouye is a more notable politician than Barak Obama, but Obama's a celebrity, whereas Inouye probably isn't. Likewise Olin Kreutz and Kimo von Oelhoffen, who have both been very, very successful but who probably don't make it into the "celebrity" category. That's one reason I said this is a weird question.

Another is this: What does "Hawaii connections" mean? Wayne Brady, James Hetfield, and John Travolta are all married to people from Hawaii, so do they have Hawaii connections? If so, you gotta count Travolta and probably discount Kelly Preston!

[pinakboy]

Who would you say are the TOP 5 celebrities with a connection to Hawaii?


Braddah Iz

Steve Case

Michelle Wie

Keanu Reeves

Daniel Inouye

:confused:

[Tiger Beer]

Keanu Reeves is mentioned often.. whats his connection?

Adam Sandler seems to be making a few movies with Hawaii as a center.. I heard he has a strong attraction to Hawaii.. anyone know about that one?

[lurkah]

Keanu Reeves is mentioned often.. whats his connection?
Has a Hawaiian first name. His last name he got from his dad, whom Keanu refuses to communicate with and who is a member of the Reeves family of Kuliouou Valley on 'Oahu. That's it.

[Palolo Joe]

She gave us one CD of his songs she wen burn, but I neva listen yet.Support Hawaiian music by BUYING IT, not listening to burned copies you get from friends...

[kimo55]

Adam Sandler seems to be making a few movies with Hawaii as a center.. I heard he has a strong attraction to Hawaii.. anyone know about that one?
ain't no story behind it other than he likes it here and tries to steer projects in this direction, as does Barrymore and Diaz.
(Saw Cameron one day at da beach prepping to take surf lessons a few days ago...Thot to myself. eh, who dat haole girl wen spok me li dat... she look familiar...)

[lurkah]

She gave us one CD of his songs she wen burn, but I neva listen yet.
Support Hawaiian music by BUYING IT, not listening to burned copies you get from friends...
But why would Miulang buy it not knowing, like me, who Jack Johnson is or what kind of music he's in to? Her friend turned her on to some song samples, which then provided Miulang with da opportunity and da option to turn around and buy his CDs -- IF she liked his music.

I no shame admit that I do that too for friends here on da mainland -- haoles and locals alike -- who would otherwise have no exposure to da various Hawaiian music that I buy for myself. I consider it a way of sharing my mana'o and aloha. As a result, what usually happens is the Hawaiian musicians that I recommend to my friends end up benefitting exponentially from my initial purchase of their CDs. http://ohanalanai.com/lanai/images/smilies/jam.gif

[kimo55]

exponentially


I am becoming more impressed.

[Palolo Joe]

I no shame admit that I do that too for friends here on da mainlandHey, whatever floats your boat... It sounds nice to say that the people you burn music for will turn around and buy the CDs of the artists, but in reality not all of them do that. If you burn a CD, you're taking money out of the artists' pockets - plain and simple. Support Hawaiian music by BUYING it, not burning it.

[lurkah]

Hey, whatever floats your boat... It sounds nice to say that the people you burn music for will turn around and buy the CDs of the artists, but in reality not all of them do that.Wow, so you must know all of my friends too, then. You must really get around. Introduce yourself next time you're out my way.

I'm not speaking for anyone other than me and my personal friends. What I told you before is what I myself do. I'd rather not be so pretentious as to think that I know what everybody else does.

If you burn a CD, you're taking money out of the artists' pockets - plain and simple. Support Hawaiian music by BUYING it, not burning it.
It's not that plain and simple to me. There are shades and colors and nuances beyond the black-and-white absolute solution you're trying to cubbyhole me into. Try reading my last post again. The "benefitting exponentially" part might sink in the second time around. If not, aswhy hahd. I ain't gonna sweat it. I don't blindly burn all of my CDs and then turn around and dilute the market with them. I pick and choose certain exceptional songs that I think personal friends might enjoy, which then might lead to our trying to put it all together at our next kanikapila session.

You might check your own boat for leaks first before trying to sink others. You might end up sinking all alone and without a life raft, which again, I ain't gonna be sweating over.

Okay, I'm pau with this off-topic tangent. :D

[Palolo Joe]

You might check your own boat for leaks first before trying to sink others. You might end up sinking all alone and without a life raft, which again, I ain't gonna be sweating over.Don't expect you to sweat over me. Wouldn't ask you for help anyway. And I'm simply voicing an opinion, not trying to "sink others," so back off my sack.

From my experience being in a band, and having numerous friends currently working in bands - there is NO benefit to the artist from having their music distributed for free without their consent. If they wanted you to burn their music and pass it around to friends, they could make it available without charge on the Internet, or add wording in the liner notes along the lines of "feel free to copy our tunes and share them with the world."

Dance around it all you want, but my point remains the same. If you want to truly support Hawaiian music, BUY the albums. Don't burn them.

And now, to appease the big bad Admin and attempt at keeping this thread on topic - how could Steve Case be considered a celebrity? A mogul when it comes to business, sure, but a celebrity?

Here's a few more names:

Jasmine Trias (love her or hate her, lots of people recognize her)
Sid Fernandez
BJ Penn
Ellison Onizuka
Salevaa Atisanoe

[lurkah]

http://allthingshawaiian.com/lurkah/smileys/smileyyawning.gifBraddah IZ
Don Ho
Jack Lord
Tom Selleck
Bette Midler
Dan Inouye

[Pua'i Mana'o]

Has a Hawaiian first name. His last name he got from his dad, whom Keanu refuses to communicate with and who is a member of the Reeves family of Kuliouou Valley on 'Oahu. That's it.

His father is Hawaiian/Chinese. The grandmother lives in Puna, as do many relatives on that side of the family. Many people have memories of that hapa-haole boy and his sister visiting their relatives in Kalapana.

[SouthKona]

Rell Sunn, Queen of Makaha

[newroots]

1.braddah iz
2.umm
3.kid dynamite
4.shilo pa
5.keali'i reichel

[LikaNui]

Rell Sunn, Queen of Makaha
Heck YES! Shame on da rest of us for missing that one.

[kaimipono]

Of course Bradah Iz :)

Main Stream:
Da Rock
Keanu Reeves
Kelly Hu
Jason Scott Lee
Tia Carrere

Sports...
Egan and Enson Inoue :D
Vitale Boy
BJ Penn
All da superbrawl fighterz

[Pua'i Mana'o]

Of course Bradah Iz :)

Main Stream:
Da Rock
Keanu Reeves
Kelly Hu
Jason Scott Lee
Tia Carrere

Sports...
Egan and Enson Inoue :D
Vitale Boy
BJ Penn
All da superbrawl fighterz

great. I have visions of Wesley Correira doing the Cabbage Patch after winning (which he hasn't done lately!)

What IS it about MMA events that makes the opio go creze?!? Seriously, I watch those dvds with my kids and offer them the benefit of my wicked expertise....you see those tatoos bebe? You know what they say about that boy? 'I only had $50 on that day to poke this one...I had $35 on that day to poke that one...'

((waves hands at the overall vibe while pronouncing))

it says "skin clutter!"

[manoasurfer123]

2006...time to re-visit the subject now...

1. Michelle Wie
2. Jack Johnson
3. Ledward Kaapana
4. Duane "Dog" Chapman (sheesh...have to put him in there)
5. Bryan Clay

(just my opinion at the moment)

[kimo55]

from what I hear from da mainland:

Martin Denny

Don Ho

Bruddah Iz

Henry Kapono

and yes, of course, Rell Sunn

[p0id0g]

the popularity of MMA is a bad thing for hawaii. frank delima coined a term called "blalah-itis", and MMA is only helping blalah-itis spread. you can't drive anywhere around leeward oahu without seeing a car with some sticker from some fighting "school" or someone wearing a t-shirt from one of these schools. although i've been a fan of UFC, PRIDE, and whatever else MMA feds there are out there, i don't like how popular it has become here in the islands. the fragile youth here in hawaii needs more positive influences and less violent ones. and don't even tell me that it teaches discipline and all that B.S. it was pretty embarrassing to see Niko Vitale's family members attacking Robbie Lawler after he had beaten Vitale fair and square.

That being said, here are my 5 top celebs with Hawaii ties (with celeb meaning someone popular in the public eye):

1. Michelle Wie - a budding media darling who is close to becoming a household name around the world, if she isn't one already.

2. Jack Johnson - nominated for 2 grammy awards, and neither were in the Hawaiian category!

3. Bruddah Iz - his music has been a stable on the world music charts for some time now.

4. Kelly Hu - film and tv star in the US and in Asia

5. Neil Everett - former KGMB sports Anchor is now a mainstay on ESPN's Sportscenter. what sports fan does NOT watch Sportscenter? Throws in a Hawaii reference at least once a show.

While people like Dan Inouye, Barak Obama, or Rell Sunn are definitely more influential than anyone on my top 5, they don't necessarily fall into the "celebrity" category, as they are deserving of more.

[Creative-1]

Maybe not in the top 5 but they made a splash on the mainland:

Brook Lee, Miss Universe 1997
Carolyn Sapp, Miss America 1992
Angela Baraquio, Miss America 2001

[Creative-1]

This is quite an impressive list we've compiled. Here are some others I've thought of.

You have to go back 45 years to stars of the TV show Hawaiian Eye to find former celebs: Robert Conrad, Connie Stevens, Poncie Ponce, and Troy Donahue.

Occasional guest stars included: Cloris Leachman, Mary Tyler Moore, Stella Stevens, Adam West, and Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

I don't think anyone mentioned Jim Nabors and George Harrison.

Frank Sinatra starred in several movies and made guest appearances in several Hawaii TV shows. He performed here many times. He encouraged Matty Jordan, his personal chef, to open his own restaurant - Matteo's on Kuhio.

Arthur Godfrey spent a lot of time here 60 years ago and mastered the ukulele.

Arthur Lyman recorded over 30 albums, toured the mainland and appeared on TV numerous times.

Clara Inter was famous on the mainland as Hilo Hattie.

Authors who have lived in hawaii include:
James Michner
Spencer Johnson ("One minute manager")
Johanna Lindsey (isn't famous, but has sold 54 million copies of dozens of romance novels)

If you look at non-celebs who made an impact on the world, you'd have to include:
Father Damien
Mother Marianne Cope
Gen. Eric Shinseki
Henry Kaiser
Hiram Fong
James Dole

[Adri]

Hmm, off the top of my head:

Barak Obama
Steve Case
Don Ho
Duke Kahanamoku
Jake Shimabukuro

[Vanguard]

Does Elvis Presley count at all?

He did a few of his films in Hawaii, he seemed to be very fond of Hawaii, and didn't he have a home in Hawaii as well? Not quite sure about the latter.

[cynsaligia]

he may not be a celebrity by definition, but he is a mover and shaker in hollywood who'd not been named earlier in this thread:

christopher lee, iolani class of 1975, former tristar/columbia pics exec, director of UHM academy of creative media, founder of chris lee productions.

[leashlaws]

Hey, whatever floats your boat... It sounds nice to say that the people you burn music for will turn around and buy the CDs of the artists, but in reality not all of them do that. If you burn a CD, you're taking money out of the artists' pockets - plain and simple. Support Hawaiian music by BUYING it, not burning it.

Let's turn them in like when people cheat on taxes..........jerk.:mad:

[leashlaws]

Roy Yamaguchi
Alan Wong
Sam Choy
Jason Scott Lee
Loretta Ables Sayre

[leashlaws]

Well that won't happen but it's your conscious. I couldn't live with myself knowing I was
able to steal from others in such a way which is what this is and others have said so in other posts. iTunes would be the vehicle to let others know about music of all forms and the ability to PAY to enjoy it as it should be.

[aoimizu]

Don Ho
Bruddah Iz
Konishiki
Keanu Reeves
Jason Scott Lee

[craigwatanabe]

I believe Don Ho is the ultimate top celebrity with Hawaiian connections. His funeral at Waikiki was one that has never been topped...EVER! His name is synonyms with Hawaii. Like Micky Mouse is to Disney Land, Don Ho is Waikiki.

[LikaNui]

I believe Don Ho is the ultimate top celebrity with Hawaiian connections. His funeral at Waikiki was one that has never been topped...EVER! I dunno about that, Craig. I think the funeral for Bruddah IZ may have topped it, or at least equalled it.

[craigwatanabe]

I dunno about that, Craig. I think the funeral for Bruddah IZ may have topped it, or at least equalled it.

As much as Israel (his friends never called him IZ) was big I don't think his presence was as large as Don Ho's. So when Don Ho died his death was felt around the world. Israel died before his fame eclipsed him.

[LikaNui]

I don't think his presence was as large as Don Ho's. So when Don Ho died his death was felt around the world. Israel died before his fame eclipsed him. I agree that Don Ho had more of a worldwide impact, but my response was to your statement about Ho saying His funeral at Waikiki was one that has never been topped...EVER!
My reference, then, was to the actual funeral service itself (which I thought was your point), not to worldwide recognition. Comprende,amigo?
Sounds like we're basically on the same page.