Hawaii Stars | Hosts | Carole Kai & Kimo Kahoano

Carole Kai

Kimo Kahoano

CAROLE IS THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF HAWAII STARS. SHE STARTED HER CAREER AS A PIANIST/SINGER IN HAWAII NIGHT CLUBS THEN BECAME A SINGER/DANCER/ENTERTAINER, PERFORMING IN LAS VEGAS AND IN MAJOR HOTELS ALL OVER THE WORLD! CAROLE WAS CHOSEN “NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR” BY THE MAJOR LAS VEGAS NEWSPAPER IN 1979.

HER REAL LOVE IS HELPING PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN HAWAII AND THE MILITARY HERE (HER FATHER WAS IN THE ARMY MILITARY INTELLIGENCE CORPS DURING WORLD WAR II). CAROLE IS PRESIDENT OF CAROLE KAI CHARITIES,INC., WHICH HAS PRODUCED THE ANNUAL GREAT ALOHA RUN SINCE 1985.

SHE ALSO STARTED THE CAROLE KAI BED RACE FOR LOCAL CHARITIES IN 1974 AND RAN IT UNTIL 1995. SHE ATTRIBUTES HER WORK ETHIC AND DEVOTION TO HELPING PEOPLE TO HER MOTHER, ETHEL. SHE TAUGHT CAROLE THAT TRUE HAPPINESS COMES FROM HELPING OTHERS WITH NO THOUGHT OF GETTING BACK ANYTHING (LIKE THE OLD HAWAIIANS DID).

Carole’s personal fitness trainer is Eric at
FIT FOR LIFE. Rylan Yashiki is also training with him for the Finals in November.

KIMO HAS BEEN THE DYNAMIC C0-HOST OF HAWAII STARS SINCE THE BEGINNING, IN 1993. KIMO IS A GRADUATE OF KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS AND IS A MAN OF MANY TALENTS. HE STARTED HIS CAREER AS A FIRE KNIFE DANCER/SINGER IN THE POPULAR AL HARRINGTON SHOW. HE HAS BEEN A RADIO PERSONALITY, IS A SPOKESPERSON FOR MANY PRODUCTS, AND AN ACTOR AND SINGER. KIMO IS ALSO THE PERENNIAL CO-HOST OF THE MERRIE MONARCH HULA FESTIVAL.
HIS LIST OF CREDITS INCLUDE: HAWAII FIVE-0; MAGNUM P.I.; BARNABY JONES; THE JEFFERSONS; THE IMAX FILM “BEHOLD HAWAII” AND THE MOVIE, “BLUE CRUSH”.

KIMO IS KNOWN AS THE ALL-AROUND “GOOD GUY” IN HAWAII – ALWAYS HAVING GREAT CONVERSATIONS WITH ANYONE WHO STOPS TO TALK TO HIM.

Carole's make-up artist is the talented Miki Johnson.		Her hair stylist is the popular Oney @ Salon Mei.
Photography by Paramount Photography

Jasmin Idica

Hawaii Stars Keiki Starlet

For the first time ever, Hawaii Stars has named 11 year old, Jasmin Idica as our Hawaii Stars Keiki Starlet.
Jasmin is an accomplished vocalist who has swept across the island's youth music scene winning numerous singing competitions across the state of Hawaii, across the mainland and even Internationally.
Along with Emcee, Brandon Kahele, lead for the Fab 4, they will be showcase some of Hawaii's most talented kids at the Keiki Stars st the 50th State Fair Competitions.
Jasmin has been singing at various local events throughout the state, i.e. Adult Friends for Youth, DARE Program, Sunset on the beach, State Farm Fair. She is the 2005 Grand Champion for the Al Waterson & You singing contest, where she was then a regular performer with Don Ho at his show.

Dirk Fukushima

Producer/Director of Hawaii Stars Presents, Inc.

Dirk, a graduate of Hilo High School and the University of Hawaii - Manoa, has been Carole's partner in Hawaii Stars Presents, Inc. since 1992.
He has produced and directed:

Hawaii Stars, the Contest for 15 years
Keiki Stars for 5 years
Jan Ken Po, the Game Show About Hawaii for 2 years
Chefs in Paradise for 3 years
Fourth of July at Ala Moana Center for 4 years
The Weinberg Concert of Extraordinary Abilities for 12 years
About 40 different Specials since 1992 Since 2008, Hawaii Stars Presents is producing 6 TV Specials a years that are designed to help, inform and inspire the Hawaii Community.

Dirk is pictured with his significant other, Dale Tagami

Darius Palau

2008 Hawaii Stars Young Rising Star

On June 22, 2008, 13 year old Darius Palau became our 2009 Young Rising Star at the Keiki Stars Competition held at the 50th State Fair.
Darius attends Wahiawa Middle School. His favorite subjects are Math, Science and Robotics where he won in State Championship and moved on to compete nationally representing the Sate of Hawaii in Oklahoma City.
Darius has had experience in both music and television since a very young age and has appeared in several local television commercials here in Hawaii. Currently, he was casted a part in a musical called Alice in Wonderland with Applause Performance Academy. He has competed in numerous singing competitions across the State and more recently won Brown Bags to Stardom’s - Middle School Male Division for 2009. Darius has also performed in a multitude of benefits and community venues such as Sunset on the Beach and The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation’s Concert of Extraordinary Abilities, Don Ho’s and for the Hawaii State Legislature at the State Capital.
One of Darius’ goals is to appear on American Idol one day and is so very thrilled to have the honor of hosting the 2009 Keiki Stars at the 50th State Fair. “From this experience and opportunity, I hope to gain more confidence, knowledge and stage experience so that I may continue to grow as an entertainer and singer…”