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Hawaii Stars was the inspiration of former Senator Mike McCartney. In 1992, karaoke was all the rage and McCartney noticed people really enjoyed watching their friends and relatives perform on stage. Mike recalls thinking it would be great to have a television program to showcase the talent he believed was hidden away in offices, warehouses and karaoke bars. He thought the time was right for a local show that was positive and uplifting.
Even though he didn’t personally know Carole Kai at the time, Mike contacted her to present the idea. Carole in turn contacted Dirk Fukushima, who she knew was a television director. They all agreed the first thing to do was to get sponsors, so with just a concept and a prayer, Carole went out and within three days had lined up all the sponsors they needed. She went back to Dirk asking, “What do we do now?”
The next big challenge was to sell the idea to a television station. After several stations rejected them, Dirk and Carole decided to approach the number one station, KHON. KHON graciously allowed them a time slot on Saturday afternoons.
So, with Mike McCartney as Executive Producer, Carole Kai as Producer and co-host, Dirk Fukushima as director, and Kimo Kahoano as co-host, Hawaii Stars was born. Originally expected to run 13 weeks, Hawaii Stars was an instant hit! After the first season KHON moved the show to 6:30 on Sundays where Hawaii Stars continued to grow in popularity.
Over the next eight years Hawaii Stars was the number one locally produced show, and consistently ranked in the top five shows on KHON.
“What kept it going”, says McCartney, “is that everyday, ordinary people got their moment in time to walk through that curtain, step onto the stage and be a star. And their friends and family and community could celebrate their talent no matter how good they were.”
For the first eight years, Hawaii Stars wasn’t about BEING the best, it was about each contestant DOING his or her best. The folks at Hawaii Stars always worked hard to make every contestant feel like a star.
For many contestants, it was a life-changing experience – one that built their self-esteem, developed their character, and made them believe in themselves. They realized they could do something they never thought they could do, and it helped them move on with other things in life. Says McCartney, “Half of life is just showing up. Hawaii Stars gave people a chance to show up.”
McCartney eventually resigned Hawaii Stars in order to pursue other interests.
After a two-year break, Hawaii Stars reappeared in 2003 with an updated format. Now, each weeks’ winners keep returning to the competition until they are eliminated in a combined score of judges’ votes and viewer call-in votes. Producer Dirk Fukushima likes this new format because, as he says, “we become more attached to the contestants because we see them through the whole season. We get to see them grow from karaoke singers to performers – that’s what we’re most proud of”.
Executive Producer Carole Kai says that although the new Hawaii Stars is more in keeping with what is happening today, the original show meant a lot to her because it was about empowering people. “I would like to think Hawaii Stars is still about empowering people even though it’s a little deviated from the original intent. But we’re doing it because we want to keep up with the times.”
Hawaii Stars is still about making dreams come true. In the new version the competition is stiffer and the demands are greater, but the rewards are richer. Celebrity status and a recording contract is at the end of the road for the one who pleases the judges and the community enough to earn the highest scores and the most call-in votes.
Carole Kai’s wish for the 2004 season is that the community would get behind the contestants they like and show their support by voting. “After all, the viewing audience is a big part of Hawaii Stars. If it wasn’t for the people of Hawaii, Hawaii Stars wouldn’t be embarking on its tenth year!”
We look forward to an exciting season in 2004! Be sure to watch on KHON Sundays at 6:30 and 10:30 p.m. And check back here at our website for all the latest information!
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