Onthe Buswith CALENDARwith two greatpicks 6 HONOLULU 1sh ne Stoo,on Page7 Volume2, Issue 4, January22, 1992 ,�--- lndep�"dent F�lmmaking _in the Islands ,.., . j., George Bush'sTop 10Reasons forStaying Out Japanof ' ' FromNow When Hollywood producers come to Hawaii to shoot movies, they're usually drawn by the postcard cliches: glis­ tening beaches, swaying palms, crashing surf. The settings On are pure fantasy forstories that often have nothing to do 10. Their steering with the Islands. Raiders of the Lost Ark, King Kong, wheels are on Uncommon Valor, The Karate Kid II Continued on Page 4 - Barb's side. 9. Prices are too high. 8. Lee lacocca has bad breath. 7. The geishas don't know lheir place. 6. The fish is servedraw. 5. Peo�le thought he was Mr. Rogers. 4. Can't substitute mashed '-°tatoes for rice. 3. No oil tycoons. 2. They're inscrutable. 1. Banguet food makes liimthrow up on the prime minister. LINDA FONG ILLUSTRATIONS Honolulu Diary #�Wk 1f1ul«.,t �IA11w� IJt! ,"J,9* �fiku � 4t tects of the 1990-1995 High Tech CapitolPunishment strategy plan, supported by the pas­ What startedas a relativelysimple sage of Act 288 of the 1991 Jonah asbestos removal project forthe state Legislature. Capitol environs is now a (theoreti­ And what about high tech in cal) $64 million, five-year under­ Hawaii? A quick look at the Fall taking that, among other things, Sheri 1991 "High Tech Business however "accidental," effectively Directory" provides a clue. Kaylor blocksmuch face-to-face,sensibility­ According to the booklet, there are HAIR ARTWORKSa sam to-sensibility confrontationbetween A MediumRarely now 300 companiesengaged in pro­ power-brokers and their constituents. viding services and/or producing or Paul True, the state is providing an accel­ WellDone supporting high tech activity in the 1126 12th Avenue, Suite 207, Kaimuki 737-0843 Ventura erated electronic link to lawmakers, Television, that most manipula­ state, reporting a combined annual but the computer-age is not yet tive and controlled medium in the revenue of $988,111,975 and a total sophisticated enough to be genuinely United States, is undergoing some of 12,204 employees. These services user-friendly; process still largely changes that approach the profound. range widely, from the unanimously­ controlscontent. No matter what the "Free" television, as the networks endorsed (biotech medical products) public relationshacks and media reps and their affiliates like to call it, is to the most highly controversial of the Boys Downtown say, public becoming more tabloidy and com­ (underwater cables to transport access to real confrontation, emo­ mercial-ridden than ever. Prime-time geothermal energy). It'll be fun to tional and human, has been com- network shows increase their adver­ see just how the conference's tisingtime almost every season; now movers-and-shakers address the less­ some evening shows have almost 13 popular high-tech adventures under­ minutes of advertisingper hour. And written by our state. one of our localstations, after largely guttingits news operations, now car­ Centered? ries hours of those 30-minute-long The Economist magazine's annual commercial programs on skin care, round-up, "The Good Think-Tank get-rich-quickschemes, magic cook­ Guide," included, in this issue's sur­ ing machines, etc., every day. vey, some comments on Hawaii's Now, despite what the ads say, beleaguered East-West Center. On prime upcoming Olympic viewing the plus side;the center is givenhigh - forthe "choice" sports (the ones marks forbeing "clever, connected, the U.S. citizenrygenerally likes)­ canny and cushy." Rather more is going to cost through the nose - ambiguously, it's said to have a up to $125 on pay-per-view. hybrid state-of-mind, epitomized by Otherwise, you'll have to settle for its "insistence that visitors wear delays, scads of back-to-back com­ Hawaiian shirts to official recep­ promised and is likely to stay that mercials and random coverage. The tions." (When it's Reyn's, it pours.) way forat least five years. shiftto pay-per-viewis beingtouted The magazine does not mention Not everyone is thrilled by the by the network and cable services the utterances of the center's new prospectof a complete overhaul. One involved as more "democratic." president, Michel Oksenberg, who group - People Opposed to On the syndication front, former recently declared that maintaining Refurbishing the Capitol, or PORC Reagan-Bush media guru Roger the status quo would be "a prescrip­ -led by Rep. Cynthia Thielen, says Ailes (who devised the Willie Horton tion for irrelevance." Thus far, that the price tag forthe job is sim­ campaign, among others) has left the Oksenberg has been rather sketchy ply too much. A coalition of inter­ Bush camp fora higher-paying job: on just what changes will be visited est groups announced last week its master minding the new syndicated on the 31-year-old think-tank. opposition to the length and com­ talk show headed by rightwinger Hopefully, they'll involve more than COFFEE MANOA plexity of the project. Meanwhile, Rush Limbaugh, whose politicalaspi­ dress code. • lawmakers and their staffs, along MANOA MARKETPLACE • HONOLULU, HAWAII rations seem to be fueled by blue­ with the governorand the lieutenant collar anger and alienation. Ailes' governor, have already moved a job will be to make Limbaugh more HONOL ULU A place to unwind ... relax ...Collect scattered thouqhts. block away for the projected five­ palatable to a general audience - Visit with friends ...A place with qood coffee and tea. year completion of the refurbish­ both to tone him down and tone him ment. They'll be back just in time up, so to speak. The fact that some­ An espresso bar with sweet treats ... The place to be. forthe Turn ofthe Century. one with Ailes' clout and savvy Live music Tuesdays from 7 - 9 pm. No cover. would leave Bush forLimbaugh sug­ Welcomingin 1992 Vol. 2, No. 4 gests something ominous about the January 22, 1992 Open 7 days a weeR. At Manoa MarRetplace Observed froma Waikikilanai at state of the country - and the BetweenWoodlawn & East Manoa Roads midnight, the celebratory fireworks, increasingrole of simplisticradio and Publlsher and Managing at fullconflagration and noise level Editor Laurie V. Carlson television in the lives of those who Senior Editor Julia Steele for nearly an hour, were both beau­ no longer read and can scarcely write tifuland a little scary.A drizzle kept Calendar Editor Derek Ferrar more than a postcard. Stay tuned. Editorial Assistant things damp all evening and early Ann Marie Swan morninglong; nonetheless, the visu­ TechTrack Contributing Writers als made the CNN coverage of the Symposia and conventions come Bob Green, Mary Brennan, Gulf War night sky seem tame by Cecil Adams, Wayne Muromoto, and go with astonishing regularity Karyn Koeur, Alan Bunin, comparison. On a 6 a.m. stroll on in Honolulu, but one perhapsimpor­ Carolyn Reuben Jan. 1, a member of our staff(never tant to keep track of will be the Contributing Illustrator one to let a hangover get in the way March 24-26 Ninth Annual Linda Fong of eternal vigilance) saw an inter­ Governor:S, Symposium on High cartoonistsMatt Groening, > Ready to get into shape? esting1992 sight on Launiu Street. Technology, to be held at the Hyatt Slug Signorino > Readyfor a new attitudeon life? Several people had thrown their Regency. Reps from more than 20 ArtDirector Bud Linschoten Christmas treesout along the curb GraphicProduction > Do you need help gettingstarted? investmentfirms have alreadysigned Matt Ghali, Isabella Forster and two of the trees, dampened by up for the conference, which will ContributingPhotographers > Tired of wagingthe war with food? the rain, were nonetheless smoul­ feature, among other presentations, Franco Salmoiraghi dering. An early-rising resident, 10 to 12 venture capital plans. (The Classlfled Manager Consider what The OPTIFASTProgram at The Honolulu Medical Group > maybean old hand at this, was stand­ symposiumis, of course, really about Isabella Forster can do foryou. If you have 50 pounds or more to lose, our team of Advertising Mindy Jaffe health professionals can help you take it off. And it doesn't end there. ing - dressed in robe and slippers money.) Among the presenters are - in her patch of yard, hosing down Honolulu Weekly We help you understand the complexities of weight loss, and help you biotech maven RobertSwanson and ISSN #1057-414X prepare for the ongoing process of effectiveweight management. the trees ... and commenting to all venture capital guru Thom Everhart; Entire contents © 1992 by who passed how lucky Waikikiwas also look for a MIT "enterprise Honolulu Weekly, Inc. that the falling pieces of firehad been forum." The event is co-sponsored All rights reserved Coll today to schedule o free personalized consultotion with 1200 College Walk, Suite 212 The OPTIFASTProgram Director, ot 537-2211, ext. 703 mixed with gentle rain. by the ongoing High Technology Honolulu, Hawaii 96817 TheHonolulu Medical Group. 550 S. Beretonio Street • Honolulu, HI 96813 Development corporation, the archi- Telephone: 808 528-1475 2 • January22, 1992 • Honolulu Weekly LINDA FONG ILLUSTRATION City Survival HawaiiCollectors E xpo '92 Hawaii'sPrerruer Art, Antique & CoUectihlesMarketp/,ace February21, 22, 23-1992 BlaisdellExhibition Hall VendorInquiries !%/come. CATALYSTPR0DUCl10NS PostOffice Box 10596 ,Honolulu, Hawaii 96816 Telephone 808 545-SHOW, Fax533-1637 808 FRY& CO. Bishop Trust Building 1000 Bishop Street, Suite 802 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Phone (808)531-6726 Providersof con:fulential investment servicesfor global Stocks, Bonds, and A Little Dose FuturesManagement. Will Do Ya VitaminC mayor may rwtbe ableto help thatcold, butit has hosta of otherproven benefits. ..J<I.••c. • -The leading edge in Custom Photo Lab Seruices - 1051 Waimanu St. s the winter drags on, the to require the same forall merchant­ like soldiers without bullets.") Honolulu, HI 96814 sound of snifflingfills the ship crews.