LIHU‘E — Inspired by the artistic triumph of “The Descendants’’ in literature and film, Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. on Thursday honored author Kaui Hart Hemmings at a special media reception hosted by the County of Kaua‘i and Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau
LIHU‘E — Inspired by the artistic triumph of “The Descendants’’ in literature and film, Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. on Thursday honored author Kaui Hart Hemmings at a special media reception hosted by the County of Kaua‘i and Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau in Los Angeles.
Carvalho presented Hemmings with a proclamation from the County of Kaua‘i recognizing the achievement of her best-selling novel that has been adapted into the critically acclaimed and award-winning film of the same title.
“This is such a beautiful story and authentically depicts life in Hawai‘i,” Carvalho said, “We know that the film adaptation will not only generate more interest in Kaua‘i as a vacation destination, but it will promote greater understanding of our unique culture and experience.”
“The Descendants” is nominated for five Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Actor (George Clooney), Best Director (Alexander Payne), Film Editing, and Adapted Screenplay, with the Oscars being presented Feb. 26. The movie has already won the Golden Globe Awards for Best Motion Picture and Best Actor, as well as the Writers Guild of America Award for Adapted Screenplay.
KVB hosted a reception for travel, entertainment and consumer media in California to promote Kaua‘i’s magnificent natural beauty, which is at the center of the movie’s storyline.
Unspoiled Kipu Kai on the island’s south shore is shown as the huge parcel of spectacular oceanfront land being contemplated for sale by Matt King (George Clooney). In addition, a series of defining scenes for King and his two daughters take place at Hanalei Bay on Kaua‘i’s idyllic north shore.
In another scene, King meets his cousin Hugh (Beau Bridges) at Tahiti Nui Restaurant, a quaint and popular real-life restaurant and cocktail lounge in Hanalei.
“We congratulate Kaui Hart Hemmings for her literary success with ‘The Descendants’ and Alexander Payne for taking this work of art and creating one of the year’s best movies,” said Sue Kanoho, KVB executive director. “I am especially pleased that movie audiences are seeing Kaua‘i and the lush, tropical beauty that makes coming to our beautiful and serene island so rejuvenating.”
Adding to the ambience of being in Kaua‘i at “The Descendants”-themed media reception was the music performed by Cyril Pahinui, son of the legendary Gabby “Pops” Pahinui, whose artistry graces the film’s soundtrack, and Jeff Peterson, a Grammy winner whose music on the slack-key guitar is also heard in the film.
Kaua‘i has served as a location site for Hollywood filmmakers and TV producers for decades in more than 60 major movies and TV shows, including “South Pacific,” “Blue Hawai‘i,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Jurassic Park,” “The Thorn Birds,” “Six Days, Seven Nights,” “Tropic Thunder,” “Avatar” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.”
