NAWILIWILI — Kaui Hart Hemmings is no stranger to Kaua‘i, having family ties in the North Shore of the island, said a representative of McNeil Wilson Friday at the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort and Beach Club. Hemmings was on Kaua‘i for
NAWILIWILI — Kaui Hart Hemmings is no stranger to Kaua‘i, having family ties in the North Shore of the island, said a representative of McNeil Wilson Friday at the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort and Beach Club.
Hemmings was on Kaua‘i for a pair of readings from her first novel, “The Descendants,” which was adapted for a movie directed by Alexander Payne and starring George Clooney; the film went on to win an Academy Award for best adapted screenplay.
The film, based on Hemmings’ novel and set in Hawai‘i, fulfilled her personal goal of “having something about Hawai‘i to read,” she told a gathering of people who collected at the Ni‘ihau Court for one of two free readings.
Among those were Aulia, Kehela and Makala Ventura, who all were cast as extras in the film.
“I didn’t get to see the film, but I read the book,” said Debra Blackwell, who joined the Venturas in meeting the writer. “I’m waiting for the film to come out as a rental.”
Aulia Ventura said the film was pretty close to the book, having read the book as well as being an extra in the movie.
According to McNeil Wilson, Hemmings’ visit, which started with an appearance in Waikiki, is part of a series featuring home-grown artists.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
