Kaua‘i has shared a wonderful relationship with Hollywood for decades dating back to 1957. We have had quite a few blockbuster hits film on our island such as “Blue Hawai‘i,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Jurassic Park I, II and III,” “Six Days, Seven Nights” and the recent Ben Stiller film “Tropic Thunder,”

With all the films that have come and gone, one stands out as a classic and has become iconic for Kaua‘i — “South Pacific.”

Kaua‘i was the backdrop for the Rodgers & Hammerstein movie 50 years ago and the songs “Bali Hai” and “I’m gonna wash that man right out of my hair” are still referenced today. The views of Hanalei Pier and Mt. Makana featured in the movie still give me “chicken skin” today.

This year is the official 50th anniversary of the movie “South Pacific” which is being re-released in Blu-ray and DVD. The Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau has an agreement with Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment to jointly promote the re-release of the movie during the months of March and April. All of our advertising, our Web site, e-banners, etc., will have the announcement of the re-release. Additionally, through a partnership with the Sheraton Kauai, we are offering an awesome “South Pacific” sweepstakes package.

The Hawai‘i Visitors & Convention Bureau and its island chapters will be blitzing San Francisco during the month of March. Each chapter will have a week to dominate the Bay area with their own theme.

KVB has chosen the theme “50 Years of Movies in Paradise” to tie in with the “South Pacific” promotions. We will finish our week on “lucky” Friday the 13th at One Market’s business district with drawings for Kaua‘i Made products and free airline tickets on Hawaiian Airlines. We will feature the talents of Nick Castillo and our newly crowned Noelani Kaui, Miss Garden Isle.

We are working with a representative from Rodgers & Hammerstein to see if we can extend this cooperative for the remainder of 2009 (there are licensing agreements that need to be cleared before we can move forward on any additional promotions). We realize 50th anniversaries come but once in a lifetime, and the “South Pacific” re-release gives us a gift at a time when we could use a boost.  

• Sue Kanoho is the executive director of the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau and can be reached at skanoho@hvcb.org