We ran into Michael Emerson, who plays Benjamin Linus on ABC’s hit TV series “Lost,” listening to jazz in Honolulu’s Chinatown district the other night.

Nice guy—which makes you realize what an incredible actor he is. When he plays Linus—the series’ complicated is-he-or-isn’t-he-a-villain—he somehow manages to be both seriously sinister and as equable as a Jack Johnson CD. Often at the same time. Always brilliantly.

In the cover feature of our current issue, we give you the low down on the “15 Things We Love About Hawaii” right now. One of these, just happens to be Emerson—the only actor to make the list.

Among the other objects of our affection? The only ukulele we’d pay four figures to strum. The Hawaii-published book that’s on our nightstand right now. The Big Island clothing designer with the fashion sense we’re digging most. The classic surfboard we’d hit the waves with right now if we weren’t at work (and knew how to surf). And more.

Emerson’s work on “Lost”—which is filmed entirely on Oahu—is one of our favorite things about every episode. It’s our good fortune that he feels similarly about our Islands, and talked to us about it.

Here’s an excerpt:

There is no “Lost” without Oahu, says Emerson. … He admits that Oahu’s beauty captivates him. No matter where he is after a long day of work shooting in the jungle, he stops every evening to watch the sun drop beneath the horizon.

Well, we did say it was just an excerpt.

You’ll find the full text of our Emerson write-up and the 14 other things we love about Hawaii in the May/June 2008 issue of HAWAII Magazine, on newsstands now.

  

Apparently, hell hath no fury like golfers unleashed on Maui with $10,000 in cash, a BMW Z4 and  an LPGA tournament slot at stake.

At least that’s what we thought while watching a preview of Golf Channel’s reality series “Big Break,” which premieres its 10th season Tuesday at 10 p.m., eastern time (6 p.m. Hawaii time).

We also thought, “Wait, the Golf Channel has a reality show?” But that’s another story.

For those not in the know (that included us a few hours ago), each season of “Big Break” pits 12 golfers against each other for an exemption slot in a championship golf tournament. Producers fly the dozen (this season, they’re all-female) to a cool golf destination (Kaanapali, this time) with the lure of sweet prizes (grand prize this time around is a slot at the 2008 Navistar LPGA Classic).

Each episode tests their skills on the greens. A player is eliminated each week.

Think “Survivor,” with nine irons and a cushy golf resort instead of an immunity idol and some godforsaken desert island. Like “Survivor,” the drama comes from the diverse personalities and egos of those involved.

Based on the clashes of ids and egos that we saw in the “Big Break” preview, the only thing sure to come out smelling sweet by season’s end is Maui’s sunny and scenic Kaanapali Resort.

“Big Break” has filmed in Hawaii once before—in late 2005 at Oahu’s Turtle Bay Resort.

More on the Kaanapali season here.
  

If you were one of millions of television viewers watching American Idol last night, you know that contestant Jason Castro sang beloved Hawaiian musician Israel Kamakawiwo'ole’s arrangement of “Over the Rainbow.”

The contestants were supposed to sing songs that inspired them. The dreadlocked, typically mellow Castro called the song “really magical. He [Iz] really captured what the song was all about … hope (and) dreams coming true.”

Nice.

Castro started the song solo with just an ‘ukulele—Bruddah Iz style.

Then the string section from the house band swelled. Castro made a questionable falsetto choice. It was over.

Judge Randy Jackson, seemingly beyond amazed, called the performance “blazing, molten hot.”  Sort of like Kilauea, dawg?

Paula Abdul said, “I love that version of the song. You did a great job.” Awww, Paula … always so sweet.

Even the notoriously acerbic Simon Cowell praised Castro’s take as “fantastic”—though not before oddly querying, “This is the version which is out on the Internet by ‘Israel’ somebody, right?"

Come on, Simon.

Bruddah Iz’s version has become the definitive version of the song, second only to Judy Garland’s Wizard of Oz version. It's been in films, television shows and—bless Madison Avenue—commercials. Kamakawiwo'ole CDs featuring the song have sold a million-plus copies worldwide.

Show some respect, Cowell. Or at least, Google the man's name, the next time you're on the Internet.

We’re always to happy to see one of our favorite Hawaii musicians get some serious props when millions are watching and listening. But as far as Castro’s version being “fantastic,” well, sorry, but we’ve heard Iz’s original.

You be the judge. Here is Castro’s version. And here is IZ.

  

The 45th annual Merrie Monarch Festival begins tonight.  This is the World Series, the SuperBowl of hula competitions, bringing the best hula dancers from around the world to Edith Kanakaole Stadium in Hilo, Hawaii.

If you can’t get to Hilo, KITV.com will provide live streaming video. (Of course, if you are near a TV set in Hawaii, you can simply watch the broadcast live on KITV Channel 4.) 

Tonight, April 3, is the competition for Miss Aloha Hula 2008.

Friday night, the competition begins for halau, hula troupes.  That night both men’s and women’s halau compete in kahiko, traditional hula.

Saturday night brings the modern, or auana, competition.  That night the winners will be announced in an emotional ceremony.

Live coverage begins tonight at 6 p.m., Hawaii Time.  That’s midnight on the East Coast, 9 p.m. on the West Coast. 

Here's the complete schedule (all times are Hawaii):

Miss Aloha Hula: Thur. Apr. 3, 6-11 p.m.
Hula Kahiko: Fri. Apr. 4, 6-11 p.m.  
Hula Auana:  Sat. Apr. 5, 5:30-12 a.m.

 

Chef Robert Irvine and a crew from his popular Food Network show “Dinner: Impossible” were dispatched to Hawaii late last year to film an episode. You can see what they cooked up tonight.

Fans of the show know the “Dinner: Impossible” drill. Given no knowledge of an event beforehand, Irvine is summoned to plan, procure, cook and serve an entire menu for it in a matter of hours.

The location of the event typically provides the challenge. And for tonight’s episode—“Late for the Luau”—Irvine’s got a juicy one: Create an entire beachside luau for more than 150 Hawaii residents and visitors in only eight hours.

Renowned Hawaii chef Sam Choy will offer Irvine guidance, and the Big Island's Kona Village Resort its oceanside luau grounds. But the thought of watching the always gunning-for-a-challenge Irvine prep a pig for an imu and make lau lau assures we’ll be watching tonight. We hear plenty of things went humorously awry—including someone knocking over a display of fruit—so this could be fun.

Tonight at 10 p.m. (Eastern/Pacific) and 1 a.m. (Eastern/Pacific) on Food Network.