Some Famous People

Some Famous People was Originally Posted on January 25, 2010 by lavarock

Some famous people hide from the public, some don’t. I have not seen a good list of famous people making Hawaii their home, but through sightings and the occasional story of visitors, it is possible to make a small list.

Oprah has at least one place over on Maui, but Cher just sold a place she owned up north on the Big Island. The Beach Boys used to own a place south of my farm, but it did not appear to be large by today’s standards. Jason Scott Lee owns land over by Hilo, and is often seen buying “off the grid” products at Home Depot. Wally (Famous) Amos, the cookie guy, is seen on local TV talking about a new cookie factory on Oahu and is a motivational speaker. Steve Case has a place up in town, but I think is rarely here. Bette Midler has a place here too, I hear.

In a gated community up near Kailua-Kona, a few properties have been purchased by Reverend Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Unification Church.

Oh we get visitors too. A friend drove Jimmy Kimmel to the airport, the Who have performed some concerts along with many older music groups who now tour the U.S.. Pat and Vanna have filmed shows here more than once.

It is not uncommon to see Chef Sam Choy around town. He is bringing a new restaurant to the area.

Raymond Bailey (My. Drysdale from the beverly Hillbillies) used to live on Oahu and worked in the pineapple fields.

Many people know of Dog the Bounty Hunder fame and his family. Jim Nabors lived on Maui and owned a macadamia nut farm there. Graham Nash lives on Kauai, Jessee Colin Young has a Kona coffee farm while Carlos Santana lives part-time on Maui.

Then there are the various surfers and swimmers who hail from here. Duke Kahanamoku (the father of modern surfing) is the most famous.

Georgia Engle (Mary Tyler Moore Show) went to school here and her sister was Miss Hawaii

There are many others, but you get the idea. Still, we are far from a meca like Hollywood when it comes to stars and famous people sightings. We are very rural on this island and our state has just over a million residents. So you may see a star or two, you just never know.