Kukui High craze expands with gear
The popularity of Kukui High School, the fictional alma mater of lawmen Steve McGarrett and Chin Ho Kelly on "Hawaii Five-0," is going viral.
Mentioned just once in the series pilot, it not only spawned a fictional website, but now a line of clothing that will be sold by Bütigroove, according to Ryan Ozawa, the local über-blogger behind the Kukui High Web presence.
The line of items will likely include a football jersey similar to the one seen on Chin Ho Kelly (aka Daniel Dae Kim) in previews of an episode featuring a football game at Kukui High School.
Last night’s episode, "Malama ka Aina," focused on a gang attack during a high school football game attended by the "Five-0" crew.
"All kinds of ideas are flying around if things go well, including a whole rack of stuff a la Rainbowtique, but instead featuring all manner of KHS paraphernalia — pennants, license plate holders, mugs, the works," Ozawa said.
So far, the network appears to like what it inspired.
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"Every producer wants smart, creative fans like this behind their show," said Peter Lenkov, an executive producer for "Five-0." "If I were the principal of Kukui High, I’d graduate these guys with honors."
On the Net: » Yearbook | Kukui High School |
Popularity of the Facebook page Ozawa created after the Sept. 20 network premiere — more than 2,000 people "like" it — as well as a yearbook online also inspired plans for a winter ball in December, a reunion at a local club and an offer from singer Jimmy Borges to record an alma mater song that he wrote.
An initial line of T-shirts is already selling, and Ozawa said he has mailed more than 100 "Student of the Month" bumper stickers to fans in Germany, Virginia, Maine, Utah, Arizona, California and throughout Hawaii.
Ozawa is hoping he can get one of the show’s stars to wear a Kukui High T-shirt or join in the planned festivities.