Now I know I didn’t need an insider who is actually from Maui to tell me that the cast of MTV’s Maui Fever aren’t really Maui locals, since the entire cast is 100% caucasian. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but they aren’t even originally FROM MAUI! What I found out from the insider was that only ONE of the cast members is actually from Maui and is a semi-pro surfer (pretty much the only guy who has local friends on the show), while the rest of the cast moved to Maui only a year ago.
To me, the show is basically a Laguna Beach type of cast who moved over to Maui to film a show. So what’s going on? Do they think that hiring only good looking caucasians is the only way to draw an audience? If MTV wanted to stay true to the culture and people of Maui, then they need to cast Maui locals. For goodness sake, none of the cast members even have a local accent (aka pidgin)! And the way they talk reminds me of surfer dudes who reside in California, and DEFINITELY NOT from Hawaii. Just because they live there doesn’t mean they understand the cultures of Hawaii. And if you’ve ever visited Hawaii, the population is very diverse. There are mixes of all types of nationalities. To only portray caucasians for the entire cast is not only disrespectful, but highly inaccurate.
Petitions against the show have come up, such as the Cancel Maui Fever Petition, as well as websites such as Stop the Fever. The hate even goes as far as myspace, where Stop the Fever has also created their own Myspace page to spread the news of the inaccuracies depicted in Maui Fever. Stop the Fever has even listed all the e-mails, phone numbers, and addresses of all the sponsors of the show. And with a total of 11,079 petition signatures, you can see there are a lot of people, especially the local Hawaii people, who take offense to the fake and Hollywood-like portrayal of Maui and its people and culture.
Sure, the show probably attracts a large audience. They follow a recipe that is very similar to Laguna Beach which was a huge success. There are good looking people, love triangles, and drama. Those are all aspects that make a good show, especially for people in the teenage demographic. But to expose the nation to complete inaccuracies of what Hawaii is, what Hawaii represents, and who Hawaii people are, is just plain disrespectful.
We can accept some inaccuracies here and there, because some exaggerations can make a show more interesting, but Maui Fever has definitely gone too far. MTV either has to research a lot more into the Hawaii culture before airing a show on one of the islands, or not have a show at all. At least cast some real Maui locals…sheesh.
- Mo’ Stuff at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center
- Urgent brush fire information in southwestern Maui
- Aerosmith Cancelled in Maui
RSS 2.0
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Loading ...
February 22nd, 2007 at 8:09 pm
i knew something felt fishy (like the rest of mtv “reality” shows
give it the justice it deserves!
http://www.thumbwarz.com
February 22nd, 2007 at 8:30 pm
I’ve seen the show….some of the ladies are cute… the guys are all douches. And none of them are hawaiian. I wanna see a show about a bunch of GIANT SAMOAN GUYS who pimp LARGE SAMOAN girls and kick white boys’asses, then take their women. And there will be midgets involved…lots and lots of midgets to express the size of the SAMOANS!!!
February 22nd, 2007 at 9:25 pm
MTV’s “Maui Fever†a Bunch of Crock — Aloha Update…
Now I know I didn’t need an insider who is actually from Maui to tell me that the cast of MTV’s Maui Fever aren’t really Maui locals, since the entire cast is 100% caucasian. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but they aren’t even ori…
February 22nd, 2007 at 11:33 pm
[...] Recall my posting not to long ago (excuse the gratuitous ASCII art, I was having a “moment”) where I called out MTV’s show Maui fever as being a total fraud. Anthony of “Aloha Update” posted an interesting data point today regarding the show. Anthony supposedly spoke to an “insider” on the show who indeed confirmed that all the cast members with the exception of one person, moved to Maui last year. Hmm strange coincidence huh? I just wish the rest of America cares enough about respecting culture and supports the petition to get it canceled. Anyway I’m not too worried, the show like most of MTV’s content is ephemeral and it will soon become last year’s news. [...]
February 23rd, 2007 at 2:46 am
Why is this an issue?
“Friends” is suppose to be in New York City but they had no Black or Puerto Ricans…did anyone complain or boycott or petition?
MTV is in the business to make money not in the business to promote your culture.
You are just showing how naive Hawaiians are.
Please grow up you are acting like a angst-ridden teenager.
February 23rd, 2007 at 5:58 am
It is an issue “jesse”, they’re blatantly lying and not labelling the show as ‘fictional’, rather they say it’s ‘reality’ meaning its real which implies that the people in the show are locals to the city/country.
I find this disgusting, and I always thought Laguna Beach was fake and this somewhat confirms it. And also Jesse, MTV is not in the business of promoting culture, but they also have no business exploiting the cultures of others. Exoticizing a culture so that you can make money off of it is sickening.
And also if MTV is going to create a show called “Maui Fever”, the onus is on THEM to ensure that they remain credible and stay true to showing real locals, rather then some ‘imported’ Caucasians.
February 23rd, 2007 at 6:11 am
Uh, Jesse – how about because Friends is a SITCOM an d Maui Fever is being passed off as a “reality show” in the vein of Laguna Beach (the so-called “Real O.C.”). You obviously don’t live here in Hawaii, so let me draw you a similar picture – how about we have another faux reality show called “Redneck Renegades” set in Alabama starring some Bollywood actors/actresses as “locals”?
I mean come on – you can tell the difference between a fake reality show and a sitcom, can’t you? The danger is that since this fake show is still in the categorization of “reality” (as Laguna Beach was labeled “The Real O.C.”), people as going to interpret it as such.
February 23rd, 2007 at 4:18 pm
I love this show! Tv is entertainment. If we wanted to learn something we’d watch TLC!
February 23rd, 2007 at 4:21 pm
I agree with Becca!!! Maui Fever is my absolute favorite show! I watch all the repeats and I cant get enough!!!
February 23rd, 2007 at 4:43 pm
You havent noticed how nice these kids house’s are on the show?!
February 23rd, 2007 at 9:36 pm
I don’t see what the big deal is. All reality shows are fake. I can’t believe some of you are just figuring it out. The show is enjoyable. I’d much rather watch some hot white chicks instead of some Somaon’s because I can relate to them better.
And btw, I live in Alabama and I wouldn’t care if they made a fake reality show about Alabama. I’d probably even watch it.
February 25th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
As someone who is currently visiting Hawaii for the first time, I can see why a reality show based in Hawaii with solely caucasian people is incredibly stupid. I can see why there’s a big deal about this. And as someone from New Orleans, I know how you guys feel about your hometown being inaccurately portrayed on TV. I cant count the number of poor accents I’ve seen on shows showing the “real” New Orleans.
February 26th, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Y criticize the best show ever made?? Real hawaiins r boring as hell!!!!
February 27th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
The show attracts a huge audience? It’s on MTV. How many people over the age of 16 are watching MTV?
Why are you so concerned about the racial makeup of a show anyway? Here’s a good idea…something you can do with any tv show you don’t like…don’t watch it.
March 1st, 2007 at 10:06 pm
i LOVE maui fever.
March 4th, 2007 at 3:06 am
YEAH BiTC-ES i’M A LOCAL & i F–KiNG LOVE THE SHOW. YA’LL CAN KiSS MY A–. THE SHOW ISN’T GOiNG OFF iT’S A HiT. OKAY? OKAY. STOP COMPLAiNiNG ARE YOU SUCH LOSERS THAT HAVE NO LiVES BUT TO SiT AROUND & COMPLAiN ABOUT SOMETHING FOR OTHER PEOPLES ENTERTAiNMENT. NO.! DON’T WATCH iT.! OKAY BiTC-ES.! LETS WORRY ABOUT OTHER iSSUES SUCH AS GLOBAL WARMiNG & THE WAR iN iRAQ. GET OVER YOURSELF.
March 4th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
I liked the show. Who cares about culture. Its a drama reality show. I’m a girl and most girls like the Laguna Beach .. Maui Fever Drama! I love the show and I think it should be continued!!!
March 6th, 2007 at 10:55 pm
I live in a resort town and like many you have the locals, the newly arrived locals and of course tourists. I think Maui Fever shows young people living and working on the island. Just because they may not be from there, they now make their residence there. Its here where they hang out with their friends, pick up girls and party.
They are doing it in a place called Maui. They are allowed to live there and have their lives filmed. I don’t think it shows Maui in a bad light
but rather in a ordinary one. The locals should not have to worry about Maui being portrayed in a negative way. I like the show and would like to come to Maui!!!!
March 10th, 2007 at 8:31 pm
i fawkin live in hawaii n im part white part hawaiin so all you guys jus gotta calm the fawk down quit dissin on the whites and the hawaiins cuz we all people here
n if you reeely visit hawaii you wont find whites OR hawaiins here no more the whole island is covered with asains from japan they be movin over to da island by da millions but i no care we all people
March 12th, 2007 at 8:29 am
wow, you know, the first thing i think of when i pick up my remote to turn on my tv is..”i really wanna watch a show with some ethnic diversity in it.” No. it’s TELEVISION, it’s ALL fake. or are you guys really that stupid? even REALITY tv doesn’t even PRETEND to be reality. it’s all entertainment and the fact is that the show’s a hit. sucks to be you.
March 13th, 2007 at 5:08 am
Yeah, everyone needs to relax. It’s a TV show. Reality or not, who cares? If you have nothing better to do than start a petition to ban an “inaccurate portrayal” of the area, then you REALLY need a life.
March 14th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
I spoke with the head of casting for parental control a month before I returned home for college. Unfortunatley my boyfriend and I had broken up, so I was no longer “qualified” for the show. The casting director informed me that they could “put me with someone”, pretty much admitting the whole show is fake. All of MTV is fake.
March 15th, 2007 at 11:57 pm
I was born and raised in Hawaii on the island of Oahu. I am not of Hawaiian blood, but I am definately a local (mixed race)… I don’t really think it should be a racial issue… But people should NOT be surprised that if you make a show in hawaii called MAUI FEVER portraying “Locals”…you better believe locals will get pissed to see like 1% local people on the show…. actual hawaiians if any! People in Hawaii normally back up with great joy all the times they are ever nationally recognized (i.e. jasmine trias)…. yet this show created such an uproar….not ONLY cause of raise, but because LOOK AT IT, i was SHOCKED>.. all it showed were people wanting to get Laid, spread their legs, cheat on each other… then Pick up more chicks…and the cycle goes over… absolute RUBBISH
March 15th, 2007 at 11:57 pm
oops i meant RACE not raise haha…long day at work
March 17th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
i dont even see why you people care so much. like seriously i dont think MTV wants to show people the culture of maui bc if they did they could watch like history channel or sumthing. they just want it to be entertaining, which it is. if you have such a problem, then dont watch it. Duh.
March 20th, 2007 at 5:53 pm
I just wanted to say that I like the show but I was disappointed that there wasn’t much diversity in it. I’m from Cali and have been to Hawaii many times. Reality check! It’s diverse as hell. The WolfPack needs to go over there and woop some wannabe local asses! But cmon, who doesn’t like to see a bunch of white folks look like a bunch of idiots? LOL.
March 23rd, 2007 at 1:21 am
I am from Missouri and am currently in Maui on Spring Break with my family! When I came I was all excited to see what Maui was like since I had seen Maui Fever. I am actually staying right on the beach they filmed and tried to pick up chicks at. I am so sick after seeing what Maui is really like. How beautiful it is and the awesome culture!!! MAUI FEVER NEEDS to go back to cali!
March 24th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
it si abolutely hilarious how little research t’Anthony’ did prior ot writing this article. i know ever person on the show very well. anthony, born on big island, raised in lahaina; cheyne, born in cali, rasied in lahaina since age 6; justin b., born and rasied cali, moved to lahaina 3 monthes prior the show; chaunte, born up country, rasied in la and moved back; anna, born and raised in oregon and moved to lahaina 2 years prior the show; justin d., born and raised in lahaina; kevin, born and raised on maui; rachael, born and rasied in lahaina. you all need to take a chill pill…you don’t like the show,don’t watch it! you don’t think it’s an adequite portrayal of maui, of course it’s not…its a fictional tv show..HELLO!!! lastly, mv help an open casting for 2 monthes, they wanted an all local cast, guess what, the local hawaiians that were willing to do it where either pregnant, too drunk, too high on ice, or had no life and nothing going and would not be able tio entertain a fucking fly. so i say again, do your research and you’d all know, maui fever is fake (duh) and most of the cast is as local as possible without actually having dark skin.
March 28th, 2007 at 2:18 am
Hey Rachael – March 24, 2007 @ 6:58pm..good for you that you know all the cast members. But to talk smack about the (non-white) locals was not appreciated. Auwe!
You appear to have contradicted yourself when you wrote “maui fever is fake (duh) and most of the cast is as local as possible without actually having dark skin.” If it is all fake, is the cast all fake? You explained a lot about the cast.
I watch the show, every person that you wrote about that was RAISED in Hawaii are the people I like because they behave like Hawaii Locals. The ones that behave like skanks and pricks were raised out of the state.
I can tell you weren’t raised in Hawaii either.
April 1st, 2007 at 3:09 pm
Wow get over yourself. Dont like the show dont watch it.
You all should know that reality tv shows are scripted.
Creating a petition for a show you dont like, is extremely pathetic. There’s ALWAYS Going to be someone that opposes your views. Dont trash the show if others want to see more of it.
The show has NOTHING to do with the cultural backgrounds it’s not like its a discovery channel show. It’s strictly there for location, the producers/directors have every right to portray what they want for their show. Complaining that the characters are all white, is quite discrimatory, and very racist. How do you know if “hawaiians” were apart of the crew/cast in deleted scenes footages. You dont, so stop bitching. These rants get you no where. Just get over it and move on with your life.
There is going to be people that hate you or you will hate others, big deal if the cast was fake, there are PLENTY of other fakes. Is this show really going to kill you, I dont think so.
April 2nd, 2007 at 9:18 pm
Rachael, you are so ignorant! First of all, “local” is much more than brown skin. I don’t remember ever seeing most of these people before the days of Maui Fever! So I don’t care what color they are but I never saw them and therefore find it hard to believe that they are “Kaanapali locals.” Secondly, you’re pretty extreme to say that all “the local hawaiians that were willing to do it where either pregnant, too drunk, too high on ice, or had no life and nothing going and would not be able tio entertain a fucking fly.” But cast members’ lives were so entertaining that the show needed to be scripted? Did it ever occur to you that maybe there were very few or no true locals or Hawaiians that were actually WILLING to sell out themselves and their island? And maybe that’s why MTV got the junk cast that they did. GOOD. They deserve it. I WILL watch the show, when it shows the whole story of what REALLY happens here, like ignorant haoles getting their asses kicked by pissed off mokes! And the MTV crew and their cameras getting fucked with by REAL locals. And the cast getting hassled in the water and elsewhere for being sellouts! Lastly, Rachael, learn to spell: ‘monthes’ is ‘months’.
April 5th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Wow, a lot of these comments just really show how people seriously could care less about other’s cultures these days. I watched Maui Fever and I thought it was an OK show but i can see how locals would be insulted. I mean if you’re going to make a show about MAUI it would be nice to actually have HAWAAIIAN people on it lol. Having an all white cast on a show like Laguna Beach is all well and good but like a lot of people have been saying, Maui is a lot more diverse than that. And we all know that the reason behind the cast is simply that MTV knows that we love to watch hot blonde guyz and chikkz running around partying, sleeping with each other, and crying bitching and moaning the whole time. I think the comment that guy made that said ” I’d much rather watch some hot white chicks instead of some Somaon’s because I can relate to them better,” was incredibly ignorant and shows how a lot of people are just not interested in anything that isn’t JUST LIKE THEM. So basically, yeah i see why people would be upset about the portrayal of Maui. I know that if they made another Laguna Beach that they called “The Real Orange County,” and they had a bunch of loud ass black people running around drinking 40’s people would be quick as hell to get upset over how it’s being portrayed.. Especially the white people who are on here saying “oh well, who cares” about the Maui Fever issue.
April 5th, 2007 at 9:03 pm
seriously i can’t stand this anymore. everyone needs to get over this. its a show and its doesn’t represent maui or hawaii, yah its a show filmed in hawaii so what, its about the people on the show and how does everyone know if they are from maui or not. they all could be born and raised or just raised there. as everyone said, hawaii is very diverse in its races, people from the mainland don’t realize how much asians there are in the islands. i may not look like a local or hawaiian either but i am a 1/4 hawaiian and wen 2 kam skool. besides its a show on MTV, people need to realize that.
April 9th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
[...] you are under the illusion that “Maui Fever” is a show about real lives of real people, you are very mistaken. I shouldn’t really care, of course (bad programming on MTV?? Never!!!), but this was so bad [...]
April 12th, 2007 at 1:16 am
Unless you are born and raised in Hawaii, you can not begin to understand who we are and what we are about. No matter where you go in the world, Hawaii people are always able to recognize each other. We are totally a culture among ourselves. Therefore, anything, in any form documenting the state of Hawaii becomes a very sensitive issue.
Believe me = a vast majority of people who watch this show, but who have NEVER visited the islands, will believe what they see. Whether it is scripted or not, the will believe what they see.
I graduated from Arizona State, even at this university, people did not realize Hawaii is a state, we speak English and we do not live in grass huts. It was unbeliveable. It is not stupidity it is ignorance.
What is stupidity is MTV and its disregard for the people of Hawaii. Misunderstanding of locals is probably why there are a lot of bitter people who move to Hawaii but can not adjust to the local lifestyle = thus, they make negative remarks and move back to where ever they came from.
April 13th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
THIS SHOW IS SO F**KING AWESOME I COULD WATCH IT EVERY DAY… AND I HOPE IT CONTINUES!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 16th, 2007 at 1:29 am
[...] start a horrible reality show like the OC and use the allure of the Hawaiian Islands to make it big.read more | digg [...]
April 16th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
i love maui fever!cant wait for season 2
May 24th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
haven’t seen the show but know all the great or cool places will eventually become … SoCal? lots of people bring their culture with them and refuse to let it go . Baja is going down the tubes right now. So for all you haole haters, skin color is the least of your worries. ‘Homegrown’s comment could have been a comment from someone who lives in West Virginia or the Golon Heights. It is a universal cry: You don’t know who we are! We are Special. We are from where we are! Sometimes the small mindedness of people disheartens me.
May 30th, 2007 at 4:13 am
its nice work…
its nice working!Good!…
June 6th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
hey…
i just think that it IS a reality tv show about young people living and working in Maui. Getting their lives taped and everything is only their business. Clearly the show has attracted a large audience because it is a good show. If everyone complained about Laguna Beach, saying that not ALL people who reside there are rich…we wouldnt have had laguna.
I think we just focus on issues that are more important…Maui isnt seen in a bad light…its just a show about having fun, making friends and partying…
seriously….get over it!
June 18th, 2007 at 9:03 pm
You guys need to focus on life, see what it really is about there is no point in arguing about this stuff my I.Q dropped four point reading this rubbish, people want money, maui fever makes money, thus this is what the people will do, T.V is not made to show ethnic diversity, it is to entertain people, enough said Life will go on, and people will do what they need to make money so everyone STOP have a kit kat bar for christ’s sake and just appreciate living, many people don’t even have a T.V to watch and we’re complaining about whats on it..Donate some money to charity or do volunteer work, rather then argue what should be allowed on T.V, have a wonderful DAY
July 2nd, 2007 at 4:44 pm
Uhhh they are on vaceh there
July 3rd, 2007 at 6:38 pm
wow guys get over it. it’s only a show like fuck oo cares of there is locals like they are all freands and that why they were on it mabe when it was fimled there were locals but there went and entertaing as the main cast.
July 4th, 2007 at 10:17 am
this is a good show what are you guyz talkin bout??
July 4th, 2007 at 10:18 am
Oh ya and why are you disses white people ok im white and live in maui!!
July 9th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
i think this write up is a bunch of racist comments.. who cares if there white frick who told you there suposed to be hawaiian, mauian lol
July 17th, 2007 at 7:27 pm
Never watched the show, but heard about this website.
No surprise here! Same shit, different day.
The white man invading someone else’s land,
dictating how the natives should live and than
exploiting their haole influences to satisfy
their greed.
August 3rd, 2007 at 9:37 am
[...] http://www.alohaupdate.com/2007/02/21/mt…; [...]
August 7th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
Okay stop acting like hawaii isn’t america. People move all the time. they moved to a different state. big deal. just because you were not born somewhere does not mean its not your home. I think a lot of people were jealous and made a big fuss over nothing. OKay so probably a lot of reality shows are scripted. no one I dont care who you are turns on tv to watch actual reality. if so you would be watching a show about another lazy ass person sitting on a couch watching tv. who wants that!!!?? I get enough reality I want to watch something fun on tv.
August 22nd, 2007 at 9:29 pm
Hawaii is the 50th state of America. But, what does that have to do with this?
I could careless about this show. As a Native Hawaiian, this show has no bearing on my life.
Especially since it does not depict the true lives of people in Hawaii.
‘Auwe to the cast for even being apart of such a venue.
Watch Laguna Beach or whatever else. Don’t watch this show!
September 20th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
[...] favorite article has to be the one on MTV’s Maui Fever a Bunch of Crock. I guess out of the whole cast, there is only one person actually from Maui. I guess that does not [...]
October 13th, 2007 at 3:15 am
[...] read more | digg story [...]
January 26th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
I go with alot of this ppl Maui Fever is the coolest show i watched it every time it came on. So i think the ppl that don’t like it don’t need to watch it and there is alot of shows that the ppl that playin it arent from there so get ova ur selfs and move on. Oh and u guys better keep the show on bc if u don’t i mite have to come down there and kick ur asses bc that show is the coolest and the guys on there are hot and im white so is that a prob shit get ova it.
February 22nd, 2008 at 4:38 pm
kriistii
August 7, 2007 @ 3:29 pm
Okay stop acting like hawaii isn’t america. People move all the time. they moved to a different state. big deal. just because you were not born somewhere does not mean its not your home.
Cease with this drivel. Yes, Hawai’i is America. No, it is not like the contiguous 48. It is essentially an Asian society with deep Polynesian influences. It’s best, when traveling to Hawai’i, to consider the islands a foreign country. Yes, it is that different. Just because you decide you want to move there doesn’t make it your home. A strong connection to one’s birthplace is a hallmark of culture in Hawai’i and is something most mainlanders find incredibly perplexing.
June 16th, 2009 at 12:17 am
haha you guys are a bunch of haters!!!! whoever wrote this article is a dumb fuck and has no idea what they are saying. all of the people on the show are locals except for 3. yes they are caucasians,but they are born and raised on maui which means they locals. if you believe this article you are about as clueless as the writer……….. do your research before you make assumptions and stop being jealous kooks.. im not saying i like the show but i am saying you know nothing about what you are saying.