The official taping of the first-ever Maui community golf show, titled Da Game, began today on Maui’s west side as Kapalua resident and golf club member Dave Ward hosted the program’s inaugural episode. Humbled Cell Productions is overseeing the filming and post of the new Maui Golf Review magazine golf show aimed at the local market, with the help of the Valley Isle’s community television station, Akaku.
Ward, who heads up XXX, a well-known Maui golf club of local businessmen, is helping the 16-year-old golf guide’s effort to provide the Maui community with some much-needed programming. Da Game will present Maui golfdom in creative ways. “Dave has been selfless in his willingness to contribute his valuable time and energy to the effort. His great sense of humor, edginess, and knowledge of golf are priceless qualities and will make for entertaining viewing at home by our local golfers,” John Byrne, the editor of the Maui Golf Review said.
While the magazine itself is essentially a brochure of Maui’s courses for the sake of visitor information, the company was once the leading Hawaii golf periodical. “Back in the ’90s, we were an 86-page golf magazine that covered everything from the Manoa Cup to our exclusive Rob Sandler celebration of the centennial of golf in Hawaii,” Byrne notes. “But, market forces made covering local golf difficult to manage financially,” he adds, saying: “So, we cut back on our frequency and basically became a brochure.”
But video has always had an appeal to the company. “Akaku, and the advent in technology, has made the entry-level price-point for ‘Indy” producers so attractive, that it makes sense to go this route and to use it not only for community television, but on the web too,” he said.
But entertaining a media-drenched society is hard to do, and the Maui Golf Review’s staff has been hard at work experimenting with how to dazzle local viewers.
“We see this gap in the market for a golf show on the island, and with the Akaku resource available to us, we felt it was an opportunity to serve the community with something positive and entertaining. Dave Ward is certainly a big boost to the show, because he has this irreverent and edgy way of communicating that is great for golf and Maui,” Marie Lenz, the show’s producer said.
“Honestly, he doesn’t need to be doing this, but he is so selfless and proud of Maui, that he just naturally stepped up to the challenge,” she said. “One hour of volunteer work is a lot to ask for,” she notes. “But Dave is making what would be a mediocre show something Maui can be proud of. He is awesome!”
Fun, interesting, newsy, current, edgy, and a slice of life that appeals to everyone is the shows aim. “We want make you to come back for more,” Lenz adds.
One of the first episodes highlights is Dave’s Brett Ogle interview. “Brett won the ‘94 Hawaiian Open, and was here last month playing on our courses,” Lenz explains. “Few former champions ever venture out to our other courses, and Dave gets Brett to talk story about what he thought of our other venues. It’s something you’ll rarely see,” she contends.
Jeremy Holcombe, who with partner Stephen Ruddell, are overseeing most of Da Game’s production, was on hand operating the camera and directing the action. “I’m happy to be here. The Maui Golf Review is doing something cool, and Steve and I are excited to be helping with the effort.” Holcombe and Ruddell’s company, Humbled Cell Productions, describes itself as follows: “We are a Faith based, full service company that brings media to life in a whole new way. Humbled Cell Productions creates and offers a wide range of quality, professional services and media to all of its customers.”
“But we really want to let the people of Maui know how much Stephen Luksic and the entire Akaku team means to our efforts,” Byrne notes. “Frankly, if it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t even bother.”
Da Game is scheduled to air June 30, 2010 on both Akaku, Maui’s community television station, as well as on Oahu’s Olelo community station. It will also be permanently hosted on the Maui Golf Review’s soon-to-be launched local online network, AlohaVision.com. Clips from the show will also appear on the mauigolfreview.com website when it debuts in July.
The Maui Golf Review is part of the Kahului-based, regional golf custom publishing company, Review Publications. Review Publications has published award-winning golf periodicals throughout Hawaii, Oregon, California, and Florida since 1995.
District 13, of the American Advertising Federation, recognized the firm in 2008; with a first place Pele Award for Business Photography. In 2009, the Hawaii Publishers Association recognized the company for its work on the HVCB BIVB Hawaii Official Guide to Golf, with first place Pai Awards for Best Cover Design and Best Directory that year. In 2009, the American Advertising Federation once again recognized the firm with its distinguished Award of Merit for its work on Kaanapali Golf Resort’s photography
Historic Lahaina, Maui is a great place to celebrate the Fourth of July with its kaleidoscope of restaurants, vintage ice cream parlors, clubs, funky boutiques, shops and galleries. Fourth of July stirs the local citizens to heights of frivolity as they entertain guests from all over Earth and if legends can be believed visitors from beyond our galaxy! July 4th 2010 will be a day chock full of fun though the parade and a special concert will be held toward the end of the day leading up to a fantastic fireworks show.
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