Been to most of the conventions in the states? Well, here is a brand new one and it is going to be in HAWAII! HawaiiCon just had an extremely successful Kickstarter Campaign; they doubled their goal! Early bird tickets just finished up on Sept. 21 but general ticket sales begin in January. You can sign up on the mailing list at their temporary website: www.hawaiicon.com. You can also get up to date info by going to their fb page.
Check out my interview with one of the founders of HawaiiCon, GB Hajim!
What exactly is Hawaii Con? How long has it been around?
HawaiiCon is a science, sci-fi and fantasy convention set on the Big Island of Hawaii full of Aloha. It’s first year will be 2014, but early bird tickets are on sale now until September 21st.
How will it be different than any other con?
HawaiiCon has all the goodness of a regular convention: panels, autographs, meet and greets, but also a chance to hang on the beach and go on real adventures with your favorite stars. Fancy snorkeling, horseback riding, a sunset sail or just a mellow hula lesson with your favorite star? We’re going to make it happen! Want to see your favorite star singing in front of a sunset over the ocean? All ready in the works!
How did this con get started?
I was casting my new live action movie Taken and Shaken to be shot here in Hawaii. The sci-fi actors and actresses I was speaking to said, “Why isn’t there a convention in Hawaii?” and I thought, “Yeah, why not?” I started doing some research and it seemed really doable. I talked to some friends and we made a core team of people to put it all together.
What aspects of geek/nerd culture will the con be focusing on?
We are hosting the 10th reunion of the cast of Stargate: Atlantis, as well as mini-reunions of cast members from Battlestar Galactica, Babylon 5, Farscape, Star Trek, Game of Thrones, and others. We will also have comic book artists, cosplay dinners, costume contests, author/writer workshops, workshops in costuming and swordplay, LARPing on the beach and so much more. I’m also proud that we will be bringing some of the world’s top astronomers (our island has the largest collection of observatories in the world), scientists working on the manned Mars Mission, as well as aerospace experts to talk about the spaceport our island will have for commercial spaceflight.
What is your involvement with the con?
I am one of the founders, kind of a CEO, but more I serve our Khalessi of Programming Jessie Minick.
What are you most looking forward to at this particular con?
Scuba diving with Patricia Tallman (Babylon 5) and possibly Rachel Luttrell (Stargate)
What should people expect?
The WOW feeling! The place is right on Hapuna Beach which has been rated one of the top ten beaches in our country. You walk into the lobby and it is like looking out of a starship to the beach and ocean. The convention won’t be huge, so no big lines and we have so much going on that, for a small con, people will have a ton of things to choose from each day and into the night. There will be a high percentage of stars per con goer so fans will see stars around a lot on the beach, at the pool, at the bar, and on the dance floor. We are creating an experience for both stars and fans so we will all feel like we are one family – ʻohana as we say here.
Any special guests lined up?
From Stargate Atlantis: Torri Higginson, Rachel Luttrel, Paul McGillion, Rainbow Sun Francks and Andee Frizzell
From other shows:
David Franklin (Farscape/Xena), A Tigh Reunion of Michael Hogan (Battlestar Galactica/Teen Wolf) and Kate Vernon (Battlestar Galactica), a mini Babylon 5 reunion with Claudia Christian (Babylon 5/Starhyke) and Patricia Tallman (Babylon 5/Star Trek), and voice actress extraordinaire Cree Summer (Drawn Together) so far. More to be added soon.
What will some of the special events be? Besides the Tours with Stars which is going to be so full of awesome, we have Rachel Luttrell booked to sing at one of the Gala Dinners and we’re having a special lu’au with hula…you never know who might join in the dancing! We have a lot of other great events in the works.
Might it be a bit hot for some cosplay costumes?
Actually, most summer cons across the country are far hotter. We have a constant breeze coming off the ocean and, in September when the con take place, the average air temperature is around 80. The con rooms are well air conditioned and the whole hotel is shaded, but I wouldn’t go to the beach in a Totoro costume!
How can people find out more information?
Right now we have super great deals on passes and hotel packages via Kickstarter. You can see the hotel and get more info there too. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/289378015/hawaiicon
We have a website (www.hawaiicon.com) with some info, but our full function website won’t be launched until November.
