Daniel Henney makes special appearance at Honolulu International Film Festival with film, 'Shanghai Calling'

Photo: Shanghai Calling 

What are some reasons why Korean drama fans should check out the Honolulu International Film Festival?...

These days, it seems that HIFF is bringing in more Korean films to satiate Hawaii's love for Asian films and to feed the growing enthusiasm towards Korean films. It could be the due to the rise of Korean drama fans and audiences in the Hawaiian Islands. This past season's lineup sported a wealth of Korean films that have hit theaters in Korea and made a popular splash, such as The Thieves.

Another reason to check out HIFF?

Well, you never know who you might see...

This past Friday, Daniel Henney make a special guest appearance at the festival for his new film, Shanghai Calling.

Okay, so the film wasn't Korean. It was based in China and Henney plays a Chinese-American lawyer

Gorilla in the Cafe in Waikiki: Not as grand as it could be

Gorilla in the Cafe

 When the news hit the Hawaii press that Bae Yong Joon's Gorilla in the Cafe was opening in Waikiki, it had K-drama fans excited. What would the cafe look like, what would happen at the opening and most of all, would the Hallyu star make an appearance? According to my mother, whom I dropped off at the cafe so she could take some photos for me, the opening wasn't all that impressive.

No Korean congratulatory wreaths,  balloons or free samples, no crowds spilling out of the cafe, no menu

Seo Ji-Seok and Hawaii's Korean Festival 2012 was hot, yet so cool. (Part 1)

Hawaii's Korean Festival 2012 Hawaii's 11th Annual Korean Festival was hot yet so coooool. 

Aside from the Hawaiian heat making its way into summer, there were a lot of really good performances and events on the festival grounds. I know all you Seo Ji-Seok fans wanna know if the man arrived.

Seo Ji-Seok rumored to be at Hawaii's 11th Annual Korean Festival 2012

11th Annual Hawaii Korean Festival 2012 

Korea has oodles of festivals throughout the year.

It's as if they have much to celebrate.

 When you're in Hawaii however, there's only one Korean festival to inform you about the entire culture.

Who's rumored to be there?

 Thus, the 11th Annual Korean Festival will be this July 14th and you may not want to miss it. Madonna will be there... Korea's Madonna, that is,  Kim Wan Sun, whom ironically lived in Hawaii for three years while studying at the University of Hawaii.

Another celebrity guest rumored to make an appearance for an autograph session is Hallyu star, Seo Ji-Seok of

Bae Yong Joon opens a cafe in Waikiki this April

Hallyu megastar Bae Yong Joon opens cafe in Waikiki this April    Photo credit: Honolulu Pulse

The Koreans are coming to Hawaii! Hallyu fans in Hawaii will be excited to learn that Hallyu megastar, Bae Yong Joon will be opening a cafe in Waikiki.

 Last April when the star was in Hawaii, it was said he enjoyed playing golf (photos here) in the islands. However, it's quite possible the actor got to know the islands even earlier, through a DATV project, "Bae Yong Joon, Holiday in Hawaii" which filmed in 2010.

 BYJ's new cafe, Gorilla in the Cafe Hawaii is named after his Seoul restaurant in Gangnam called "Gorilla in the Kitchen".

The cafe will share