Award-winning filmmaker Ben Immanuel along with Westworld Executive Producer Richard J. Lewis has completed production of the feature film Have Hope Yo! starring Gabrielle Miller
Co-stars include Favour Onwuka, Giacomo Baessato, Jennifer Spence, Camille Sullivan, Elliott Ramsey, and Natalie Farrow
Writer/director Ben Immanuel (Down River, Ganjy) has joined forces with Executive Producer Richard J. Lewis (Westworld, Barney’s Version) to complete the feature film Have Hope Yo! (originally entitled Trigger Me), a dramedy chronicling the mental health effects of the pandemic. The film started shooting in October of 2020 and the final block of filming was completed this spring in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Executive Produced by Trigger Me Productions, Haven Films, and Raw Camera, the project tells the story of a therapist, Gabrielle Miller (Corner Gas, Starving for Salvation), and several of her clients, as they agree to take part in a documentary about how they have been impacted by the first wave of Covid. The story then jumps ahead to 2023, to examine how the pandemic has affected them, for better or worse, and where they now fit into our forever-changed world. The film also stars Jennifer Spence (Traces, Travelers), Giacomo Baessato (The Good Doctor), Favour Onwuka (Dying to Belong), Camille Sullivan (Hunter, Hunter), and up-and-comers Elliott Ramsey (UnREAL) and Natalie Farrow (Siren). Immanuel, also an accomplished multiple award-winning actor, plays the role of the documentarian.
Says Immanuel, “I have been living with this concept and these characters since March of 2020 when I began teaching online acting classes during our first lockdown. Hearing young people’s stories of how the pandemic as well as racial, gender, and social media issues have affected their mental health and worldview has been truly enlightening. Collaborating with these performers to create narratives inspired, in part, by their own lives, has been a privilege that I am confident will result in a compelling, revelatory, and entertaining ride.”
Says Lewis, “By collaborating with his actors through the writing process, Ben is able to bring a level of unadorned truth to the screen that is startlingly authentic. I was struck by how emotionally engaging Ben’s previous feature, Down River, was, and see Have Hope Yo! as an even more disarmingly truthful, poignant, and funny film.”
Have Hope Yo! is produced by Immanuel along with Kimi Alexander, Troy Mundle and Bernie Yao. Emma Djwa is Director of Photography, with Franco Pante as Executive Producer/Editor and Milton Ng onboard as First A.D.
Jack Ong, Gosha Wen, and Yipeng Ben Lu are Executive Producers, in partnership with Trigger Me Productions and Pieter Stathis of RAW Camera.
Additionally, Immanuel is celebrating his 20th Anniversary as founder, director, and instructor of Haven Acting Studio in Vancouver. A great many internationally accomplished actors from film, television, and theatre credit Immanuel with helping them break into the industry and compete at the highest level, with many of them returning to the studio to study with him between acting jobs. Says Tony Award-nominated actor Brian J. Smith (Essex County, The Matrix Resurrections) “Ben is a treasure – a rare combination of instinct, intelligence, and compassion.” Says Olivia Cheng (Warrior, See) “Ben gently lasers in to chip away at any resistance that holds you back from reaching your potential.” CSA and Critic Choice Award-winning actor Jacob Tremblay (Toxic Avenger, Good Boys, Room) says, “Ben has helped me feel more prepared and confident every time I step onto set. I look forward to continuing to learn from him in the future.”
Note: In 2021 Immanuel changed his name from Ben Ratner to Ben Immanuel (Immanuel is his middle name) to avoid being mistakenly associated with Brett Ratner to whom Immanuel has no relation or connection.
Ben Immanuel, Richard J. Lewis, and Gabrielle Miller are available for interviews upon request.
Multi-talented Voice Over Actor/Actor/Dancer/Singer Annie Chen expands her resumé as a series regular playing Liann in the animated series Lego Friends: The Next Chapter currently airing on the Lego YouTube Channel
Roles on ABC’s Designated Survivor and Schitt’s Creek showcase her talents
Multi-talented Voice Over Actor/Actor/Dancer/Singer/Annie Chen continues to expand her resumé with her series regular role as Liann on the Lego animated series Lego Friends: The Next Chapter, just released and airing on the Lego YouTube Channel, with more than 3.4 million viewers tuning in. Annie appreciates her quirky, weird, and a little sassy character, Liann, as the representation is culturally authentic for her. Lego Friends: The Next Chapter is produced by Spun Productions.
Annie’s first recurring acting role was Lily on the ABC Critics Choice Award television series Designated Survivor, starring Kiefer Sutherland and now airing on Netflix. Annie’s scenes were mainly with Kiefer, Kal Penn, Italia Ricci, and Paulo Costanzo. She credits Paulo for his advice on set when she had her trickiest dialogue in pivotal scenes and is forever grateful for the acknowledgment and advice received while working on this project with big celebrity names.
For the Cabaret 5th season Finale of the Golden Globes Award-winning series, Annie had several weeks of rehearsals and filming with the cast of Schitt’s Creek. She cherishes the time she spent with Dan Levy, Noah Reid, Annie Murphy, Emily Hampshire, and Sarah Levy on this production. Other television roles include Beth Ann in the Killer High movie premiered on the Syfy channel and additional TV appearances on the series The Good Witch, Private Eyes and the made-for-TV movie A Whirlwind Wedding.
Annie has a thriving voice-over career spanning platforms such as Spotify, TVO Kids, YouTube, Audible, Nintendo, Nickelodeon and more. The first animation performance to put Annie on casting directors’ radars was the role of Hazel in Polly Pocket. Watch for upcoming projects, yet to be announced, later this year!
Annie Chen’s focus, today, is on Acting and Voice Acting; however, her first outstanding career opportunity was dancing with Lady Gaga at the Much Music Video Awards. Annie rehearsed and performed Grease the Musical for 6 months at The Elgin Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto, performing the role of Frenchy alongside Janel Parrish (Pretty Little Liars) as Sandy and Katie Findlay (How To Get Away with Murder) as Rizzo.
Annie Chen was born in Taiwan and lived in Indonesia for some time during her early childhood. During that time, she watched Taiwanese and Chinese drama series and dreamt of becoming an actor. When Annie’s family eventually immigrated to Delta, BC in Canada (when she was 6yrs old), the only words Annie knew in English were ‘yes’ and ‘no’. Her dreams finally began to take shape when she moved to Toronto at 12yrs and began her training as a performer.
Annie went to the same arts high school as Noah Reid from Schitt’s Creek where she was a dance major and took drama and musical theatre as an elective. She was immediately bitten by the acting bug and began training with a variety of coaches who were working actors for film, tv and voiceover as well as improv at The Second City, in Toronto. For three years part of Annie’s study was a style of clowning called Bouffon with a Cirque Du Solei coach.
In 2020, Annie relocated to Vancouver to continue pursuing her career in the on-camera and voice-over avenues of the entertainment industry, where success came almost immediately.
Annie Chen’s rise as a successful English speaking Taiwanese performer is amazing given the two English words she started with. She is now working as a full-time actor, voice actor and coach, primarily in the English language.
Annie had a life-changing injury in January 2021. She woke up and was unable to walk, stand, or sit for very long. In June of 2021, she had hip surgery. Nine days post op she attended a zoom call back for a show that would become her first series regular role. That’s determination!
Annie shares her time between Vancouver and Toronto and is available for interviews and photos upon request.
Actor Donia Kash supporting role as Jax on MOW Hearts in the Game will air on Hallmark Channel and Women’s Network on April 29th at 8 pm PST.
Donia is a part of ABC’s A Million Little Things in the role of Meetra, a Tattoo artist
Actor, Donia Kash has an upcoming supporting role as Jax in the Hallmark Channel original movie Hearts in the Game. Jax is assistant to Publicist Hazel (Erin Cahill) and works with some large and high-profile clients. Hazel has the challenge to rehab the image of MLB player Diego (Marco Grazzini), who just so happens to be her former flame! Jax is an amazing character who can spread positivity and joy in the film Hearts in the Game. Jax offers some comic relief in scenes where the characters are all dealing with big emotions. Jax is good at spinning stories as they are spinning their mouth. Everyone on set was open to Donia jumping in and giving their goofy spin on the events during takes. Hearts in the Game will air on Hallmark Channel and Women’s Network on April 29th at 8 PM EST.
An executive producer on the movie says, “Donia brought both humor and heart to the role of Jax. The chemistry between Donia and our Hazel, Erin Cahill, was magical from the start. That boss/assistant/friend relationship was so important to our story, and Donia was tonally perfect. They made us laugh and tear up at all the right moments.”
Donia has also appeared in other Hallmark movies including The Secrets of Bella Vista. Donia adds, “These projects and experiences have opened me up as a person. The opportunity to play Suzette in The Secrets of Bella Vista taught me the hard shell of a heart that I am moving through this particular world that easily expresses love and the importance of family on the screen.
Donia is a part of ABC’s A Million Little Things in the role of Meetra, a Tattoo artist alongside Cameron Esposito’s character Greta, Greta falls back in love with their high school friend Katherine (Grace Park). The heartwarming show created by D.J. Nash & Terence Coli with Directing Producer Joanna Kerns kept bringing Donia back for their deadpan comedy acting.
Other guest-starring roles for Donia include So Help Me Todd, Motherland: Fort Salem, Debris, and The Holiday Sitter. Other TV credits include Yasmina (2018), The Diversion (2019), Fall Down(2019), In My Hair (2019), Snowpiercer (2020), The Calming (2020), Enby (2021), Mara’s Reality (2021), Xmas (2022), and The 100 (2020).
When not acting Donia is a filmmaker. They are most proud of the short film Ketchup with Me: which they have written, directed, and produced and showcases a queer relationship and explores unspoken relationship dynamics. The film is a story of the experiences Donia had and how life is not like the movies they grew up on. Ketchup with Me explores internalized homophobia and the struggles of modern love. They recently premiered at the Pink Lobster Film Festival in New Brunswick and will be screening in several film festivals in 2023.
Donia also starred in the short film Magic Trick. It will be screening at the Silicon Valley Queer film festival in May. The film has previously screened at the Pride Queer Fest, Spokane, Boston, Ottawa Canadian Festival.
Donia Kash is an out and proud agender actor. Donia knew that they wanted to be a performer from when they were young and performed Karate in the Mall. At the time, their dream job was to be a Power Ranger and this felt like the closest career jump. Donia is a graduate of Capilano University, and previously trained with Russell Porter at First Step Acting. They continue to train with Andrew McIlroy and McIlroy and Associates and won a Best Performance award for Asal at Emily Carr.
In Demand – Actor/Filmmaker Douglas Vermeeren has him in demand on the speaker’s circuit around the world.
Douglas is honored to be chosen for his next upcoming speaking engagement for the Coronation Lecture Series
Douglas Vermeeren’s success as an actor and filmmaker has him in demand on the speaker’s circuit around the world. He is honored to be chosen for his next upcoming speaking engagement for the Coronation Lecture Series which is sponsored by the London Academy Business School to an audience of business and achievement students in the UK and abroad.
Other notable speakers include the Prime Minister of Birland, HRM Queen Eden S. Trinidad. Prof. Chris Imafidon Chair to HM Queen Elizabeth Platinum Jubilee, and Dr. Larry Jones ESAN on Friday, April 15th via Zoom.
Douglas will be sharing a behind-the-scenes look at how movies are made, following your dreams, and overcoming adversity.
Douglas is available for interviews and speaking engagements.
Douglas Vermeeren has been cast in the role of Piers Rothschild in the horror feature film Big Cats set to start shooting in London, England this Spring
Actor Douglas Vermeeren has a busy year ahead with leading roles in feature films shooting in England, the USA, Canada, and the Philippines. Douglas is one of the most determined talents in the entertainment business as a producer, writer, director, and stuntman. On his premiere cover, Hollywood Weekly calls him “Cinemas New Bad Boy” It is hard to keep up with all the acting roles that Vermeeren has lined up for 2023.
First up, Douglas has booked the leading role as Piers Rothschild in the feature film Big Cats with producer Chris Sanders set to shoot in London, England this spring. Big Cats lead character Ichabod Price played by John-Paul Gates (The Howling, Haunted), a respected cryptozoologist, decides to shoot a documentary about alleged panther sightings in the English countryside, he soon discovers more than just big cats lurking in the woods. Other cast members include William Marshall and Amanda Himsworth.
Also filming in London over this summer Douglas takes on the role of one of the leads as an Eagle Squadron pilot Donald “Donny” for Royal Flush Productions in the feature film Paradox directed by Richard Colton in the feature film Paradox. This sci-fi thriller is about a 1940 covert military operation ready to stop a secret Nazis weapon. The inexplicable happens when they find themselves arriving in a Nazi-occupied future in London. How will they survive this future and return to the past to set the events of history right?
Douglas also plays Samuel Finch, the Hitman in the feature film How to Be a Hitman 101 for Coin Laundry Films set to have a 2023 release worldwide.
As a producer and director, Douglas Vermeeren is behind five of the top personal development documentaries and several mainstream action, horror, and thriller films. He is considered one of the more diverse producers today.
As a stuntman, Douglas has performed some of the most remarkable stunts including hanging out of helicopters, jumping from high-speed motorcycles, falling and jumping from high buildings and bridges, running through the midst of fire and explosions, and incredible gunplay.
Douglas is a unique celebrity among the actors of today. He started as an actor at a young age appearing for the first time in a children’s show at the age of 5. this first TV appearance was his first introduction to media. “From the beginning,” Vermeeren shares, “I was always attracted to film and television. I knew that I would have a career in this industry.”
One could certainly say the same thing about the roles that Douglas Vermeeren has chosen to portray over the years. He has played a variety of genres and equally as diverse a number of roles. He has truly demonstrated his range as an actor portraying deeply emotional and profound characters to action heroes.
Most recently Douglas is the lead in an experimental film entitled Recreating 1912. The goal of this film was to recreate the look and feel of a vintage silent film from the early days of movies. “In those early days they had to be highly innovative and imaginative,” Douglas states, “They were very much inventing the film industry. Even still photography was new – motion picture was cutting edge.” One of the most intriguing elements to Douglas was the recreation of some of the stunt sequences in this project. “I have always been a fan of Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Harold Lloyd. They did some incredible things without the safety equipment we have today. We had to be very clever in how we recreated some of these daring moments.”
Keep your eyes out for this rising star, Douglas is destined to become a celebrity to remember for this generation.
Doug Vermeeren is available for interviews and photos upon request.
Award Winning Actor Curtis Lum has a busy 2023 on screen with roles on
The Night Agent, Creepshow, Hudson & Rex, and The Good Doctor.
As a Filmmaker, his production company SOON FILMS’ acclaimed short film, ‘The Stranger’ will screen at Film Festivals throughout North America.
Award-winning actor/filmmaker Curtis Lum has a number of roles in popular TV series to air this year. First up is his role as ‘Cisco Jenkins’ on ‘The Night Agent’ TV series to be released on Netflix on March 23, 2023. The Night Agent follows a low-level FBI agent, Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso), who works in the basement of the White House, manning a phone that never rings until the night it does, propelling him into a conspiracy that leads all the way to the Oval Office. Curtis plays ‘Cisco Jenkins’, the best friend of the lead Peter Sutherland. They were roommates at Quantico, and Cisco gets called for help when Peter is in the stickiest of situations. The Night Agent is an action-packed – drama/ thriller series that will be a sure fan favorite. Curtis joins an ensemble cast of Luciane Buchanan, Hong Chau, D.B. Woodside, Fola Evans Akingbola and Eve Harlow.
Curtis has a guest star role on the immensely popular TV series ‘The Good Doctor’ (ABC/CTV) in the episode entitled ‘Old Friends’ which airs March 6th, 2023. His character ‘Anthony’ is devastated to learn that his pregnant wife Sonja (Elyse Maloway) has a serious complication with her pregnancy that threatens her life unless the pregnancy is terminated. Anthony tries very hard to be supportive of his wife, for whom it took several rounds of IVF to get pregnant; like her, he already adores their unborn baby, Esther. Anthony is heartbroken when his wife decides that if it’s a choice between herself and the baby, she wants to save their baby – and she makes Anthony promise he’ll uphold her wishes.
Other roles to watch for include ‘Ryan’ on ‘Creepshow’ (Amazon/Shudder) and Curtis’ first lead on a TV Anthology show. Ryan is a groom-to-be, who marries into a surprisingly wealthy family that unbeknownst to him, harbors a very dangerous – generational secret.
On ‘Hudson & Rex’ (Citytv), he was blessed to live out his childhood dream of creating a series of intense, high-octane fight scenes, and for the first time, doing all of his own stunts. Curtis plays “Kurt” in this action packed episode as the main culprit/suspect. This marks the first time that he does 100% all of his own stunts along with the choreography for the fights. Dates on both episodes TBD.
Curtis Lum is an award-winning actor and producer born in Vancouver, BC. He may be best known for his role as ‘Calvin’ on the long-running Freeform hit TV series ‘Siren’. He has established himself as one to watch, recurring in a variety of different roles on several major American networks. Named one of Canada’s Rising Stars by The Hollywood Reporter in 2018, he has earned his recognition for his work in Prison Break, Supergirl, and Dim Sum Funeral.
Curtis is also an award-winning filmmaker. His production company ‘SOON FILMS’ recently produced the short film ‘The Stranger’. Curtis takes on the leading role of ‘Ray’, the stranger. He stars opposite of Yvonne Chapman (star of Kung Fu and Avatar – Last Airbender). ‘The Stranger’ explores what life would look like if you were to wake up one day in someone else’s body and begin living in a world you no longer know. ‘The Stranger’ will soon be screening at film festivals throughout North America. Dates TBA.
Curtis is also proud of his roles in his award-winning short films ‘Grandma’s 80th Surprise’ and his action film, ‘Reverse’. Curtis’ role in Grandma’s 80th Surprise (2019) won awards at both Tri Force Film Festival in (London, UK) and Vancouver Asian Film Festival in 2019 and ‘Reverse’ (2021) took home “Best Action Film” at the Los Angeles Film Awards in 2021.
Curtis grew up in Vancouver, BC. He knew the moment when he was a little kid and accidentally walked onto a film set of Romeo Must Die that he wanted to be an actor. He is proud to say that he has done a lot in his life working in dozens of jobs in many different fields, He has traveled the world, met lots of incredible people, and all of that has contributed to helping him become a better actor and producer that he feels that he is today.
He trained at Austin Tuck studios and at Deb Podowski Studios under Deb Podowski.
As an entrepreneur, Curtis has an initiative to help as many different groups in need as he can, while making people look good with his clothing line, Rare Spirit that he co-founded in 2020. The streetwear/fashion brand works with a number of different charities, non-profits, and good causes with every collection that they release. www.therarespirit.com.
Curtis now shares his time between Vancouver, Los Angeles, and London, England.
Curtis is available for interviews and photos upon request.
Independent record label Predominant Studios’ CEO Jacqueline Best is being recognized as one of Canada’s most influential Women Entrepreneurs
Jacqueline Best, Founder, and CEO of Predominant Studios Inc. is recognized as one of Canada’s most influential Women Entrepreneurs. Jacqueline has been announced as a nominee in the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards Women of Influence with the winners being announced this September 2023. In 2022 Jacqueline was the recipient of North America’s Top 40 under 40 awarded in New York. Business Elite Awards’ officials named her “one of North America’s leaders and industry disruptors with the undoubted attitude, quality, potential, desire, determination, and ambition to shape the world of business over the coming decades.” Jacqueline has also written a book entitled “So they say you can’t. SCREW THEM,”
Partner Alister Brodie joined Jacqueline in 2022. Together Jacqueline and Alister offer expertise by assisting musicians in an industry where competition is stiff. Predominant Studio is redefining the next generation of music, signing pop artist Scotty Berg, country artist Jason Kirkness, and Hip Hop Artist Mr. ESQ, to name a few.
Jacqueline and Alister are joined by some of the best in the business that includes the multi-platinum producer and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Chris “The Glove” Taylor, who has collaborated with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. Other members of the team include Rick Noble, Music/Radio Promotion Manager, Lance Bolton, CFO, David Malysheff, Director of Film/Film Scores, and The Real Richie Rich – Producer/Consultant.
Predominant Studio’s new talent includes Pop artist and rising star 15-year-old Scotty Berg, who has left an indelible impression on the Canadian and US music scene. Scotty’s song “Dreams” is hitting charts across the country opening at #44 on the Top AC tracks in the US. With over 500,000 streams of his music and millions of views on TikTok, anticipation is growing for what comes next. Scotty was thrilled to play and walk the red carpet at the 90th Hollywood Christmas parade on a National US TV network. Scotty will be gracing the cover of POPSTAR! Magazine this March 2023.
Country music artist Jason Kirkness has raised the bar with the release of his single “Anywhere The Night Goes” which continues to top the billboard charts as well as his new release “Over My Head” garnering praise from consumers and critics across North America.
According to Jacqueline Best. “We not only provide services to our aligned musicians, but we also provide services to independent artists, assisting them in navigating the complicated music industry and its different processes. Services include US & Canadian, and UK radio promos, music testing & research, marketing, PR, Studio time, legal advice and so much more. As well as safeguarding their best interests, artists must also be protected from music business fraud.”
Predominant Studios has become a hub for many musicians by signing them and/or helping them handle their arrangements with other indie companies. Predominant Studio assists its growing roster of talented musicians by creating fair contracts, music business consultations, and career coaching.
With so much excitement on the horizon for Predominant Studio to share, Jacqueline, her team, and artists are available for interviews upon request.
For more information, interviews, and photos please contact with publicist:
Scotty Berg continues impressive rise in the music industry with top 40 hit on Top AC Radio Chart
‘Dreams’ lands in the #35 spot on Top AC Radio Charts in U.S. this week
Photo credit: Nicole Richard
To say young pop/country star Scotty Berg has had a record year would be an understatement. After years of building popularity through his TikTok and Instagram videos and performances, he signed with his first record label, Predominant Studios, in 2022.
Now, his first release since signing with the label has landed his single, Dreams, at #35 on Top AC Radio Charts.
The rising singer/songwriter has been performing since he was 10 years old and has progressed from busking for passing audiences to performing at SXSW, on national TV for the 90th Hollywood Christmas Parade and gracing the cover of POPSTAR! Magazine (hitting stands in March 2023).
His catalogue of previous releases includes the singles You Don’t Have to Be Alone, an uplifting anti-bullying anthem and No Time to Waste, a song about living life with passion.
Photo credit: Nicole Richard
Scotty has garnered fan and industry accolades alike, winning numerous singing contests and being honoured with nominations for the City of Kelowna’s Civic Award for Teen Honour in the Arts, acknowledging his donations to non-profit organizations through performing at fundraising events.
The natural talent has drawn comparisons to Shawn Mendes – and for good reason. The charismatic young performer has the voice, talent, stage presence, drive and personality to follow the ascent of the fellow Canadian singer.
When Scotty isn’t on stage he enjoys cooking, golf, and hanging with family and friends.
Scotty Berg is available for interviews upon request.
There is something magical about Kauai, Hawaii. The air, the scenery, the mountains, the sea, the people and the stories. Your first step off the plane is reminiscent of stepping into a new world. One that is underdeveloped, with no skyscrapers blocking the view of the natural beauty of the island. Compared to the other islands, Kauai is smaller, less populated, more rural and more laid back.
With so many destinations to choose from around the world, why do so many keep going back to Kauai, Hawaii? With Westjet offering direct flights from Vancouver, BC to Lihue between October to April, it’s an easy trip to this special piece of paradise. It has been said that you might not remember what someone says but you will always remember how they make you feel. That statement is true for getaways as well. Destinations that reliably create beautiful memories are hard to come by and worth holding onto.
If you want to tour the island (which you should!), the first thing on your to-do list is to rent a car. After reading the five-star reviews for SIXT car rental and my association with Brian Jessel BMW magazine, we were delighted to drive a brand new BMW X5 to do our sightseeing.
My son takes great pride in the cars he drives. The smile on his face driving to pick me up with our luggage was ear to ear as he reveled in the extraordinary performance and dynamics of the BMW X5. Immediately, we thought what a great way to test drive a car when you are on vacation. Donavan was more than impressed and continually said, “I just love this car.”
Kauai is known as the Garden Island that has endless charms—from spectacular beaches, lush rainforests to world-class golf courses. You will want to take time to drive to some of the wonderful attractions and activities located all around the island.
What fascinated me most was how much land philanthropists have given back to the island to prevent Kauai from becoming over-commercialized like many other tropical islands. A strict cap on building heights (hotels can be no more than 40 feet high), prevents the development of the mega-resorts and towering skyscrapers found on the other islands. The local rule is that nothing can be built taller than a coconut tree.
We headed to the tunnel of trees, the gateway to Poipu, to stay at the Sheraton Kauai Resort – a welcoming hotel oasis nestled on 20 acres on the shores of Hawaii’s world-famous Poipu Beach. With access to pristine white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters, this was the perfect place to anchor our adventures.
Their renovated guest rooms and suites face the sparkling oceanfront or lush garden views. A home away from home. One of the few hotels grandfathered in, the hotel is situated right on the beach, with two fresh-water pools and a hot tub. The resort offers everything from being able to pick up your morning coffee to catch the sunrise to dining at Rum Fire Restaurant to watch spectacular sunset views. Lava’s on Poipu Beach has views from every table or you can enjoy drinks and cuisine poolside. Everything we could want during a relaxing vacation was at our fingertips. When you have the opportunity to meet and chat with most of the same staff over the years that says a lot about the resort.
Executive Chef Gabe Balenzuela oversees all food and beverage operations for Sheraton Kauai Resort and the result is the level of hospitality is nothing short of outstanding. Dining at Rum Fire Poipu Beach at sunset is an awe-inspiring experience offering a modern Kauai dining experience with spectacular 180-degree ocean views. Rum Fire’s menu serves locally sourced cuisine with a global influence, featuring selections that will please even the most discriminating palates.
The resort is also an involved member of its community, with several charitable programs set up at the resort to give back to the island. When dining at Table 53 in Rum Fire or when you book Bungalow No. 5 poolside for full-day access to the amenities, the proceeds go directly to Charity Walk Kauai to benefit more than 60 non-profit organizations providing critical services on the island.
Whatever brings you to Hawaii, its golden-sand beaches and misty sea breezes ensure you will never want to leave. Daily resort activities include Lei making, arts and crafts, ukulele lessons, snorkeling, surfing, swimming, Luau and walking the seawall all available on site. With so many activities you can be as active as you like or just relax with a good book poolside or beachside. Showcasing an array of indoor and outdoor event venues, the hotel is also a brilliant location for a corporate retreat, wedding, or family reunion in Kauai.
Sheraton Kauai Resort is one of the few resorts to offer daily yoga classes to their guests included in the resort fee. I took part in yoga classes beachside rain or shine every morning at 8:00 am, joining all ages and levels. Every instructor brings something different to their class. Yoga is a great way to start the day and meet people from around the world. By practicing yoga you can slow down from your busy world and connect to yourself.
The elements on the island are conducive to yoga. The classes guide us to be grateful not only for our practice but our bodies and the beautiful location. You are encouraged to honor your body where it is today by not competing with anyone else, just gingo at your own pace.
I spoke to a number of guests staying at the Sheraton Kauai Resort to ask them why they keep returning to this precious property. Doug and Mandy from Yakima, Washington have been coming for six years with friends and co-workers. They love the ocean, the water is the perfect temperature, and they appreciate the great customer service at the resort. They love Kauai as it is quieter and has hundreds of acres of green space, which are wonderful to see from helicopter rides. Fishing and snorkeling is beautiful and the island and resort provide entertainment for all generations. You can do absolutely nothing but enjoy the view or do a lot. Your choice. Both are fabulous.
One of our most special days was spent on the award-winning Poipu Bay Golf Course. This outstanding course is backed by lush emerald mountains and sculpted from a rolling plateau eight stories above the Pacific Ocean. Nestled among the gentle contours of Poipu Bay you’ll discover the remains of Hawaiian heiau (places of worship) and ancient stone walls. Mother Nature presents you with one distraction after another. Even the most focused golfer will be challenged by the breathtaking views. Poipu Bay features the latest technology in rental golf clubs. Play on the same course challenged by even the best of the best professional golfers in the PGA Grand Slam of Golf from 1994 to 2006. A unique and unforgettable golf experience awaits you—one that will bring every aspect of your game into fresh and thrilling focus. For more information, check out the Course Overview or take the Hole-by-Hole Tour. www.poipubaygolf.com
If you aren’t an experienced golfer the Kukuiolono Park and Golf Course may be the course for you as they only charge $7 – $9 dollars a day for unlimited play. Walter McByde donated the course to the state of Hawaii so the locals have a golf course that they can afford to play on. Expect wind sweeping over the terrain, lots of trees, a few fairway hazards, and maybe a wild chicken pecking at the greens. https://kukuiolonogolf.com
On previous trips, we have taken Sea Tours on a Deluxe Catamaran Snorkel Trip to experience the majestic Na Pali coast, on the spacious 60-foot, custom-designed catamaran. As we headed up north to NaPali along the southwest coast of Kauai we got to see playful spinner dolphins skimming and leaping out of the waters, sea turtles, sea birds, and Humpback Whale watching in season (December – April) and more.
Our experienced captain was entertaining with the history and legends of Kauai, marine life ecology and tales of all the land that has been given to the island. He also points out where feature films and TV series were shot, the last battle place and where Jacqueline Kennedy went to recuperate after JFK’s assassination. We also stopped to swim and snorkel enjoying the underwater sights of a variety of fish and turtles swimming by.
Another adventure was Kauai Backcountry Adventures’ Mountain Tubing experience. We learned about the island’s history, culture and natural environment, while we visited spectacular lands with breathtaking vistas and fantastic scenery as we jumped into the gently flowing waters through open canals and tunnels hand-dug a century ago by plantation workers. The waters originate near the top of Mount Waialeale, one of the wettest spots in the world.
One of our most memorable days was an afternoon trip on Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, a trip of a lifetime. As stated on their website: Six million years of powerful natural forces have sculpted Kauai into what it is today, a natural masterpiece. The incomparable Na Pali Coast, Waimea Valley (the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific”) and stunning Mount Waialeale (the second wettest place on earth), are among Kauai’s incredible wonders that are so remote, they are only accessible by helicopter. www.bluehawaiian.com
Photo credit Lesley Diana – David Sancious
Many celebrities have homes on Kauai including Carlos Santana, Bette Midler, Ben Stiller and Pierce Bronson to name a few. World-renowned musician David Sancious, an original member of the E Street Band (named after his family home) who has toured with Bruce Springsteen, Sting and Peter Gabriel, also calls Kauai home. His radio show ” THE PLEASURE OF SOUND” airs on KKCR Kauai Community Radio 90.9 fm Hanalei / 91.9 fm Kauai / 92.7 Moloa’a / 88.9 FM Honolulu / KKCR.org David plays music from around the world and different genres such as Classical, Jazz, Rock, Blues, Folk and more.
The show airs from 6 pm to 8 pm every other Tuesday. You can see his schedule at KKCR.org. It’s a great show to listen to as you drive around the island. David is also back in the studio with Bruce Springsteen so watch for new music.
You will also find special shops on Kauai that you can’t find anywhere else. My dear friend Kiran Sancious (David’s wife) is from Vancouver and has been in fashion since her teens, modeling, designing and creating new and chic upcycled clothing. You can find her at Tropical Tantrum in Historic Hanalei Town and Old Kapaa Town. Tropical Tantrum designs and creates Hawaiian-style clothing that is colorful, fun and exciting, offering men’s and women’s fashions for all occasions. Their quality, hand-painted batik fabrics and fun, beautiful, comfortable styles make them a must-shop. Topical Tantrum manufactures all of its own clothing so you can custom order to your specifications. TropicalTantrum.com
The list is endless for things to do, see, enjoy and explore in Kauai. But I’m off to book my next vacation there so I will leave you this: If breathtaking scenery, extraordinary hospitality and limitless fun are on your list, you might want to consider Kauai as your next vacation destination.
Lesley Diana is an entertainment publicist based in Vancouver, BC. She loves to travel and write about her experiences. www.thepromotionpeople.ca
