This afternoon, “LOST” set up at the Waialae Dental Care office at Kahala Mall. Visiting fans Scott and Steve (no relation to the characters!) spotted Jack (Matthew Fox), dressed in a suit, and Bernard (Sam Anderson). It looks like Bernard is still a dentist off the island.

Yesterday, “LOST” was spotted at Coconut Island, in Kaneohe Bay by local blogger Lucia. She reported on the shoot in a post on her blog, but as it was written in Portuguese, she was kind enough to provide an English report and some additional photos, exclusively to Hawaii Blog:

The filming was at Coconut Island, a restricted access island that hosts the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology. I’m doing a collaboration with a lab over there, and heard on Monday from a guy in the lab that “Lost” would be there.

Well, they were not hard to miss, since they brought a sailboat there: The Elizabeth.

Yesterday’s shoot included Jack, Sun, Frank, and Hurley, running in the jungle. In the afternoon, Sawyer, Claire and Kate arrived, and they were all shooting by the sailboat. The area was off-limits to fans, but I have a friend who got really close to them and heard them talking about Locke.

I couldn’t stay there the whole time because I was also trying to work. During my lunch break, I went to the shark pond to relax, and Emilie DeRavin and her assistant came by. Her hair was a mess (for the scene) and we chatted about sharks, morey eels and sea cucumbers.

There were some leftovers from their catered lunch, so we got some fruit salad from the production! They were already packing up to leave by yesterday late afternoon.

Finally, on Monday, visiting fan Franci was relaxing on the beach near the Turtle Bay Resort when she caught site of “LOST” filming down the shore at Kawela Bay.

She could only watch from a distance, but says that central to the scene was the long-awaited reunion of Sun and Jin.

At the vegetation line, portable sonic fence tripods were set up. In the scene, it looked like Sun, Sawyer, Kate, Hurley, and possibly Claire and Frank come ashore, wading in the surf. There was also a handful of people there that didn’t appear to be Others or survivors. Jin, on the beach, recognizes Sun, and they embrace for a long time. But then, a group of Others emerge from the jungle, pointing their guns, and everyone gets down on their knees.

This week, there were also small shoots at the Bishop Museum, and back at the Bowfin Submarine Museum. We’ll have a few more details in our next “LOST” podcast!

Mahalo to Steve, Lucia, Franci, and Scott for their reports and images, all used with permission.

I’m exhausted. My body is aching. My mind is spinning. But with “LOST,” these are good things. Tonight brings the Season 6 premiere, but I’m still thinking about the last few days. The “LOST” beach premiere on Saturday was fantastic, but I most cherished spending time with the fans and friends who joined my wife and I for our “LOST” travel package and tour, which spanned the weekend.

Over 100 people, coming from as far away as Norway, Turkey, Afghanistan and Germany were willing to spend several hours of their limited time in the islands with us, geeking out over the best show on television. We were thrilled. And humbled.

Thanks to Bruce Fisher of Hawaii-Aloha.com, Sakara Blackwell of DH Catering, and Hilton Blackwell of Island Adventures Tours & Travel for helping to make it all possible.

The incredible and unstoppable Christa Wittmier and the dancers of Iaora o Tahiti Nui made Friday’s dinner special. The folks at the Park Shore let me show off my “LOST” goodies in their lobby, and fed our group brunch at Lulu’s upstairs. And our all-day, island-wide “LOST” locations tour on Sunday? Incredible. June Matsumoto of the Hawaii Convention Center, Robin Naluai at Kualoa Ranch, Ed Kos of Kos Tours, the volunteers at the non-profit YMCA Camp Erdman, and my friend and radio co-host Burt Lum were among the many good people behind our great road trip.

I was having such a great time, I barely took any photos. Fortunately, there were plenty of shutterbugs (like Cesar and Bonnie), bloggers, and Twitterers documenting the festivities.

I’m still trying to gather the strength to write up our entire “LOST” weekend… but the show stops for no one, and we’ll soon be swept up by the show’s sixth and final season beginning tonight, cruising nonstop through to the epic and bittersweet end. In the mean time, here’s some notable press coverage of the weekend and of the premiere, including quotes from yours truly!

• Lost-apalooza! (Honolulu Star-Bulletin): Gary Chun hung out quite a bit, and came with us for most of our tour on Sunday.
• ‘Lost’ better absent expectations (Honolulu Star-Bulletin): My spoiler-free review of the first hour of the premiere. It wasn’t easy to write!
• For ‘Lost’ Fans In Hawaii, A Premiere With A View (Morning Edition/NPR): A piece by Hawaii Public Radio’s Ben Markus in which I embarrass my wife Jen.
• ‘Lost’ will linger on past its end date (Marketplace/APM): A brief segment on the likelihood of “LOST” sequels. I voted “no.”
• ‘Lost’ fans find home in Hawaii (Los Angeles Times): We loved meeting Maria Elena Fernandez (@writerchica) and Jose (@thephotoangel).

I also contributed to the Honolulu Advertiser’s coverage of “LOST,” including a “LOST” filming locations contest, which concluded Sunday. And, like last year, I’ll be joining the morning crew at KITV, Hawaii’s ABC affiliate, each morning after “LOST” to review the latest episode.

If you’re a visiting fan still in Honolulu tonight, you should check out Giovanni Pastrami in Waikiki. They’re going to be hosting “LOST” viewings every Tuesday, and would be happy to have you come and enjoy the season premiere tonight among fellow fans and friends! And after you’ve seen the episode, please share your thoughts for our “LOST” podcast this weekend.

Here’s the text of the one-page advisory (minus press-specific notes):

PLEASE JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL SCREENING OF “LOST” : THE FINAL SEASON

What:

“SUNSET ON THE BEACH”
Waikiki, Oahu

Thousands of fans will congregate on the sandy beach of Waikiki in Oahu to be the first to see the initial hour of the season premiere episode of “LOST”: The Final Season, before it airs nationally on the ABC Television Network. We will also be screening an episode of the hit comedy, “MODERN FAMILY,” immediately following “LOST.”

There will be red carpet arrivals before the screening, in which you will be able to interview the cast and producers of “LOST.”

“LOST” premieres on Tuesday, February 2 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

“MODERN FAMILY” airs Wednesdays (9:00-9:30 p.m., ET),
on the ABC Television Network.

When:

SATURDAY, JANUARY 30

PRESS & CREW SETUP AT 4:00 P.M.

RED CARPET ARRIVALS BEGIN AT 5:00 P.M.

“SUNSET ON THE BEACH” SCREENING AT 6:30 P.M.

Where:

SUNSET ON THE BEACH:

Waikiki Beach on Oahu between Kapahulu and Monsarrat Avenues on Kalakaua across from the Honolulu Zoo.

Who:

THE CAST AND PRODUCERS OF “LOST”

The “LOST” crew took over the “Great Lawn” at Bishop Museum, setting up for a wedding scene.

Fortunately, my family are members and regular visitors to the museum, and my wife and daughter just happened to be there today. A stage was set up to host a band. Jack Bender was running the show, with Jean Higgins by his side. The first actor on the set was Henry Ian Cusick (Desmond), dressed up and doing press interviews, but he was not the groom. When Fionnula Flanagan (Eloise) showed up, flanked by a slight stand-in dressed in a tuxedo, the likely story became clear.

UPDATE: Or maybe not. Piecing together separate reports, it was not a wedding, after all… which might explain why no one saw a bride or groom all day! But there’s a reason why someone might get that impression.

The scene was instead a big-ticket fundraiser for the “Golden Gate Natural History Museum” (or something to that effect), featuring a concert, hence the stage. Parked at the entrance, black limousines and Town Cars with California plates, as well as the silver sedan that Desmond was driving in yesterday’s dramatic shoot.

The fundraiser was being hosted by Eloise, and Desmond was apparently crashing the party, looking for Penny. He tries to read the guest list, but Eloise takes it away. She rebuffs him, and he barks, “For what?” He then storms off.

Work continued past the museum’s closing time, so who knows what followed. But why the early impression that the scene involved a wedding? Apparently, some of the crew were referring to Eloise not as “Mrs. Hawking,” but as “Mrs. Widmore.” It may very well be simple confusion, but it seemed prominent enough to at least suggest an alternate outcome for her relationship with Charles.

See more photos from today’s Bishop Museum shoot here.

Thanks to my wife Jen, MDG from Long Island, VSC, and @MediumTuna for the report and photos.

The scene was deceptively simple. A silver car swerves out of control and crashes into the water. Extensive preparations were undertaken, with the car in question stripped of an engine and any other part that would upset the Environmental Protection Agency. It was hooked up to one end of a 90-degree pulley, and the other end was tied to a pickup truck. Several cameras were set up — one on a 40-foot boom, one on the back of a cart, one in the water, and a few more stationary cameras positioned around the marina. Background extras were briefed on where to stand, and the whole crew came together for a long safety meeting.

Shortly before noon, the set was cleared, and cameras started rolling. But when action was called, and the truck took off, the silver car stayed put. Instead, the cable or pulley system snapped, creating only a cloud of dust. It took nearly an hour to repair and reset everything, apparently sending the production into “overtime” as far as its area use permits were concerned.

Fortunately, the second time was the charm. Cameras rolled, action was called, and while the camera cart sped along the edge of the marina, the silver car hit the ramp and flipped into the water. I suspect the car was supposed to fly further than it did, but it looked like the tow cable held on a little too long, snagging the front of the car as it left the ramp. Still, it was a dramatic splash.

Most of the crew was silent for nearly a minute as divers swam to the car to help release the stunt driver. Once he surfaced safely, everyone cheered.

It was only after the stunt, and after a lunch break, that the context of the scene became clear. Seated in the ill-fated car were Desmond (Henry Ian Cusick) and Charlie (Dominic Monaghan), perhaps not long after Charlie’s release from the airport holding cell and their subsequent conversation in a bar. Desmond is driving. The pair are arguing. Suddenly, Charlie grabs the wheel from the passenger seat and yanks, and his impulsive act is what sends their vehicle into the ocean.

What follows, I imagine, may be filmed on a sound stage. But the possible similarities to the Season 3 finale are hard to ignore.

Check out my full photo set on Flickr.

Special thanks to visiting fans Michelle, Jay, and Matt for their reports!

The AG’s building has been transformed into the “Airport Courthouse.” And on the sidewalk leading to the street, who should be meeting but Desmond (Henry Ian Cusick) and Charlie (Dominic Monaghan). Traffic on Queen Street was blocked off, so that “LOST” could provide its own pedestrians and traffic.

I’d gotten early word of the shoot (one of two locations being used today), but with such a prominent location, there was no doubt the crew would catch the notice of fans. Early posts to Twitter came from danseto, GinelNel, sunnywave, X3MIST, and rossb – who also posted a photo via Twitter.

Update 1: “Screeching tires, stunt double, looks like Charlies gonna get hit by a car,” rossb writes. But he later retracted it and said, “Charlie’s just got attitude and charges thru traffic!”

Update 2: Local web designer Michael Whalen posted a brief video clip.

Update 3: Thanks to many great folks, here’s a broad summary of the scene:

Charlie and a woman, possibly his lawyer, walk out of the “Airport Courthouse.” Charlie has apparently just been released from custody, and is holding a bag containing his personal items. Desmond pulls up and gets out of a car, and goes up to them. The woman tells Desmond, “He’s all yours.” But Charlie just walks away, striding across the street, oblivious to cars that swerve and skid around him. Desmond follows, checking his watch as he pauses a moment to wait for traffic to clear, and crosses after him.

And here are some photos and a few video clips from today’s shoot downtown.

Mahalo to Ross Burck, Will Lee, Mr. Darcy, and Anonymous, for allowing Hawaii Blog to publish these!

Update 4: Steve comments below that Charlie and Desmond apparently cross the street to “Jax,” portrayed by Anna Bannana’s (2440 South Beretania St.) near University Ave.

From Darin the Pharmacist, who was in town for the Honolulu Marathon, comes these pictures from a shoot at the Ko’olau Golf Club in Kane’ohe. On the set were Daniel Dae Kim (Jin), Naveen Andrews (Sayid), Anthony Azizi (Omar), Kevin Durand (Keamy), and Andrew Divoff (Mikhail).

Darin was effusive with his praise of the cast and crew, who he said were both professional and friendly. He was even invited to partake of the production’s renown catering. He was able to chat with Durand and Divoff for much of the day, and watch the actors rehearse their lines and practice some of their stunt work (including a fight scene and gun play!). “I feel like I won the ‘LOST’ lottery,” he says.

His full report will be included in the next episode of “The Transmission,” along with other tidbits from the last week of production. There’s only one week left to get your entries in to win a number of great “LOST” prizes!

Mahalo, Darin!

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If you’re a “LOST” fan who has been contemplating a visit to “The Island” in January to celebrate the sixth and final season of the show, now is the time to take the leap.

Local officials have yet to confirm the advance screening of the “LOST” season premiere at a “Brunch on the Beach” event on Jan. 30. But with things apparently set on ABC’s side, fans around the world are already making plans to be here to kick off the sixth and final season of the best show on television.

I’ve received a constant stream of inquiries all year from “LOST” fans who were looking for information on the beach premiere, and when word broke on Friday, that stream became a flood. Already I’ve heard from people who will be coming in from the neighbor islands, the East Coast, Europe, Australia, even Afghanistan.

It became immediately clear that I was out of my element when it came to making travel recommendations. I’m a fan, a blogger, a geek… but not a travel agent. So I turned to Bruce Fisher at Hawaii Aloha Travel for help.

Bruce could put together airfare and hotel packages in his sleep, so it was soon obvious we could do more for “LOST” fans. So he called up Hilton and Sakara of Island Adventures to put together something even more unique.

The result? “Destiny Calls,” a special travel package created specifically for “LOST” fans who are making the pilgrimage in late January.

For starters, the packages include airfare and four days/three nights at the Park Shore Waikiki Hotel, which happens to be about as close to the location of the beach premiere as you can get without sleeping on the sand. It also includes a special “Aha Aina” dinner on Friday night (for which Sakara will undoubtedly work her magic), and a “LOST Transmission Brunch” the next morning (a likely geekier affair that I’ll help organize) at Lulu’s, a retro surf-themed restaurant.

Finally, and perhaps most intriguingly, there’ll be a “LOST” locations tour on Sunday. My wife Jen and I will help lead a bunch of “LOST” fans around the island to visit some of the most iconic (and perhaps a few lesser known) filming locations used for the show.

I will say up front that I’m not a professional tour guide, and there are awesome location tour companies you should call if that’s what you need. But if you like the idea of hopping on a bus full of fellow fans for an unabashed roving “LOST” geek fest, I think you’ll have a blast with us. Jen and I regularly meet up with visiting fans, and have helped many get to “LOST” locations on their vacations, but we’ve never done something like this before. I can’t wait.

The “Destiny Calls” travel package also includes a lei greeting at the airport (a nice touch you don’t see much anymore), and transportation to and from the hotel. And it goes without saying that there’ll be other little touches and treats that I’m sure we’ll come up with over the next couple of weeks.

But if you’re interested, you should call today. And that’s not a sales pitch. Between the day Bruce and I first started talking and tonight, the price has gone up by about a hundred dollars. And other fans who’ve already made arrangements on their own are also reporting airfare increases on a daily basis.

I’m not sure if the “LOST” event is a factor, and of course I can’t say if there’ll be price changes in the other direction, but with about 45 days to go, I’d say it makes the most sense to just book now and spend the next few weeks relaxing and planning what else you want to do in Hawaii.

Did you already make travel arrangements but want to come to Lulu’s or take the tour? Are you a local fan who wants to join the fun?  Ala carte options are possible as well. Just ask Bruce.

Stay tuned for more news relating to the “LOST” beach premiere… including, hopefully, final details from the local organizers, and plans for a special edition T-shirt I’m planning on selling to celebrate the occasion!

To say there has been strong demand for the event would be an understatement. I receive several e-mails a week from “LOST” fans asking about it, and they say that it would make or break their plans to travel to Hawaii.  At HIFF’s gala “LOST” event in October, a fan from Japan told Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse that previous beach premieres were a highlight of his Hawaii trips, and that many overseas fans were hoping to travel to Honolulu one last time.

Fortunately, during a HIFF panel on “LOST” earlier that day, Co-Executive Producer Jean Higgins and Honolulu film commissioner Walea Constantinau said that they were in talks to hold the event. It looks like those talks paid off.

The last “Sunset on the Beach” advance screening for “LOST” was for Season 3 in 2006.

The Season 4 premiere was scuttled by the writers’ strike, and no event was held for Season 5. But it’s apparent that both ABC and Honolulu officials appreciate the significance of the show’s final season. While much has been said of the importance of “LOST” to the Hawaii film industry, I am acutely aware of how much “LOST” drives the tourism industry as well.

No doubt hundreds of local “LOST” fans will be there on Saturday, Jan. 30. But I wouldn’t be surprised if the crowds on the beach that night will be made up mostly of people making a pilgrimage to “The Island,” knowing it will probably be their last chance to do so.

Tonight, on the eve of the release, BVHE is doing something different. Instead of another video, the reveal is “Hieroglyphs & Tapestry,” a series of great looking images of an iconic “LOST” set:

“Analyzing possible clues is a favourite activity of LOST fans, so check out these high-resolution photos of Jacob’s tapestry and hieroglyphs on a pillar in the tunnels.”

Check them out below, posted as-is, without scaling, cropping or watermarks (click twice to see full size).

Remember, thanks to BVHE, you can still win a free special edition “Dharma Initiation Kit” Season 5 DVD box set through the “LOST” podcasts my wife and I are releasing throughout the hiatus. It’s one of several special prizes we’ll be giving away next month.

Photos courtesy of Buena Vista Home Entertainment. ©ABC Studios.