One of the fun things about shooting the show in Hawaii is how completely inconsequential Mother Nature makes us feel. This week a landslide hit one of our upcoming locations, and now we can’t shoot there for a couple of weeks while the site is restored. In season two it rained for a truly Biblical 42 straight days and nights, which required lots of schedule revisions, and when that wasn’t possible our fearless crew put on their wading boots and shot for days on end in mud that was literally knee deep and higher.

Where could the landslide-afflicted set be? My guesses would be Kualoa Ranch or Heeia Kea in Kaneohe.

Above, the Dharma “Processing Center,” which we previously saw toward the end of Season 3 in “The Man Behind the Curtain.” As Crista noted, on the wall was a series of photographs apparently highlighting each year’s batch of new recruits, and the last year depicted was 1976.

Crista actually returned to Camp Erdman a second time, and found that the cabins had been dirtied up a bit, perhaps to suggest the passage of time or even fire damage.  Here are her before-and-after photos, which were taken a couple of days apart at most.

Finally, as an added bonus, I got an email from Howard Hsu, whose coworker helped translate the Russian signs downtown and at Bishop Museum. As it turns out, he had taken the KOS Tour up at Kualoa just last week, and was able to snap a shot of a new prop erected at the ranch:

According to Howard, “the tour guide said when they were filming, the scene was a bunch of army men lowering what appeared to be a missile into the manhole under this.”

Thanks, Crista and Howard!

He said they were in Red Square, and that fake snow was sprayed on the side of Hawaiian Hall and on cars parked along the lane.  Interestingly, this same path previously served as the London waterfront in Season 3 (”Flashes Before Your Eyes”).

There was a street scene, and another scene filmed in an adjacent courtyard.  Shooting wrapped after 10 p.m., but fortunately much of the set was still intact this wet, stormy morning.  I was able to snap a few photos in between downpours.

Once again, I contacted Howard Hsu, whose coworker translated the “Oldham Pharmaceuticals” sign yesterday.

There was a tall, vertical marquee mounted to the side of Hawaii Hall that read “bakery.” This was the largest and, according to our expert, the most authentic looking sign yet.  On the ground, a small blue sign that read “Red Square” — though apparently one of the smaller characters wasn’t quite right.

Finally, in two places above the aforementioned courtyard, cryptic signs that apparently read “VRESO.” Which wasn’t recognizable as a word, and may be a name or acronym.  Whatever this place is, it was where most of the action happened.

The street number? Why, 42 of course.

The production crew set up between Bethel Street and Nuuanu Avenue at 32 Merchant Street — in fact the very same building that houses The Cole Academy (where they filmed a New York scene in October).  The impressive columned arch doorway got a name, in Russian characters.

Fortunately, “LOST” spotter Howard Hsu, who also nabbed this photo, just happened to have a Russian speaking coworker.  The name on the building?  Oldham Pharmaceuticals.  Though apparently “Pharmaceuticals” wasn’t quite written correctly.

The scene was for Naveen Andrews, who stalked about dressed all in black (including a leather jacket). Most of the action happened behind closed doors, but the last scene depicted Sayid coming out of the building, holding something inside his jacket, and walking away.

Bags of ice were spread across the sidewalk to depict snow. Interestingly, the same thing was done one block east on this same street for another Sayid scene (leaving a restaurant in Berlin). Here, in one take, Andrews slipped a bit on the ice.  Not enough to make the blooper reel, unfortunately.

After filming wrapped, the production crew made the most of the setup by tossing snowballs at each other. Except they were mostly ice balls, and hit with a palpable thud!

Here are some photos that I was able to nab:

“We were there last in March, and I didn’t expect to see the difference in the camp, but it was like a whole new place. We saw some amazing things, like the freshly painted new Dharma van and Jeep, and what looked like a vehicle servicing center with a huge gas tank with a new Dharma logo on it (one with a wrench in the center). Also, the houses were all freshly painted, the swing sets were repaired and repainted (no rusty chains), there were new plants and flowers, etc.  Also, the hall where they kept Kate prisoner briefly has been redone again too, and there was a sign up that said “Processing Center.” There were a ton of props inside. The latest year on the Dharma new recruit photos was 1976. And tied up out back was a very adorable yellow lab.  I can’t say for certain that he was Vincent, but he looked just like him (pale yellow, almost white).”

Yet another fan, Sarah, made her way to Othersville, and sent in this report:

“Today I had an opportunity to drive out to Othersville and found the Lost crew shooting a scene at the very end of the road. They had the Dharma bus perched on a cliff towards the ocean with Hurley in the driver seat. Sawyer was in a Dharma jumpsuit and Jack was wearing a button down shirt and tie. Kate was there too. Apparently, Carlton and Damon were there too. It was so exciting to see Lost in the making up close and personal!”

Finally, as a perfect close to a busy week, Grant from Edmonton once again caught a glimpse of “LOST” at work yesterday at Kawela Bay:

“There was nothing to be seen on the beach itself (though it is an incredibly beautiful setting), so we carried on following some horse riding trails from Turtle Bay until we came across several equipment trucks.  We passed what must have been a prop on the ground about the size of a rowboat… but it was covered by a tarp and I was too polite to take a peek.  A little further down the road, we could see a couple of crew preparing a set.  They were uncovering a structure made of wood poles in the shape of a teepee.  About 20 feet tall and without any covering whatever, just the wooden poles.  A few yards past that was a Dharma VW van.”

Finally, for dessert, a two-word spoiler from our latest “LOST” podcast, posted yesterday: Young Charlotte.  Her search for her birthplace was pretty clearly telegraphed at the end of Season 4, and it looks like we’ll get a glimpse of her childhood next year.

Polite and discreet Canadians that they were, they just quietly watched from afar as the cast and crew broke for lunch. But their good nature must’ve been evident, as Evangeline Lilly — a Canadian herself — spotted them and walked over to talk to them.

They weren’t able to get close to the set, but the close encounter with the cast definitely made their day. Grant did, however, take note of a few curious facts during his visit:

• There were six main characters present. In addition to Kate, they saw Jack (Matthew Fox), Hurley (Jorge Garcia), Sayid (Naveen Andrews), Sawyer (Josh Holloway) and Jin (Daniel Dae Kim). Those last two names are particularly interesting to see.
• Sayid appeared to be wearing civilian clothes. Kate appeared to be wearing a dark blue jumpsuit. The rest — Jack, Hurley, Sawyer and Jin — were all wearing what appeared to be the DHARMA Intiative’s familiar tan jumpsuits.
• There were also more than a dozen other actors, including a few children in DHARMA tan jumpsuits, skirts and shorts.
• At least four new looking DHARMA Volkswagen vans, one Jeep, and a few blue bicycles scattered among the cabins.
• The left edge of a banner that began with the word “NEW.”

“Was this a jump back in time before Dharma was wiped out?  Has Dharma been reborn?  If this is the future, then is Jin alive?  Even if it is the past, is Jin alive?” Grant asked. “Without seeing them shoot the scene it is only so much guessing… but it is tantalizing.”

“One thing for sure, though,” he added. “They weren’t wearing those jumpsuits to keep warm.”

Grant also shared a few photos of his visit to Othersville:

Mahalo, Grant, for the great set report!

My friend, Bill Spencer, happens to live in the building overlooking the intersection, and was able to snap a couple of photos of the scene.  Two other wrecked cars sit askew in the street, and a bloodied Locke (Terry O’Quinn) surveys what’s left of his vehicle… most likely the blue four-door he and Abbadon were driving in the graveyard scene they filmed on Monday.

Meanwhile, my friend Ed went past the parking lot, and saw some lights, and several cars with Oregon plates.  Whether both locations were part of the same scene or time is anybody’s guess.

A few more shots of the car crash scene:

It seemed, at first, a peaceful scene, with Matthew Abbadon (Lance Reddick) bringing a wheelchair-bound John Locke (Terry O’Quinn) to a modest gravesite for an intense conversation.

But things turned quickly when it came time to leave. Locke, in the back seat of a blue four-door sedan (I’d guess it was a late model Mercury Grand Marquis), waited as Abbadon loaded his wheelchair into the trunk. But no sooner had Abbadon closed the lid, when shots rang out.  And Abbadon is hit.

Who’s gunning for Abbadon? And whose grave were they visiting?

From veteran spotter “Grappler” (who previously reported from the Windward side) comes this account of the day’s filming:

Hurley is relaxing on the hospital grounds, sitting on a bench and painting, when Locke (Terry O’Quinn) arrives. Locke is in a wheelchair with a cast on his right leg, rolling himself up to Hurley’s side.

They have a conversation. Soon enough, Hurley jumps up. He calls out to a female orderly, perhaps his attendant, named “Susie.” He asks her, “Am I talking to a guy in a wheelchair right now?”  She affirms that Locke is really there.

Hurley sits back down, and they talk some more, in even more hushed tones.  Locke eventually gestures over his shoulder at someone.  It’s unclear whether this person is standing nearby, or is sitting in a mysterious black car with California plates parked in the distance.  But from the context (and the stand-in on the set), chances are Locke is pointing at Abbadon.

At this, Hurley again jumps up, even more distressed. “What? Don’t you know? He’s evil!”  He then jams his fingers in his ears, yelling, “I’m not hearing this! This is not happening!”  He calls for Susie.  ”I’m ready to go back now!”

Susie takes Hurley by the arm back into the hospital, leaving Locke behind.

Photo from a previous shoot at the Kaneohe location. Hat tip to Grappler for the report!

If you’re new here and looking for all the “LOST” stuff, you can just bookmark the Hawaii Blog “LOST” category (or subscribe to the category feed). My wife and I have a “LOST” podcast that includes filming reports (and tidbits I don’t post anywhere else). You can also check out my “LOST” photos at Flickr.

Since I regularly report on location shoots, it should go without saying that there be spoilers. But with the new season so, so far away, you can imagine why I need to do something to get my fix during the interminable hiatus.

Thanks, Whitney, for the link, and to “John P.” (I’ll go out on a limb and guess he’s John of Hawaii Clothing Company) for pointing her this way.