One Con to Rule Them All
A few members of the team behind Comic Con Honolulu (from left): Nathan Abma (far back) Roy Bann (in blue), Alycia Fujii, Alton Fujii, Angel Rumbaoa, Misty Foley, Alan Le, Devin Wolery and Van Fujishige BODIE COLLINS PHOTOS
Think of a comic convention as a giant fandom pie. Yes, there’s a big slice of conventional comics — Marvel, DC and all the smaller titles in between — but there’re also pieces for Star Wars, for Lord of the Rings, for Firefly, for Mass Effect and about a million other things.
That’s how local coordinator Roy Bann describes the inaugural Comic Con Honolulu, which will run July 24-26 at Hawaii Convention Center. “Hawaii deserves this type of convention,” he says. “We want to put together a show to support the sci-fi, comic book, fantasy and gaming communities out there.”
FROM EAST TO WEST
Comic Con Honolulu’s genesis was, of all places, at an anime convention.
Two years ago, organizers of the long-running Kawaii Kon realized that they didn’t have anything that catered to Western fandoms.
“We started noticing more and more people coming in other types of costumes — Harry Potter, Star Wars, Star Trek and Doctor Who, all kinds, and especially comic book characters,” says Bann, who also serves as senior administrator at Kawaii Kon.
So they opened an all-genre room with panels and activities geared toward these previously untapped fandoms, and it was a hit from the start.
“It would be packed almost every event,” says Kawaii Kon co-founder Marlon Stodghill. “It let us see there was an actual interest in a multi-genre show.”
There was some discussion about making Kawaii Kon bigger or expanding its focus to encompass more than anime, but ultimately Kawaii Kon’s parent company Dyad LLC decided simply to begin a brand-new convention.
Comic Con Honolulu still owes a debt to its sister show. Many of the new con’s staff have transplanted over from Kawaii Kon.
“We’re drawing on the experience and know-how of the staff we have from Kawaii Kon to fill key roles,” Bann notes. “Although there’ll be some familiar faces, there’ll also be new people.
“Comic Con Honolulu will be a separate but related entity, and eventually an entirely new group of people will run this thing.”
CON NEVER SLEEPS
Comic Con Honolulu’s focus is on Western film, TV shows, comics, novels and games.
“We’re looking at a broad range, versus specific sci-fi shows,” Bann points out, cit ing previous Star Trek and Twilight conventions in Hawaii that were successful but lacked wide appeal.
“Although they followed a fandom, it was too focused, whereas we’d like to be a wider range of the type of Western fandom that’s out there.”
The day-to-day format of the convention will adhere to the formula Kawaii Kon has established — for good reason, Bann says.
“We’re not an autograph convention. We have guests, we have panels; we have other activities going on,” he explains. “There’s always going to be some kind of activity that a con-goer would be able to do at any time of day while we’re open.”
Though a number of sci-fi stars are expected to appear at Comic Con Honolulu, they supplement the nonstop succession of discussion panels, tabletop and video game rooms, contests, seminars and vendor booths that will operate at the convention.
“Guests are amazing, but we want the content to be equally amazing. Everyone there is … trying to bring in content that really celebrates fandom in general,” Stodghill notes.
Expect to see local geek groups including The Last Outpost, Hawaii LEGO Users Group, Pacific Outpost of the 501st Legion, the Nightmarchers Quidditch team and Costumers Guild of Hawaii, as well as representatives from UH’s School of Astronomy.
There’ll also be a Tech Noir after party at 9 p.m. July 25, and a three-day, interactive sci-fi theater production from THEATRICUS called Guardian Point.
STARTING SMALL
Expectations for Comic Con Honolulu are modest for this first go-around, with an expected attendance of 2,000-3,000 people.
“Other than our track record with Kawaii Kon, there’s nothing else we can pull from, besides putting on the best show we can,” says Bann.
But based on that very track record, hopes are high.
Stodghill, who manages other Mainland conventions via his role as chairman of Dyad LLC, believes Hawaii’s sense of community sets it apart.
“What makes Hawaii unique from some of the other regions is how they tend to have much more of a family-oriented base through everything they do.”
He’s observed lots of families trooping down to Kawaii Kon together, and a universal sense of graciousness and warmth that resonates with the guests who stop by.
“What we want to do is to create a community (at Comic Con Honolulu) that is thriving — not just to capitalize on the geeks out here who want to see a star that is here, but to create and continue a community throughout the year,” Bann says.
Three-day passes are available for $45 online through 11:59 p.m. Saturday (July 11). One-, two- and three-day tickets also will be sold at the door. For more information or to register, visit comicconhonolulu.com.
