Originally Posted By jtomyl In the Sunday, October 16th edition of both the Honolulu Advertiser and the Honolulu Star Bulletin, ABC TV and Touchstone Television took out a full page ad thanking the people of Hawaii for their support of the TV show Lost. Here is the text: MAHALO! To the people of the City and County of Honolulu and the State of Hawaii: Many thanks for your aloha spirit in welcoming LOST to Hawaii and helping create one of the best shows on television. Right from the start you were there for us. In January 2004, after the pilot was ordered to production, we searched the world for the right location to base this series. When Hawaii was considered, we made two phone calls – to the Hawaii and Honolulu Film Offices. That’s all it took. They told us everything we need was there and encourages us to come to Oahu immediately and scout locations. Seventeen hours later, we were driving around the island. It did not take us long to conclude they were right. Hawaii was the home for LOST. Having the right location was a good start. We needed more resources and Hawaii provided that as well. We needed people to make a great show. A top-notch production team was quickly assembled, using the rich base of skilled local artisans and technicians already established in the islands. This week, we are producing our 55th episode. The natural beauty of Hawaii is not only the tropical setting for LOST’s deserted island, Oahu locations have doubled for the Australian outback, Sydney, New York, London, Iowa, Iraq and other exotic locales around the world. Mahalo for graciously accepting us into the community during the two and a half years we have produced LOST. Oahu is home to us. The majority of our crew remains local. But, a few lucky mainlanders are now a part of the ohana and well on their way to becoming kamaaina. On Saturday, September 30, nearly 14,000 locals spent an evening on the beach in Waikiki screening this season’s premiere episode of LOST. It was an inspiring expression of appreciation, loyalty and camaraderie. We thank you for your support and collaboration in creating a series that have changed television forever. MAHALO NUI LOA FOR YOUR KOKUA AND ALOHA. Respectfully, The Producers of LOST Touchstone Television ABC Entertainment They have the picture looking out of a cave with LOST on the horizon with the ABC and Touchstone Television logos on the page.
