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4-5 Thursday, September 14, 2017 Intergalactic fun Attention anime lovers, fashion designers, video gamers, writers, comic artists, actors, cosplayers, indie filmmakers and “Star Wars” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” fans. If you’ve got a creative mind, HawaiiCon wants you to show up. “We’ve got something for everyone this year,” said HawaiiCon Chief Operation Officer GB Hajim. The fourth annual event runs today through Sunday — and tickets are still available. If it’s anything like the 2016 event, attendees have much to look forward to. “There aren’t enough words in the English language to explain to you how truly awesome HawaiiCon is,” Mary Anne Butler wrote in an Aggressive Comix review last year. This year, said Hajim, celebrations will include the 40th anniversary of “Star Wars” and the 20th anniversary of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” “We have the majority of the cast who played the leads in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer,’” Hajim said. Buffy actors who will attend HawaiiCon this year include Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Emma Caulfield (Anya “Anyanka” Jenkins) and Amber Benson (Tara Maclay). Hajim said he believes it’s the first time so many of the actors from the TV series will appear together at such an event. But HawaiiCon has much more than Buffy actors. Paul Blake, who portrayed Greedo in “Star Wars,” is an actor Hajim said fans will be thrilled to see. Actor Temuera Morrison, who portrayed Jango Fett and Commander Cody in the “Star Wars” movies “Attack of the Clones” and “Revenge of the Sith,” is another fan favorite, Hajim said. Morrison also performed the voice role of Chief Tui, the father in the Disney animated movie “Moana.” The actor is arriving on the Big Island straight from filming “Aquaman,” according to Hajim. There’s no requirement to wear an outfit from your favorite TV show, animated series or movie. But, Hajim said, “a lot of people do come in costume. About a third of the people dress up.” Expect to see lots of Stormtroopers and Jedis, he said. The atmosphere will be celebratory “and you will get a chance to relive some of the most spectacular moments” from favorite movies, Hajim said. About a dozen authors are scheduled to attend, he said, mingling with about 1,500 expected attendees. Actor Daniel Logan, who played Boba Fett in “Attack of the Clones,” and is the character’s voice in the animated TV series “The Clone Wars,” is scheduled to be among them. Hajim said more than 200 HawaiiCon panels are planned, touching on everything from set design to art, science and technology. For example, one panel is about how to do tai chi “like a Jedi.” Everything from sustainability to exploring the stars will be topics of discussion, Hajim said, with HawaiiCon creating its very own planetarium. HawaiiCon opens at 3 p.m. today, then runs 9 a.m.-10 p.m. daily through Sunday at Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows on the Kohala Coast. Some special events, such as manta ray snorkeling with the stars, are sold out. But general admission day passes remain available. “We have an incredible staff,” Hajim said. “We have about 60 volunteers that help us run this thing.” Day passes for adults range in price from $25-$65 depending on the day, while passes for children 12 and younger cost $10-$30. An adult four-day pass is $169 while children’s four-day passes are $79. All passes can be purchased at www.hawaiicon.com. HawaiiCon is a nonprofit and operates as a fundraiser for Hilo’s Performing Arts Learning Center and for robotics teams. Email Jeff Hansel at jhansel@ hawaiitribune-herald.com. WHEN: 3-10 p.m. today, 9 a.m.- 10 p.m. Friday-Sunday. WHERE: Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows on the Kohala Coast COST: Day passes for adults range in price from $25-$65 depending on the day. Passes for children 12 and younger cost $10-$30. Four-day passes are available. Passes can be purchased at www.hawaiicon.com. By JEFF HANSEL Hawaii Tribune-Herald


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