Hawaii setting welcome change for "Baywatch" star

David Hasselhoff, 6 feet 4 inches, just over 200 pounds, very white teeth, a California tan and a smile that spans his face, dominates the Duke Kahanamoku Suite at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

 At 46, the actor who began his career on "The Young and the Restless" soap opera, then left for a television series where a talking car was the star, "Knight Rider," has been the star of California-based "Baywatch" for nine years and continues that role in "Baywatch Hawaii." which begins filming here in July.

 Hasselhoff and wife Pamela Bach arrived in Hawaii yesterday to meet with news media; tour film locations, Haleiwa Surf Center where the show's lifeguard headquarters will be based and the Hawaii Film Studio at Diamond Head; and, if time permits, look for a home in the Diamond Head or North Shore area.

 The Star-Bulletin spent an hour with Hasselhoff before he joined Gov. Ben Cayetano and his wife for dinner.

 Star-Bulletin: During the selection process between Hawaii and Australia, it was never mentioned where you wanted to film. Was that by choice?

 David Hasselhoff: I was in the middle of Morocco filming a four-part sequel to the mini-series "Shaka Zulu" in which I play a slaver, a type of Errol Flynn meets Lawrence of Arabia character. But I was getting information about the negotiations ... First I read that "Baywatch" was not wanted in Australia. And I knew that it was just one beach area and all my great partner (producer Greg Bonann) had to do was drive 10 minutes to the next beach and ask to film there.

 Then the next week I'm laying in my hotel room in Marakesh watching Jay Leno on cable and he's saying no one wants "Baywatch" and that Hasselhoff was thrown out of Mexico for smuggling grapes in his Speedos. Now I'm pissed at all this negative press. So I call Los Angeles looking for Greg and they say he's in Hawaii closing the deal. I literally screamed "yes," and became vocal that this is where I have always wanted to film.

 SB: Was the show coming to Hawaii all along and you and Bonann were just holding out to get the absolute final best deal?

 DH: In my heart of hearts I wanted to come to Hawaii always but if it was not going to be cost effective we would have gone to Australia. I did not want to go to Australia. I have two little girls and the five hours it takes to get here is not a bad commute at all.

 SB: Were you always committed to "Baywatch's" next season?

 DH: No, that was a big decision I had to make. I just finished one mini-series and I have another one real soon and the possibility of a big movie ... I didn't want "Baywatch" to hold me back.

 SB: In how many of the 22 "Baywatch Hawaii" episodes this season will you appear?

 DH: At least 14 episodes but no more than 17 and I'll try to oversee all of the stories.

 SB: At this stage of "Baywatch's" life, what do you want to emphasize?

 DH: The writing. The stories must have depth with heart, humor and action. And getting real actors in there is the key. For the longest time we'd get bodies. Some of the bodies learned how to act and some of the bodies never learned how to act.

 SB: What has been the secret to "Baywatch's" success?

 DH: There's something in it for everyone and it's easy to watch.

 SB: Will Hawaii be one of the show's stars this year?

 DH: Big time. We're going to play off Hawaii, let Hawaii, in a sense, dictate the stories.

 SB: How will local actors fit into the show?

 DH: I want to hire as many locals as I can and I have an idea that a main character at the lifeguard center in Haleiwa, for example, will be a heavy-set mama-san type who will run our accounting. The stories will feature Hawaii lifeguards constantly.

 SB: Under your contract how many years are you committed to "Baywatch Hawaii?"

 DH: Two years now. Before we decided to move here I was only committed to one year.

 SB: Why will "Baywatch" be successful when so many other shows have come here and failed?

 DH: We are bringing our proven track record to Hawaii. "Baywatch" remains the most watched syndicated hour-long drama in the world. And Hawaii ... will be much easier to be creative ... because I've rescued everyone in L.A. from every sort of disaster and I don't know what else to write.