By Gary Chungchun@staradvertiser.com

bout seven yearsago, Miles Yam-abe decided itwas time to getserious aboutfalling in love. The58-year-old di-vorcé and struc-tural engineer atthe Pearl Harborshipyard triedjoining local clubs

to meet people and signed upwith online dating sites, butthey didn’t bring the soulmatehe sought. Then he saw a news-paper ad for Matchmaking In-troductions Hawaii.

It seemed like the perfectmatch for him. While he hadheard about other matchmak-ing agencies that did businessin Hawaii, he decided on ReikoKeifert and her staff to help

him find a suitable marriagepartner.

And that’s Keifert’s mission:to help marriage-minded peo-ple find one another.

“I am hardly ever wrong,”Keifert said with conviction.

Keifert, who started the com-pany in 1994, helped bring Yam-abe’s year-and-a-half search toa conclusion by introducinghim to his future wife, Miko.

Miko Yamabe, 46, had heardabout the matchmaking com-pany in Japan, where she wasborn and raised and was work-ing as a schoolteacher. A divor-cée herself, she developed alove of hula, and after severalvisits to Hawaii, she decidedshe wanted to live here and

marry a local man.“I studied abroad in Iowa

when I was 20,” she said, “and Ithought I was going to find ahusband there then, but itdidn’t happen. When thatdidn’t happen and then I wentback to Japan, I wasn’t happydating the men there.”

Miles met other women cho-sen by the agency before dat-ing Miko, but the relationshipsnever progressed.

Miko said she enjoyed thatfirst meeting with Miles. Hesaid he immediately felt achemistry with her, despite theslight language barrier.

The future Mrs. Yamabe ad-

Matchmaker

S E C T I O N DT U E S D A Y 2 / 1 4 / 1 2

F E A T U R E S E D I T O RChristie Wilsoncwilson@staradvertiser.com / 529-4778

By Mike Gordonmgordon@staradvertiser.com

For five days next week,TV talk-show host KellyRipa will deliver a bit ofwinter relief to her millionsof fans when she bringsher syndicated show toHawaii.

“Doing it from Hawaii issort of a fantasy tune-in,”said Ripa, host of “LIVE! withKelly,” in a phone call Mon-day. “Everybody is going toget a nice week away fromthe cold weather, fromwhere they live.”

The show will be taped ata beachfront set at Aulani,the Disney resort at KoOlina. Guests include “Glee”star Matthew Morrison andJorge Garcia, who was part

of “Lost” and now stars in“Alcatraz” on Fox.

Ripa’s first guest co-hostwill be Daniel Dae Kim, whostars as Chin Ho Kelly in“Hawaii Five-0.” And yes,she’s pretty darn thrilledabout that, too.

“Daniel is adorable,” shesaid. “He is so likable, andhe is easy on the eyes andhe is a very interesting guy.”

Kim has been a guest onthe show, and “LIVE!” haswanted him as a co-host forsome time, but the actor’s“Five-0” schedule kept him

busy, Ripa said.“We have been trying to

get him to co-host forever,and so we had to come toHawaii to make it happen,”Ripa said. “He is always agood talker, and that iswhat we are always tryingto get: someone you enjoyhaving a good conversa-tion with.”

“LIVE!” episodes will betaped on Sunday and Mon-day. The public can attend,but because all the advancetickets are gone, the onlyway to get in is to wait in astandby line. Kim’s episodewill be taped at 9 a.m. Sun-day for a Monday broadcast.

Honolulu native CarrieAnn Inaba, a judge on “Danc-ing with the Stars,” will bethe guest co-host on the

Feb. 22 show. That show willbe taped at 9 a.m. Monday.

Ripa likens her show to afrothy cappuccino. If that’sthe case, she is surely thesugar — effervescent, sweetand full of nonstop energy.The actress-turned-host hasbeen part of the show since2001 when she joined RegisPhilbin. Together they werepart of “Live with Regis andKelly” until Philbin retired inNovember.

Ripa came to the showfrom the world of daytimesoap operas. She was on“All My Children” for 10years. The 41-year-old wifeand mother of three didnot expect the gig wouldlast this long.

“I never thought I was anygood at it,” she said. “I didn’t

think I was cut out for it. It isa little strange to go fromacting and break the fourthwall and talk to the audi-ence. It seems weird andstrange, but over time I havegrown to love it.”

And the hours are great.Her day typically starts witha visit to hair and makeup at8 a.m., and she’s on her wayhome by lunchtime. She hastime for her family and towork with her husband,Mark Consuelos, at theirproduction company, MilojoProductions.

“I really do find this is theperfect job for a working par-ent,” said Ripa. “It allows youto raise your children andearn a living. I am able to getmy kids from school and takethem to their after-school ac-

tivities. I used to work on asoap opera and the hourswere way too long.”

Ripa will bring the wholefamily to Hawaii. They’repacking swimsuits andhomework. And birthdaygifts: Her youngest,Joaquin, will turn 9 duringthe trip.

Ripa’s ready to tape her talk show at Aulani

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kelly Ripa will host“LIVE! with Kelly” fromHawaii for five days.

Please see MATCHMAKER, D3

‘LIVE!’ ON THE TELLY>> Watch “LIVE! withKelly” at 8 a.m. week-days on KHON

STOCK.XCHNG

SOULMATE SEARCHWant to find love here inHawaii? Here are somesuggestions from theagency staff:

>> Choose someoneclose to their family,and if they don’t havefamily, then close totheir hanai familyand friends. Hawaii isa place based onohana. People whoare caring to theirfamily and friendswill be the same to-ward their partner aswell.

>> Don’t date peoplefrom work. This is es-pecially true here inHawaii. If the relation-ship fails and wordgets around, what isusually six degrees ofseparation elsewherebecomes two de-grees because we livein an island state.

>> Meet as many newpeople as possible,including thinking ofways to meet peopleyou would normallynot meet. If your ra-dius of activity ishome to work, it isclose to impossibleto find love.

>> Start a relationshipbased on both partieshaving accurate infor-mation about eachother. Many of thosemeeting online startwith false informa-tion.

>> First impressions maybe important, butdon’t put too muchweight on them. Keepan open mind. Chem-istry is important, butwith age the impulseto fall in love becomesweaker. When thishappens, the thingsyou look for in theother person becomemore stringent, andthe things you checkon in the initial meet-ing become way toodetailed.

>> Be intuitive and in-sightful. Watch outfor people telling youthings that sound toogood to be true.

>> Choose a partnerbased on what kindof relationship youwill have with thatperson when the real-ity of everyday lifesets in, not based onthe person’s appear-ance, history andbackground.

MATCHMAKINGINTRODUCTIONSHAWAII>> Address: Waikiki

Trade Center, 2255Kuhio Ave., Suite 717

>> Phone: 923-4333>> Cost: Consultation is

free, with startingprice of $500

>> On the Net: match-makinghawaii.com

at your serviceMatchmaker

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Todd Nacapuy is a clientwho is looking for a matethrough MatchmakingIntroductions Hawaii. Hesits with Rika Smith, cus-tomer service manager.Miles and Miko Yamabe,below left, met throughthe agency.

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mits she was surprised byher date’s strong reaction.“I didn’t know he was thatserious.” But then shefound out she was the onlywoman, of all the previousmatches, that he wanted tosee again.

Miko returned to Japan,and the two correspondeddaily via email. After a sec-ond date back in Hawaii,Miko returned home again.They had their third date inJapan, love blossomed andtwo months later Miles metMiko’s parents and family inOsaka. Even though theywere both adults, Miles stillwanted to ask Miko’s fatherfor his consent.

“I asked Miko to translateinto Japanese what I wanted

to tell him, and I practicedfor two weeks, but when I fi-nally sat across him at thedining room table, I was sonervous that I fumbled myspeech.”

But her father gave hisblessing, and now the Yam-abes have been married fora little more than five years.They’ve been back to Japan14 times since then, andMiles always remembers tobring back omi yage to theagency office as an expres-sion of thanks.

KEIFERT OR A representa-tive of her all-female team ofmatchmakers first inter-views clients in a free con-sultation to assess theirneeds and desires. Aftermeeting with the clients,they scan their database of

about 3,000 men and womento find potential dates bymatching identified areas ofcompatibility and relation-ship expectations.

The company’s numbersspeak for themselves — eachday 25 dates are arrangedand 400 couples are formed,with 80 percent of clientseventually finding a mate.

Three to seven couples in-troduced by the companyget married each month.

Office general managerAmi Allan said the companyworks to maintain a clientlist that is evenly splitamong men and women, butwhile the men are almost alllocal, only half the womenare local and the other halfare Japanese nationals.

TODD NACAPUY is 35 andgetting serious about findinga life partner, though it’stough to find time in hisbusy schedule.

Nacapuy works with Mi-crosoft, is an avid golfer(one time caddying for localathlete Kristina Merkle ather first LPGA event), volun-teers as a coach with EganInoue’s boot-camp physicaltraining program and doesoccasional stunt work for“Hawaii Five-0.”

Nacapuy also heard aboutthe matchmaking servicethrough a newspaper ad,and he’s been a client for ayear and a half.

“This is a more profes-

sional service than anythingon the Internet, and it catersto someone like me who isentrepreneurial,” he said.“The agency also appeals tome because I don’t have alot of free time, I travel a lotand I’ve become tired of theclub scene. … This has beena different avenue for me. Imean, I have no problemmeeting girls, but it’s findingthe right one.”

Agency consultant RikaSmith, who has been work-ing with Nacapuy, said,“With all the personalityanalyses and testing that wedo, we cannot measurechemistry. Sometimes Imight think, ‘Oh, I think thiswoman would be awesomewith this man,’ and itsounds great if they wouldget together, but come tofind out there’s no chem-istry on the first date.”

Nacapuy said, “But Rikaand the staff do follow-upwork after the introduction.Rika asks me how the datewent, what worked for you,and for me to give a com-patability rating of between1 and 5, 5 being the mostcompatible.”

Allan added, “We needtheir feedback. Our clientsare not only placing a finan-cial investment with us, butalso an emotional invest-ment as well. … There hasto be shared values, beliefsand a vision for a successfulmarriage.”

© 2012 Times For 2/13/12

IMAX: JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUSISLAND 3D (PG) ★ 1140 210 440 710 940

STAR WARS: EP. 1 IN REALD 3D - EVENTPRICING (PG) ★

(1050 105 150 405 450) 705 750 1005 1050

SAFE HOUSE (R) - ID REQ'D (10551135 145 225 430 510) 715 755 1000 1040

THE VOW (PG-13) (1120 200 445) 720 955

JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND INREAL D 3D (PG) ★ (1110 410) 640 910

JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUSISLAND (PG) (140 PM)

THE WOMAN IN BLACK (PG-13)(1200 235 505) 735 1015

CHRONICLE (PG-13) (1130 300) 650 1030

BIG MIRACLE (PG) (1045 135 415) 655 935

THE GREY (R) - ID REQ'D(155 PM 455 PM) 1035 PM

THE GREY [OC] (R) - ID REQ'D(1105 AM) 740 PM

MAN ON A LEDGE (PG-13)(1100 130 435) 725 1025

UNDERWORLDAWAKENING (R) - ID REQ'D

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RED TAILS (PG-13) (1125 215 500) 745 1045

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Adv. Tix on Sale THIS MEANS WARSAFE HOUSE (R) - ID REQ'D

(1240 140 330 430) 645 745 935 1030JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND INREAL D 3D (PG) ★

(1255 PM) 700 PM 950 PMTHE VOW (PG-13) (1230 315) 735 1015JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUSISLAND (PG) (325 PM)STAR WARS: EP. 1 IN REALD 3D - EVENTPRICING (PG) ★ (1235 340) 715 1020THE WOMAN IN BLACK (PG-13)

(1235 300 530) 800 1025CHRONICLE (PG-13) (1230 250 505) 720 940BIG MIRACLE (PG) (1250 345) 705 945THE GREY (R) - ID REQ'D (105 355) 640 930MAN ON A LEDGE (PG-13)

(115 410) 750 1025UNDERWORLD AWAKENING IN REAL D3D - EVENT PRICING (R) - ID REQ'D ★

(1240 305 520) 740 1000HAYWIRE (R) - ID REQ'D (1245 310) 630 955

Adv. Tix on Sale THIS MEANS WARJOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND INREAL D 3D (PG) ★ (300 520) 745 1010

JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUSISLAND (PG) (1240 PM)

THE VOW (PG-13) (120 415) 715 950

SAFE HOUSE (R) - ID REQ'D(130 430) 730 1015

STAR WARS: EP. 1 IN REALD 3D - EVENTPRICING (PG) ★ (100 400) 700 1005

THE WOMAN IN BLACK (PG-13)(1250 310 530) 755 1020

CHRONICLE (PG-13) (1255 305 515) 725 940

BIG MIRACLE (PG) (115 345) 640 915

THE GREY (R) - ID REQ'D (110 355) 645 935

UNDERWORLD AWAKENING IN REAL D3D - EVENT PRICING (R) - ID REQ'D ★

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THE DESCENDANTS (R) - ID REQ'D(1245 330) 635 920

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THIS MEANS WAR CK8:00 PM SNEAK PREVIEW!JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUSISLAND BK (1:20, 3:40), 6:00,8:15, 10:30SAFE HOUSE EK (12:15, 2:00,3:00), 4:45, 5:45, 7:30, 8:30, 10:15STAR WARS: EPISODE I - THEPHANTOM MENACE BK(2:05 PM)

THE VOW CK (12:00, 1:25, 2:30,3:55), 5:00, 6:30, 7:30, 9:00, 10:00BIG MIRACLE BK (1:05, 3:40),7:15, 9:50CHRONICLE CK (1:10, 3:20),5:30, 7:40, 9:50, 10:30THE WOMAN IN BLACK CK(12:20, 1:20, 2:45, 3:45), 5:10, 7:35,8:35, 10:00THE DESCENDANTS E (2:00),4:45, 7:30, 10:15

THE IRON LADY C (11:30, 2:10),4:30, 7:10THE ARTIST C (11:40, 2:00),4:20, 7:00TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY E5:10, 7:50MIDNIGHT IN PARIS C (2:50), 5:10

A DANGEROUS METHOD E (12:20,2:40), 5:00, 7:202012 OSCAR SHORTS:ANIMATED IK (11:45, 3:45), 7:452012 OSCAR SHORTS: LIVEACTION IK (1:30), 5:30

Times for Tuesday, February 14

THE VOW CK (12:30, 3:00),5:40, 8:00ALBERT NOBBS E (12:10, 2:40)THE DESCENDANTS E (11:50,2:20), 4:50, 7:30EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLYCLOSE C (12:00), 7:40

THE GREY E (1:15, 3:55), 7:45, 10:30MAN ON A LEDGE C (12:00,2:30), 5:00, 7:30, 10:00HAYWIRE E 6:10 PM

Presented In Digital ProjectionUNDERWORLD: AWAKENING E(1:20, 3:40), 6:00, 10:30

DSTAR WARS: EPISODE I - THE PHANTOM MENACE 3D BK 12:45,3:55, 7:00, 10:05

JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUSISLAND 3D BK (12:00, 2:25),4:50, 7:15, 9:40STAR WARS: EPISODE I - THEPHANTOM MENACE 3D BK5:10 PMUNDERWORLD: AWAKENING3D E 8:15 PM

� INDICATES RESERVED SEATING SHOW TIME

This Means War – Sneak Preview Tonight @ All Locations

Mail to: Oscarama, Honolulu Star-Advertiser Features Section, 7 Wa-terfront Plaza, Suite 7-210, Honolulu HI 96813. No fax or email entries.

———RULES: Contest is open to Hawaii residents. Ballot may bephotocopied or downloaded at staradvertiser.com, but only oneentry per person. Mail-in ballots only; no faxes or emails will beaccepted. Entries must be postmarked by Feb. 18. In the event of atie, prize winners will be picked in a drawing. Oahu PublicationsInc. employees and family members are not eligible.

OSCARAMAJoin the Hollywood hoopla over the 84thAcademy Awards by guessing the winnersin top categories. You won’t go home witha golden statuette, but you could win $200cash from the Honolulu Star-Advertiser,plus dinner at the Halekulani (value $200)and a Hawaii International Film Festivalpremium membership (value $150), cour-tesy of HIFF. Second-place prize is Haleku-lani dinner and HIFF membership. Thedeadline to enter is Feb. 18 (see completerules below). Winner will be announced inthe Star-Advertiser’s Today section on Feb. 27.

Check one box in each category:

BEST PICTURE

❑ “The Artist”❑ “The Descendants”❑ “Extremely Loud

& Incredibly Close”❑ “The Help”❑ “Hugo”❑ “Midnight in Paris”❑ “Moneyball”❑ “The Tree of Life”❑ “War Horse”

BEST DIRECTOR

❑ Michel Hazanavicius,“The Artist”

❑ Alexander Payne, “The Descendants”

❑ Martin Scorsese, “Hugo”❑ Woody Allen,

“Midnight in Paris” ❑ Terrence Malick,

“The Tree of Life”

BEST ACTOR

❑ Demián Bichir❑ George Clooney❑ Jean Dujardin❑ Gary Oldman❑ Brad Pitt

SUPPORTING ACTOR

❑ Kenneth Branagh❑ Jonah Hill ❑ Nick Nolte❑ Christopher Plummer❑ Max von Sydow

BEST ACTRESS

❑ Glenn Close❑ Viola Davis❑ Rooney Mara❑ Meryl Streep❑ Michelle Williams

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

❑ Bérénice Bejo❑ Jessica Chastain❑ Melissa McCarthy❑ Janet McTeer❑ Octavia Spencer

NAME:

PHONE NUMBER:

TIEBREAKER:CINEMATOGRAPHY

❑ “The Artist”❑ “The Girl with the

Dragon Tattoo”❑ “Hugo”❑ “The Tree of Life”❑ “War Horse”

TODAY T U E S DAY 2 / 1 4 / 1 2 >> H O N O L U L U S TA R - A D V E R T I S E R >> D3

Review by Rick BentleyMcClatchy Newspapers

The new romance film“The Vow” suggests lovemeans never having to sayyou can’t remember yourspouse’s name. The film,loosely based on a truestory, follows the life of awoman who comes out of acoma with no recollectionof her married life.

“The Vow” has threethings going for it: likablestars, a director who knowshow to stay away from sac-charine sentimentality, anda compelling story.

The film’s biggest assetsare Rachel McAdams andChanning Tatum. McAdamshas the type of angelic faceand sweet personality thatmake it easy to fall in lovewith her. Tatum brings both

a rough physicality and sur-prising vulnerability to hisrole. They make it easy toroot for this couple to staytogether.

Michael Sucsy uses aneven hand in directing theromantic elements. Hedoesn’t push the romancewith overly orchestratedmusic or fancy film work.He’s confident enough inhis direction to allowscenes to play out at a pacethat gives the audiencetime to get to know thesepeople.

He even manages tostage the car-crash se-quence, which sets thestory in motion, in a poeticmanner rather than go forshock value. There are afew romance-film mainstaysin “The Vow,” but generally

it has a fresh, sweet tone.As for the story, amnesia

is always tricky because itis often used as a wayaround plot obstacles. Itworks here because it is thevehicle that drives the lovestory and not a cheesy gim-mick.

Incidentally, when theysay the film’s loosely basedon a true story, that meansalmost nothing is the same.In the original story, thewife awakes from her coma,her husband says they aremarried and they go onwith their lives using deepreligious faith to get themthrough the crisis.

Had the film been actu-ally based on that story, itwould have been forget-table. It’s the struggle torekindle a love that onceburned brightly that grabsour heart. “The Vow” is a re-minder of how beautiful it isto fall in love — even if it isfor a second time.

It’s a perfect way tospend Valentine’s Day.

SCREEN GEMS

Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams star in “The Vow.” The most appealing as-pect of “The Vow” might be the likable actors.

‘THE VOW’Rated: PG-13

Now playing in theaters★★★

A coma and amnesiaset the scene for loveto conquer all, withhelp from the director

Valentines can view ‘Vow’ without risking diabetes

Continued from D1

MATCHMAKER: Clients’needs and desires assessed

BRIEFLY

Susan G. Komen group to stage fundraiserThe Hawaii Affiliate of Susan G. Komen is teaming up

with the “Pink Palace of the Pacific” to present the inaugu-ral Pink Tie Ball.

The fundraiser begins at 6 p.m. March 9 at the RoyalHawaiian Hotel’s Monarch Ballroom with a reception fol-lowed by dinner, a silent auction and program at 7 p.m.

Dr. William S. Loui will be honored during the event. Louihas represented Hawaii on the national Health DisparitiesAdvisory Group for the American Society of Clinical Oncol-ogy, and also worked in local programs ensuring cancercare for women and minorities.

Sponsorship packages cost $3,000 to $10,000 for tables of10.

See www.komenhawaii.com, call 754-6659 or emailkomen@komenhawaii.org for information.

Hospice offers help in dealing with griefSt. Francis Hospice will present “Grief, Hope, Joy & Be-

yond,” a conference from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 24 atthe Koolau Ballrooms in Kaneohe.

The event is designed for social workers, counselors,chaplains and others seeking ways to deal with loss.

Among the keynote speakers is Susan Ariel RainbowKennedy, also known as SARK, an author and artist whoselatest book is “Glad No Matter What: Transforming Loss andChange Into Gift and Opportunity.”

Also appearing will be “jollytologist” Allen Klein, a thera-peutic humor expert and author of 18 books, including“Learning to Laugh When You Feel Like Crying: EmbracingLife After Loss.”

Michael Wall, an educator and percussionist, will leadprograms that use percussion instruments, clapping, danceand movement to help with grieving. He is the author of“Live Your Dreams.”

Local panelists, including Su Shen Atta of the FamilyPeace Center, Merton Chinen of the state Office of YouthServices and Jerry Coffee, clinical director for the Institutefor Human Services, will share tips on helping youths dealwith grief.

Cost is $130, which includes lunch. Register online atwww.stfrancishawaii.org. For more information, call 547-8147.———Star-Advertiser staff