Cousin of TV's 'Tattoo' to Run for Mayor of Maui {NRL}

A cousin of the actor who played the elfin character Tattoo on the popular television series "Fantasy Island" in the late 1970s and early '80s announced Tuesday his candidacy for Mayor of Maui.

Hector Villanueva, distant cousin of late actor Herve Villechaize, kicked off his mayoral announcement at Kahului Airport by pointing up toward the sky and saying firmly, "It's all about da plane! da plane!" ~ a take on the late actor's famous line that opened each "Fantasy Island" episode.

Villanueva, 50, said boosting tourism during the pandemic recovery is vital toward a thriving and healthy Maui.

"Which tier are we on now, anyway?" he asked reporters. "I lost count at six. Where's the finish line? Thousands upon thousand of Maui residents depend on tourism to pay their bills."

When informed that the State of Hawaii was the governmental agency responsible for the ever-changing pandemic restrictions such as for use of face masks and quarantines for visitors, Villanueva said he has a plan to wrest control of the pandemic responses from the state.

Pressed for details, Villanueva said briefly, "Just know it's coming."

Villanueva strikes a stunning resemblance to his distant cousin Villechaize, who was part of 132 episodes of "Fantasy Island" from 1977 to 1982. As little person Tattoo, the character served as a valued assistant to the main character played by Ricardo Montalban. (Villechaize was replaced for the 1983-84 season; he died in September 1993.

He also played the evil Nick Nack in the James Bond thriller "The Man with the Golden Gun" in 1974.

Current Mayor of Maui Michael Victorino has yet to announce his intentions for the next election in fall 2022. There has been speculation that one or several county Council members may run for the seat.

Villanueva cites affordable housing, livable wages, thriving agriculture, and improved health care options as other issues to focus on. He questioned why there is only one hospital on-island.

"The pandemic brought to surface the elephant in the room that is inadequate emergency health care services," he said. "I remember when a group tried to open a hospital in Kihei, and it was squashed by a rapidly approved state law."

Villanueva has lived on Maui his entire life, growing up in Haiku before settling in Kihei as an adult.

Local political observers say Villanueva might be a challenger not to ignore due mainly to his resemblance to his distant cousin.

"The guy looks exactly like 'Tattoo' for cryin' out loud," said Joe Cakeowski, a prominent political analyst for the western United States, Hawaii, and Alaska. "Think of the recognition in campaign materials, the face, the arm pointing to the air, 'Da Plane! Da Plane!' in bold headlines.

"Plus, his message about boosting tourism is resonating among many Maui voters, early polls show. Everyone's ready to get back to work."