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Picture taken from Aloha Paradise
Aloha Paradise aired on ABC from February until April 1981.
Aloha Paradise was an obvious clone of The Love Boat and was even produced by the same people. In this case, however, the setting was sun-drenched Hawaii.
TV Guide said at the time: "There are glimpses of Hawaiian scenery, on blurry screens behind the actors, who are plainly thousands of miles away in a studio building, where they are in no danger of being struck by falling pineapples."
Sydney Chase ( Debbie Reynolds), was the female manager of the glamorous Paradise Village resort. There was a perky social director named Fran( Pat Klous) and an understanding bartender named Evelyn ( Mokihana), who dispensed tropical drinks and wise counsel. Curtis ( Bill Daily) was the somewhat uncertain assistant manager and Richard ( Stephen Shortridge), the handsome lifeguard.
The plot was also like The Love Boat - three or four different stories were told within each episode: people looking for love, people in love or out of love, and people finding that their dreams could come true - at any age - in a romantic vacation setting.
The guest stars who appeared in these stories were mostly from other TV series, which was also a frequent Love Boat practice! Even the theme music sounded just like Love Boat's!
One almost expected Aloha Paradise to toot its whistle and set sail.
Steve Lawrence sang the title song.
A Review From The New York Times
TV: HAWAIIAN 'ALOHA PARADISE'
By JOHN J. O'CONNOR
Published: February 25, 1981
''ALOHA, PARADISE,'' a series entering the ABC lineup tonight at 8 o'clock with a special two-hour premiere, is ''The Love Boat'' beached in Hawaii. Instead of a floating luxury liner captained by Gavin McLeod, we get a lush resort hotel managed by Debbie Reynolds. Each episode will feature several subplots, churned out by different writers and pasted together with a host of second-echelon stars.
Tonight, for instance, there is Dean Jones playing a widower father whose young daughter (Louanne) spends most of her time trying to discover a ''supermom.'' The precocious child ends up with none other than Connie Stevens. And there are the young honeymooners (Laurette Spang and Grant Goodece) whose plans are interrupted by the arrival of her parents, played by Lorne Green and Jayne Meadows.
Then there are Louis Jourdan and Dana Wynter as a sophisticated couple trying to recapture the spark of an old marriage. And finally, there is Van Johnson, as Miss Reynolds's wandering brother, with a talent for irritating everybody in his immediate vicinity.
The hotel's regular staff includes a nice-guy assistant manager (Bill Daily), an attractive social director (Patricia Klous), a handsome beachboy (Stephen Shortridge) and a warm-hearted native bartender named Evelyn (Mokihana). Needless to say, guests and staff are under the unfailingly perky supervision of Miss Reynolds as Sydney Chase.
Miss Reynolds is as funny and vivacious as in the days when, three decades or so ago, she sang ''Abba Dabba Honeymoon'' with Carleton Carpenter. In the opening scene of ''Aloha, Paradise,'' she can be seen jogging energetically by herself along a beach. By fadeout, she is joined by most of her staff, obviously overwhelmed with the boss's moxie. By sheer dint and positive thinking, Miss Reynolds could get some mileage out a very tired formula.
As a dividend, the viewer gets a continuing parade of male and female bodies displayed in bathing suits and sarongs. And if all else fails, jolly Evelyn is available with cute observations on her ample girth, punctuated with lusty bursts of ''ha ha ha ha!'' Delicacy of wit is not one of this series' more urgent goals.
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