05-05-2025APPLIED AI Aloha uses on-device processing to check for web page updates so you don’t have to BY Jared Newman My worst workday habit is that I’m a compulsive web page checker Throughout the day, I’m constantly refreshing the same handful of sites for updates. I’ll check the metrics on my newsletters and click through some tech news sites—and that’s before even getting to email and social media So I was pretty eager to try Aloha Browser’s new “Snips” feature which uses AI to periodically monitor web pages and notify you when things change I figured that by having AI check web pages on my behalf I could avoid the urge to do so myself and be better at staying on task but both Aloha and I still have some work to do Snips is currently available in the desktop version of Aloha for Mac and Windows appearing as a little box-and-scissors icon next to the address bar Clicking the icon brings up a selector tool for highlighting the part of the page you want to keep track of Choose how often Aloha should check for updates (the default is once per day but you can go as frequently as every five minutes) then write a sentence describing what changes it should watch for if you wanted to monitor the price on a product page you could write something like “notify me when the price falls below $300.” I’ve set up a handful of Snips to cut down on compulsive page checking: Aloha uses on-device AI to analyze page content then takes routine snapshots of the page to see if things change it uses a mix of on-device AI processing and large language models from Grok and OpenAI but Aloha says no browsing data leaves your device in most cases (The browser does send some especially complex tasks to a remote server for processing but requires permission first and deletes the data immediately after.) they’ll appear as screenshots on Aloha’s new tab page but you can also shuffle and resize the screenshots into a kind of glanceable information dashboard There are plenty of other ways to monitor information online. I use CamelCamelCamel for price alerts on Amazon and you can always turn on push notifications for email and social media But Aloha’s Snips feature is a useful alternative because of how granular it can get You can set up price alerts on any retail site without sharing your contact information and you can limit social media notifications to specific types of responses or reactions The alerts come through the Mac or Windows notification tray so your email inbox and phone notifications stay uncluttered That’s not to say Aloha’s Snips feature is perfect It’s subject to the same vagaries as other generative AI tools which means things may not always work as expected I’ve experienced some instances of false positive notifications when nothing changes or repeat notifications for things I’ve been alerted to already Aloha’s page refresh capabilities also don’t seem to work 100% of the time One snippet I set up for the “Newest” section on Techmeme refused to update and Aloha showed error messages while trying to update standard Reddit pages I had to create a snippet on old.reddit.com instead.) If the information you need requires extra clicking or scrolling after reloading the page I still have to provide the appropriate degree of willpower I don’t need Aloha to check Reddit every five minutes but if I set the interval to be too infrequent I’ll likely get antsy and start checking it myself Aloha is not my main browser, and it was not really on my radar until the Snips feature arrived. It’s made by a small team based in Cyprus, and touts an emphasis on privacy, but I still prefer the power-user features in the likes of Vivaldi and Floorp it’s easy enough to keep running in the background to discourage my compulsive checking habit I’m going to keep doing that to take a little of the weight off my mind The final deadline for Fast Company’s Brands That Matter Awards is Friday, May 30, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today. Fast Company & Inc © 2025 Mansueto Ventures Fastcompany.com adheres to NewsGuard’s nine standards of credibility and transparency. Learn More Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More the sounds of the Royal Hawaiian Band and Hawaiian steel guitar floated in the air at Thursday’s Lei Day Celebration at Kapiolani Park With the stately backdrop of the Kapiolani Park Bandstand residents and visitors gathered to enjoy lots of aloha hula and music; browse through locally made items; try their hand at making their own lei with the help of professional lei makers; enjoy a bite to eat in between; and Hawaii’s florals made a beautiful and elegant showing in the Lei Contest Exhibit A stately lei of hypericum and yarrow created by Dale Mar T Acoba was one of 14 winners in various lei categories based on the lei maker’s age lei po‘o (a lei worn on the head) and lei papale (floral hat bands) Lei Queen Kuʻuleialoha Llanos also donned the signature crown made of delicate crown flowers As host Kimo Kahoano shared with the crowd during the festivities the mana (spirit) of the lei maker is woven into the lei the lei maker also shares a part of him or herself with the person who receives the lei A few scenes from the city’s Lei Day Celebration to take you into the weekend: Sarah Yamanaka covers news and events for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com. Already a Honolulu Star-Advertiser subscriber? Log in now to continue reading When visitors step off the plane at Daniel K they are immediately met with the word “aloha.” It’s on the welcome signs the brochures and those overpriced airport shirts Hotel staff greet guests with a scripted “aloha” and plastic lei — often shipped in from thousands of miles away — are handed out This is the version of aloha that’s easy to sell The kind that fits neatly on a souvenir or slogan and into the heart of the islands and you’ll see what aloha truly is It’s families rebuilding their community in Lahaina and someone throwing you a shaka after merging on the highway It is the foundation of Hawaii’s identity — a spirit of connection generosity and unconditional love that has guided life on the islands for generations and you’ll hear the same thing: Aloha isn’t as strong as it used to be That’s what we found after interviewing over 100 Hawaii residents of all ages and walks of life as part of the Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders’ Fellows Program the aloha spirit has been reduced to a brand It’s something to be sold and marketed to visitors who want to “live aloha” for a week before flying home Others say that modern distractions have left people too exhausted to show up for one another like they used to Generosity becomes difficult when you’re working long hours and barely scraping by people are stretched thin — and when your plate is already full there’s little room to consider the needs of others insist that “the aloha spirit isn’t just a marketing tool.” “There’s a practical reality to it,” he said That spirit of mutual care and reciprocity is deeply rooted in Hawaiian culture resources were shared and people looked out for one another shaping a culture where people helped their neighbors without expecting anything in return we heard stories that remind us of how aloha still lives on said he felt it during his soccer senior night: “Seeing so many people come out with love and appreciation really showed me the power of connection and friendship.” Rachele Lamosao of District 36 said she felt it during her trips to visit her sister at the University of Hawaii at Hilo “I distinctly remember how strangers would warmly greet us as we passed by,” she said “It was in those moments that I truly felt the aloha spirit.” Aloha doesn’t just linger in the air — it exists because people choose to carry it forward Hawaii even has an Aloha Spirit Law that acts as a reminder that kindness and respect are supposed to be the guiding principles of this place The aloha spirit is more than just a catchphrase If we want to preserve what makes our islands so special we must go beyond words and actively embody aloha in how we treat each other from the way we drive on the freeway to how we engage with our communities Aloha isn’t fading — it’s waiting for us to choose it Carson Holt is a student at Punahou School Yeon Jae Kim is at Roosevelt High School and Rylie Kubo is at Iolani School; they are all Class of 2025 “Raise Your Hand,” a monthly column featuring Hawaii’s youth and their perspectives, appears in the Insight section on the first Sunday of each month. It is facilitated by the Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders. For more information: CTLhawaii.org Hawaiian Group Explores Raleigh's Innovative Dewatering Techniques The "Aloha spirit" arrived in Raleigh this week with a team of 16 professionals from the City and County of Honolulu.  and local biosolids experts involved in the upgrade of Honolulu's Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant made a special trip to Raleigh's Bioenergy campus To dive deep into Raleigh's dewatering technologies The day kicked off with a warm welcome before staff led the visitors on a tour of Raleigh's Bioenergy operations The focus was on creating an open forum for the teams to share insights and practical experiences The visit sparked an engaging exchange as the Honolulu team explored Raleigh Water’s belt filter presses and centrifuges in action The group was interested to see firsthand how these systems work and to discuss the pros and cons of each with our knowledgeable Raleigh Water team This deep dive into dewatering is a key step as Honolulu moves forward with ambitious plans for a new Thermal Hydrolysis Process (THP) facility This week's tour was also a strategic stop for the Honolulu delegation on their way to a conference up the East Coast underscoring their commitment to innovation The Sand Island upgrade isn't just about improving treatment; it's about embracing resource recovery Raleigh Water is sending a big "Aloha" and safe travels to our new friends as they continue their exciting work.  Kimberly Holmes-IversonCommunications Manager, Raleigh Waterkimberly.holmes-iverson@raleighnc.gov This feedback widget is not intended for customer service issues This feedback is reviewed monthly to help us improve our site. For immediate customer service please refer to our staff directory Privacy Policy | About Our Ads Nā Hale O Maui raised more than $56,000 at its 9th annual golf tournament fundraiser on April 6 to support affordable housing construction in Kahului this year’s sold-out “Swing for Aloha: Driving Hope Building Homes” tournament drew 18 teams and featured a farm-to-fork dinner an online auction and contests including a Longest Drive competition Proceeds from the event will go toward building seven affordable homes in the Fairways at Maui Lani for income-qualified families “This event reflects what’s possible when our community comes together with shared values and vision,” said Interim Executive Director Carrie DeMott “Every dollar raised brings us closer to ensuring Maui families have a place to call home.” “The Wellbeing of Our Moku – Supporting Affordable Housing,” aligned with the mission of the nonprofit and the intent of host Mākena Golf & Beach Club which provided access to its private course and comfort stations The day’s top prize—an Honorary Observer experience at the 2026 Sentry Tournament of Champions in Kapalua—was awarded to Longest Drive winner Drew Sebring No participants claimed the $10,000 Hole-in-One prize Team Sponsorships raised the bulk of the funds Major sponsors included West Maui Construction Auction and prize donors included Four Seasons Resort Maui Roselani Scoop Shop and Nā Hoaloha Ekolu with gift cards from Star Noodle To learn more or contribute to Nā Hale O Maui’s housing initiatives, visit nahaleomaui.org Enter below + watch your fave nurse creators for extra chances By entering this sweepstakes, you agree to receive emails from Nurse.org. No purchase necessary. Alternate entry method and official rules. You can unsubscribe from emails at any time using the “unsubscribe” link provided in every email, in accordance with Nurse.org privacy policy A University of Hawai‘i at Hilo nursing graduate and practicing public health nurse has been crowned Miss Aloha Hula 2025 one of the most prestigious honors in Hawaiian dance earned the coveted title during the 62nd Annual Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo on April 24 Representing Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leina‘ala Pavao stood out among 13 soloists competing on hula’s most revered stage “Every day I wake up as a registered nurse and I serve the public through public health nursing through the Department of Health,” said Pavao “We do all kinds of things for the elderly Pavao earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from UH Hilo, and continues to serve her community through the Hawai‘i State Department of Health Her dual roles—healthcare provider and cultural ambassador—highlight the many ways nurses show leadership beyond clinical settings Her hula ‘auana performance paid tribute to Queen Kapi‘olani a poetic comparison of the beloved royal to a cherished flower A post shared by Honolulu Star-Advertiser (@staradvertiser) In addition to the main title, Pavao received the Hawaiian Language Award scoring a perfect 50 points in ʻōlelo Hawai‘i Keao NeSmith for supporting her chant creation and pronunciation during years of training This award recognizes a dancer’s fluency and precision in the Hawaiian language—a vital part of hula's storytelling tradition Pavao’s hula kahiko featured a hula pahu (drum dance) set to He Wahi Mele No Kapualeilaha‘oleinapali accompanied by four drummers including her kumu hula—and aunt—Leina‘ala Pavao Jardin “She’s been dancing since she entered this Earth,” said Jardin edging ahead of runner-up Tiare-Jennings Vaughan-Darval of O‘ahu’s Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine by 17 points All other runners-up also hailed from O‘ahu Pavao’s performance was enhanced by fresh adornments of Pāʻū o Hi‘iaka cultural pageantry of the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo Pavao carries both royal lineage and professional dedication proudly identifying as a descendant of Queen Kapi‘olani while continuing her public health work Her story resonates not just as a cultural win but as a reminder of the diverse paths nurses take to uplift their communities—in hospitals go back and thank God,” she said after her win If you have a nursing news story that deserves to be heard, we want to amplify it to our massive community of millions of nurses! Get your story in front of Nurse.org Editors now - click here to fill out our quick submission form today! Jaedyn Janae Puahaulani Pavao honored her home of Kauaʻi as the first dancer from Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leināʻala to earn the title of Miss Aloha Hula The 62nd annual Merrie Monarch Hula Festival kicked off Thursday night in Hilo at the Edith Kanaka‘ole Stadium with performances in ancient and modern hula from 13 women competing in the Miss Aloha Hula competition under the direction of Leinā‘ala Pavao Jardin from Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leinā’ala on Kaua‘i captured the title with a total of 1,162 points She also received the Hawaiian Language award After winning the coveted Miss Aloha Hula title Pavao expressed her gratitude for the opportunity and said she was thankful to honor Kauaʻi and make her hālau proud The soloists were scored by seven judges who looked at their kahiko (ancient) and ‘auana (modern) performances and critiqued them in various areas lei to the interpretation of the mele (song) Pavao chose two mele that allowed her to share her aloha and admiration for her home – Kauaʻi her ʻohana and her lineage that ties to Alʻi Nui Moʻikeha “He Wahi Mele No Kapualeiahaʻoleināpali,” is filled with elaborate descriptions of places around Kauaʻi and their signficance to the island’s culture The chant also provides many famous sayings about places on Kauaʻi from the mountain tops and across 5 moku Tiare-Jennings Iwalani Kamaluoluokatuahine Rebecca Kaʻaumoana Vaughan-Darval under the direction of Hiwa Vaughan-Darval from Hālau Ka Lehua Tuahine was the first runner-up for Miss Aloha Hula with 1 Emalia Pomaialoha Keleihanupīkakeiā Pāʻoaehulaleʻaikalaninuiākea Dalire from Keolalaulani Hālau ʻŌlapa O Laka under the direction of Kumu Hula Keolalaulani Dalire and Regina Igarashi Pascua was the second runner-up with 1,123 points Marina Laʻakea Choi from Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua under the direction of Robert Ka‘upu and Lono Padilla received 1,110 points and was third runner-up Chloe Makanaleiliʻiliʻi Rei Cummins from Hula Hālau ‘O Kamuela under the direction of Kumu hula Kau‘i Kamana‘o and Kunewa Mook captured fourth runner-up with 1,097 points Group performances by hālau will start Friday night with kahiko The competition will culminate on Saturday with ‘auana performances Hawai‘i News Now – KFVE, the festival’s official broadcaster, carries the competition events live on-air and online each night as well as special coverage during newscasts and on streaming platforms and social media You can also follow the festival on Facebook and Instagram or visit the official website for additional information then-Deputy Revenue Commissioner Fadil Limani got a call from Revenue Commissioner Adam Crum at the end of the workday Limani did not know that he was about to be fired over the phone by Crum Limani had worked as Crum’s deputy since March 2023 and had done much of the high-level finance related work at the department What Limani – and the Governor’s Office – did not know was that Crum was in Hawaii on an unauthorized family vacation when he called Limani It’s not clear exactly why Limani was fired It seems to have involved the proposed gasline and an alleged conversation between Limani and Senator Dan Sullivan’s (R – Alaska) office about Glenfarne – the company chosen by the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation to spearhead the long-awaited megaproject What is clear is that Crum was told by his bosses that Limani had to go An investigation by the Landmine confirmed that Crum hadn’t submitted a leave slip for his family vacation to Hawaii he was forced to admit to his superiors why he couldn’t fire Limani in person The Landmine did not learn about Crum’s Hawaiian getaway until April 13 An Instagram post on April 12 from Adam Crum who goes by “akwildcat77,” showed him and his family in Hawaii The post was sent by a source who thought the Revenue commissioner taking a vacation in the middle of session – while Alaska is facing a revenue crisis – was wrong Sources then confirmed that Crum had also been in Hawaii when he fired Limani the Landmine submitted a public records request to the Department of Revenue (DOR) asking for any leave slips Crum had submitted in March and April It took nearly two weeks for the department to fulfill the request the following record was provided to the Landmine from DOR The leave slip clearly shows that Crum submitted the request for leave after He listed his leave from April 2 – 8 Crum was likely told to submit the leave slip after it was discovered by his superiors in the Governor’s Office that he went on a rogue trip without telling anyone it’s known that you ask to go on leave or vacation before you go There are also potential insurance and workman’s compensation issues If Crum had been injured in Hawaii while his employer did not know he was there it could have created a complication or liability for the state It’s not clear if the Instagram post from Crum (akwildcat77) on April 12 was made from Hawaii DOR did not provide a reason for the redaction “Under the Alaska Personnel Act (AS 39.25.080) state personnel records are confidential and are not open to public inspection.” This was the first time I have seen that portion of a leave slip redacted Appealing a redaction concerning the commissioner to the commissioner seemed like a waste of time It was clear Crum was trying to hide something but it was going to be difficult and time consuming to find out what But then someone with a lot of experience with public records gave me an idea They pointed out to me that the leave slip was signed by Rachel Bylsma Governor Mike Dunleavy’s (R – Alaska) deputy chief of staff This means the Governor’s Office was also in possession of the record I sent the following request to the Governor’s Office on April 30 The unredacted leave slip shows that Crum checked the box for “annual/personal” leave But Bylsma crossed that out and instead checked the “unauthorized leave without pay” box He did not want the public knowing that he was reprimanded by the Governor’s Office for taking an unauthorized family trip to Hawaii Crum, undeterred after getting caught on a vacation to Hawaii, was in Florida this week. He was attending the State Financial Officer Foundation conference in Orlando. This Fox News article includes a video of him speaking at the conference Crum has been preparing to run for governor for several months He would have to leave his $168,000 state job before he can officially file to run He seems to be milking the current job for as long as possible Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Let’s be clear: people in Alaska state government have been fired for falsifying records and stealing time Yet here we have a commissioner who took a vacation to Hawaii failed to request or get pre-approval for leave and used that time to call someone and fire them Then has to admit why he didn’t fire the guy in person Why is no one talking about this serious breach of trust and ethics How can the governor possibly trust this guy nor why it took 6 days for the leave slip to be signed by Bylsma and why the leave dates don’t include the date he was allegedly in HI according to his IG post but I’d caution against your assertion that Crum didn’t have prior approval unless you definitively know (e.g. confirmation from source(s))… It appears to me your entire claim relies on the fact that he signed the request form after the alleged leave dates we obtain approval for leave from our supervisor ahead of… Read more » It boggles the mind a senior leader could “disappear” without being noticed But this article does not provide any useful information to evaluate that Instead doxxing his family and pictures of his children Unfortunately… This is what happens when department heads are handpicked based on loyalty over competence We’ve had seven years of musical chairs and magic tricks at the top and surprise — people still aren’t getting their food stamps If you took a tour of Alaska’s departments right now you’d find a highlight reel of “how not to run a government.” Health dropped the ball on benefits and people can’t get food stamps Transportation’s fumbled federal reimbursements,… Read more » Ah…He may live in Anchorage but Landmine’s out there in Juneau pounding the pavement like a one-man watchdog squad he digs up more waste and dysfunction in state government before lunch than most folks manage in a year—but sure Funny how the people who can’t stand him usually have something to lose barking at the nonsense and dragging skeletons out of the Capitol clown car Jeff – we all need to buy him a beer the next time we see him Why exactly are people bending over backward to defend a serial liar who’s supposed to be a trusted figure Are you urging Jeff Landfield to hold a smear before he definitively knows he’s right This isn’t a smear campaign or character assassination—it’s the truth Alaskans deserve transparency.  The Governor serves us Alaskans need to call or email the Governor and demand an explanation (907)465-3500 Feedback – Mike Dunleavy The commissioner made his own choices If he’s willing to disregard the rules so blatantly the silence has been shattered on an issue that has long simmered beneath the surface Countless employees in DOR and other agencies have witnessed state funds being squandered yet they’ve remained silent—fearing retaliation but I don’t agree that “The facts are undeniable.” As D13 pointed out Landfield doesn’t know how leave works in Revenue and the Gov’s Office Crumb may have sought leave and received an okay via email that Jeff doesn’t know about No commissioner should leave the state during the final month of the legislative session although it’s Crum’s staff–not him–that provides any real value Crum has been over his head since Dunleavy plucked him from obscurity to head what was then the Dept I wasn’t defending any of Crum’s actions; just cautioning Landfield to make sure he’s not jumping to any conclusions without sufficient evidence (He may have confirmed the unauthorized LWOP from a source but that wasn’t evident from his article.) nothing says “leadership” quite like ditching your responsibilities for a Hawaiian getaway and scrambling for paperwork after getting caught And let’s not forget—if Crum’s leave had actually been **previously approved** there’s **no way** the Deputy Chief of Staff would have slapped him down with **unauthorized leave without pay** That designation isn’t a polite memo—it’s a clear signal that Crum broke the rules and the Governor’s Office wasn’t about to sweep it under the rug But here’s the kicker—this isn’t just an embarrassing misstep Crum **violated ethics rules** that **every single** state employee is obligated… Read more » I read an article over 2 weeks ago that mentioned that he was on vacation in Hawaii It looks like the paperwork was submitted late Why should anyone in Alaska care that the Commissioner of Revenue the person responsible for overseeing BILLIONS of dollars is casually skipping town without informing the Governor’s Office it’s just 170 grand in salary—chump change And submitting a leave slip to the Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff only to have it DENIED because it was unauthorized leave without pay who even needs accountability in high-level government positions why should Alaskans expect their top officials—who literally shape the state’s financial… Read more » Please run down ” What Limani – and the Governor’s Office – did not know was that Crum was in Hawaii on an unauthorized family vacation when he called Limani.  It’s not clear exactly why Limani was fired It seems to have involved the proposed gasline and an alleged conversation between Limani and Senator Dan Sullivan’s (R – Alaska) office about Glenfarne – the company chosen by the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation to spearhead the long-awaited megaproject.  What is clear is that Crum was told by his bosses that Limani had… Read more » Crum also took his wife and two kids to Orlando for a family vacation surrounding the conference Racheal Bylsma just did what no one else in that administration had the guts to do This is the first flicker of accountability I’ve seen from any commissioner—and that’s saying something keep going: dig into Crum’s Florida family vacation Landmine—let’s see all the travel costs: hotel receipts Double-check whether he actually took leave or just turned a state-funded trip into a family sightseeing tour I process state travel and am shocked to see the amount of money blown… And Crum—just… Read more » it’s completely legal for a family to cover the cost of airfare for a spouse and children to accompany an employee on a work trip provided their travel is personally paid for and they’re simply making use of the state-paid hotel room—so long as the hotel rate is within the government limit and the stay doesn’t extend beyond what’s necessary for the work trip (e.g. it’s interesting to see someone take their family on two trips in just two months—lucky guy If I packed up my little kids with my wife and trekked off to Hawaii and then Florida for a work conference how much time would I truly be focusing on the needs of the State of Alaska but it wouldn’t be long before I’d be tempted to cut out early and take my kids to Disneyland or the beach it’s completely legal to have your family accompany you—but let’s ask the real questions The unaccountable state travel for leadership is doubly troubling when it’s compared to the significant difficulty boots-on-the-ground staff have getting travel to the Bush approved providing on-site service is expensive and we may not be able to afford it but it’s a tough pill to swallow while leadership is taking a hundred junkets Dan—The leadership for bush Alaska is truly a marvel isn’t it?   Governor Dunleavy never misses a chance to romanticize his time in Bush Alaska—what a nostalgic masterpiece But here’s the million-dollar question: when was the last time any of his top brass actually set foot in a village He got elected because “we care” about Bush Alaska—oh really they’ve decided to shut down Bush offices and replace them with call centers Because nothing screams “we’re here for you” like expecting rural Alaskans to navigate… Read more » what an absolute circus you’ve let run wild Just months after Jeff Landmine—Alaska’s very own whistleblowing superhero—exposed the PFD scandal with actual evidence blatantly caught lying to the Governor’s Office about his whereabouts Crum didn’t just lie—he treated himself and his family to an unauthorized Hawaiian getaway because submitting leave requests *before* jetting off is just too much to ask He conveniently filed the paperwork *after* the trip you get caught—and… Read more » the Dunleavy administration is supposed to uphold ethics laws—but apparently missed that memo along with his ethics coursework Turns out his unauthorized island getaway wasn’t just a bad look—it was a textbook case for a formal ethics complaint But thanks to our conveniently toothless oversight system accountability remains as elusive as a sunny Juneau winter and public trust gets left out in the cold Under Alaska Statute 39.52.120 (Misuse of Official Position) state officials are prohibited from using their roles for personal gain or dishing out favors like moose nuggets Violations include: Securing… Read more » predating his DOGE approach by a half a decade or so Donna could have stepped in and cleaned house—but like other ethical employees and there was no chance she’d ever work for him again despite probably being able to run the state in her spare time President Trump handpicked her for a role in DC Karma’s really putting in overtime on this one—and let’s be real Alaska government representatives are so corrupt When will Alaskan voters stop voting for these corrupt people © 2025 The Alaska Landmine. The Alaska Landmine is a owned and operated by Speedogate Media, a division of the Landfield Global Group Jaedyn Janae Puahaulani Pavao was named Miss Aloha Hula 2025 at the 62nd Annual Merrie Monarch Festival on Thursday night at the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. Pavao is both a haumana (student) and niece of Kumu Hula Leinā‘ala Pavao Jardin of Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leināʻala from Kalāheo, Kauaʻi. She accepted her award saying she is honored and blessed to share the Hawaiian cultural practice. “As my kumu (teacher) said, we dance for an audience of one,” Pavao said during a broadcast interview of the festival on Hawaiʻi News Now / K5. “I came out here tonight to share my story and to just glorify God through my hula; and I thank him every day for this talent that we are all given to be here, and just represent not only my family, but also the whole island of Kauaʻi. So I am forever grateful.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Merrie Monarch Festival (@merriemonarchfestival) Pavao performed a hula ʻauana to the mele “Ka ʻAnoʻi” in honor of Queen Kapiʻolani “He Wahi Mele No Kapualeilahaʻoleināpali,” paid tribute to her island home of Kauaʻi She earned a total of 1,162 points for her entries as well as the competition’s Hawaiian Language Award “Hānau Kamawailualani,” spoke of famous sayings about places on Kauaʻi from the island’s mountains and five moku (districts) Last year, Kaʻōnohikaumakaakeawe Kananiokeakua Holokai Lopes earned the title of Miss Aloha Hula 2024 preceded by three additional years of top honors from Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai O Haʻehaʻe The first runner up (second place) with 1,145 points was Tiare-Jennings Iwalani Kamaluoluokatuahine Rebecca Kaʻaumoana Vaughan-Darval of Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine under the direction of Kumu Kaʻilihiwa Vaughan-Darval from Mānoa and Waimānalo The second runner up (third place) with 1,123 points was Emalia Pomaialoha KeleihanupīkakeiāPāoaehulaleʻaikalaninuiākea Dalire of Keolalaulani Hālau ʻŌlapa O Laka under the direction of Nā Kumu Keolalaulani Dalire and Regina Mākaʻikaʻi Igarashi Pascua from Heʻeia and Kāneʻohe The third runner up (fourth place) with 1,110 points was Marina Laʻakea Choi of Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua under the direction of Nā Kumu Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV and Lono Padilla Her kahiko performance described the Pāʻu o Hiʻiaka the morning glory vine skirt that protected Pele’s youngest sister from the harsh rays of the sun Lono Padilla has ties to Maui as the son of respected Kumu Hula Hōkūlani Holt whose Hālau is named Pāʻū O Hiʻiaka with 1,097 points was Chloe Makanaleiliʻiliʻi Rei Cummins ofHula Hālau O Kamuela under the direction of Kumu Kunewa Mook and Kauʻionālani Kamanaʻo from Kalihi and Waimānalo Maui’s own Lexi Mae Kamakanaokalani Pruse of Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi under the direction of Nā Kumu Haunani and ʻIliahi Paredes was the only soloist representing the island of Maui Her kahiko performance, “Lani A Kahailiopua,” honored Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop. Her ʻauana, “Palisa,” is a mele said to have been composed by a patient of Kalaupapa who imagined the places depicted in a moving picture, including a balloon ride over Paris. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Merrie Monarch Festival (@merriemonarchfestival) The festival continues on Friday night with group kahiko or ancient hula performances followed by results from the 62nd event.  A total 20 hālau are participating Maui has three hālau competing this year:  led by Kumu Carlson Kamaka Kukona III of Waikapū perform seventh in the lineup on both days under the direction of Nā Kumu Haunani and ʻIliahi Paredes of Wailuku have their women appear 17th in the lineup and their men will perform second to last (the 25th group) on both nights.  under the direction of Kumu Nāpua Silva of Kula Maui will appear as the 18th group on both nights Video of each performance will be available here via HawaiiNewsNow/K5 Watch the 62nd Annual Merrie Monarch Hula Competition at merriemonarch.com. or on https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/merriemonarch/ or by clicking the Merrie Monarch icon on the Hawaiʻi News Now app each night beginning at 6 p.m The Merrie Monarch Festival is carried on K5 Spectrum and Hawaiian Telcom (Channel 1006/06).  An Evening of Aloha Emerald Keepers’ Earth Week benefit and auction was a joyful celebration of the ocean and sustainability filled with island spirit “It was so invigorating to feel the energy of our community coming together and seeing people engaging with each other, united by collective care for our ocean and community,” said Eileen Hauser, vice president of Emerald Keepers. Hauser, along with Development Director Janet Thoms, organized An Evening of Aloha.The event held at the Coronado Community Center’s Nautilus Room on Thursday announced artist Tina Christiansen as Emerald Keeper of the Year Christiansen’s love for the sea shines through in her art She is also an advocate for the environment and has spoken at city council meetings in support of clean water and the single-use plastic reduction ordinance “Tina Christiansen truly embodies the spirit of an Emerald Keeper,” said Kali Lindsay, president of Emerald Keepers. “Her deep love for the ocean, her advocacy for environmental causes, and her generosity have made a lasting impact on our community. Honoring her as our first Emerald Keeper of the Year was a natural choice.”Christiansen’s art was part of the event’s silent and live auctions which also included pieces from Robert Wyland Emcee John Weisbarth set the tone for the evening with an acknowledgement to the Kumeyaay Nation that the land on which the event was held is their traditional and unceded territory whose traditions are steeped in respect and care for both the land and the sea The theme of the evening was malama i ke kai the Hawaiian phrase for “care for the ocean.” A performance by Mahana Dance Company and music by Michael Gonzales Island-style favorites were served as appetizers and at a buffet “It gives me hope that through our collective action and community spirit The evening also included a successful “raise-the-paddle.” Emerald Keepers is raising seed money to take steps toward investing in solar in partnership with the Coronado Unified School District Emerald Keepers would like to thank the artists and volunteers who made the event a big success Their generosity and commitment to sustainability will ensure that Coronado stays Emerald Green For information about Emerald Keepers and to become a member, go to emeraldkeepers.org The Coronado Times newspaper provides in-depth coverage of Coronado, CA. Our online publication has been Coronado's trusted news source for over 20 years. Our staff is local and committed to quality coverage of our Coronado community. Learn more about our publication. Send Us News Tips & Story Ideas: [email protected] Content may not be re-published online or offline without permission Big Island Video News Jaedyn Janae Puahaulani Pavao performs the mele hula From the merrie Monarch Festival via YouTube Hawaiʻi - Jaedyn Janae Puahaulani Pavao of Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leināʻala is Miss Aloha Hula after night one of hula competition (BIVN) – The 2025 Miss Aloha Hula has been crowned after the first night of competition in Hilo’s 62nd annual Merrie Monarch Festival Jaedyn Janae Puahaulani Pavao of the Kauaiʻi-based Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leināʻala took the top honor The kumu hula of the hālau is Leinā‘ala Pavao Jardin The festival uploaded clips of Pavao’s performances to YouTube The Merrie Monarch Festival hula competition continues over the next two nights with Group Hula Kahiko on Friday evening The events take place at the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium Merrie Monarch Royal Parade will also take place through Downtown Hilo on Saturday Filed Under: Hilo Tagged With: Copyright © 2025 · Dynamik-Gen on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in Fourth Phoenix Location Marks Beloved Island-Inspired Restaurant's Continued Growth PHOENIX, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hawaiian Bros one of the fastest-growing restaurant chains is opening its first island-inspired franchise location in Paradise Valley, Ariz continues its expansion into the Valley with this latest addition to the Arizona market marking the seventh Hawaiian Bros restaurant in the area Hawaiian Bros is hosting a grand opening celebration at their new location in Paradise Valley (4520 E the first 100 customers in line will receive a free t-shirt and a Hawaiian Bros gift card ranging from $25-$500 (with purchase) and one lucky winner will win Hawaiian Bros for a year the Paradise Valley location will be open from 10 am to 3 am Hawaiian Bros will also host a VIP event on Friday May 3 from 11 am to 2 pm and from 5 pm to 8 pm and local business employees will be treated to a free classic Plate Lunch "Expanding into the Valley has been an exciting journey for us," said Adam Stine "We've opened several Hawaiian Bros locations across Phoenix in recent years and we're incredibly grateful for how the local community has embraced each one Island-inspired meals to more communities throughout the region." Hawaiian Bros is known for its island-inspired plate lunch which offers a variety of juicy chicken or pork glazed with sweet a bed of fluffy steamed white rice or vegetables; and for dessert the simple menu is prepared with the highest quality freshest ingredients - unlike any fast-casual restaurant in the area To learn more about Hawaiian Bros and its offerings, visit https://hawaiianbros.com/ we're inspired every day to spread the Aloha Spirit and to treat everyone as 'ohana - like family we respect the dignity and self-worth of every team member and guest We value our differences and celebrate our common ground emphasizing the positives in our lives every day Hawaiian Bros owns and operates over 60 restaurants serving the Aloha spirit in nine states across America and has expanded its franchise opportunities since 2023 is opening its first island-inspired franchise location in Waukee is opening its first island-inspired franchise location in Bentonville Restaurants Food & Beverages Retail Corporate Expansion Do not sell or share my personal information: Department of Transportation Services HONOLULU – The City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Transportation Services (DTS) announces extended morning operating hours for the Skyline rail system to accommodate the 41st Great Aloha Run (GAR) with special express trips servicing only four stations allowing west side GAR participants a chance to get to the starting line without having to worry about driving and finding parking Skyline riders will be taken to the Hālawa Aloha Stadium Skyline station where they can catch a shuttle to take them to the starting line of the GAR at Aloha Tower Once they complete the run to Aloha Stadium participants can take Skyline back west from Hālawa The following stations will be open for riders and participants at 3:25 a.m Train departure times at these stations can be found here: Participants will be able to park and leave their cars at the following stations starting at 3:25 a.m.: All other Skyline stations will open at 5 a.m. and will resume regular 10-minute frequencies with service to all stations Loaded HOLO cards and fares will apply to board and ride both Skyline and TheBus; cards are available for purchase at ticket vending machines at all Skyline stations TheBus will detour affected routes to accommodate the race. Please visit: www.thebus.org to view affected routes and detour information To register for the Great Aloha Run, please visit: www.greataloharun.com/ For Skyline information, please visit: www.honolulu.gov/skyline For more information on HOLO cards and how to obtain register them, please visit: www.holocard.net Copyright © 2025 Department of Transportation Services Unlocked: Jai Glindeman’s Stab Edit Of The Year Entry Stab Interview: WSL CEO Ryan Crosby On The Tectonic Shifts Coming To The Championship Tour Ramzi Boukhiam’s Season In Jeopardy After Injury Isabella Nichols + Jack Robinson Win Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach The Electric Acid Surfboard Test With Dave Rastovich Buy tix here. celebrating the 20th anniversary of Blue Horizon places one of surfing’s greatest biopics back on the big screen where it belongs Investigative journo Nathan Lynch went on tour in WA with the greatest surf filmmaker of our generation to find out what drove Jack McCoy — and Andy Irons — to shoot for the impossible He might be in a wheelchair with a busted femur He might be knackered from days of travel across Australia and back-to-back economy flights But with the aquamarine backdrop of a full-size cinema screen rippling behind him Jack’s just as stoked as the line of sun-bleached groms peering up at him from the front row.  since his family made the fortuitous carve from Mainland America down to Hawaii in 1954 But during the opening moments of a surf film in a packed theatre and the screen fades from rippling blue to a rifling Mentawai right-hander, Blue Horizon is screening getting pushed into his first wave by Pops in Waikiki … I’ve dedicated my professional life to being a waterman Taking movies from the water is one of my greatest joys,” Jack says But nothing enlivens him as much as the pure sound of stoke; the hoots coming from a packed cinema as his vision plays out in film Film that was shot in some of the world’s most remote locations and then muled in great spools back to a lab in Sydney where it was dumped in chemical baths to reveal an invisible magic fear and anticipation that filmmakers lugged around in the pre-digital age Jack remembers it all too well — the whiff of chemicals and the thrill of feeding freshly processed film into a projector as he sits in the third row at the Margaret River theatre where Blue Horizon is being screened to a packed house ranging from groms through to their parents and an array of flannelette-clad surf addicts “I’ve counted it up and I’ve probably shot close to 500,000 feet of film,” Jack says When you make a movie like Blue Horizon grinding his way through a ten-second tube There are children in the theatre for whom Andy Irons is a mythical figure AI is a legend in the purest sense of the word His Hawaiian Island Creations (HIC) gun stands as a symbol on stage alongside the aluminium-wrapped “Silver Bullet” that Rasta rode in the film Andy will stand tall on that same board as he takes down Slater at Pipe smashes Jake Paterson’s hopes of a Triple Crown and snatches his first world title from under Kelly’s nose The film will cut to Kelly spilling tears in the shower at Jack Johnson’s house followed by Andy being chaired up the beach on jubilant Hawaiian shoulders who’ll only ever see Andy surf on celluloid drown out the remastered audio that’s pumping through 5.1 surround sound speakers The ocean is the dominant character in all of his films But the songs are crucial; the supporting lead His soundtracks are painstakingly sourced and curated cajoled for a pittance from the claws of record labels and music publishers When overlaid with the deep bassy oceanic rumble coming through the rear speakers The serendipity of securing the right tracks is almost as incredible as the luck of getting Andy Irons and Dave Rastovich in their prime Jack always had to bypass the agents and the labels and go straight to the musicians he swapped a surfboard for a song with Chris Martin of Coldplay He took Dave Grohl surfing in return for two of the greatest tracks to ever grace a surf film The music and the footage work together in a kind of synesthesia where only a surf filmmaker and his audience truly know the feeling The idea behind Blue Horizon found its genesis in Hawaii when Jack was competing in surf contests in an effort to win a trip to Australia He recalls feeling deeply confused when he won the trip to Oz but discovered his friends were pissed and bummed that they had missed out Is this side of surfing really the aloha spirit So it’s an open secret here that I’m prejudiced in favour of free surfers versus competition,” Jack tells his audience before the film The commercial genius was to secure funding for a surf film and then drive the audience back towards the sheer expressive joy of free-surfing This is the guerrilla theme that runs through all of McCoy’s work he single-handedly opened up a pathway for the vagabonding “free surfer” as a profession For Blue Horizon he pitched an idea to Billabong’s Gordon Merchant of running the two stories in parallel seeing where the serendipity of surfing led them He had no idea Andy would go on to win three world titles during filming Rasta put in some of the most soulful and inspiring performances of his career it was Rasta who pushed Andy to take off under the peak One of the complexities of Jack’s films — as for many of us in the wavesliding game — is the love-hate relationship with competitive surfing but often at the expense of stoke and aloha This has been a puzzle that McCoy has wrangled since his brief foray with competition in Hawaii in the 60s.   Never has this conflict been more evident than in Blue Horizon The cracks in Andy’s mental state are evident just days after his first world title as he drives around the island of Kauai questioning why he’s unhappy taking on a new tragedy with our awareness of the demons Andy wrestled He had everything he thought he needed in life He was standing on top of the pro surfing mountain He had taken Kelly’s pretty picture and just crushed it Rasta says in the film: “I wanted to really love my surfing — my entire life and asked them if I could please become a free surfer we’d prefer you to do that!’ And this amazing golden path opened up in front of me.”  the money and the success was all-consuming He had no choice but to grind towards the summit whatever personal price the piper demanded Jake Paterson recalls watching this world title drama play out in Hawaii in 2003 with a mix of awe and amazement As the shoe-in for the Triple Crown that year he had a front row seat in the battle between Kelly and AI One scene at Sunset that year was pivotal in Andy delivering an axe blow to Kelly’s run of world titles The last two events were Sunset and Pipeline and Kelly had a huge lead for the world title race,” Jake Paterson recalls from his home in Dunsborough “Sunset was a WCT event that year … in Round Three I had Kalani Robb and we knocked out Kelly I remember Andy was in the next heat and Kelly was paddling in while he was paddling out He says: ‘You just left the door open for the world title.’ Kelly’s eyes went wide open — ‘Wow’ Andy pretty much had to win the last two events to win the world title.”  And Andy went ahead and did it: second place at Sunset and a win at Pipe The footage of Kelly crying in the shower after losing to Andy is one of the defining images of that epochal surfing rivalry The whole movie could have had a very different ending if it wasn’t for Jake Patto and Kalani “Andy just had to push everything to the limit no matter what he was doing Everything just had to be pedal to the metal He wasn’t waiting for anyone,” Jack recalls and he was gonna do anything he possibly could to get that done While Jack still feels like a stoked kid being pushed into waves in Waikiki On his neck is a scar from where the camera water housing smashed his helmet while filming Blue Horizon driving a blade of plastic just millimetres from his jugular vein The doctor who sewed him up said he was very lucky not to bleed out in the water back out filming the next day with stitches and a munted jaw Jack’s femur is still recovering from a nasty break relegating him to a wheelchair for the Blue Horizon tour And the hayfever that drove him out of Yallingup in the 1990s is back with a vengeance a wry welcome home to the wilds of South-West Oz.  Jack is well aware that the hands of time are as persistent as winter groundswell And he wants to spend that most precious of commodities doing what he loves most: projecting his visual artworks onto a big screen redlining the needle on his inner ‘hootometer’.  This tour has turned into a gruelling journey for Jack and his son-in-law Luke Campbell but it’s where he wants to be … travelling from one surfing town to another armed with his celluloid stoke generator but I’m going through all of my old film and finding gold that never made the cut I’m making clips and little bits and pieces with these clips that I have that’s how I look at my movies,” McCoy says and an opportunity to talk story with one of the greatest surf filmmakers we will ever experience “I always set myself a goal with the start of each movie so I wasn’t making the same film over and over again My objective for Blue Horizon was to tell a great story which inspired me to tell that story,” McCoy says a grin on his water-weathered face and his eyes lighting up like a pair of old-school film projectors.  and inspire people in that manner is what I live for That’s the reward that I get in my life — to be able to share.” Jack and I have a great rave about the film McCoy digs into his black puffer jacket and pulls out a card The world’s greatest surf filmmaker don’t need no business card, I think “Have you heard about the Duke’s cards?” he asks Despite an embarrassingly encyclopaedic memory for surf trivia He passes it with Japanese reverence: two hands It’s a replica of the “creed” cards that Duke Kahanamoku gave out as he travelled the world sharing the art of surfing the dog-eared card has a picture of Kahanamoku standing in front of a 12-foot board emblazoned with the iconic letters DUKE the cards featured the Duke’s philosophy on what it means to be a waterman.  ALOHA is the key word to the universal spirit of real hospitality which made Hawaii renowned as the world’s centre of understanding and fellowship Try meeting or leaving your brother nobles with ALOHA you’ll be surprised by their reaction of ALOHA of LOVE Jack had the card printed as a reminder of what the true spirit of surfing means The “creed card” is a piece of surf history I never knew about An invitation to embrace and amplify the great spirit of aloha In the context of the film we’d just watched perhaps it was a missing link in our culture Something we had forgotten in the relentless urge to shred it hits me that Jack’s films are a “creed card” borne of his own imagination cinematic version of the Duke’s simple poetry and carries on the tradition of the great Hawaiian watermen.  Jack plans to see out his days on earth travelling and luxuriating in the simple joy that a life in the brine has bestowed upon him Buy tix here. so let’s reveal who makes the best in the game Morgan Cibilic gets a late wildcard into the draw and continues rampage And more existential questions from Day 1 of the 2025 Gold Coast Pro Burleigh Mid-year cut and Final Five to depart in 2026 while Pipeline will return as the last event Pick your pony from the top 10 Instagram submissions Bede Durbidge + Maddy Job breakdown the return of Burleigh after a 25-year CT hiatus And now paddling out at North Point is the same as buying dog-themed JPEGs on the blockchain Jaleesa Vincent drops another highly original + voluptuous surf tape riding her boards shaped in rose red heels Aloha Air Cargo has proudly operated as a dedicated interisland freight carrier delivering essential goods and supporting local Hawaii businesses and communities with its shipping services As the company celebrates its 17th anniversary this year it continues to uphold its strong legacy of service rooted in safety Aloha Air Cargo operates a fleet of Boeing 737 and 767 aircraft With scheduled service six days a week into Honolulu and connecting flights from Honolulu to Los Angeles the airline is a vital connection throughout the Hawaiian Islands to the mainland.  the airline plays a critical role in supporting Hawaii’s economy and daily life From transporting time-sensitive and perishable goods to ensuring pets travel safely and comfortably the team makes sure precious cargo reaches its destination on time its hubs offer refrigeration capabilities at all island locations and a variety of service options—including charters and next flight out—enabling them to support businesses both large and small across the state.  Aloha Air Cargo is more than a freight carrier they’re a community partner dedicated to safety Contact a cargo expert at 888-94-ALOHA.  90 Companies and Nonprofits Where Employees Thrive. “It’s very black and white. You build homes, you reduce the homeless population,” says HomeAid Hawai‘i’s executive director, Kimo Carvalho. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Hawaiians also take great interest in football, especially in the fortunes of the University of Hawaii’s team, and the islands play host to the National Football League’s all-star game as well as college football’s Hula Bowl all-star game and Hawaii Bowl The Honolulu marathon, first run in 1973, is one of the world’s largest. International windsurfing competitions often take place on Oahu. Cycling and swimming are also popular recreations. Skiing is common at Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea during winter months. All beaches in the state are open to the public Hawaii’s major daily newspapers are the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Hawaii Tribune-Herald (Hilo), and Maui News. Hawaii Herald (founded in 1912 as Hawaii Hochi) serves the Japanese American community in Hawaii The state has several radio and television stations including some television stations that broadcast in Japanese and Korean With this year’s theme of “Hoʻokahi ka ʻilau like ʻana” (Wield the paddles together) the 97th Lei Day Celebration shares the beauty and creativity of lei-making and the craftsmanship of lei makers as well as celebrates native Hawaiian culture Mayor Rick Blangiardi and the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation invites the public to this free The day begins with a performance by the Royal Hawaiian Band at 9 a.m followed by a hula performance by Nā Wahine o Ka Hula Mai Ka Puʻuwai with Kumu Hula Candy Pollack at 10 a.m First Princess Pualeilani Kamahoahoa and Prince Xian Pomare Hula performances continue throughout the day until 4:45 p.m with Hawaiian artisans sharing their talents through exhibits New this year is “Meet the Masters” from 1 p.m during which a select group of elite master lei makers will share their knowledge and wisdom in a lei-making demonstration showcasing some of the world’s most exquisite lei in a variety of materials colors and styles in the open area near the Waikiki Shell parking lot the contest will offer new categories with lei primarily featured in the following color combinations: Known throughout the world as a symbol of aloha the lei is fashioned with flowers carefully and intentionally gathered then prepared in the same manner the lei maker also shares a part of him- or herself with the recipient The Lei Receiving Booth will accept lei from those who wish to enter the fresh flower lei contest Drop off lei at the booth located by the Waikiki Shell box office between 7:30 a.m the Lei Day Celebration officially concludes the following day at the closing ceremony held at two locations — Mauna ʻAla at 9 a.m flower lei from the Lei Contest will be placed on the graves of Hawaii’s aliʻi as a final display of mahalo and aloha The Lei Court will also offer oli and hula Lei Day’s first Lei Queen was Nina Bowman crowned by then Honolulu Mayor Charles Arnold in 1928 Sarah Yamanaka covers news and events for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com Investigative stories and local news updates Coverage of the Hawaiʻi State legislature in 2025 Award winning in-depth reports and featured on-going series Get the week’s news delivered straight to your inbox Utilities and infrastructure are expected to add millions more but stadium developers would be expected to pay for those costs Developers of a new Aloha Stadium district now say a replacement for the aging facility could cost as much as $650 million nearly double what lawmakers first allocated to the project six years ago one of the leaders of a partnership attempting to build the new stadium and a surrounding entertainment district in Hālawa said in an interview Thursday that the $350 million set aside for the new facility in 2019 is a “stale number from years ago.” Carr has proposed two revenue streams to make up for the stadium costs that wouldn’t saddle taxpayers with the additional financial burden One of those sources depends on a Senate bill that’s scheduled for a hearing Friday Another would require county approval in the future A separate proposal to get the stadium additional funding via a casino in Hālawa is dead for the session one thing is clear: Lawmakers and stadium officials don’t want to spend one penny more on a project that has trudged along for the last six years state senators used a hearing on a relatively minor piece of stadium legislation to grill project leaders on the stadium’s costs and its finances Donna Kim told officials at a Ways and Means Committee hearing Wednesday The reality is: Can you build us a $350 million stadium?” Carr said that obtaining an additional $300 million is necessary to fund his vision of a stadium that would not only be the home of University of Hawaiʻi football but could also attract professional rugby and soccer competitions chairman of the Stadium Authority that oversees the development said that a stadium that costs $650 million is “the aspirational stadium.” “He’s targeting the aspirational,” Morioka said we’re trying to focus in on the basic stadium.” The final cost and design of the stadium is still being determined Preliminary site work is also expected to add costs Relocating utilities surrounding the stadium is expected to cost about $32 million The developers would be required to cover those costs Carr insisted that building out the entertainment district surrounding the stadium is necessary for the project to be financially viable The stadium on its own is “a black hole,” he said “You need to develop a stadium at a scale that will attract more venues entertainers and bring people in for concerts and so forth,” he told lawmakers While the state has put up money to pay for a portion of the stadium construction the developers would be responsible for funding construction of the rest of the district and attracting tenants Carr has told lawmakers that the stadium development proposal contemplates using tax increment financing to help fund the buildout of the new stadium and the district A TIF — as it’s also known — is common in stadium district developments and is essentially a subsidy for the developer. With a TIF a portion of future property taxes generated from development is used to pay for infrastructure costs A joint Senate committee plans to take up a measure that includes a provision on tax increment financing on Friday Senate Bill 534 deals with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ attempt to build residential towers on land it owns in Kakaʻako. But tucked in the bill is language that would give the Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority power to negotiate tax increment districts with the City and County of Honolulu for lands the authority controls on Oʻahu which includes the land the stadium sits on The bill language doesn’t limit those tax increment districts to Kakaʻako The Honolulu City Council would also need to approve the TIF district. The council has introduced a resolution to explore the city’s use of those districts but it hasn’t been scheduled for a hearing yet Carr also said that he plans to pursue a Community Facilities District which would levy a tax on property owners in the stadium district to fund improvements in that district Such a proposal would also require council approval Gov. Josh Green has floated the idea of courting private donors to help pay for the stadium’s added costs The Senate Ways and Means Committee on Thursday voted to set guardrails on how that money could be used But Carr said he isn’t factoring it in to the development team’s financial plans “Whether that comes to fruition remains to be seen It could take a lot of pressure off of us.” House lawmakers are trying to kill the stadium project The House will vote next week on a measure that would yank funding for the stadium and instead allocate up to $350 million to the University of Hawaiʻi to expand Clarence T.C. Ching Field.  A similar proposal died last year in the Senate Correction: This story has been updated to reflect the correct spelling of Morioka’s name Unfortunately, being named a finalist for a Pulitzer prize doesn’t make us immune to financial pressures. The fact is, our revenue hasn’t kept pace with our need to grow, and we need your help Civil Beat is a nonprofit, reader-supported newsroom based in Hawaiʻi. We’re looking to build a more resilient, diverse and deeply impactful media landscape, and we hope you’ll help by supporting our essential journalism Blaze Lovell is a reporter for Civil Beat. Born and raised on Oʻahu, Lovell is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. You can reach him at blovell@civilbeat.org. Civil Beat has been named the best overall news site in Hawaii for the 14th year in a row by the Society of Professional Journalists Hawaii Chapter Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article Hawaii’s local governmental structure is unique among the U.S states in that it is limited to two levels of government: the state and the four counties State and county governments are also major employers The state judicial system consists of the Supreme Court, an intermediate appellate court, circuit courts, and district courts, as well as a family court Judges in the higher courts are appointed by the governor and airfields of varying sizes throughout the state military personnel and their dependents are stationed in or have their home port in Hawaii and their presence has an important influence on the local economy and social life More than half of the land in the state is owned by private individuals or corporations, although the state itself, holding more than one-third of the land, is the largest single landowner. The northwestern islands are part of the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Midway Island It has since come under the management of the U.S The Hawaiian Home Lands Commission controls the transfer of land use to qualified persons of Hawaiian ancestry for homesteading The Center for Cultural and Technical Interchange Between East and West, commonly referred to as the East-West Centre, is a project of the federal government housed at the Manoa campus of the University of Hawaii. It provides specialized and advanced academic programs and technological training to students from the United States and from countries in Asia and the Pacific. it’s consistently the bag I reach for when I want to have an effortless travel experience It’s water-resistant and easy to clean; includes two small pockets to store things in; and has a trolley sleeve in the back so you can secure it to your luggage It seems like this brand is designed by people with an appetite for travel who know the weight of bulky bags all too well there is something beachy and effortlessly cool about the products offered Here’s why I’ve come to love this duffle so much it’s so that I can be quick on my feet — whether I’m carrying the bag around or pulling it from the overhead compartment So there’s nothing more disappointing to me than a weekender bag that’s bulky or heavy on its own but manages to measure 18.5 inches wide by 12 inches tall and 7 inches deep Though this duffle comes in five other colorways — a rich olive green and a retro-looking turquoise — I opted for the sleek black Though that’s arguably the most boring color it comes in I still get compliments on this bag wherever I take it that’s likely because it’s a very nice black and it’s just a good-looking bag overall.It’s compact and only comes with two padded carrying handles Though some people prefer a longer over-the-shoulder strap I think the simple profile of the Aloha bag is part of what makes it look so aerodynamic and chic I always pack so light when I’m carrying this bag that I never find myself missing a crossbody strap it scrunches up to essentially the size of a reusable grocery bag and tucks into a tiny corner of my closet My one word of caution for people who are used to overstuffing their bags is that the zippers glide so smoothly they tend to slide back open when I’m having to force it shut This usually prevents me from overpacking and I’ve never had it burst open while on the go Read the commentsFiled in:ShoppingTravel The home you love starts here The home you love starts here Apartment TherapyThe wordmark for the Apartment Therapy brand.More From Us By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Office of the Mayor Mayor Rick Blangiardi opens this episode by reflecting on Veterans Day The mayor attended the Veterans Day Ceremony 2024 hosted by the O’ahu Veterans Council in partnership with the United States Air Force the Hawai’i Air National Guard and Civil Air Patrol at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl it’s a spiritual journey for me,” said Mayor Blangiardi “Part of that is because I was born in 1946 My father fought in World War II the whole time (he) joined as an 18-year-old kid and came home in ’45.” Mayor Blangiardi goes on to explain that all his uncles also fought in World War II so honoring service members and reflecting on Veterans Day is especially moving This year, Honolulu City Lights marks its 40th anniversary. The City and County of Honolulu and Friends of Honolulu City Lights are reminding local residents that the opening night festivities – including the tree lighting ceremony Public Workers’ Electric Light Parade and City Lights block party – are scheduled for Saturday New this year to commemorate the 40th anniversary of O‘ahu’s iconic holiday celebration fifty illuminated trees throughout the grounds and festive motifs lining Alapa‘i and Beretania Streets The new displays were donated by Mike Gangloff of Show Aloha Land and his sponsors and are designed to bring holiday cheer to local families free of charge The month-long celebration of the Honolulu City Lights kicks-off on Dec on Punchbowl Street and across the Frank F The Public Workers’ Electric Light Parade begins at 6:15 p.m As the Electric Light Parade passes Honolulu Hale Mayor Rick Blangiardi will illuminate Honolulu Hale’s holiday tree and the lights and displays decorating the grounds One of our first questions to Mike Gangloff of Show Aloha Land was “This means a lot,” replied Gangloff It’s about you stopping for one second and holding a door open when you (are) real busy (It’s about) taking that one moment and talking to somebody and saying Gangloff also explains on this episode of the One O’ahu Podcast that he started his popular holiday light displays as a way for local families to have a drive-thru experience when Honolulu City Lights scaled down due to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 All Honolulu City Lights festivities will take place on the Frank F Fasi Civic Grounds at Honolulu Hale (530 South King Street) from opening night on Dec The 2025 Merrie Monarch Festival held its first night of hula competition with its Miss Aloha Hula contest It was a celebratory night at the Edith Kanakaole Multi-purpose Stadium in Hilo featured 13 individual hula contestants who performed hula kahiko (ancient style hula) hula ʻauana (modern style hula) and oli (chant) On a night that featured many personal stories and connections to the performances it was Jaedyn Janae Puahaulani Pavao of Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leināʻala who was named Miss Aloha Hula She was also the night’s winner of the Hawaiian Language Award Pavao referenced her job as a registered nurse as she explained her admiration for Queen Kapiolani when describing her choice for her hula ʻauana song She is the first Miss Aloha Hula to be named from her halau The competition gives awards to the top five contestants Tiare-Jennings Iwalani Kamaluokatuahine Rebecca Ka‘aumoana Vaughan-Darval of Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine under the direction of Kumu Ka‘ilihiwa Vaughan-Darval Third-place went to Emalia Pomaialoha Keleihanupīkakeiā Pāʻoaehulaleʻaikalaninuiākea Dalire of Keolalaulani Hālau ʻŌlapa O Laka under the direction of Kumu Keolalaulani Dalire and Regina Maka‘ika‘i Igarashi Pascua Marina La‘akea Choi of Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua under the direction of Kumu Robert Keanu Ka‘upu IV and Lono Padilla Fifth-place went to Chloe Makanaleli‘ili‘i Rei Cummins of Hula Hālau ʻO Kamuela under the direction of Kumu Kunewa Mook and Kau‘ionalani Kamana‘o Contestants often dedicate an entire year to preparation for the contest though most will attest that they’ve been preparing for this prestigious event for most of their lives use of implements and their garments.  The Merrie Monarch Festival continues through Saturday with the Group Hula Kahiko competition Friday night and the Group Hula Auana competition, followed by the festival’s award ceremony Saturday night. As the festival is perennially sold out, it offers livestreams in English and Hawaiian.  Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application View Funeral Webcast one of God’s most cheerful servants won the victory over cancer and laid down her armor to run into heaven and meet her Savior face to face and fierce Mom were the three things that defined her she was often the life of any interaction with her contagious smile and non-stop banter you could see the toll it was having on her her faith was steadfast and she leaned on her Creator every moment surrounded by all those friends and family whose lives were made brighter by that smile Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday 2024 at 11:00 AM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Clay Gentry officiating Burial will follow at Polk Memorial Gardens 2024 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com A member of the Jackson Heights Church of Christ she was preceded in death by her husband of 41 years She is survived by her children: devoted daughter Janna Hyle (Blaine) and adoring son Paul Caudle; by her grandchildren: John Paul Caudle Aloha has many close brothers and sisters from her family at the Tennessee Orphans Home where she and Paul were raised Aloha was the daughter of the late James Paul Loftin Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Places to Stay Coffee, Tea + Sweets Wineries Taps and Tastings Arts & Culture Beach Boardwalk Beachs & Parks Request Wildlife Guide View Wildlife Guide Online Dog-Friendly Upcoming Events Getting to Santa Cruz Request a Travel Guide View Travel Guide Online View Map Online Travel Itineraries Frequently Asked Questions Capitola/Soquel Davenport Pleasure Point San Lorenzo Valley Santa Cruz Scotts Valley Watsonville Monterey Bay About Santa Cruz County Santa Cruz History Relocation The Pu Pu ‘O Hawaii Outrigger Club is ready to race These short-course outrigger races are designed especially for the new or novice paddlers Come out and support the racers as well as enjoy hula performances by Kūhai Hālau O Mehanakealohakalaua’eikapoli Pā ‘Ōlapa Kahiko serving as the official visitor marketing entity for Santa Cruz County Visit Santa Cruz County works to enhance tourism and the area economy by positioning and promoting Santa Cruz County as a year-around visitor CA 95060800.833.3494 or  831.425.1234HoursFriday: 11:00 a.m Get your monthly guide to Santa Cruz County’s events Accessibility Meeting Agendas Privacy Policy But they have declined to advance provisions that would have defunded the stadium and given the money to the University of Hawaiʻi instead With unease growing about the financing for the redevelopment of Aloha Stadium lawmakers are calling for greater financial accountability for the project’s multimillion-dollar consulting contracts a joint committee of senators on Thursday killed a backup plan that would’ve redirected state funding for a rebuilt Aloha Stadium — which has ballooned to an estimated $650 million — to a stadium at University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa the senators advanced a measure that would give stadium officials access to a special fund with $50 million in cash that they haven’t been able to tap into yet That’s on top of the $350 million lawmakers already allocated to the stadium project in 2019 The $50 million fund was to be used to pay consultants who have been working for the past six years to plan for the new stadium the Senate committees directed the state to closely monitor those consulting contracts going forward Senators were concerned about a contract with Missouri-based Crawford Architects that has already cost about $35 million The panel pointed to a 2023 Civil Beat article that uncovered more than $400,000 in expenses that were not supposed to be reimbursed under the consulting contract including first-class airfare and Waikīkī hotel rooms “Was nobody awake at the wheel when this was going on?” Sen Donna Kim asked state comptroller Keith Regan during the hearing Regan said he was four months into the job when the expenses came to light “I immediately took measures and steps to address this concern,” he said Regan initiated an audit and implemented new procedures and tighter internal financial controls to prevent a situation like that from happening again the lawmakers were still concerned with the overall cost of the project stressed to lawmakers that the $350 million appropriation would be enough to get the project on its feet.  But he also said Thursday that the project will likely need another $100 million He said the developers are looking into additional financing options has previously said that he’d like to see a special tax assessment on the entertainment district surrounding the stadium as well as a potential cut of future state and city property tax revenues to help finance construction The governor has floated the idea of private funding “We are very concerned that minus any additional state funding Stadium officials are running up against a self-imposed June 30 deadline to finalize a deal A contract would need to be negotiated by then if officials want to complete construction by 2028 in time for that year’s home opener for UH football Morioka said that deadline could be extended a month or two but if a contract cannot be reached that $350 million allocation would lapse “To be honest it’s been a little slower than we thought the negotiations would go,”  Morioka told lawmakers.  “But in recent weeks it has picked up and we’re seeing progress towards final execution of a contract this summer.”  The fallback plan that senators axed would have reallocated the state’s $350 million to make Clarence T.C Ching Field a permanent fixture at UH Mānoa chair of the Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee said she was removing the provisions about UH due to overwhelming opposition to the bill “It is clear the sentiment is not to move the stadium to UH Mānoa,” she said Due to the sudden closure of Aloha Stadium in December 2020 the UH football team was forced to relocate to campus and play its home games at T.C The team was at risk of losing its eligibility to compete in the NCAA’s Division I because of a requirement that facilities have seating available for at least 15,000 people Recent renovations expanded the seating capacity to meet the requirement of 15,000 but those were short-term solutions. Ching Field is five years into its 10-year life expectancy and is expected to last until Aloha Stadium’s estimated completion in 2028.  The current Ching Field “was never constructed to be permanent,” UH budget chief Kalbert Young said Ching Field has an official capacity of 16,909 which is far below Aloha Stadium’s max capacity of 50,000 and a fraction of a typical NCAA Division I stadium Due to the design of the complex and other facilities around it like a parking structure and the Les Murakami Stadium it would have been challenging to expand much further “Maybe a 20,000 (seat) stadium could be squeezed very tightly into the current T.C Ching footprint without impacting other facilities,” Morioka said who is also the dean of UH Mānoa’s engineering college estimated that the lower campus would have required more than $100 million in infrastructure upgrades draining money for a stadium rebuild itself OREM — The culture shock is evident on the faces and in the eyes of the freshmen from Fiji Samoa and other remote places when they arrive on the campus of BYU-Hawaii As they struggle with whether they will fit in — and knowing they likely will be unable to return home until graduation due to the high travel costs — the trepidation is amplified for many who audition for jobs at Hawaii’s most-popular tourist attraction A new documentary by the director of “Meet the Mormons” colorfully and emotionally captures the literal educational and emotional development journeys of the students who join the cast at the PCC and perform 19 hours a week to support their schooling The world premiere of “Sharing Aloha: A Backstage Look at the People Behind Hawaii’s Most Popular Attraction” drew local celebrities and plenty of laughter and tears Wednesday at Zions Indie Film Fest 2025 on the giant screen at the Scera Center for the Arts has made higher education virtually free for 60 years for thousands of students from the Asian Rim and Oceania who otherwise would never step foot in a college classroom directed and produced “Sharing Aloha” hopes it soon will find a place on a major streaming platform like Netflix but first it will tour the film festival circuit and hope to build momentum by word of mouth An upcoming special screening in San Francisco swiftly sold out The show introduces a couple of dozen students The story of one of the main female characters is too poignant and surprising to spoil but she notes that most people see her big smile — and it truly is a radian smile — and don’t see the struggle it is for her to be away from her home on a small island a four-hour ferry boat ride from the main island of Tonga Another major character attended Wednesday’s world premiere. Malcolm Timoteo praised Treu for portraying his story, which includes a broad range of emotion from death and a birth and to a unique journey to the PCC stage and the role of the male lead in the nightly hit musical dance drama, “Hā: Breath of Life.” Timoteo noted on screen that for many Polynesians “is that this magic that you feel watching just a couple of our stories is the same magic you hear from most of the students who work at the Polynesian Cultural Center Those kids leave their families to find a better education .. It’s a wonderful thing that sometimes we take for granted I’m grateful for this film because these stories are real.” Timoteo was inspired to pursue the center’s lead role by a predecessor “I got a little emotional,” said a tearful Falevai “because I came through the PCC with students in those situations in the movie and my wife had tears the whole time because it shows her what I’ve shared with her about my life up on the screen where it’s there for her to watch.” To join a list to learn when “Sharing Aloha” will hit theaters or a streaming service, visit www.sharingalohathemovie.com and enter an email address All proceeds earned by “Sharing Aloha” will go to the scholarship funds that support Polynesian Cultural Center student-performers Aloha Maui Pride has announced the 2025 Pride Month Events June 1-14 with many activities for the first two weeks in June leading up to the Maui Pride Festival 2025 held in partnership with the Maui AIDS Foundation on June 14 A list of confirmed events is posted below: June 1, LGBTQ+ Pride Brunch and opening blessing at Nalu’s South Shore Grill in Kīhei There will be a blessing to open Pride Month events and Aloha Maui Pride t-shirts and tank tops will be available for sale June 4, Pride Proclamation by Mayor Bissen followed by Pride Flag Raising at the County Building in Wailuku at 10 a.m Anyone wishing to be part of the event should plan to meet at 9:45 a.m on the front lawn of the County building located at 200 South High St in Wailuku. There will be a no-host luncheon at 808 Old Town Deli & Bistro to follow June 6, Pride Youth & Family Night at Kalama Park Pavillion games and skating as well as pizza from Pizza Madness Sat., June 7, Pride Boat Party with Pacific Whale Foundation at Māʻalaea Harbor from 5-8 p.m. Join in for a sunset cruise with drinks and pūpū provided. Tickets are available at: https://square.link/u/68E2GuLV This free event is open to all LGBTQ+ residents and guests and their supporters Guests are asked to bring a side dish or dessert to share Fri., June 13, Pride Kanikapila Night sponsored by Nalu’s South Side Grill in Kīhei, from 5 to 8 p.m. Enjoy dinner (with vegetarian options) and performances by Maui artists. Updated information is posted online at: AlohaMauiPride.org Meet at the Starbucks on Dairy Road to car pool.  celebrating lōkahi at the Maui Pride Festival 2025 Sat., June 14, Pride After Party at Da Playground located at the Māʻalaea Harbor Shops from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. Tickets can be purchased on Da Playground website or at AlohaMauiPride.org More info on all the events and event tickets are listed below and can be found online at AlohaMauiPride.org 2025You know Mark Gonzales doesn't stop So it's no surprise he and adidas Skateboarding are keeping things fresh for Spring and Summer with a brand-new colorway of the Aloha Super—one of Mark's favorite Three Stripes sillhouettes—in Aurora Ruby.  the shoes look as strong as they look stylish these kicks are actually inspired by an old adidas fencing shoe. It's just another reminder that Gonz finds inspiration in the most unexpected places 💻 Don't miss another headline from TransWorld SKATEboarding! Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more quality skate content "The Aloha Super by Mark Gonzales is inspired by an archival adidas fencing shoe that Gonz wore as a part of his customized fencing outfit for his famed 'Back Worlds for Words' collaborative performance and fine art installation," adidas mentions in the caption.  embroidered detailing (the Shmoofoil hit on the tongue is a great touch) and the Three Stripes trusted Adiprene cushioning but these things look (and sound) like they're ready to skate Don't be scared to give 'em your worst If they're good enough for Gonz, they're good enough for the rest of us. Go cop a pair while you still can. By Brian Blakely is a Writer for TransWorld SKATEboarding