ASD icon blue inverse lighter

ASD Staff

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

[{"text":"We think this is why the Super Big Gulp was invented.","type":"text"}]

I Stock 483548007 modified 995897d8 26e2 431e 81f1 121640745257

<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Sharing is caring</title>

In today's social media find, kingkennyslay and kili_so_silly celebrate the joy of friendship.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Sharing is caring

We think this is why the Super Big Gulp was invented. 

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Aloha Spirit

Business & Tourism

Isaiah Corpus, a 25-year-old who grew up in Waiʻanae, said that he knew as a teenager that he wanted to run his own retail store someday.

“I am the first member of my family to have a store on my own and am proud to have started this business by myself,”

I’ve always been an ocean and beach enthusiast: I taught myself to surf and kayak. I helped at beach cleanups and always want to give back to the ocean and marine life. That’s how I created my business.”

About a year ago, Corpus hatched the plan for 

Shop Kainalu, a Hawaiʻi inspired lifestyle and apparel brand, set to open this spring in Seattle, where he has lived since 2024. 

Corpus added that the initial investment for the venture came from his savings.

He said he took a few business classes and met mentors and coaches, who helped with the paperwork like applying for a state business license.

“I didn’t realize how long it would take to retrieve, but despite that, it all worked out in the end,” he said. "Iʻm excited to have my business out there and to launch soon."

While his primary job is with Hawaiian Airlines, Corpus said, he currently operates a one-man shop, overseeing the fashion and graphic design elements of its products, as well as the renovation of the new space in Seattle's University District, which is expected “to take a couple more months.”

The store is slated to open in May, with a traditional Hawaiian blessing, he said. Other priorities for Corpus ahead of the launch include working on finalizing the website (currently down), hand drawing more designs to ramp up inventory, while recruiting brand ambassadors and, eventually, a team for the store.

When asked what makes Shop Kainalu stand out, he told ASD, “I use eco-friendly materials such as organic cotton, recycled fabrics and renewable textiles that reduce waste, preserve resources and eliminate harmful chemicals, embracing innovative, slow impact production methods for my store. I want to ensure that every clothing item I make not only elevates modern style but also protects the ocean.”

The brand will soon offer tees, totes, swimwear, and a range of other everyday essentials for men, women, and the home, according to 

The biz’s name in Native Hawaiian means ocean wave, which he says “integrates my purpose behind my story. … On a personal level, [I'm] always surfing, going to the beach, so when you shop at my store, you shop to care for the environment, that’s how the name came up.”

In Seattle, he continues to volunteer at cleanups and noted that a portion of the proceeds from the shop with go toward local ocean conservation groups and nonprofits.  

As a new small business owner, Corpus said he’s "still in the learning process" but has already found support from Seattle- and Hawaiʻi-owned small businesses alike. 

Interested in connecting with Corpus? Email 

His plans for the future include opening up another retail store in the Islands. Fun fact: White Plains Beach in ʻEwa Beach is a must-visit whenever Corpus comes home, which is usually monthly.

i culture and community continue to shape who I am and what I build," he said. “Even while living on the continent, Hawai

i remains at the center of my work and purpose. This journey reflects many Hawai

i people building something away from home while staying deeply connected.”

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Isaiah Corpus 16x9

<title>Small business owner with Hawaiʻi roots to open first store in Seattle</title>

Born and raised on Oʻahu, Isaiah Corpus plans to launch Shop Kainalu, a Hawaiʻi inspired lifestyle and apparel brand, in Washington where he now lives. Corpus, a self-described ocean and beach enthusiast from Waiʻanae, discusses the details leading up to its spring debut, as well as his hope to open another retail store in his island home.

Small business owner with Hawaiʻi roots to open first store in Seattle

Kam Napier Headshot

A. Kam Napier

Government & Politics

Columnists

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson in Minneapolis 

 that half, or more, of $18 billion in federal funds may have been stolen. That's $9 billion or more.

To put that in perspective, in 2024, Hawai‘i residents and businesses 

 $11.4 billion in federal taxes. The Minnesota heist was so bad, it is as if someone stole 79% of all the money we kicked in to the federal pot that year.

Think of every paycheck you collected that year, and every withholding for federal taxes, and just imagine the sound of a vacuum cleaner hoovering your dollars away to empty daycare centers in Minneapolis.

Now, we're hardly the only victims. The whole nation was robbed blind. But consider this, the fraud is equal to or bigger than the entire federal tax payment of five states in 2024:

We can take a stab at what the Minnesota fraud cost us individually in Hawai‘i, too. We're a small state, so our contribution is equal to 0.22% of all federal tax receipts.

A little quick math: 0.22% of our $11.4 billion is $25 million. According to figures from 

, there are roughly 673,980 federal tax returns filed by Hawai‘i residents each year.

So, as far as I'm concerned, Minnesota owes each of us $37 to replace our share of the plundered funds.

I'd say I'd take a check, but really, under the circumstances, I'd prefer cash.

A. Kam Napier is editor in chief of Aloha State Daily. His opinions in Pipikaula Corner are his own and not reflective of the ASD team.

I Stock 2195125061

<title>Pipikaula Corner: Minnesota fraud vs. Hawai‘i taxpayers</title>

It may seem far away, but if you want a sense of how massive the theft of federal dollars in Minnesota is, compare it to how much we in the Islands pay in federal taxes.

Pipikaula Corner: Minnesota fraud vs. Hawai‘i taxpayers

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

The new NCAA transfer portal for football officially opened on Friday, promising a hectic two weeks that will see plenty of player movement across the country, including at the University of Hawai‘i. 

FBS and FCS players with eligibility remaining were able to enter the portal at midnight Eastern Standard Time on Friday and will have until Jan. 16 to do so. 

In the 2024-2025 academic year, more than 4,900 FBS players and 3,200 FCS players entered the transfer portal, which both set records at the time. There were also two portal periods: One in December 2024 and one in April 2025. The January 2026 window will be the only transfer portal period of the 2025-2026 academic year. 

Despite the portal not opening until Friday, 10 players on the University of Hawai‘i's 2025 roster had already announced their intentions to enter the transfer portal in receivers 

 and Joey Farthing, defensive backs Ben Drake, Deliyon Freeman and Semaj James, defensive lineman Aiden McComber, quarterbacks Luke Weaver and Dermaricus Davis, offensive lineman KT Carter, and punter 

, threw the game-winning touchdown to Nick Cenacle with 10 seconds remaining. He went 

 in place of regular starter Micah Alejado, who dealt with 

 throughout the course of the season. Alejado is expected to return as the starting quarterback and has three years of eligibility remaining, while Weaver will have two seasons of college ball left. 

The nature of the NCAA transfer portal, which officially launched in 2018, has seen adjustments as rules changed in collegiate athletics. When the portal launched, athletes who did not graduate from their previous schools originally had to sit out for a year in academic residence. That is no longer the case, as athletes can compete for their new schools right away. Additionally, a ruling in 2024 allowed student-athletes to transfer an unlimited amount of times. University of Hawai‘i men's basketball senior guard Dre Bullock, for example, is at his fourth school in four years. 

New additions for the University of Hawai‘i football in the upcoming portal period will also have academic considerations. UH-Mānoa's spring semester begins on Jan. 12, while the final day to register for classes is 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 20. 

Hawaii departing QBs 010126

<title>NCAA transfer portal opens for football</title>

The 15-day window for players to enter the portal opened on Friday and closes on Jan. 16.

NCAA transfer portal opens for football

From philanthropy and conservation to housing and feeding ʻohana, these nonprofit leaders showed resilience and innovation in 2025. In the New Year, weʻll be watching to see how they continue to impact local communities.  

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Here’s who’s on our radar:"}]

Terry George, Hawaiʻi Community Foundation

 was just about to retire in July after 22 years of service at 

announced that starting Aug. 1, he would become its new CEO and president succeeding 

“When I saw the level of uncertainty among our social sector leaders in recent months, along with the strain on our social safety net and our courageous nonprofit organizations, I didn’t feel right retiring and just sitting around at home watching reruns of ‘Friends’,” he told Aloha State Daily at the time. “Then the HCF leadership opportunity happened, people started approaching me about it, and I decided to see if that was the best way of serving the Island communities that I love so much.”

So far in the role, George's team has activated HCF’s Hawaiʻi Resilience Fund in response to federal funding cuts to nonprofit organizations statewide He said in a statement, “Our goal is to collectively build a nonprofit sector that is prepared, not just reactive; collaborative, not siloed; sustainable, not fragile.”

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation

’s $150 million in annual grantmaking efforts that support nonprofits in the U.S. and Israel. As vice president of programs, she will ensure the foundation continues to improve housing stability, health, employment and educational opportunities, and aging.

“As a foundation, we’ve been really fortunate to have so many people to learn from and work with as we address these challenges together,” she told ASD in July.

, executive director of The Pantry, was named among 

, which recognizes women making a difference in their communities across the country.

“I was incredibly surprised and grateful,” she said of the award. “What I do here is not because Iʻm some superhero. It’s because I have an amazing team of staff, volunteers, community partners, local farmers and distributors who enable us to do our work.” 

As The Pantry looks to expand, she said, “It's not necessarily to serve more people, but it is to help better support and grow our food ecosystem here in Hawaiʻi.”

With the temporary suspension of SNAP benefits in November, The Pantry opened “a special Monday distribution for federally impacted households,” 

Coming from a career with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, 

 in 2017. He oversees an annual budget of $3.5 million, leading a team of six full-time and 14 part time staff members, in addition to thousands of volunteers and contractors, all working to restore more than 20 acres of Maunalua Bay on O’ahu.

 to restore six acres of degraded forest, construct four green infrastructure projects that would capture more than 850,000 gallons of stormwater runoff per year, and transplant at least 3,000 heat-resilient corals across 10 acres of reef. Work will commence f

 as executive director earlier this year, he was most excited to help build upon something new. The organization offers a variety of services across sectors through workforce development cohorts, mentorship and upskilling to technical training with real-world skills. 

He is looking to grow its volunteers, mentors and partnerships to create a pipeline for more cohort members.

Molly Schmidt, American Red Cross the Pacific Islands Region

 has more than 20 years of nonprofit experience. After moving to Hawaiʻi in 2019 with her family, she went on to become COO for Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi and the Regional COO of 

American Red Cross the Pacific Islands Region

, which encompasses the state of Hawaiʻi, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and America Samoa. Schmidt was named interim CEO of the nonprofit in May and took the helm in August, overseeing 33 staff members and 2,000 volunteers in Hawaiʻi alone, she said.

“The greatest things about my life have been as a mother, a wife and serving as the American Red Cross CEO. To me, it is an honor to serve in this role. I don’t feel like it’s just a job; it’s a way to serve. And everyone here — every volunteer, every staff member — is surrounded by their family support that helps people give of their heart and talents.

Katt yukawa K0 E6 E0a0 R3 A unsplash

<title>6 nonprofits to watch in 2026</title>

Aloha State Daily will be keeping an eye on these six nonprofit executives in the New Year.

6 nonprofits to watch in 2026

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

As the new year dawns, so too do a swath of new laws set to take effect Jan. 1.

While many state bills take effect the instant they are signed into law or on July 1, the start of the fiscal year, many others are intended take effect at the start of the new year following their passage.

[{"type":"text","text":"Here are some of the new things to keep in mind under the new laws:"}]

You can’t park too close to a crosswalk

. A new parking regulation takes effect Jan. 1, courtesy of 

, which prohibits vehicles from parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk or intersection, “regardless of the presence or absence of official signs or curb markings.”

A vehicle can still park in that 20-foot buffer zone only if it’s an emergency vehicle, a government vehicle, or a broken-down vehicle. Drivers can also pause in the buffer zone when yielding to an emergency vehicle.

[{"type":"text","text":"Violating these regulations will result in a $50 fine."}]

. In 2025, draft beer was subject to a lower tax rate than “beer other than draft beer." The 2025 rate was $0.54 per wine gallon for draft beer, and $0.93 per wine gallon for other beers.

But state law also defined “draft beer” as beer sold in an individual container of seven or more gallons, which lawmakers and advocates found was out-of-step with industry practices. 

, passed this year, noted that most retailers, bars and small brewers sell what is commonly referred to as “draft beer” out of kegs smaller than seven gallons.

Consequently, Act 90 changes the definition of “draft beer” to mean “beer in an individual container of five gallons or more,” allowing more sellers to take advantage of the lower tax rate.

In Sept. 2002, the state cigarette tax was $0.05 for each cigarette sold. By 2011, following a years-long string of incremental tax hikes, the tax was $0.16 per cigarette, where it sat for years.

 increases the tax once more to $0.18 per cigarette sold. The law also stipulates that some of those tax revenues will go to the state’s cancer research special fund.

The state’s tax on transient accommodation rental proceeds has been 9.25% since 2010. As of today, under 

Cruise ship operators will have to pay an 11% TAT rate beginning today under the same law.

State vehicle insurance requirements will double. 

Currently, the state requires drivers to have a vehicle insurance policy that includes liability coverage of at least $20,000 per person and at least $10,000 for all damages arising from an accident.

, those minimums will double: coverage of at least $40,000 per person and at least $20,000 for accident damage.

Fines for driving without vehicle insurance will also increase, although they won’t double: the fine for a first offense will remain $500, but a subsequent offense within five years will increase from a minimum of $1,500 to a minimum of $2,000.

Pharmacy technicians will need to be licensed. 

 requires that pharmacies must only employ registered pharmacy techs to carry out tasks including “filling, packaging, manipulative, repetitive or other nondiscretionary tasks.”

Pharmacy tech licenses must be renewed by the end of each odd-numbered year, and will require an unspecified fee.

Kayak rental companies will need to register their vessels

. As part of an effort to limit the impacts of over-tourism on state waterways, 

 imposes registration requirements on rental watercraft.

The law specifically notes “the proliferation of rental kayaks and stand-up paddleboards statewide,” and imposes new requirements on any vessel rented or leased to traverse “navigable waters of a state park” — which truthfully only applies to Kaua‘i's Wailuā River, Ahupua‘a ‘O Kahana State Park on O‘ahu and the Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park on Hawai‘i Island.

Beginning Jan. 1, rental vessels used in state parks must be registered with the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ State Parks Division and display a registration number.

State capitol 022725

<title>New year, new laws</title>

Parking regulations and tax changes go into effect Jan. 1.

New year, new laws

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

After more than four decades in Ko Olina, Paradise Cove Lū‘au will take its final bow this week, but those who want to take a piece of the history home with them can.

Items from the lū‘au are being sold in an 

 that opened last week. Managed by O‘ahu Auctions, bidding ends at 6 p.m. Jan. 13.

Up for grabs are a variety of items, including signage; benches, chair and other furniture; plants; tiki statutes; golf carts and other vehicles; clothing, outrigger canoes and kayaks; instruments and audio equipment; cameras and photography equipment, and more.

“This is not your typical offering,” O‘ahu Auctions President Dave Brandt said in a statement. “We are taking bids on inventory from departments across this well-run and long-lived local company, from facilities maintenance to entertainment.”

(ICYMI: Aloha State Daily spoke to one of the lū‘au’s longtime musicians and entertainers ahead of its closure. You can 

Paradise Cove’s Dec. 31 closure allows the landowner, James Campbell Co., to proceed with a 

The cove property — acquired by James Campbell in 1877 — has been used commercially since the 1970s and was last redeveloped in the early 1990s.

 says that the project aims to "update the commercial lū‘au show and create an authentic Hawaiian outdoor recreation facility and community gathering place for kama‘āina and visitors that honors and reflects history, culture and connection to place."

According to the EIS, plans call for demolishing several existing dated structures at the site and existing concrete walls within the shoreline setback area, after which the site will be restored to pre-existing conditions before being redeveloped.

In addition to a new amphitheater and performing arts venue, other planned updates noted in the EIS include an improved main arrival area, retail shops hosting Hawai‘i-made goods, restaurants and a marketplace and common areas.

James Campbell Co., a Hawai‘i-based and nationally diversified real estate company

told ASD in an email earlier this month that it is advancing Waianiani at the Cove in partnership with Kobayashi Group and BlackSand Capital.

“The project is envisioned as a welcoming gathering place for both kama‘āina and visitors, featuring cultural entertainment and education alongside locally focused retail, restaurants, open spaces and beach-oriented gathering areas,” the company said, noting that the project, designed to support local businesses and artisans, is expected to generate close to 500 full-time jobs when complete.

“Waianiani at the Cove represents a generational opportunity to honor the site’s cultural legacy while creating a vibrant gathering place that brings together culture, dining, entertainment, and local businesses,” Kevin Penn, president and CEO of James Campbell Co., said in a statement provided to ASD. “We look forward to being underway with construction in the new year.”

Neither Penn nor the company specified a timeline for that construction.

Last month, Maui-based T S Restaurants announced plans for Duke’s at the Cove, which it says will anchor Waianiani at The Cove. This will be T S Restaurants’ second new location in the Islands in more than 15 years, after Duke’s Kona at the Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa later in 2026, a November announcement noted.

“What makes this Duke’s so special is the West O’ahu community,” T S Restaurants CEO Jackie Reed said in that announcement. “We’ve always been rooted in Hawai‘i and inspired by its people and culture. This is our chance to bring the Duke’s experience closer to home for families who live, work and play on the Leeward Coast. Being more accessible to West O‘ahu residents makes this opening especially meaningful for our team.”

Family-owned T S Restaurants was founded in 1977 and owns and operates 13 restaurants in Hawai‘i and California, including Duke’s Waikiki and Hula Grill Waikiki on O‘ahu; Kimo’s, Leilani’s on the Beach, Hula Grill Kā‘anapali and Duke’s Beach House on Maui; and Duke’s Kaua‘i and Keoki’s Paradise on Kaua‘i

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Paradise cove luau acution 2

<title>Items from Paradise Cove Lū‘au for sale at auction</title>

Curtains close on the long-running attraction Dec. 31 — the closure making way for a planned redevelopment of the West O‘ahu  property — but you can take a piece of the history home with you.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Sharing is caring

ASD Staff

More in Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

Gotta catch ‘em all — at Ala Moana Center: voices from Pokémon GO’s “Wild Area: Global” event

Starbucks holiday launch draws crowds for limited-edition cups

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Dreams do come true

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Going big

Most read

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Sharing is caring

Authors

ASD Staff

More in Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

Gotta catch ‘em all — at Ala Moana Center: voices from Pokémon GO’s “Wild Area: Global” event

Starbucks holiday launch draws crowds for limited-edition cups

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Dreams do come true

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Going big

Most read