ASD Staff

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

OK, this is totally a thing we do — directions via landmarks only. The other thing we do is give directions using long-lost landmarks.

Like, if someone asks 'Where is the Waipahu Longs?" the answer is obvious: You go makai down the street that had the Kaiser clinic, turn right after where Highway Inn used to be, and it's right there, where Sunset Drive-In used to be. Can't miss it!

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<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Where is the manapua man?</title>

In today's social media find, timothy.burke riffs on giving directions to a tourist using no street names at all ... as we do.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Where is the manapua man?

OK, this is totally a thing we do — directions via landmarks only. The other thing we do is give directions using long-lost landmarks. Like, if someone asks 'Where is the Waipahu Longs?" the answer is obvious: You go makai down the street that had the Kaiser clinic, turn right after where Highway Inn used to be, and it's right there, where Sunset Drive-In used to be. Can't miss it! 

Katkamalani and kelonikamalani went to what looks like the "Happiest Place on Earth" and found a phony!

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<title>Hawaiʻi Scene on Social: Must be a Mainland Maui</title>

Todayʻs social media find comes from katkamalani, on how to spot the real thing.

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social: Must be a Mainland Maui

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Arts & Culture

Aloha Spirit

Mid-Pacific Institute recently received $250,000 from alumnus parents Stephen and Gloria Gainsley toward the Pūpūkahi endowment, a fund that supports the private school’s hula program for grades 9-12.

According to the Mid-Pacific’s website, hula students are eligible for the School of the Arts Hula Certificate Program or Hawaiian Studies Certificate Program.

This week, Aloha State Daily attended Kumu Hula Michael Lanakila Casupang's afternoon class with wahine high school seniors. He said he currently teaches about 90 school dancers at different levels from Hula 1 through Hula 4.

ASD asked Casupang more about what his students are working on now, as well as plans to spend the gift and grow the program.

We’re working on a show [a spring concert and brunch on May 11, Mother’s Day, featuring hula, song, chant, contemporary and experimental movements, etc.] We chose the theme BTS. What is that? It depends. If you’re into pop culture, BTS is a Korean boy group, it could also mean behind-the-scenes. We plan to take our audience on a journey of five different BTS acronyms, such as Battling The Snow Goddess and Birds That Soar. Storytelling is what hula is about. 

For me, I’ve spent my life being a vehicle to bring students to a place where they feel confident about themselves. They learn to find out what drives them and what their passions are – and find the confidence to pursue them. At the end of our show, we talk about Be Thy Self, and it’s important for us, no matter what age we are, to be our authentic selves and not be ashamed. I’m teaching hula, but also about life-lessons. We all come from different backgrounds and can learn to accept, support and embrace others better. That’s what our name Pūpūkahi means, united as one, and that’s what I hope to help our students achieve.

Tell me more about how your program is funded. What do gifts like this allow you to do that you couldn’t before?

 We are primarily funded by the school’s budget. Some funds are for costumes for performances, but I’m pretty resourceful. I do a lot of the sewing and try to reuse and reimagine what we already have, so that at the same time, we’re being sustainable. I feel blessed to be at a place where I’m supported. With such a sizable donation from the Gainsleys (and because it's to the endowment) hula students will feel that support for years to come. 

As part of the program, we travel and go to places that are special in the hula realm. I take their phones away because I want them to connect with each other and the people they meet. So for example, we’ll go to a Neighbor Island to study place names, chants and songs particular to that island and exchange with halaus there. On off years, we’ll go to the Mainland, New Zealand and Japan. Gifts help alleviate the financial burdens on the families to encourage learning experiences beyond the classroom. When we come back from these trips, it’s very eye opening.

How are you looking to expand the hula program? 

We’re trying to see if we're set up to expand the hula program into our middle school. 

For now, I plan to continue to educate students about the culture of this place we call home by how we pronounce things, learning what protocol is or how we can care for the land, among other important teachings. It’s about providing more opportunities for the students, not necessarily getting more costumes or instruments. Like the Gainsleys, we have many people within our community that have been supporting this program, and I’m so grateful for them.

I was hired to teach music back in 1987, but after my first year, I agreed to cover for the then-Kumu Hula, who went on maternity leave for one year. She wasn’t able to come back, so that became my life’s work and I couldn’t see myself doing anything else.

Mid Pac halau 2025

<title>3 things we learned from visiting a hula class at Mid-Pacific</title>

Led by Kumu Hula Michael Lanakila Casupang, the private school’s Pūpūkahi halau has about 90 high school students, who study and practice Hawaiian language, culture and traditions, as part of their curriculum. Here’s how a recent $250,000 gift will help expand its hula program.

3 things we learned from visiting a hula class at Mid-Pacific

Business & Tourism

Over the last few months, founder and chief innovation officer of RevoluSun Eric Carlson said he had heard 15 times from a variety of sources that his local solar company was going out of business. 

“We’re not going out of business. That is one of their strategies is to discredit Hawaiʻi companies,” he said of Mainland solar salespeople pretending to work for the state government and/or Hawaiian Electric. 

He added that this “solar dupe” is a national trend occurring wherever Sunrun Inc. and its third-party companies operate – including Hawai’i.

"Not only are these baseless and completely false claims, but it's causing a lot of fear and confusion for our local homeowners, which we believe works against our state's collective goal of reaching 100% renewable energy by 2045," a RevoluSun communications representative told Aloha State Daily by email. "Unfortunately, this isn't a new practice for these Mainland solar companies, whose sole goal is to get the sale with zero concern for the long-term well-being of the homeowner. However, recently their dishonest tactics are becoming more blatant and outrageous."

According to Carlson, local police won’t be involved, but the Attorney General can be, as seen in other states like Connecticut. “We’ve already filed a complaint with Hawaiʻi Solar Energy Association, which was signed by at least four local entities. Our next step is to talk to the AG, Building Industry Association and Better Business Bureau," in addition to his Mainland connections in the industry “to hit this from all angles.”

He shared more in a recent LinkedIn post, 

“This is not a one-off. It’s Sunrun’s business model. ... I want to be vocal about it to help protect local people," Carlson told ASD. 

[{"text":"ASD has reached out to Sunrun for comment.","type":"text"}]

Other local companies speaking out about scammers include Alternate Energy, Hawai'i Energy Connection, KumuKit, ProVision Solar, HI POWER Solar, Malama Solar and Independent Energy Hawaiʻi, among other providers, he said.

“I’m born and raised here. RevoluSun, one of Hawaiʻi's largest solar providers since 2009, is a product of the Islands – we are known for giving back to the community,” he said. "We’ve competed 'local style' for years, so what we’re worried about is the local market becoming a monopoly."

ASD asked Carlson more about what community members can ask to prevent scams and why it matters for the local energy sector.

How do you know that it is Mainland companies targeting local homeowners? 

We’ve heard it directly from Sunrun's local director.  

 Sales volume. And access to long-term financial contracts. These companies sell solar leases and power purchase agreements (PPAs), which they bundle into large investment portfolios and sell to Wall Street investors. Each lease they sign with a homeowner becomes a piece of a portfolio they can use to raise capital — so the more deals they close, the more money they generate on the backend.

They’re not just selling solar — they’re selling financial products and local homeowners are being treated as data points and revenue streams, not as clients they intend to support long-term.

This current surge started around mid-2021, but the trend has exploded in the last six months. We estimate Sunrun alone has brought in over 200 reps, mostly young salespeople flown in from the Mainland, given aggressive scripts and sent out door-to-door. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen something like this — many of us in the industry stood together in 2013 during the Vivint solar blitz — but this time, it’s more widespread, more aggressive and potentially more damaging to local trust in solar.

 We’ve seen it island-wide — but the hardest hits so far have been Mililani, Kapolei, Hawaiʻi Kai, ʻEwa Beach, Kāneʻohe, Wahiawa, Kailua and Kaimukī. And even rural neighborhoods where residents may be more isolated and trusting of someone "offering help."

Here is a statement from a Mililani homeowner and Revolusun customer: "A Mainland solar company came to my home in Mililani and knocked on the door. They asked me about my solar panels, and I told them I had SunPower panels. When they asked who installed them, I said RevoluSun. The rep then told me that RevoluSun was going out of business. I found this surprising, as I’m in regular communication with the company and hadn’t heard anything like that. To be sure, I called my contact at RevoluSun, who confirmed that the claim was completely false. I felt it was important to report this because spreading misinformation like this can harm local businesses and mislead homeowners."

We’ve also heard repeated accounts of reps telling homeowners: "We’re partnered with HECO."; "This is a state program."; "These panels are free."; "You’ll never pay an electric bill again."

Each one of these statements is misleading at best and outright false at worst.

Never sign anything at the door. Get 2-3 quotes. There's no such thing as “free solar.” HECO doesn’t sell solar and neither does the state. If it feels off, it probably is.

RevoluSun Eric Carlson 16x9

<title>RevoluSun: Homeowners beware of ‘misleading’ sales tactics by Mainland solar companies</title>

RevoluSun’s Eric Carlson shares tips for individuals who may be targeted by door-to-door scammers. “If it feels off, it probably is,” he said in an interview with Aloha State Daily.

RevoluSun: Homeowners beware of ‘misleading’ sales tactics by Mainland solar companies

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

Whether you prefer going out for brunch or getting takeout — or simply ordering a variety of desserts — here are some tasty options for Easter, which is coming April 20.

[{"text":"100 Sails Restaurant & Bar","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}]}]

: Prince Waikīkī, 100 Holomoana St., third floor, Honolulu 

: Choose from the restaurant Easter brunch buffet ($109 per adult, $54.50 for children ages 6 to 10) or the Easter dinner buffet ($107 per adult, $53.50 for children ages 6 to 10), which is available for a few days. On Easter Sunday, feast on dishes like ‘ahi poke, kalua Benedict, snow crab legs, smoked ‘ahi tartlets, glazed ham, deviled Easter eggs, smoked lamb chops, slow-roasted prime rib, porchetta, carrot cupcakes and Prince bread pudding. The Easter dinner buffet includes similar options. 

: Easter brunch buffet (9 a.m.-1:30 p.m., April 20), Easter dinner buffet (5-9:30 p.m., April 17 to 20) 

[{"text":"Hōkūlani Bake Shop","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}]}]

: Waterfront Plaza, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Ste. 4B, Honolulu 

: Enjoy Easter-themed treats like cupcake decorating kits ($25), cookies ($5 each), four-pack of Easter cupcakes ($22) and decorated brownies ($4). 

: Preorders start April 7; Easter treats are available through April 23 

[{"text":"Orchids","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}]}]

: Halekūlani, 2199 Kālia Road, Honolulu 

: Orchids’ Easter brunch ($128 per adult, $68 for children ages 5 to 10 years old) includes a variety of seafood, chef specialties and bakery delights. Highlights include deep water snow crab legs, Hawaiian poke, fresh sashimi, assortment of sushi, omelets, prime rib with au jus and creamy horseradish, baked glazed ham, leg of lamb with mint sauce, lobster tail seafood medley, Belgian waffles and Halekulani popovers. Housemade desserts include classic Halekūlani coconut cake, carrot cake, chocolate peanut butter Mont Blanc, bread pudding, assorted macarons and cupcakes, and housemade ice cream with assorted condiments. 

[{"text":"Plumeria Beach House ","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}]}]

: The Kāhala Hotel & Resort, 5000 Kāhala Ave., Honolulu 

: This all-you-can-eat buffet ($135 per adult, $55 for children ages 6 to 12 years) includes carving stations, fresh seafood, desserts and chef specialties. Highlights include fresh ‘ahi poke, ‘ahi and salmon sashimi, garlic and rosemary rubbed prime rib of beef, Mountain View Farms suckling pick with bao buns, classic eggs Benedict and hollandaise, steamed snow crab, sticky buns, carrot pineapple cake, chocolate devil’s food cake and Kāhala signature bread pudding with crème anglaise. 

[{"text":"Slice by HB Baking","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}]}]

: Kilohana Square, 1016 Kapahulu Ave., Ste. 150, Honolulu 

: This dessert shop is featuring an assortment of ice cream cupcakes for Easter. It costs $72 per dozen and includes flavors like carrot cake with Tahitian vanilla ice cream and cream cheese frosting, strawberry with strawberry ice cream and whipped cream, lemon with blueberry ice cream and white chocolate mousse, and dairy-free chocolate with coconut ice cream and whipped cream. Sets of a dozen (three each) must be ordered with minimum two days’ advanced notice. 

[{"text":"Stripsteak, A Michael Mina Restaurant","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}]}]

: International Market Place, 2330 Kalākaua Ave., Ste. 330, Honolulu 

: Enjoy a three-course prix fixe Easter dinner ($129); optional beverage pairing option available (additional $85 per person). The first course includes a choice of ‘Instant’ bacon, burrata, prime beef carpaccio, jumbo lump crab or scallop spaghetti. The second course features your choice of center-cut filet mignon or seared Big Island kampachi. Choose between two desserts: basque-style cheesecake with strawberry and blueberry compote or Kona dark chocolate layer cake. 

[{"text":"The Buffet at Hyatt","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}]}]

: Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort and Spa, 2424 Kalākaua Ave., Honolulu 

: The restaurant’s Easter brunch buffet costs $105 per person (50% off for children ages 6 to 12 years, children ages 5 years and under have free admission). Buffet highlights include a rosemary and Hawaiian salt-crusted prime rib, honey glazed spiral ham, herb grilled lamb sirloin with mint-yogurt sauce, bacon and brie frittata, crab and smashed avocado eggs Benedict, Alaskan snow crab legs, ‘ahi poke and ‘ahi sashimi, made-to-order temaki handrolls and made-to-order omelets. For dessert, enjoy soft serve ice cream, a chocolate fountain with assorted fruits and brownies, Easter chocolates and more. 

: Visit the Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort & Spa’s 

[{"text":"Zippy’s","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}]}]

: Zippy’s restaurants (various locations) 

: Easter specials include a roast turkey plate served with stuffing, two scoops of rice and corn ($18.15 in Honolulu), along with a turkey and ham combo plate ($17.45 in Honolulu). The latter includes roast turkey covered in gravy and baked ham topped with a cherry raisin sauce. The plate includes two scoops of rice and corn. 

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Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Where is the manapua man?

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Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Where is the manapua man?

In case you missed it

Authors

ASD Staff

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