ASD icon blue inverse lighter

ASD Staff

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

[{"text":"Everybody happy dance!","type":"text"}]

I Stock 1146983674

<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: "A good day in Hawai‘i"</title>

Kveekz on Instagram is today's social media find, celebrating some pleasant surprises.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: "A good day in Hawai‘i"

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

MĀNOA — Facing a short week of rest and needing a win to clinch a spot in the upcoming Big West Conference tournament, the University of Hawai‘i baseball team's coaches decided to give the ball to ace pitcher Isaiah Magdaleno on Wednesday night. 

Magdaleno did the rest, turning in another magnificent start. The junior tossed another shutout, striking out 14 while allowing just one single and two hit batters in 101 pitches in a 4-0 victory over CSUN.

The performance was just the latest gem for Magdaleno in a month full of them. On May 1, he struck out 16 in a one-hit shutout over UC Riverside, entering the seventh inning with a perfect game and ninth with a no-hitter, earning him a bevy of 

In a May 8 win at UC Davis, Magdaleno struck out nine while allowing just one run in eight innings, taking home Big West Pitcher of the Week for the second consecutive week. In order to accommodate UH-Mānoa's commencement ceremony on Saturday, its home series against CSUN was moved to begin on Wednesday and end on Friday. 

As soon as his start at UC Davis ended, Magdaleno was determined to deliver for his team on short rest and got an early start on his recovery work. That Magdaleno's latest masterpiece was not hindered by a lack of rest came as no surprise to his coaches, who know full well there's something special in store every time their star steps on the mound. 

've never seen a consistent three-week performance like Mags. Adjectives, really, there are none to describe what he's done," Hawai‘i head coach Rich Hill said on Wednesday night. 

Added associate head coach/pitching coach Keith Zuniga: 

"[CSUN] is one of the best offenses in the country. So, again, it just speaks volumes to what Isaiah is capable of doing out here, and what he's been doing week in and week out for us. I'm just gonna go ahead and say it right now: if he's not pitcher of the week in the entire country again, I'm gonna be extremely shocked. So, let's pencil him in for that. He's earned it. He deserves it. He went out there and did it. Just great to see."

Any notion of a perfect game on Wednesday was thwarted when Magdaleno hit CSUN's 2 hitter, Kyle Panganiban, in the top of the first. But as he continued to cruise through the Matador lineup while maintaining an efficient pitch count, there he was again, singled out in another postgame curtain call similar to the ovation he received after his start against UC Riverside less than two weeks prior. 

"Honestly, it's my goal all the time to just go for [a complete game]," Magdaleno told Aloha State Daily after the game. "I mean, I'm gonna go 100% and whenever they take me out is when they take me out. I wasn't expecting to go a complete game, but it just it worked out. Just trying to stay in the groove and just getting back to work."

The victory punched the team's ticket to next week's Big West tournament in Fullerton, Calif. The Rainbow Warriors could take the field as early as Wednesday. 

"He'll get two days of rest back now to get ready to go for the tournament," Zuniga said of Magdaleno. "But the month he's having, I mean, it's no secret to anybody here in the clubhouse, right? He's worked for that, and even when it felt like he was having a tough time in the middle course of the year, that's resiliency right there. That's toughness, that's a competitor. That's exactly what we're looking for here at the University of Hawai‘i." 

When Anthony and Mirna Magdaleno sent their son from 

Crespi Carmelite High School in Los Angeles to the Islands for college, they understood they wouldn't be able to catch every single one of Isaiah's games. Complicating matters was the fact that Isaiah Magdaleno was used out of the bullpen as a freshman and sophomore, emerging as one of the country's top closers in 2025. That meant he'd pitch multiple games a week.

We were having major FOMO [fear of missing out], wishing we were here," Mirna Magdaleno told ASD. 

Of Isaiah Magdaleno's eight home starts in 2026, only four were televised on Spectrum Sports and streamed on the Mainland via ESPN+. Fortunately for the Magdaleno family, Isaiah's historic start against UC Riverside was one of the televised games. 

"We were by ourselves, just freaking out, super excited and watching everything that was happening, and we were screaming and jumping for joy, giving each other high fives, just amazed by the performance," Mirna Magdaleno said. "We had no idea what the night was gonna look like. We never know."

With Isaiah viewed as a serious prospect in this summer's MLB Draft, there was no chance Mirna and Anthony would miss their son's potential last home start at Les Murakami Stadium. A contingent of Magdelano supporters were seated a couple rows above the UH dugout on Wednesday night to cheer him on and witness another superb start. 

"It means everything," Isaiah Magdaleno said. "They know that I love doing this, and they're always going to support me. I'm very grateful for them to come out, all the support, all the love that they send me from California whenever I'm out here. It means a lot."

"It's like a dream. It's a dream come true," Anthony Magdaleno said. "You don't know how good he's going to do on a night like this after having two good weeks. I honestly didn't know how he would be able to do this good. It amazes me that he's able to do it three weeks [in a row]. It's amazing."

Anthony and Mirna Magdaleno noticed Isaiah's athletic talents from a young age, in skills ranging from hitting a baseball to playing basketball. They've savored the experience in watching their son blossom into a pro prospect as a pitcher, but what makes them most proud as parents is seeing the person he's become. 

"Not surprised, but I guess amazed every time I see how much he's changed each year. He's improved a lot in his performance and just the way he carries himself with a lot more pride and more security," Mirna Magdaleno said as her eyes watered. "We didn't know how it was gonna go for him, but the fans have been great. They've just hugged him and loved him."

Added Anthony Magdaleno: "There's no other place that I could think of that embraces him like this. That's why I love I love this place. I love coming here. We don't get back as much as I wish we could, but coming back and seeing the support he gets is amazing.

"When we sent him here, we're like, 'Oh, we hope he does great in baseball.' When you come here and we talk to the other parents and they're saying how great of a person is and he carries himself well, that's what really makes us feel great."

With each appearance Isaiah Magdaleno has made on the mound, fans at Les Murakami Stadium have continued to show their love and support for him through thick and thin. 

If Wednesday's start for Magdaleno turns out to be his last home start in a UH uniform, another gem in front of the thousands of fans that have his back, it will have served as a fitting end. 

"All the fans showing out today... it's everything I could ever ask for," he said.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Isaiah Magdaleno 10 051426

<title>Magdaleno magnificent again as Hawai‘i clinches Big West tournament berth</title>

Working on short rest, UH's ace tossed his second one-hit shutout of the month, striking out 14 CSUN batters in a 4-0 win on Wednesday night with his family in attendance.

Magdaleno magnificent again as Hawai‘i clinches Big West tournament berth

IMG 1445

Rick Hamada

Government & Politics

Columnists

 about the state legislative session and whether or not it mattered to you. Now that the 2026 session has come to a close, only you can answer that question.

Top of mind, besides the paper bag full of cash, was a great awareness that the personal income tax cuts passed in 2024 were in jeopardy leading up to this session. The 60-working-day calendar saw frenetic activity in both chambers and the fifth floor of the Big Square Building, each working their respective rooms. The media was equally frenetic keeping the issue top of mind as public feedback was expressed in online platforms, emails, and phone calls with actual impact in the offices of elected officials. 

In the last days an agreement was struck. The tax cuts would remain.  

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"This is where it becomes a bit murky."}]

Progressive taxation is based on government deciding if you're rich or poor.

Various income levels are either arbitrarily subjective or mathematically computed which defines who gets what and who doesn't.

In the case of the 2024 tax cuts which all were to enjoy, there is now a tax increase on higher wage earners.

The definition of highest wage earner or wealthiest taxpayer or just plain rich was set at $350,000 for joint filers and $175,000 for individuals. These numbers were preserved from the original Act 46 tax cuts of 2024. What has emerged is a new tax rate of 13% on those joint filing income of $1 million and above.

This is the key element in raising more money for the state. It's targeting the "rich" over and over again so the state can take care of those who can't take care of themselves.

Let's be very clear. This is not an assault on those who find it extremely difficult to make ends meet here at home.

But I submit the real issue isn't whether we redistribute wealth (we shouldn't) but why people feel it's necessary. Pointedly, why do so, so many fall short?

It's because Hawai‘i is the most expensive state in the United States, and it is not close. If you're researching the 

 because you're thinking about moving here, retiring here, or just understanding what it would actually take — this is the honest 2026 breakdown. Real numbers, current as of April 2026, from two licensed O‘ahu realtors who budget in these numbers every month:

[{"type":"text","text":"•  Overall cost of living index: ~180–185 (national average = 100)."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"•  Oahu median single-family home: ~$1.2 million (April 2026)."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"•  Average Honolulu 2-bedroom rent: $2,500–$3,800\/month."}]

•  Electricity: ~43¢/kWh residential; average bill $200–$250/month, up to $500 with heavy AC.

[{"type":"text","text":"•  Groceries: ~53% above U.S. average. Gallon of milk $6–$8."}]

The eternal financial question that is asked is, "Why?"

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"I'll tell you why."}]

Because this state has been under complete, absolute control of the Democrat party and its union supporters for generations. This relationship is the key ingredient for explaining why we are perennially the most expensive place to live. Period. 

And until that dynamic changes Hawai‘i will never change.

Most of these "rich" people are small businesses, entrepreneurs who take all the risk of starting and maintaining a business in the nation's worst state for doing exactly that. It's through their toil and sacrifices that these "rich" people can navigate the precarious waters of regulation, fees and, yes, taxation in Hawai‘i. The largest employer in our community are small businesses supporting the general public with first-time jobs, career paths, and the opportunity to provide for themselves and their loved ones. 

And that's just the second-order benefits of their existence. Let's not forget the multitude of products and services they provide! Need help with tax prep? Plenty of local talent you can hire. Hungry for a cookie? Yeah, small business makes those, too, and they're delicious. Crack open a Yellow Pages — they still exist. Everything from crack seed to cyber security, all on offer from local businesses, not the State.

And that's where this issue of "rich," rich enough to tax harder, bites them.

Small businesses, sole-proprietorships, gigging-income workers and others will report their business revenues as income on tax filings. Not all, but a great deal.  Small businesses in Hawai‘i operate on razor thin margins. The gross revenue reported is then subjected to the cost of doing business - overhead.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Revenue - hard cost = real income."}]

This is the ancillary impact on families who provide employment to others, engage in commerce supporting other businesses, generate sales, then collect the GET for the state and more. Where is the love for these people?

 a detriment. It is not selfishness and it should not be subjected to penalty. There seems to be an unshakeable conviction in our Democrat-dominated government that redistribution of wealth is a good, positive and uplifting concept. Government says you have enough and these folks do not. So, we're going to take from you and give to them. I mean, that's what is really going on and, no, I'm not trying to be Captain Obvious. But hardly anyone says it for what it is.

Instead, in the halls of government they extol the virtues of aloha, our sense of ‘ohana and that we're such a giving and loving people. We are all the same in life and we should support one another at all times.

Yes, the sentiment is ideal and theoretically embraced by all.

But there is a difference between giving and taking.

Hawai‘i is known for her generosity in charitable giving. However, this giving is a choice. You choose to give. You choose to support. And you have the right to choose the financial path that is best for you and your families.

When those who are successful and who earn more are singled out for increased taxes by government it ceases being a choice — it's a mandatory and statutory seizing your personal revenue to ensure others who make less than you are financially elevated. I would advance the notion that this rises to the definition of discrimination. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Am I wrong?"}]

The 2024 tax cuts proposed, passed by the legislature and signed by Gov. Josh Green was a landmark moment in our state.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Why?"}]

Because it had never happened before. The degrees of cuts contained within the original legislation were unprecedented and there was ecumenical support for such a dramatic change in Hawai‘i's taxation landscape. There would be degrees of relief at all levels, and there was tremendous positivity coursing through the state.

But then talks of "pausing" the tax cuts hit the coconut wireless and the reaction was visceral. Claims of revenue loss from the feds and the drying up of Covid money stoked concerns and in a short time we went from being flush with cash to facing a substantial and troubling shortfall. 

A consequential battle ensued between factions in the House and the Senate, Republicans and Democrats and other interested parties with a plethora of proposals but no consensus. A bit of inertia coupled with some territorialism, a smattering of acrimony with the occasional obligatory grandstanding made for compelling theater.

However, in the last hours of this session an agreement in conference committee was reached, led by Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman Donovan Delacruz. The final package will now go to Governor Josh for his approval.  

According to the Hawai‘i Legislative Bureau here's what happens next:

(* The legislature may also amend a bill to answer the governor’s objections. For it to become law, a majority of the members in each chamber would be required to vote in favor of the amended bill, and the governor would then have 10 days to sign it.)

There may be some concerns expressed by Gov. Green, but look for a smooth ride to signing and for this refined Senate Bill 315 of 2026 to become law and issued an Act number.

But there are questions unanswered by the session.

How did such a monumental surplus dwindle down to a substantial deficit?

Why, during a budgetary upheaval, did the legislature approve another $50 million to a special fund?

Why, when facing such fiscal challenge, did the state budget increase from FY 2026 $10.38 billion to FY 2027 $10.69 billion? An increase instead of a decrease?

Finally, just answer this one question above all others:

Why do we have a state annual operating budget for 2027 of $10.69 billion and an overall budget for 2027 (federal funds, bond financing, etc..) of $20.4 billion when we have a state population of just 1.4 million?

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Anybody?"}]

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":" "}]

Capitol Jan 2026

<title>Hamada: Lawmakers saved the tax cuts with a "tax the rich" increase</title>

ASD opinion columnist Rick Hamada assesses the Legislative session and find just one idea reigning in the Big Square Building. Tax the "rich," even when preserving tax cuts. Do they know who the rich really are?

Hamada: Lawmakers saved the tax cuts with a "tax the rich" increase

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Crime & Courts

A Washington man seen in a viral video throwing a rock at a monk seal on Maui has been charged in U.S. District Court.

Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, 38, of Covington, Wash., was charged Wednesday with violating the U.S. Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

 by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration into an incident on May 5, in which a man was recorded on video hurling a large rock at a Hawaiian monk seal — identified in a U.S. Department of Justice news release as “Lani” — which was swimming off the Lahaina shore.

In the video, the rock appears to only narrowly miss Lani’s head, causing the seal to rear out of the water and swim away. Witnesses reportedly told NOAA the seal remained still for a long time, leading them to worry if it was even alive.

According to a criminal complaint, the man — identified as Lytvynchuk, who was visiting Maui on vacation — told witnesses he was “rich enough to pay the fines” when they told him law enforcement was on the way. A Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officer apprehended Lytvynchuk later that day, but made no arrest.

Another viral video appeared to depict Lytvynchuk being beaten up by an unknown man while attempting to return to his hotel. Neither the Department of Justice nor the NOAA made any mention of this incident.

According to the Department of Justice, Lytvynchuk was arrested Wednesday near Seattle by NOAA special agents. He has an initial court appearance in Seattle Thursday morning.

Lytvynchuk’s actions constitute harassment of an endangered marine animal and of a marine mammal, which are respectively violations of the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act. Both charges carry a possible prison sentence of up to one year, and fines of up to $50,000 (under the Endangered Species Act) and $20,000 (under the Marine Mammal Protection Act).

“The unique and precious wildlife of the Hawaiian Islands are renowned symbols of Hawaii’s special place in the world and its incredible biodiversity,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson in a statement. “We are committed to protecting our vulnerable wild species, in particular endangered Hawaiian monk seals, like Lani. We pledge that those who harass and attempt to harm our protected wildlife will face rapid accountability in federal court.”

 For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Screenshot 2026 05 13 at 3 19 31 PM 16x9

<title>Man arrested for attack on monk seal</title>

Igor Lytvynchuk, who reportedly said he is "rich enough to pay the fines" from allegedly attacking an endangered Hawaiian monk seal, faces up to $70,000 in fines and potential prison time.

Man arrested for attack on monk seal

Higa headshot white shirt square

Sterling Higa

Last week, State Sen. Brenton Awa rose on the Senate floor. He clarified that the Senate doesn’t “condone violence.” Then he held up a letter of recognition for “Mister Ambassador of Aloha.” The commendation was intended for a shirtless man recorded beating a tourist on Maui. The tourist had been filmed earlier throwing a rock at a monk seal.

The clip of Awa’s remarks has been viewed 29.3 million times on his 

. In the chamber where laws are made, a sitting senator stood to commend a man for a beating.

The tourist was wrong. That part isn’t in dispute. Throwing a rock at a protected animal earns charges, and ought to. The question is why a senator commended the man who beat him.

Awa represents State Senate District 23, which includes Kāneʻohe and the rural areas of the North Shore, including Kahaluʻu through Lāʻie, Kahuku to Mokulēʻia. It is one of the most conservative and religious districts in the state, with a significant presence of Christians and Mormons. Though they differ on major theological issues, they share most moral commitments. Many of them read Scripture and try to live by it.

Paul tells the Roman church plainly: never avenge yourselves, for vengeance belongs to the Lord, and He will repay. He says this in Romans chapter 12. In the next chapter he describes the magistrate as the servant of God who carries the sword on God’s behalf. The magistrate is the appointed avenger of wrath against the wrongdoer. Awa sits in the office Paul describes. To commend a man for taking justice into his own hands is to undercut the office God established to do that work.

A reader may reply that the justice system fails locals, that private justice is what’s left when the courts won’t act. There are two answers. The first is that the system was working. The whole state was outraged. The tourist was being identified and pursued. The vigilante did not help. He committed a crime of his own, and gave the tourist a grievance to point to.

The second answer is older. Vigilante justice doesn’t end disorder. It feeds it. Shakespeare worked this out in Verona, and the Capulets and Montagues are not a model anyone wants for Hawaiʻi. Due process is the rope that pulls communities out of that pit.

The seal speech was not a stray moment. Awa brought a polygraph to the floor during the $35,000 paper bag scandal. He has made props a feature of his floor speeches. He posted a video walking viewers to Rep. Linda Ichiyama’s office after she killed his bill prohibiting foreign ownership of land, and she received death threats. His congressional campaign website celebrates his record of voting no more than any other legislator. The posture is consistent: media first, lawmaking second.

A rock thrown at a seal and the beating of a tourist got Awa to stand and speak. The everyday violence in Hawaiʻi — robberies, killings, home invasions — has not moved him the same way. Neither has abortion, though his Christian and Mormon constituents care about it as deeply as any voters in the state. Awa casts his no votes and counts them on his campaign website. But a ceremonial no vote does not save a life.

He has a platform few legislators command. He could use it to speak about the issues his district cares about. He has chosen to use it to glorify lawless violence.

Moral leadership in a minority caucus is possible. It starts with respect for the office, since God has established it. The slow work of building coalitions and passing bills must follow, since social media clips don’t affect statutes. Underneath all of this lies the harder discipline of applying Christian conviction even-handedly. It must name the sins of allies as readily as opponents, the populist right as readily as the progressive left. A lawmaker who held those things together would be doing something that all of Hawaiʻi has been waiting for.

On opening day this session, Awa quoted James: “Be quick to listen and slow to speak.” He should have taken his own advice. Later in that 

, he told his colleagues, “We can accomplish impossible feats just by showing aloha. In other words, the next time you’re feeling like throwing blows, throw aloha.”

Awa upscaled

<title>'Mister ambassador of aloha'</title>

It's a bad look for the word "aloha" when it's used to commend a vigilante beat down, as state Sen. Brenton Awa did last week, says ASD opinion columnist Sterling Higa.

'Mister ambassador of aloha'

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

[{"type":"text","text":"One misdelivered present last Christmas went a long way."}]

Lila Bermudes and Kamealani Carvalho — co-owners of 

 in Kāneʻohe — that’s how they first met.

“This all started when a package was delivered incorrectly to my new home, which was Kamealani’s old home,” Lila Bermudes says. “[Before this], all the neighbors had told me how great of a baker Kamealani was.”

Bermudes reached out to Carvalho — whose contact information was on the package — to see if she wanted to pick up the package.

“When she came [to get it], we got to talking, and we immediately clicked,” Bermudes says.

“A two-minute conversation turned into 30 minutes,” echoes Carvalho.

During their conversation, Bermudes asked Carvalho if she ever considered opening a farm stand in front of her house on Kukane Street.

“It would be so convenient for everyone that’s passing,” Bermudes says. “You can stop on the side, grab your coffee and baked goods, then you can go to work. My goal was to provide a peaceful place that was convenient.”

Little did Bermudes know that Carvalho and her husband already ran a farm stand, located in Hauʻula.

“We live in Kāneʻohe, but I’m from Hauʻula,” Carvalho says. “We started it there, but it [the commute] was too far.”

Carvalho talked with her husband, Nalu, about the idea — and the duo immediately started working on the business concept. Carvalho credits her husband for building the bake stand that customers see on Kukane Street today.

“I put a lot of work into designing it, but my husband built it,” Carvalho says. “He did such a good job.”

“We just went on faith and everything came together,” Bermudes says.

 officially opened in February. While the address isn’t listed on the business’s Instagram page, Bermudes says that customers can usually find it if they use Google Maps to search for the street name.

“You know this area — the back road — if you live in Kāneʻohe,” she says. “There’s a lot of people that pass by here.”

The business’s current name did not come up right away. 

originally referred to the biz as Kukane Farm Stand, but they went back and forth on it.

“We didn’t like it; we tabled it for a little bit,” 

 remembers. “We thought, ‘Let’s just called it ‘Kukane Street Stand’ and change it later, but everyone kept calling it that, so it stuck. It’s good for location purposes.”

The bake stand is usually open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 6 a.m. until sold out, according to Bermudes. She features specialty lattes that available for pre-orders, while Carvalho supplies the stand with a variety of baked goods.

“We only do the pre-orders for the lattes, but we make them in a certified kitchen,” explains Bermudes, who says previous latte flavors included blueberry, cinnamon roll and chocolate haupia.

The bake stand has been known to sell out by 9:30 or 10 a.m., according to Carvalho.

“That’s why everyone’s here at 6 a.m.,” she says. “They’re waiting.”

All the other baked goods at the stand are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The selection can range from bagels and lemon bars to scones. Carvalho’s cinnamon rolls, brownies, and chocolate chip cookies have been customer favorites.

“I’ve been baking since I was eight years old,” Carvalho says. “I started with brownies, then it was rolls and manapuas; then it went to cakes; then I did wedding cakes; then sugar cookies; and then it went to chocolate chip cookies and cinnamon rolls. It just built over the years.”

The bake stand also features desserts from other bakers across Oʻahu. Customers can refer some of their favorite bakers, and some have reached out to the business directly through Instagram.

"When we made the stand, it just allowed us to incorporate what we already loved doing — supporting local,” Bermudes says. “We feature other local bakers that are up and coming, or they don’t have a platform or a place to sell their items. People can give us their name and we reach out.”

Bermudes confirms that she and Carvalho make sure the featured bakers have their food handler’s license or bake in a support kitchen that’s approved by the State of Hawaiʻi, and that their products are a good fit for the stand.

“We make sure the pricing is right; our items only run from $3 to $7,” Bermudes says. “We want to keep it affordable for everyone.

“In order to come and sell at our stand — if you’re going to be a featured baker — it has to be homemade,” she adds. “We want it to be homemade, like you’re baking it for your kids. I like to say, ‘It’s from oven to stand.’”

Items at the stand need to fall under Hawaiʻi’s cottage food law, which allows home producers to sell shelf-stable foods. Allowable items include cookies, biscuits and breads, according to Bermudes.

Customers pay for their baked goods or lattes by using an honor system. 

They can pay for the baked goods by using Venmo or leaving cash in designated envelopes at the stand. There are instructions to follow.

Carvalho says. “People tipped, especially during the first month [we were open]. This is a really great town to do this in, because people like stuff like this. People will stop for it.”

Carvalho describes having a bake stand as a “full-circle moment,” and is grateful for the support from the community.

“We were here for five years; I did bake sales, but never to this extent,” Carvalho says. “I used to do bake sales from this driveway.”

“Our goal is just to serve our community; that’s what we’re here for,” Bermudes adds. “We didn’t expect what we got; we’re blown away [by the support]. It’s just so humbling and I’m so grateful. We’re having a great time.”

Open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 6 a.m. until sold out

Kukane St Stand owners 050826

<title>Kukane Street Stand is a new bake stand in Kāneʻohe</title>

The neighborhood bake stand offers a rotating selection of desserts and specialty lattes. Baked goods are available on a first-come, first-served basis; the bake stand is usually open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Kukane Street Stand is a new bake stand in Kāneʻohe

Kam Napier Headshot

A. Kam Napier

 about how they crafted SB2471 and what they intend for it do if Gov. Josh Green signs it into law. I've also written some thoughts on what the bill might actually do and 

 as it attempts to nullify the effects of the Citizens United U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Islands.

, president and CEO of Grassroot Institute of Hawai‘i, puts me in the hot seat to ask what I think it all means for Hawai‘i. You can watch the episode in full at the link below.

One topic we discuss: Everyone seems to agree we need to get corporate money out of elections and put people first, but in a state where 99% of all businesses are small business, and they're all incorporated, are "corporations" really villains? "Corporations" include your favorite restaurant, or the flower shop down the street.

[{"type":"text","text":"My thanks to Keli‘i for hosting me, he had great questions! "}]

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.

Akina and Napier

<title>Pipikaula Corner: A conversation about SB2471</title>

ASD Editor in Chief A. Kam Napier appears in this week's episode of Talk Story with Keli‘i Akina, on ThinkTech Hawai‘i, to discuss SB2471. The Legislature almost unanimously passed the bill to overturn the Citizens United decision in Hawai‘i last Friday. It now awaits Gov. Josh Green's signature. Akina has questions — what does this mean for Hawai‘i?  Watch it here.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: "A good day in Hawai‘i"

ASD Staff

More in Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Neighborhood weather updates

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Island vibes

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

Most read

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: "A good day in Hawai‘i"

Authors

ASD Staff

More in Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Neighborhood weather updates

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Island vibes

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

Most read