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Kady Pascual

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

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<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Good times and tan lines</title>

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Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Good times and tan lines

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Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

LAS VEGAS — Two days full of activities associated with Mountain West media days was both a reward and responsibility for University of Hawai‘i teammates Pofele Ashlock and Jamih Otis. 

When a Division I head football coach chooses a pair of players to choose to send to media day, veterans with strong leadership skills and on-field production top the list. In 2025, UH head coach Timmy Chang bestowed his two selections to Ashlock and Otis, who served as program representatives over the course of dozens on media appearances on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Ashlock and Otis got to explore the city, sneaking in a quick session at Topgolf. 

"It's very much a blessing," Ashlock told Aloha State Daily on Wednesday. "I'm just a boy from Texas."

Ashlock grew up in Euless, Texas, a town known for having one of the largest Tongan populations outside of Tonga. The key tenets in his childhood were faith, football, and his Black and Tongan roots. After tearing his ACL prior to his senior year of high school, Ashlock's college prospects were thin. By the time signing day rolled around, his only offer was from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, an NCAA Division II school. He recalls being overcome with sadness, knowing deep down he was destined for more. 

"I started crying. I just remember praying, man, God, show me that I can be able to play football again," Ashlock said. 

Ashlock decided not to sign. His aunt sent his highlight tape to the University of Hawai‘i, catching the eye of former UH running back 

, the school's director of recruiting at the time. Hawai‘i, which saw its roster decimated by the transfer portal under former coach Todd Graham, ended up needed to replace 53 players. Chang, the school's new head coach, decided Ashlock was worth taking a shot on. 

"I'll never forget that time, and how I felt at that time and the relief that just came off my shoulders," Ashlock said. "Man, my faith just grew that much more."

As a true freshman, Ashlock redshirted as he got his bearings in college. As a redshirt freshman, he became one of the country's breakout wide receivers, beginning the 2023 campaign with consecutive 100-yard games, becoming the first UH freshman to do so. 

In all, Ashlock hauled in 83 receptions for 832 yards and nine touchdowns, becoming the first Hawai‘i freshman to lead the team in receiving since Davone Bess in 2023. 

Injuries, which included a concussion, limited Ashlock's availability in 2024. He still finished with 61 receptions and six touchdowns on 629 yards. In 2025, he was named to the preseason Mountain West All-Conference team along with Nick Cencale, giving the Rainbow Warriors two preseason All-Conference players on offense for the first time in program history. 

During an era where standout players from conferences such as the Mountain West get poached by bigger schools, Ashlock has resisted overtures and stayed loyal to Hawai‘i, where his younger brother, Jarvis Heimuli, is also on the roster. 

"Just from the from the get go. They came and got me. It's a morale thing for me and I really, truly love Hawai‘i," Ashlock said. "I've been over here and they changed a little boy to a man, and gave me lessons that I'll never forget. So, it's been a blessing. And just being out here and just to give back to the community of Hawai‘i, I feel like that's what I'm doing."

Otis, despite being a star linebacker at national powerhouse Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas, only had four scholarship offers to choose from in high school. 

"Hawai‘i just stuck out because they were super genuine. The love felt there. I felt wanted at Hawai‘i, and I think truly they they had a plan, and they told me how I was going to contribute to that plan," said Otis, who reunited with his high school linebackers coach Chris Brown at UH. 

"And from there, I fell in love with Hawai‘i, the coaches, the brotherhood, and I'm glad to say I'm a part of it. I feel like not too many people get to experience the love, the kindness from the Island, and just the community, and all the ‘ohana, so I'm just thankful."

Although not as lightly recruited as Ashlock, Otis still carries the chip he had on his shoulder into college, turning into a dependable starting linebacker for the 'Bows. 

Ashlock and Otis also partook in a photoshoot at the Circa Hotel & Casino. Otis, in his hometown, was able to have his parents watch and take their own photos. 

The Rainbow Warriors were picked to finish seventh out of 12 teams in the conference's preseason poll released Wednesday morning. Being 

 is old hat to Ashlock and Otis, who took the news in stride. 

"For sure it's motivating, but we're not really focusing on that," Otis said. "Honestly, we're just doing all we can, day in and day out, control what we can control, and understanding our goals and our standards and that anything on the outside really can't affect us and it won't affect us. So just, I mean, focus on what we need to focus on."

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<title>Underdogs turned standouts take the stage for Hawai‘i football at Mountain West media days</title>

Receiver Pofele Ashlock and linebacker Jamih Otis represented the Rainbow Warriors during the player portion of media days in Las Vegas on Wednesday.

Underdogs turned standouts take the stage for Hawai‘i football at Mountain West media days

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

 with his wife, Ululani, vividly remembers when they were living in the Pacific Northwest prior to starting their business.

“Whenever we’d go to fairs or events (in the Pacific Northwest), there would be shaved ice, or snow cones,” he says. “Whenever we’d go order it, the lines would be long, but the product wasn’t good, not compared to what we were used to. Ulu and I grew up on O

ahu; we grew up eating B&S, which became Shimazu

’s; Matsumoto’s and Aoki’s in Haleʻiwa, and also Baldwin’s (Sweet Shop).

“She (Ulu) would always say, ‘One day, I’m going to open my own shave ice business,’ and one day, she did.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"The rest, as they say, is history.  "}]

Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice originated as a 65-square-foot shop in Lahaina in 2008, according to Yamashiro. Being mentioned in 

 magazine — and on social media — “propelled their business in an incredible way.”

“It was pretty much the size of a bathroom,” he says. “Within three months, we had to double the size to 138 square feet. A year later, we opened our shop in Kahului.

“What was really cool was we were getting people from all over — from Kīhei, from Ha

ikū,” he adds. “We’re talking older people who hadn’t been to Lahaina in 15 or 20 years because they didn’t like the traffic or no parking.”

Fast forward to today: Since then, Ululani’s has expanded to Kīhei; to other states, including California, Florida and Texas; and O

ahu’s first Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice opened on Kapahulu Avenue in 2023. The island’s second shop opened in Pearl City last year, and the new Waimānalo location is celebrating its grand opening this Saturday, June 21, from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Attendees can look forward to a blessing, music and giveaways.

How the Waimānalo location came about is a story in and of itself, according to franchise owner Shontaz Naweli. She still remembers the first time she saw the line at Ululani’s Lahaina location about four years ago — and finally trying the shave ice herself.

“After my first bite, I looked at my friend and said, ‘I don’t know what they’re using in there, but this is not shave ice!’” she says.

As it turned out, Naweli’s husband is cousins with Ululani’s brother. Talk about a small world.

“I didn’t meet Ulu, but I knew her brother because he lives here on O

ahu,” Naweli says. “When we came home, we literally drove over here and looked for spaces that were open. This was three years ago; we had many meetings and we’re here now.”

Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice is known for using high-quality ingredients, including 100% ultra-purified water, housemade syrups made with real fruits, and gourmet ice cream. Yamashiro explains that Roselani Ice Cream has three tiers — economy, premium (which is in all the grocery stores) and a gourmet tier.

“What you get here is the gourmet line of Roselani,” he says. “In the gourmet tier, the fat content is a lot higher and there’s more macadamia nuts. We use ultra-purified water for all of our franchises. We use top-quality ingredients, and we innovate — we poke holes (in our shave ice); our packing style is different. We also came up with a good line of sugar-free syrups; that’s something that I’ve been working on for a long time.”  

Shave ice desserts can include up to three flavors, or customers can opt for the business’s popular combinations, including Haleakalā (leche and coconut with condensed milk), Sunset Beach (passion orange, mango and guava) and No Ka Oi (mango, coconut and passion fruit).

Pro tip: If you want something unique, order the ʻAina, which is a secret menu item. The combo includes green tea and ube with haupia ice cream on the bottom and a snowcap and azuki bean topping. Shave ice flights, which feature three half-portions of the keiki size, will eventually be added onto the menu.

Besides its shave ice, though, Ululani’s is known for its “alohatude,” or having a genuine service mindset.

“It means ‘aloha with gratitude;’ it embodies everything,” Naweli says. “A lot of the employees are young; we’re teaching them how to extend aloha while they’re working.”

“We’re known for cultivating a good work ethic,” Yamashiro adds. “To work at Ululani’s, you have to work hard, be reliable, be unselfish, and be a team player. All of these things embody what is necessary to make it in the workforce today and in life.”

41-1537 Kalanianaʻole Hwy. No. 8, Waimānalo

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Good times and tan lines

Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

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Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Good times and tan lines

Authors

Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

More in Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

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