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Kady Pascual

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"I like go Ross!"}]

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<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: One champion</title>

Today’s social media find comes from @Christeezeh, giving us a play-by-play of the derby.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: One champion

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Keliʻi Akina, Ph.D.

Government & Politics

Viewpoints

Hawai‘i Island farmer Rourk Reagan of Pukana Lā Farms in Wai‘ōhinu wants to more easily produce and sell jams, relishes and sauces made with local ingredients.

Sally Stewart of Sally Jane’s Sweets and Savories, based in Kailua-Kona on Hawai‘i Island, would like to expand the sales of her homemade baked goods.

Mark Suiso of Mākaha Mangoes on Oʻahu would like to be able to sell dried and freeze-dried mango made from leftover fruit.

Throughout the state, there are many people who would love the opportunity to sell authentic “made in Hawai‘i” products — not only to local residents but to folks from out of state too.

[{"type":"text","text":"And soon, that’s something they will legally be able to do."}]

That’s because last year, the Legislature and Gov. Josh Green approved 

, a bill supported by the Grassroot Institute of Hawai‘i, which directed the state Department of Health to make it easier for cottage food entrepreneurs to sell their products.

Currently cottage foods intended for mail-order and third-party sales are strictly regulated, including the requirement that they be made in so-called commercial kitchens.

Reagan explained in testimony on the bill that it can cost $25 an hour or more to rent a commercial kitchen. He said just completing the lab testing for the first eight flavors of the jams he makes cost him $1,500. That’s enough to deter a small, home-based operation from going into business in the first place.

Since HB2144 was enacted last year, the Health Department has held two 

 on the proposed new rules, including most recently in 

Ideally, the rule-making process is almost done, and Gov. Josh Green will quickly give his required OK.

We all love and value the flavors and contributions of Hawai‘i’s cottage food producers. After all, who doesn’t get excited when they discover a new homemade lychee jam or liliko‘i cake?

I hope we don’t have to wait much longer for these new cottage food rules to go into effect.

Reprinted with permission from the July 28, 2025 "Presidentʻs Corner" of 

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<title>Community Voices: New cottage food rules can unleash innovation in Hawai‘i</title>

The state Department of Health is about to release new rules to make it easier for cottage food entrepreneurs to sell their products.

Community Voices: New cottage food rules can unleash innovation in Hawai‘i

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Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

[{"type":"text","text":"When was the last time you held a CD or VHS tape?"}]

, a limited-time ’90s-themed pop-up bar now open in Central Oʻahu.

Cosmic Records just opened in the former space of Chili’s Grill & Bar at Pearlridge Center. The pop-up is open from 6 p.m. to midnight Fridays to Sundays until Aug. 31. No reservations are accepted — walk-ins only — and individuals must be 21 years or older to enter.

Cosmic Records is the latest creation by 17A Productions, the company behind other pop-ups like Halloween-themed Nightmare Honolulu (at Ala Moana Center), ’80s-themed Alpha Video Honolulu (in downtown Honolulu) and The Christmas Lodge, which debuted in the same Pearlridge Center space last holiday season.

For someone growing up in the ’90s, the whole pop-up is a trip down memory lane. For starters, the interior is inspired by Tower Records, which had a location in Pearl Kai Shopping Center across the street.

As soon as you enter the pop-up, you’ll see a wall of hanging headphones — you can wear them for a fun photo opp — and a VHS display with popular movies of the era like “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie,” “Pokemon: The First Movie,” and “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.”

Speaking of movies — you can also easily spot the pop-up from the outside by the movie posters hanging in the window. You’ll see everything from “The Goonies” to “Labyrinth.” Inside the pop-up, if you look closely, you’ll also see VHS tapes that line the walls.

When you enter the pop-up, to the left is the majority of the seating area (if you remember the Chili’s restaurant layout, it’s similar). There’s also an arcade game where customers can play “Mortal Kombat.”

When you enter the pop-up, the bar area is to the right, next to a dance floor with a live DJ who’s playing ’90s hits, of course. The bar menu features mostly drinks with fun names, though one snack is included — the Fanny Pack ($15) contains assorted candies and Pringles, and guests can take the keepsake home.

Popular drinks include Orange Bangarang ($15) — Tito’s and Orange Bang topped with whipped cream — and Neon Spritz ($15). The latter features Tito’s and Harders Hawai

i tropical sparkling water with Blue Vanilla or Green River. Saturday Morning Toons ($15) — a mix of RumChata, Tanduay Silver and Cinnamon Toast Crunch milk — is an especially fun option.

If you’re there with a group, getting the Rum Punch Cooler ($45) makes for a fun, photogenic opportunity. The drink comes in an iconic Igloo cooler — remember those? — and features a mix of passionfruit, orange and guava puree, and Koloa Kaua‘i white rum. It’s complete with huge straws to use for drinking.

Stay tuned — we’re told after this pop-up ends, a 2000s-themed one will take its place. 

Open from 6 p.m. to midnight Fridays to Sundays until Aug. 31

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<title>Cosmic Records is a limited-time ’90s pop-up bar</title>

Located in the former space of Chili’s Grill & Bar at Pearlridge Center, the themed pop-up is around until the end of August.

Cosmic Records is a limited-time ’90s pop-up bar

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Michael Brestovansky

Crime & Courts

Sports

Former Kahuku football coach Sterling Carvalho and 30 of his family members packed into a small courtroom Friday for the first hearing of his lawsuit against the state.

Carvalho was Kahuku High School's head football coach since 2018, leading the Red Raiders to five HHSAA championship games and three consecutive state titles. 

 from his position following an investigation into his conduct involving a former player in 2023 — conduct that allegedly involved threatening and intimidating language to the player and a family member.

On Monday, Carvalho sued the DOE, complex area superintendent Samuel Izumi, and the Hallums: former player Tavian "Manoa" Hallums and his father Kalani Hallums. In his suit, he alleged both breach of contract by the DOE and Izumi and defamation by the Hallums.

According to the lawsuit, the DOE advised Carvalho in Dec. 2023 of an investigation into allegations that he had threatened the father of a player and subsequently created a hostile environment for that player. Despite those allegations — which are not described with any specificity in the suit — Carvalho continued as head coach through the 2024 season and was rehired on contract to coach the 2025 season.

Instead, Carvalho found himself summarily fired in March, with Izumi reportedly finding that "progressive discipline" was insufficient punishment because Carvalho's conduct "did not reflect ethical principles and failed to provide a caring environment conducive to the well-being of students," according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit argues that Carvalho was fired without due process — which would require a hearing, legal representation and an opportunity to cross-examine witnesses — and based on "absolutely false, misleading and defamatory statements made by persons who behaved disgracefully and had no credibility under the circumstances."

Carvalho seeks a court judgement declaring his termination wrongful and an injunction preventing the defendants from interfering with his contractual rights to coach the Kahuku football team during the 2025 season.

The Hallums did not appear in court Friday for a hearing on the lawsuit. However, some 30 members of Carvalho's family did. 

The actual hearing turned out to be a largely inconsequential status hearing, with attorneys for both parties called out of the courtroom for the better part of half an hour. When they returned, O‘ahu Circuit Court Judge Jordon Kimura announced that the actual court date will take place July 28. 

The hearing was then adjourned, to some grumbles from the packed audience.

Carvalho's attorney, Eric Seitz, told the family afterward that Kimura had expedited the process — "hopefully, out of recognition that we need a resolution soon," he said. 

Carvalho told media after the hearing that he hopes to return as head coach at Kahuku and clear his name, both for himself and for other coaches facing false allegations.

"If my intentions were misconstrued, if I came off as intimidating or hostile, I apologize," Carvalho said. "I wish everyone could play, but there's only 11 people who can be on the field."

Carvalho suggested that the expedited process might allow him to return to coaching before the football season kicks off, but said he can only "trust the process" for the time being. 

But, if he is unable to return to coaching, Carvalho said the program is "in good hands" under his deputies.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: One champion

Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

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Hawai‘i Scene on Social: One champion

Authors

Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

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Hawai‘i Scene on Social: South side action

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