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Kady Pascual

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Aloha means yield… sometimes."}]

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SupahHellahChoke Traffic

<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Shaka jam</title>

Today’s social media find comes from @SupahHellahChoke, witnessing aloha spirit — even in morning traffic.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Shaka jam

Aloha means yield… sometimes.  Make sure you follow @SupahHellahChoke on Instagram! For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up here for our free Daily Edition newsletter!

AKINA portrait 2

Keliʻi Akina, Ph.D.

Government & Politics

Viewpoints

A U.S. senator recently made the following statement about the housing shortages across America. Can you guess who it was?

“Ask anyone who has tried to build anything — a shed, a patio, or an accessory dwelling unit for their in-laws. They will tell you that the moment you try to do something, there are endless procedural hurdles and regulatory barriers that immediately get in the way. … But the good news is this: If the government got us into this mess in the first place, it can help to get us out. And mainly, that means getting out of our own way and not preventing the very things that we say we like.”

Sounds like something I might have said, right? Actually, it was U.S. Senator Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, speaking in late July on the U.S. Senate floor.

As president of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, I’ve been sharing similar thoughts for years, and it’s music to my ears to hear our senior senator voice such views. You can see his speech in which he said that 

, or you can read a transcription of his remarks 

Sen. Schatz actually said similar things 

 at Gov. Josh Green’s signing of a housing reform bill heavily supported by Grassroot. Highly contentious at the time, 

 mandated that Hawaii’s four counties make it easier for homeowners to add accessory dwelling units to their properties, and its implementation has been going well.

Schatz hasn’t been all talk, either. Last week, he introduced several bipartisan bills aimed at inducing more homebuilding, including his proposed 

His recent statements and actions are proof that housing reform is truly a nonpartisan issue. Whether you’re a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian or whatever, there is clearly a consensus that regulations stifle homebuilding.

Gov. Green demonstrated that as well at the very beginning of his term when he issued his first housing emergency proclamation, which suspended many of Hawaii’s regulations identified as impediments to homebuilding.

Hawaii’s Legislature and the counties have also been coming around, adopting important housing reforms over the past two years.

[{"type":"text","text":"But there is still much that needs to be done."}]

Fortunately, it appears we mostly all agree that short-sighted government policies have caused the state’s housing crisis. So now is a perfect opportunity to come together to dismantle those misguided policies.

[{"type":"text","text":"Let’s don’t waste it."}]

Reprinted with permission from the August 4, 2025 "Presidentʻs Corner" of 

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housing construction I Stock 885566710

<title>Community Voices: Grassroot views on housing reform going mainstream</title>

You might be surprised which U.S. Senator is taking the YIMBY approach — yes, in my backyard.

Community Voices: Grassroot views on housing reform going mainstream

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Culture

Aloha Spirit

Photographer John Hook is a longtime surfer, but he started photographing big wave surfers after he purchased camera gear to do underwater, post-wedding “Trash the Dress” shoots. It all started about 15 years ago, when he was shooting lots of weddings.

“It was a whole other portrait session after the wedding, where — especially in Hawaiʻi—  brides wanted to get in the water with a dress,” he said. “I got a surf housing [for my camera] just for portraits, not for surf photography.”

Soon, he started capturing photos of his wife surfing. And then, he started meeting more surfers and taking their pictures. Now, Hook, who identifies as a “funtographer” on Instagram, is one of just a handful of people who captures photos of surfers in The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational from the water. This week, listen to him speak at a panel discussion that also features photographers Mike Ito, Christa Funk, and Keoki Saguibo, among others, at The Ritz-Carlton O'ahu, Turtle Bay. Prints will be for sale at the event. There will also be a raffle. All proceeds go to the Eddie Aikau Foundation. The event is free. 

Hook has captured photos of surfers at The Eddie from the water the previous two times it was held, including 

Since its start in 1984, The Eddie has been held just 10 times. The 

 only if wave face heights consistently reach 40 feet at Waimea Bay during a three-month waiting period.

Hook’s favorite moment of the most recent invitational was the first big wave.

“My favorite moment was — I don't even remember what heat it was during the contest — but the first huge wave that came,” he said. “Waimea is kind of slow. You're waiting. There's a couple not little waves but smaller ones, and then literally, like an hour later, a huge wave will come.”

He could hear the crowd screaming and the horns, before he could see it.

“You can tell there's thousands of people on the beach and from the water you can still hear everybody, but it's just so crazy to be with just like five people,” he said. “The waves are super loud when you're that close. I mean, they're loud from the beach, but you can imagine if you're sitting right next to the water, that's kind of one of the craziest things is just realizing how loud the water is.”

The photographers capturing the event from the ocean are in the water for about eight hours, Hook said. He credits fins, a flotation device and a helmet for helping him capture the moment.

“I think people are thinking that the helmet is going to save you from the impact of a wave, or maybe a surfboard would run you over or something like that,” he said. “But, most of us photographers use the helmets to protect our heads from our cameras. If a big wave comes and you have to go under the big wave, just in case you get thrashed around, if your camera housing — that big old Plexiglass case — if that hits you in your head, that could knock you out.”

In shallower areas, like Pipeline, the helmet can also protect someone from crashing into the reef.

“The most recent Eddie is the longest I've ever been in the water at one time,” Hook said. “But swimming to take pictures or shoot the surf, for me, feels like it's not as strenuous as maybe swimming laps for eight hours. ... Once you're out, it's so hard to want to leave.”

John Hook

<title>Photographing ʻThe Eddieʻ : John Hook takes us behind the lens</title>

If you’ve watched The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, you’ve seen photographers bobbing in the waves to capture iconic images of surfers from around the world. On Friday, Aug. 8, several photographers, including Oʻahu-based John Hook, will share what it is like to capture photos from the water. Hook reflects on how he got started, as well why these photographers wear helmets.

Photographing ʻThe Eddieʻ : John Hook takes us behind the lens

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

In 2022, the University of Hawai‘i football team's new coaching staff had no choice but to be patient in building the program from a recruiting standpoint. A mass exodus under former head coach Todd Graham rendered UH's roster depleted. 

By the time Timmy Chang opened his first fall camp as the head coach of his alma mater, the Rainbow Warriors had 53 newcomers on their roster. Chang's staff searched far and wide for their first official recruiting class, taking some chances on players viewed as projects. Though not pursued by other Division I programs, UH coaches saw the potential in certain prospects.  

Ahead of the 2025 season, that patience has paid off for Hawai‘i. A bevy of lightly recruited players have gone on to become major contributors for UH over the years, but perhaps no unit has exemplified that more than the Rainbow Warrior receivers. 

Receivers Pofele Ashlock and Nick Cencale were selected to the Mountain West preseason team in July, representing two of the three receivers voted on as the best in the 12-team conference entering the 2025 season. Hawai‘i, which joined the Mountain West in 2012 as a football-only member, never had more than one offensive player on the preseason All-MW team prior to 2025. Ashlock and Cenacle both entered the program as true freshmen in 2022, making steady progress each year under position coach Jared Ursua. 

"That's a tribute to their hard work. That's a tribute to coach Chang and what he's built. That was a decision we made four years ago on guys that at one point nobody wanted," Ursua told Aloha State Daily of Ashlock and Cenacle's preseason accolades. "I'm just happy for them. It's a fun little thing to build some excitement right now, but the real work's got to get done. And being a five-win team the last two years, we've got things we've got to improve upon. And so I love their attitude and them taking on a different leadership role, Pofele growing into a multi-year guy and Nick being a senior, they've really stepped up and done a great job."

Cenacle, who was born and raised in Canada, grew up playing the Canadian version of football, which features 12 players on each side of the ball instead of 11 and a slightly wider and longer field. Although there was a slight learning curve playing gridiron football, he saw immediate playing time as a true freshman. 

Cencale scored one touchdown and had 351 receiving yards combined as a freshman and sophomore. His true breakout came as a junior in 2024, hauling in 63 receptions for a team-high 721 yards and six touchdowns. Following the season, he entered the transfer portal and attracted interest from multiple Power Four programs. With his heart still in Hawai‘i, he withdrew from the portal and decided to return for his senior year. 

"The receiver group is just playmakers across the board, from top to bottom, just all playmakers. We're all hungry," Cenacle said. "We're all just hungry to pull ourselves and hungry to take that next step as a whole group together, from top to bottom. This is an amazing group of guys. We're all chill with each other outside the facility, which is awesome."

didn't receive any Division I offers until Hawai‘i came calling

, redshirted in 2022 but became an impact player the moment he stepped on the field, earning freshman All-American honors in 2023 after leading all FBS freshman in receiving yards (832) and receptions (83). 

"I don't like all the attention on me, because it's not only me," Ashlock said at 

. "It's just a whole testament to everything that's going on right now, because it just shows how much we've really worked and we really came a long way. It's been amazing. I'm really blessed that and now it's time to go get the postseason awards."

While Cenacle and Ashlock are the veterans and established impact players in the group, former walk-on and Lahaina native Karsyn Pupunu is viewed as a breakout candidate after earning a scholarship over the offseason. 

Although the Rainbow Warriors lost starting receiver Dekel Crowdus to Wisconsin, the 'Bows reloaded their receiving corps with five transfers in Koa Eldredge (BYU), Jackson Harris (Stanford), Max Ware (Arizona State), Joey Farthing (Youngstown State) and Brandon White (Kentucky). 

"I think the conference recognizes that we have some pretty good guys, and they were developed for three years now going into our fourth year," Chang said. "Those guys are a good room, and whether they've been here for three years going on four, or they just got here, they're all intentful about trying to get better and that's what we want. They got the physical abilities. Now we just got to go out there and make some plays."

Hawai‘i opens its 2025 season against Stanford on Aug. 23, Harris' former team, which Ursua says was an instrumental part of his recruiting process. Harris started off camp sidelined with an injury but has started to ramp up his activity in recent days. 

"That's how we recruited him," Ursua of Harris. "We approached the pitch on the idea that he's going to get his first shot back at them. I think he has bigger goals than that, but that was a really exciting kind of just cherry on top of things, to give him a chance to kind of go back up against them. I don't think he has ill feelings, but I think it's just exciting for him to be able to go back and challenge some of the guys that he knows very well."

After years of meticulously building, Hawai‘i's coaches have flipped a roster that now has their stamp on it. With 18 practices between the start of fall camp and their season opener, the Rainbow Warriors have trained with an increased urgency that comes with heightened expectations.

"This year, going into (camp), we kind of had a discussion. What do we want to be? And if that's what we want to be, those are championship type of standards we would have, then we need to hold ourselves accountable and we're going to do that from the very beginning," Ursua said. "And so that means when things aren't right, we'll fix it. That's how they want to be coached. That's what I've committed to them." 

Jared Ursua 080725

<title>Patience and loyalty leads to deep receiving corps for Hawai‘i football team in 2025</title>

Receivers Pofele Ashlock and Nick Cencale were named to the Mountain West preseason All-Conference team in July, the first time UH had two players on offense make the team.

Patience and loyalty leads to deep receiving corps for Hawai‘i football team in 2025

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Employers could be required to provide paid leave on Election Day under a bill introduced by a Hawai‘i Senator.

Sen. Mazie Hirono introduced on Wednesday the “

,” a measure that would require employers to grant employees at least two consecutive hours of paid leave in order to vote during federal elections.

Employers would only be required to grant this leave on the employee’s request, and would be allowed to specify when the leave could be taken. This specified voting period could actually precede Election Day: the employer could specify that the worker take leave during an election’s early voting period.

However, the leave cannot also include the employee’s lunch break or other break period.

The bill specifies that the paid leave be used to vote, return a mailed ballot or perform other voting-related activities.

Any employer that fails to provide election leave on request would be subject to a civil penalty of up to $10,000. The bill also prohibits employers for retaliating against employees for taking advantage of the additional leave.

If passed, the bill will go into effect for the next federal election: Nov. 4.

According to a 2022 report by the United States Census Bureau, roughly 9.9 million registered voters claimed they did not vote in the 2022 midterm elections because they were too busy or had a conflicting schedule.

“Voting is a fundamental right and every eligible voter in this country deserves to be able to participate in our democracy,” Hirono said in a statement. “As we continue working to protect voting rights, this legislation will help to expand voter participation, particularly in underrepresented communities.”

[{"type":"text","text":"The bill was co-sponsored by 17 other Senate Democrats."}]

A corresponding bill was also introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, by Georgia Democrat Nikema Williams, as part of a major bicameral voter’s rights legislative package.

Other bills included in that package include a bill to increase election administration funds around the country, a measure that establishes standards for USPS’ delivery of election mail, the “People Over Long Lines Act,” which requires states to ensure that voters wait no longer than 30 minutes in line, and six others.

Hironohirez 16x9

<title>CONGRESS WATCH: Leave with pay on Election Day</title>

Hawai‘i Senator introduces bill requiring paid leave to Election Day voters

CONGRESS WATCH: Leave with pay on Election Day

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

School supplies for West Side students and rugs for an acting class in Kalihi are among the items on teachers’ wish lists this back-to-school season.

Crawford Mitchell, a 7th and 8th grade science teacher at preK-12 charter school 

 “once again to ask for your help in making sure that all of our children have equitable access to school supplies and funding,” he said on the platform.

He explained that as a Title I school, it is “

in the lowest income and funding brackets,” meaning the need is greater for “as many opportunities as possible.”

As of Thursday, the fundraiser was about 80% toward a goal of $1,300.

Kamaile Academy’s mission statement is “to prepare self-directed, self-aware, college-ready learners who embrace the challenges of obstacles, experience the pride of perseverance and accomplishments, and demonstrate the strength of ʻohana and community.”

In addition, Kalihi’s Farrington High School Teacher Kirstyn Trombetta is 

 to purchase two large area rugs for her acting class.

“These rugs may seem like a small addition, but they will make a huge impact,” she wrote.” Most of our acting activities happen on the floor — warmups, rehearsals, improv games, scene work, and more. But currently, our classroom has a cold, hard tile floor that’s uncomfortable and distracting for students who are expected to move, sit and engage with energy and focus.

She expects these cozy rugs will create a welcoming environment that encourages creativity and permit a soft space for physical movement.

“If you believe in the importance of arts education and want to directly support the next generation of storytellers, performers, and empathetic leaders — please consider donating,” Trombetta said.

Farrington High School's mission is “to promote rigorous learning through relevant instruction and supportive relationships, preparing students to be college and career ready.”

Today, it is more common for teachers to use crowdfunding platforms such as GoFundMe and 

, among others, to solicit community support. According to GoFundeMe, thousands of educators nationwide raised over $3.3 million in total in 2024, and more than $1 billion in total since 2010.

, found that 95% of public school teachers across the country spent hundreds of dollars on classroom supplies without being reimbursed for the 2019–2020 school year.

This year, Hawai’i teacher salaries began at $53,390 for those with a teaching license and bachelor’s degree, 

. The average salary for a kindergarten teacher in the state is $61,756 annually, according to 

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Classroom needs

<title>Local teachers turn to GoFundMe to fundraise for classroom needs</title>

It’s crunch time for many Hawai’i teachers readying to welcome students back to school this month. To help relieve some of the financial burdens on families, a couple have taken matters into their own hands to provide supplies and cozy spaces for students.

Local teachers turn to GoFundMe to fundraise for classroom needs

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

Save the date — the Hawaiʻi United Okinawa Association’s 

 is coming up Saturday, Aug. 30 and Sunday, Aug. 31 at Hawaiʻi Convention Center (1801 Kalākaua Ave.). 

The festival is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 31 (early admission starts at 9 a.m. on both days). In honor of the 125th anniversary of Okinawan immigration to Hawaiʻi, this year’s celebration is expected to be even more festive.

 will be available for pre-sale purchase online starting Friday, Aug. 8 at 8 a.m. HST. Two-day ticket packages will only be available for pre-sale purchase online. Pre-sale quantities are limited.

Single-day early admission costs $15 per adult ($10 for individuals ages 65 years and older; children ages 12 years and under have free admission). Two-day early admission — valid for early admission on Aug. 30 and 31 — costs $25 per adult ($15 for individuals ages 65 years and older, children ages 12 years and under have free admission).

General admission tickets will still be available for purchase at the door on the day of the festival. Single-day general admission tickets costs $10 per adult ($5 for individuals ages 65 years and older, children ages 12 years and under have free admission). A two-day general admission ticket costs $16 per adult ($8 for individuals ages 65 years and older, children ages 12 years and under have free admission).   

Festival activities include food and cultural traditions, including live entertainment (10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 30, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 31) and a bon dance. The bon dance is from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on Aug. 30 and admission to the bon dance is free (no ticket needed). Select festival booths will be open during the bon dance.

Last year’s festival featured a variety of local comfort food and Okinawan favorites, including andagi, champuru (stir-fried vegetables) plates, andadogs (hot dogs dipped in andagi batter and deep fried), Okinawan soba, yakitori bento, pigs feet soup and more.

Flat-rate parking at Hawaiʻi Convention Center will cost $15 with no in-and-out privileges, and the parking lot will be open from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. 

Other parking options include the Civic Center Municipal Parking Lot — parking is free and there will be shuttles to the Convention Center (tickets can be purchased for a return trip to the Civic Center) — and the Pan Am Building. The latter features a $6 flat rate for eight hours; the Pan Am Building is a 5 to 10 minute walk from the Convention Center.

Okinawan Festival 2024 photo courtesy Roy Adaniya

<title>The Hawaiʻi United Okinawa Association’s 43rd Okinawan Festival is coming</title>

Early admission tickets are available for pre-sale starting Aug. 8 at 8 a.m., but general admission tickets will still be available for purchase at the door. This year’s festival on Aug. 30 and 31 commemorates the 125th anniversary of Okinawan immigration to Hawaiʻi.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Shaka jam

Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

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Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Shaka jam

Authors

Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

More in Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

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