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Kady Pascual

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

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L.Ganoy

<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Hula skirt</title>

Today’s social media find comes from @L.Ganoy, who sees the unique potential.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Hula skirt

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Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

For tweens and teens obsessed with sparkle, Claire's is (or was) the spot.

As a teenage girl in the late 1990s, it was the go-to for the coolest hair clips, sparkly purses and all things that glitter. Even as a 30-something Millennial adult with a continued affinity for all things that glitter, it's where I found my favorite pair of glittery heart sunglasses that I wore without shame until they broke — then I ordered another pair.

But Claire's Holdings LLC, which operates both Claire's and Icing stores across the U.S., will close nearly 300 stores nationwide amid ongoing bankruptcy proceedings.

That includes three locations in Hawai‘i, according to 

 filed in late August: Claire's at Kukui Grove Center in Līhu‘e and two Icing stores in Pearlridge Center.

[{"type":"text","text":"The following Claire's stores across the Islands will remain open:"}]

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The Icing store at Prince Kūhiō Plaza is also on the list of stores that will remain open.

, Claire's Holdings LLC began voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings "to maximize the value of its business."

 noted that this is the company's "second bankruptcy filing 

." The company initially planned "to close hundreds of stores and find a buyer for about 800 remaining locations."

"The U.S.-based company has $690 million in debt, and it has suffered in recent years from increased competition, high rent costs, and new tariffs on imports from supplier nations like China, Thailand and Vietnam, according to documents filed with the U.S. bankruptcy court in Delaware," Reuters wrote.

, the company announced it has entered into an agreement for private holding company Ames Watson to acquire Claire's business operations in North America. As part of that agreement, Claire's "paused the liquidation process at a significant number of stores."

 Claire's stores in 17 countries throughout North America and Europe, and 190 Icing stores in North America.

More information about the company's restructuring can be 

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Claires Stores Logo

<title>Claire's closing hundreds of stores nationwide, including these in Hawai‘i</title>

A handful of the shops, often popular with tweens and teens, will remain open across the Islands.

Claire's closing hundreds of stores nationwide, including these in Hawai‘i

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

Honolulu City Council members advised against a range of proposed rate hikes for city bus fares Wednesday.

, the Council discussed a proposal for across-the-board fare increases for the city’s TheBus program. That proposal would increase adult single cash fares from $3 to $3.25, adult monthly passes from $80 to $90, and annual passes from $880 to $990.

The proposal also consolidates TheBus’ current fare rates for riders on Medicare, elderly and disabled riders into one unified “Reduced Fare” tier, which is also more expensive than each of the existing tiers. That tier is also available to low-income residents, as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

These hikes, Department of Transportation Services director Roger Morton previously told Aloha State Daily, are expected to generate roughly $2 million in additional revenue.

But council members said they were reluctant to put an additional cost burden on residents for so little gain.

“As somebody that rides the bus almost each and every day … I don’t think I can get on the bus and sit there and say ‘well, I’m here to raise your fares,’” said Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam, who represents District 6, which includes Downtown Honolulu, Chinatown and others.

Santos-Tam said the $2 million that the rate hikes are estimated to generate is “literally a drop in the bucket” when held against TheBus’ entire budget, which, during the 2025 fiscal year, was about $325 million.

By comparison, bus fares generated an estimated $42.5 million in revenue for DTS during the 2025 fiscal year.

“TheBus, and our entire public transit system, relies heavily — as does every other system in the country — on fairly large subsidies,” Santos-Tam said.

But while the fare increases will scarcely make a dent in the need for those subsidies, they will be most acutely felt by low-income, elderly and disabled riders, Santos-Tam added.

Council Member Matt Weyer agreed, arguing that public transportation is important enough to be worth subsidizing.

“If you can’t get to your doctor, if you can’t get to meaningful medical care, access to food, you could die,” Weyer said.

Weyer, who represents District 2, including North Shore and Wahiawā, said that the Reduced Fare tier, if implemented, should also be available for more people. As currently written, people making 30% or less of the area median income would be eligible.

“We have to contemplate who’s actually most likely relying on public transportation,” Weyer said. “I think it’d be more appropriate to be maybe around 60% but I think even upwards of 80% or higher.”

Multiple riders also called into Wednesday’s Council meeting to voice their concerns. Kahili Swan told the Council his disability requires that a personal care attendant accompany him on the bus.

As fares exist now, that attendant rides for free on the bus and rail, Swan said. Under the proposed increases, that would change, and the attendant would need to pay $3.25 for a single ride.

Despite skepticism from Council members, the bill passed second reading Wednesday and is scheduled for further discussion at committee.

Three buses get new wrap

<title>Council cool on proposed bus fare hike</title>

Fare increase not worth the expected $2 million in revenue, say Council members.

Council cool on proposed bus fare hike

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Hawaii History

September marks the first Hawaiian History Month. The 

 (MOCA), in partnership with the Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī Coalition and the 

Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge

 are collaborating to host events to honor the occasion.

The month also marks the anniversary of Queen Liliʻuokalaniʻs birthday, on Sept. 2.

“Hawaiian History Month is our opportunity to honor Queen Liliʻuokalani’s legacy and ensure that the full story of Hawaiʻi — our struggles, our resilience and our triumphs — is never forgotten,” said Malia Nobrega-Olivera, director of strategic partnerships and community engagement at the Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, in a written statement. “These events invite us to walk in the footsteps of our kūpuna, to celebrate our queen, and to come together as a community in the history that continues to shape our future.”

As part of planned activities, there will be multimedia programming at Kapolei Hale, which is currently hosting the 

Hawaiian History Month activities will also take place at the Mission Memorial Auditorium and through a digital campaign spotlighting the history of each of Oʻahu’s six moku.

“It is deeply important for the City and County of Honolulu to honor the history of the place we call home,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi, in a written statement. “Hawaiian History Month ensures these stories continue to be shared with residents and visitors alike. This is history that should be honored and passed down to future generations, and the city is committed to making sure it lives on at the heart of our community.”

Upcoming events highlighted by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, which is home to the Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, include:

Aug. 31, Eō e Liliʻu Concert, Kawaiahaʻo Church: 

a community sing along that celebrates the queen's musical legacy. 

Sept. 2, Hau‘oli Lā Hānau e Lili‘uokalani, ʻUmeke Lāʻau at Kapolei Hale:

 a commemoration of Queen Liliʻuokalani’s 187th birthday and the passage of Act 167, which established Hawaiian History Month. 

Sept. 6, Free tours and memory walk, ʻIolani Palace: 

Sept. 6, 7 and 13, Mai Poina: The Overthrow Walking Tours, ʻIolani Palace: 

Learn about history, where it happened. The dramatic walking tours, created in 1993 by playwright Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl, recreate the pivotal days of January 1893 and share stories of the Hawaiian Kingdom’s overthrow.

ʻUmeke

<title>September marks inaugural Hawaiian History Month</title>

Learn about some of the groups coming together to mark the occasional with events and activities.

September marks inaugural Hawaiian History Month

ASD Staff

Adopt a Pet

If dogs could talk: "Aloha Kakou! My name is Loki, and I’m 

"I’m a people-loving, tail-wagging, cuddle machine who just wants to be by your side. My favorite thing in the whole world is giving kisses and snuggling up close! I’m happiest when I’m making my human's happy. I’m super obedient and already know my name, plus all the basic commands! 

"I’m potty trained and I love my crate. I also have a playful side — I really enjoy toys and would love to share playtime with you. While I’m doing my best here at the shelter, it’s really hard for me to be away from the love and comfort of a home. I know I belong with a family who will give me the affection I crave. Could that be you? I’d be the perfect addition to your ʻohana!"

Learn more about Loki and how to adopt him from the Maui Humane Society 

Loki

<title>Adopt-a-Pet Aug. 28, 2025: Loki is looking for his future bestie</title>

This 3-year-old pup from the Maui Humane Society is on the search for his furever home. Could that be you?

Adopt-a-Pet Aug. 28, 2025: Loki is looking for his future bestie

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

After Lucas Borrow's request for an additional year of eligibility was denied by the NCAA following spring practices, the University of Hawai‘i football team's coaching staff searched far and wide to find a new starting punter. 

Hawai‘i's search led them to somebody who had never played the sport before, albeit in familiar territory: Billy Gowers, a professional Australian rules footballer. A native of Melbourne, Australia, Gowers impressed UH coaches in clips sent over from Prokick Australia, an organization that sends kickers and punters to college football teams. 

Before moving to the Islands, Gowers dabbled in a variety of sports in addition to Australian rules football, including golf, volleyball, cricket, and most recently, kabaddi, a prominent sport in South Asia. 

Back home in Australia, Gowers also developed a passion for cutting hair. A barber and entrepreneur, Gowers has been cutting hair for half a decade, giving out an estimated 10,000 haircuts in that span. He even opened up a shop, Zeppelin Barbers, in his hometown. 

Gowers, 29, left everything behind in order to move to Hawai‘i over the summer and join the Rainbow Warriors on a football scholarship. 

"Everyone here has been amazing, really welcoming," Gowers told Aloha State Daily. "The school is great. The school work, not so much for me, just because it's a bit of an adjustment. But yeah, the place of Hawai‘i is just incredible. The beaches, people, mountains, everything. I love it."

Early returns for Gowers on the field have been promising. The power in his right leg is evident when he's seen booming 75-yard punts in the Mānoa air. The ball can trickle and land further when he rolls out to his right, which he calls his "AFL style" punt. He is not a fan of the term "rugby punt," which has become the default to describe Australian punters in football vernacular. 

"He's just scratching the surface right now," Hawai‘i special teams coordinator Thomas Sheffield said. "There's still so much more left in the tank. He's only really been punting a football for like, seven, eight months. This is all brand new to him, and all we're trying to do is coach him and mentor him and build consistency and get him comfortable with the game."

During fall camp, each practice has been an opportunity for Gowers to learn more about the game leading up to UH's 2025 season opener against Stanford on Aug. 23. In a Saturday scrimmage, he punted behind a shield for the first time, continuing to turn heads with powerful spiral punts that whistled and pierced through the wind. 

Gowers is UH's sixth Australian punter since the turn of the millennium, joining Mat McBriar, Alex Dunnachie, Scott Harding, Stan Gaudion and Borrow. Although Gaudion hasn't punted for the Rainbow Warriors since 2020, he and Gowers both graduated high school in 2014. 

As the rest of Hawai‘i's freshman class settled into campus prior to fall camp, Gowers realized he was at least 10 years older than his classmates. 

"It's been interesting. A lot of the guys here, their bodies are just so big that I kind of look at them and forget that they're young until they start talking. It's been a nice little adjustment," Gowers said. "I've always sort of hung around some younger people as well, playing playing AFL and VFL, so it hasn't been too hard to adjust to. Obviously my interests and all that are a little bit different to what they are, and I'm sort of pretty locked in at the moment. It's still good. It keeps me young, that's for sure. But I certainly don't feel too old. So, that's nice as well."

Added Sheffield: "He's 29, but you got to think him coming to America and just his whole life just turning upside down, he's really like an 18-year-old kid as far as that is concerned, but he's able to handle it better than a 17-, 18-year-old, because he is so much older and much more mature. He blends in really well with the guys. The guys love him."

Gowers is currently studying business at UH, an area where he has a head start due to his real-world experience opening and maintaining a barbershop back home. Teammates and coaches are certainly aware of his haircutting prowess — Sheffield and his kids have already received cuts from Gowers. 

On a recent afternoon, Gowers gave a haircut to Rainbow Warrior defensive lineman Jackie Johnson III. Johnson, a 2021 Roosevelt graduate, is listed as a senior on the roster, but received a haircut from a freshman seven years older than him. While a standard haircut at his shop costs 70 Australian dollars before additional services such as a beard trim, Gowers hasn't charged his teammates or coaches for a cut. 

"I think of it as looking after people's mental health, really. I feel like a haircut can change the way you feel about yourself," Gowers said. "It's good having a haircut. Whether it's a good one or a bad one, hopefully walking away thinking it might be a good one, it's a nice feeling I think."

Gowers spent approxamtely 40 minutes meticulously cutting Johnson's hair with his own clippers and scissors, lamenting that he didn't have his blow dryer with him because of the difference in voltage between Australian and American power outlets. 

The soft-spoken Johnson appeared very satisfied with his fade and beard line up, dapping up Gowers and thanking him before heading back to his home. 

It became evident quickly to Johnson that Gowers is a professional barber. There may be a day when Gowers opens a shop in Hawai‘i, but that would be after he gets a clear answer on how far his American football career could take him. He admits he's only watched one NFL game, the 

, but it was intriguing enough for him to make it his next pursuit. 

"I probably wouldn't have moved across the world at 29 with life so stable, and life is pretty good in Australia. That's the ultimate goal: The NFL," Gowers said. "But look, there's a lot of performance that needs to happen prior to that, as well as a lot of learning from my end. At this rate, I probably don't understand the game as well as I need to be to even be thinking about the NFL. So for me, it's more so just learning the game, understanding the game, and trying to execute the game. 

"So, from there, I think the NFL stuff, whether it happens or not, it's pretty much just up to me whether I'm good enough. ... I think I'll know reasonably quickly if I'm even close to that standard, or ever going to be close to that standard. But right now, I just want to sort of wrap my head around the game and play well for Hawai‘i."

Billy Gowers 081225

<title>Meet the University of Hawai‘i's 29-year-old freshman punter</title>

Billy Gowers left his life behind in Australia, which included a barbershop business, to pursue his NFL aspirations.

Meet the University of Hawai‘i's 29-year-old freshman punter

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

Orange creamsicle. Banana split. Jack Daniels Chocolate. Blueberry Poptart. These are just of the few unique flavors you’ll find at recently opened 

 in Koko Marina Center. The shop took over the former Bubbies Ice Cream space, which was recently home to Moena Sweets.

The dessert shop is celebrating its grand opening on Saturday, June 7, from 12 to 9 p.m., according to Trang Hammond, who owns the business with her husband, Ryan. The grand opening event is designed for the community to enjoy, with support from other local businesses. Keiki can enjoy free glitter tattoos from 12 to 3 p.m. Attendees will also have the chance to win gift cards from Moena Café, Boba’s Crystals and custom crocheted ice cream pint totes.

“I have some friends in the community that do art,” business owner Trang Hammond says. “We’ll have custom-made artwork just for the grand opening. The first 25 people in line will get free ice cream, no questions asked. The grand prize is free ice cream for a whole year.”

The business, known for its premium ice cream that’s handmade in small batches by Ryan, originally opened in 2014 in San Diego. The Hammonds sold it once they moved to Hawai

“We wanted to have an owner that was there in San Diego to take care of it, but after Covid-19, they weren’t able to sustain it,” she says. “We had wanted to open an ice cream shop here — Hammond’s was available again; the person we sold it to closed it, so we reopened it. Basically, it’s full circle; we’re re-doing everything that we did.”

The shop is especially known for its ice cream flights, complete with mini waffle cones, which are made in house. Flights include two to six mini scoops of ice cream.

“Ryan came up with the idea to do flights because we have so many flavors,” Hammond says. “He, of course, has the beer flights when he goes to breweries. The idea was, how can we create an experience where you can try a bunch — like sample — but still experience the ice cream cone in each. I executed a tray that has the mini waffle cones in it, but Ryan came up with the idea that it should be a flight.

“The flights allow our customers to experience a bunch and have fun with it,” she adds. “I like the flights because people sit down. They don’t just walk and get ice cream; it gets people to really interact. I feel like we really need that nowadays.”

Customers can still try samples of ice cream — which is necessary with about 20 flavors to choose from — and popular choices include dragon fruit cream, Jack Daniel's Chocolate, banana pudding and mango sorbet.

“The Jack Daniel's chocolate has Jack Daniels just for the taste,” Hamnond says. “It’s really interesting; all the sorbets are really good. All of our sorbettos and sorbets are oatmilk-based.”

For our flight, we got cookies and cream, orange creamsicle, mango sorbet, blueberry poptart, caramel praline and dragon fruit cream. The orange creamsicle and mango sorbets were especially refreshing. If you’re looking for a more traditional flavor, though, the cookies and cream is a winner. I wouldn’t hesitate to drive 30 minutes to this shop just to get it again. The caramel praline is another unique flavor that we enjoyed because of its delightful crunch.

During our visit, the shop ran out of Vietnamese caramel coffee — which I highly recommend getting if you’re a coffee lover.

If you decide on a single scoop instead of a flight, you can still get a split scoop to try more than one flavor. The shop also offers affogatos ($6.25) and ice cream floats ($5.50).

i Kai; our children go to school here,” Hammond says. “It was about creating a space for the community, but we’re also realizing that there was a need to have a handmade product.

“Our logo is a sun coming out of a cloud,” she adds. “There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel; that’s what our logo represents.”

7190 Kalaniana‘ole Hwy. Ste. D-103, Honolulu 

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Hula skirt

Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

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Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Hula skirt

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Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

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