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Kady Pascual

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Shakas for days and good vibes."}]

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<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: When in Maui</title>

Today’s social media find comes from @InstaMauiMatt, showing us what Maui means to him.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: When in Maui

Shakas for days and good vibes.  Make sure you follow @InstaMauiMatt on Instagram! Check out our new feature: Aloha State Daily wants to see your Hawai‘i sky pictures! Click here to learn more and submit.

IMG 1445

Rick Hamada

Government & Politics

Columnists

[{"type":"text","text":"Lala has left the building."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Yes, her impact was profound."}]

Friends and families on the Big Island bore the brunt while the rest of the island chain took its lumps as well.

The anticipation of yet another major weather event may have given some fatigue, especially since recovery from the two recent Kona Lows was somewhat still underway. Honestly, fatigue wasn't the only effect. I would submit that fear was the dominant emotion and partly fear of the unknown.

I try to be as empathetic as possible with those who are so negatively impacted. My family and I live in a secured high rise with diesel generator backup to mitigate power loss; we live high enough above ground where flooding is not a major threat, and we've been blessed in literally weathering every storm for so many years. These statements are not intended to gloat or brag but to share perspective. We have not suffered as others have suffered, yet we're saddened for those who have and we are prayerful for a speedy recovery. It's truly heartbreaking.

It's important that in times of trouble that the collective objective is to learn and not to repeat. If that's an acceptable and reasonable policy goal, then what happened?

[{"type":"text","text":"Why is our infrastructure so fragile?"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"It's not like inclement to hurricane force weather is breaking news."}]

Since 1949 when storm tracking officially began, Hawaii has counted 69 tropical cyclone encounters. Yes, some are counted where a minimum amount of impact was made, but it also includes Hurricane Nina (1957), Dot (1959), Iwi (1982), Iniki (1992) and now you can count Lala (2026). Interestingly, there are documented reports of cyclonic activity in the Hawai‘i chain dating back to September 1843 and more so on August 9, 1871.

Again, this is not breaking news that we are susceptible to damaging storms. If we have foreknowledge that we are exposed to brutal elements, then what have we done to prepare ourselves?

[{"type":"text","text":"I mean we've had a 183-year heads up."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"OK, I can hear it already."}]

Hamada, you simply don't understand. Since when did you become a civil engineer? Do you realize how much money and how much impact to the community it would be to retrofit, replace or even repair vulnerable spaces? If it breaks, we fix it.

[{"type":"text","text":"That's one point of view."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Here's another."}]

In 1959, the first year of statehood, the total of all taxes paid in Hawai‘i was 

. That's everything; federal, state, county taxes, gas taxes, all of it. By 1969, annual total was $922 million. 

In today's dollars, that's $3.6 billion and $8.4 billion, respectively, just in those two bookend years of our first decade as a state.

[{"type":"text","text":"The issue is prioritization."}]

During that decade we had the opportunity to declare that, along with public education and health and human services (the two largest budget expenditures of the state), infrastructure preparedness would have received some love. 

The widely accepted notion is that the essential role of government is to defend her people and create a safe environment for all. 

[{"type":"text","text":"What is the essential life blood of a free society."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Infrastructure."}]

It's electricity. It's water. It's transportation. It's waste treatment and removal. 

[{"type":"text","text":"The same afflictions of the past haunt us today."}]

Post-Lala we have tens of thousands still without power. You're rendered virtually into seclusion. You cannot communicate, you cannot preserve your expensive food, you cannot have lights, or fans, or air conditioning in your home. No laundry, no dishes, no bathing or other water-centric needs. It takes a toll on your mental health. It exposes families to inordinate amounts to stress and oftentimes children are affected. Roads may be impassible, you may live in a "one-way in, one-way out" community or public and closures have an impact on your lives, too. And you pray that you can flush the toilet because the health implications are grave.

[{"type":"text","text":"The essential role of government is to keep her people safe."}]

Over the past several decades have the previous generations of leadership fulfilled this directive?

[{"type":"text","text":"I maintain that Hawai‘i does not have a revenue problem. Never has."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"But it's always had a spending and prioritization problem."}]

Government stresses that we must be prepared in times of great challenges.

But that siren call for preparedness extends to providing excellent infrastructure so we can live and survive during those challenging times.

If over the past century we invested in the best power generation and distribution, road construction and maintanence, quality upgraded water mains and sewers then perhaps we would not have to contend with such devastation. Rather our mutual preparedness would be complimentary in mitigating the suffering of so many, time after time.

Until that time comes we must acknowledge and celebrate those first responders, dedicated crews, volunteers and non-profits, public and private sector staffs and teams, small and large businesses taking care of so many and everyone else who graciously help those in need. 

Let's call upon excellence in our public policies but never waver in our support and appreciation for those who live aloha to so very many.

[{"type":"text","text":"There's no reason we can't have both."}]

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

Tropical Storm Lala

<title>Hamada: Lack of investment in infrastructure taking a toll</title>

This state has never had a money problem, it's had a problem setting priorities to deliver the basics and we pay the price every time a storm strains the system.

Hamada: Lack of investment in infrastructure taking a toll

Lopaka and Tanya Kapanui

Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya Kapanui

Hawai‘i History

When American missionaries arrived in Hawai‘i in 1819, they were given a parcel of land at Kawaiahaʻo, near the village of Honolulu, where they could live and carry out their work. They initially lived in hale pili (grass houses) and built a small thatched church on the property. That humble structure established Kawaiahaʻo as the oldest Christian church on Oʻahu.

Hawaiians called the early church Ka Hale Pule (the House of Prayer) and Ka Hale Halawai (The Meeting House). Because Hawaiian royalty attended services there, it also became known as the Kingʻs Chapel, but most non-Native residents simply called it the Stone Church or the Native Church.

For years, services were held outdoors, and the missionaries went through four iterations of thatched buildings they used as their church. It was during this period that the missionaries introduced the Western practice of graveyards, defined by boundaries, tombs, and headstones. Before this, Hawaiians did not bury their loved ones in designated spaces. Graves could be found along sand dunes, in and around heiau, or even near their homes.

In 1837, work began on gathering materials for a permanent church. Massive blocks of coral were cut from the nearby reef and transported to the site, eventually becoming the Kawaiahaʻo Church we know today.

The cemetery surrounding the church is one of the oldest Western-style burial grounds in Hawaiʻi. While there are 296 marked graves, an estimated 200 unmarked burial sites remain, with as many as 600 individuals identified within the cemetery. The oldest burial dates back to 1834, belonging to an unknown person whose name has since been lost to history.

Despite Kawaiaha‘o Church being included on the original National Register of Historic Places, its cemetery has not received the same protection. In 2006, plans were discussed to demolish an old structure and construct a wedding reception area over part of the churchyard.

After years of legal and cultural conflict, the church has permanently abandoned the controversial building project and finalized a burial treatment plan, approved by the Oʻahu Island Burial Council, to reinter the remains near their original resting place.

Years ago, my cousin had his wedding reception at the old Likelike Hall on the grounds of Kawaiahaʻo Church. At the back of the hall was the kitchen with a door that led out to the cemetery.

The reception was well attended, with nearly two hundred friends and family members gathered to celebrate the young couple. The bride’s wedding dance for her husband was exquisite. Everyone was captivated. As more speeches and dances carried on through the evening, the joy and happiness of the crowd took on a life of its own.

Suddenly, a commotion rose from the kitchen, and the noise began to overwhelm the celebration. Curious partygoers gathered in the small space to see Shaun, a mountain of a man, on his knees crying hysterically.

Once his mother calmed him down, Shaun said that as he was preparing to send out more food, he looked out the door and saw a haole woman in a white dress sitting on top of the tomb right outside the door. Her head was down, and she was weeping into her hands.

[{"type":"text","text":"Shaun put the food on the counter and asked the woman if she was okay."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"“My child,” the woman wept, “He died of the dropsy.”"}]

Shaun said her weeping was so bitter that it moved him to the point of chicken skin and pity. He told his mother he placed his hands on her shoulders to gently help her sit up and get a better look at her face. As she straightened and looked up at Shaun, her face was not flesh, but smoke slowly vanishing into thin air. Suddenly, the rest of the woman’s body followed, dissipating into nothing.

Word spread quickly, and people began leaving the reception, especially those who had parked in the cemetery lanes. Night was falling, and perhaps their paranoia made the wedding guests a bit panicked about spirits lurking in the graveyard.

A few months later, the security firm that patrolled the church grounds called my home at 3 a.m. I worked at the immersion preschool on the grounds of Kawaiaha‘o, and because I lived nearest the church, I was a security contact.

Security said they heard furniture moving in the classroom, then a woman’s voice. When I arrived, everything was in order. All the chairs were stacked on top of the tables so the janitors could sweep and mop. The desk hadn’t been moved, and the toys were all put away. Nothing seemed out of place. I called the security firm back to let them know everything was in order, turned the alarm back on, and locked the door from the outside.

[{"type":"text","text":"That’s when I saw her."}]

The haole woman dressed in white, standing next to the door, looking at me. 

[{"type":"text","text":"“My child died of dropsy,” she said."}]

Then her face became smoke. I didn’t wait to see what would happen next. I jumped over the fence, not even bothering to fiddle with the gate. I got in my car and sped off. The whole thing took a few seconds, but I felt like I was moving in slow motion. I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

I’m sure I screamed out of fear. I can’t really remember. Either way, I never answered a late-night call from the security firm after that.

Kawaiahao Church Cemetery Large

<title>Among the Graves at Kawaiaha‘o</title>

Nearly 200 years ago, American missionaries at Kawaiaha‘o Church introduced the Western practice of graveyards with tombstones. While the living carry on with church services and wedding receptions and happy occasions, grief seems to bind some spirits to the graveyard — unhappy souls who make their presence known.

Among the Graves at Kawaiaha‘o

ASD icon blue inverse lighter

ASD Staff

Daily Smile

[{"type":"text","text":"Everyone knows not to mess with Frank..."}]

Smile 26 8 19

<title>Daily Smile: Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026</title>

Everyone knows not to mess with Frank...

Daily Smile: Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

It was hard for Kolby Kanetake to find the words in July. It's still a challenge in August. 

On Monday, the University of Hawai‘i women's volleyball team took the floor for the first time as a team under new head coach 

, taking on Chaminade in an exhibition. The Rainbow Wahine were slated to play at Hawai‘i-Hilo in an exhibition match on Saturday, but the contest was called off due to 

No person in the Stan Sheriff Center was connected to both the Rainbow Wahine and Silverswords more than Kanetake, who departed Chaminade in order to become Walker's first assistant coach hire for UH in July. Kanetake, who was an AVCA All-American libero for the Hawai‘i men's team from 2013 to 2016, began his coaching career as soon as his collegiate playing career ended. 

Following stints as a student assistant at UH, a volunteer assistant at California and an assistant coach for the San Francisco beach and indoor teams, Kanetake's career blossomed at Chaminade under head coach Kahala Kabalis Hoke. Kanetake, who joined the Silverswords in 2020, was elevated to associate head coach in 2021. In 2024, he was named the AVCA Division II Assistant Coach of the Year. 

When his alma mater came calling in July, the most challenging part of the process was telling Kabalis Hoke. 

"It was super hard. It's one of the hardest things I've had to do because she has been such a big part of not just my career, but my my life," Kanetake told Aloha State Daily on Monday night. "Having her as a mentor has been amazing, and so it definitely was a really hard decision. But she supported me, and that's just the kind of person that she is. Still just super grateful to have her in my life as a mentor and one of my best friends."

Returning to the Stan Sheriff Center for the first time in years as a coach was already enough of an emotional day for Kanetake. Seeing his former team on the other side of the net and visiting with them before the match only amplified the experience. 

"It was really great being back here. A lot of great memories in this place, mostly playing," Kanetake said. "And then playing against Chaminade, definitely mixed emotions."

Said Kabalis Hoke: "Tears from our team, tears from him and I and the coaching staff. We miss him dearly, but we're so happy for him and excited for him in this new journey. I definitely caught myself looking over at him and the bench, kind of giving a smile, whether it was them winning the point or us winning the point. We miss him and we're just really excited for him."

On the floor, the Rainbow Wahine took all four of the scheduled sets, winning 25-20, 25-16, 25-10, 25-13 as both teams shook off the rust of limited practice time due to the storm. 

Following the match, nearly every member of Chaminade's team went up to Kanetake for hugs. A former player in the crowd even gave him a large AI-generated sign of him facing off against the Silverswords. 

"Kolby is extremely passionate about what he does. He wanted to make sure he was there later than me, before me, and he's done so much for me as far as helping me push the team to new heights," said Kabalis Hoke, who along with Kanetake guided Chaminade to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 2021 to 2024. "I'm going to be forever appreciative of him. 

"(Saying goodbye) was tough, yet I knew it was the right thing if I wanted to support him in his dreams, and I encouraged him to take that opportunity because how many times is he going to get chances like that? And so he's so deserving of it, and I just want nothing but the best for him."

For Hawai‘i, regular season play begins with three matches in three days at the Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Volleyball Classic, beginning with Georgia Southern at 7 p.m. on Aug. 28 at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Chaminade's season, meanwhile, will begin on Thursday at the Hawai‘i-Alaska Challenge on the Big Island. Chaminade will open against Alaska Anchorage at 1 p.m. on Thursday. 

With both teams going their separate ways following Monday's exhibition, count Walker among those glad Kanetake is moving forward with his team.

"I think he's happy that we won. But I think it's just kind of twofold because the last time he was really here was as a player, too. For him, just battling a lot of emotions as far as working with that group. They had a lot of success, but he's here because he wants to continue to help UH and us to be as great as possible," Walker said of Kanetake. "So, yeah, he was great. He's been great for us. I'm glad we got him."

Kolby Kanetake 081826

<title>New UH women's volleyball assistant coach Kolby Kanetake embraces new challenge at alma…</title>

During Monday night's exhibition match, Kanetake coached against his former team, Chaminade. He was the associate head coach for the Silverswords until UH came calling.

New UH women's volleyball assistant coach Kolby Kanetake embraces new challenge at alma mater

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

Hawai‘i Island bore the brunt of Hurricane Lala this weekend and some isle businesses were hit hard by the passing storm.

"Of course, our members in Ka'ū have been hardest hit. Some businesses there have lost practically everything," 

Carla Kuo, executive officer at the Hilo-based 

Most businesses in Hilo have been up and running and doing what they can to support our community. Some businesses in our surrounding areas are still without power, some without water, but we know service providers are out there doing the best they can to get people back online.

About 40,400 Hawaiian Electric customers across the state remained without power as of 11 a.m. Tuesday, according to a 1 p.m. update from the utility. Of those, approximately 26,900 are on Hawai‘i Island.

Kuo says HICC has been sharing resources with its members, including a push to report residential, business and agricultural damages to the Hawai‘i County 

 so the island can qualify for federal disaster assistance; that the 

 is accepting donations and volunteers; and that the 

Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services

Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s Hawai‘i Island Strong Fund

 to provide resources for disaster response and recovery and is encouraging its members to do the same, Kuo says.

"Overall these disasters are always tough on our community and our small businesses and we will see and hear more in the coming days," she says. "We thank our emergency responders, county, state and federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations for working long hours, coordinating resources, caring for our neighbors and helping our community navigate these challenging times. We’re grateful to everyone working behind the scenes and on the front lines for their dedication, compassion and commitment."

Kuo says HICC has around 340 members, just two to three of which are in Kā‘u, “

but we have members outside the area who do business with farmers there and purchase their products. I do not know yet how many businesses may have been lost, we’re still reaching out to our members to see how we can help.

In Kā‘u's Nā‘ālehu community, Punalu‘u Bake Shop is one of the businesses that saw major damage from the storm.

The shop, which is noted to be the southern most bakery in the United States, has suffered "catastrophic damage," general manager Zachary Kennedy said in a video posted to Instagram on Monday that he said also serves as a media release.

"We're trying to see what's salvageable. We're doing a damage assessment right now, but early on, I can tell you the bakery has suffered catastrophic damage at this point," he says in the video. "It's going to take time for us to get everything together. It's going to take time for us to come up with a plan. ... The bakery will come back. It's just going to take time and it's going to take a lot of work."

We are still assessing the full situation and it will take time to get everything back in order. The damage is truly unimaginable," an earlier Instagram post signed by Kennedy reads. "The most important update: all of our employees are safe and healthy. We closed the bakery as a precaution ahead of the storm, so no one was on site."

The bakery says that all online orders have been suspended, it is unable to produce any products and stores will not have its products available.

(ICYMI: ASD spoke with statewide business organizations about the impact of the storms on local businesses. You can 

Getty Images punaluu bake shop hurricane lala

<title>Hawai‘i Island businesses impacted by Hurricane Lala</title>

Some businesses in Kā‘u have lost nearly everything, officials with the Hawai‘i Island Chamber of Commerce say.

Hawai‘i Island businesses impacted by Hurricane Lala

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Hawai‘i residents with homes damaged during Hurricane Lala are encouraged to file insurance claims as soon as possible.

While some storm damage may be covered by homeowner’s insurance, or renters’ insurance, or dedicated hurricane coverage, Sam Thomsen, investigations branch director for the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, said Tuesday that residents should simply file a claim with their insurer now.

“A lot of people hesitate to [file claims],” Thomsen said. “It’s your property, it’s your policy, it’s up to you if you use it or not, but this is exactly the type of event that insurance is for.”

Thomsen said the timeline of the storm’s impact on the state might have implications for whether damage is covered. While Lala struck Hawai‘i island as a hurricane — with the National Weather Service issuing an official Hurricane Warning for the island on Friday — it struck the remaining islands as a tropical storm.

For Big Island residents, therefore, storm damage could be covered by dedicated hurricane insurance policies or clauses. On other islands, damage may instead be included in homeowners’ insurance policies.

Thomsen said there may be exceptions, and some storm policies might cover “named storms” instead of hurricanes specifically. Regardless, he said people should file claims and let their insurer tell them what is covered under which policy.

“If you have damage, make the claim,” Thomsen said. “The policy itself is a contract, so the insurance company has to explain to you … how it’s being paid, or if they can’t pay it here, this is why.”

While Thomsen acknowledged that some people may not have dedicated hurricane insurance, he said that, on the Big Island, people with mortgages will most likely have coverage.

But, Thomsen added, residents without coverage may still avail themselves of the 

, the state’s insurer of last resort. However, the cost for that coverage will likely be greater than that for insurance purchased on the open market.

Renters, meanwhile, might also be able to cover damage to personal property through renters’ insurance policies, if they have them. And people with comprehensive vehicle insurance policies should be covered for storm-caused damage or destruction of their vehicles.

Despite all of this, most standard homeowner, renter or condo owner insurance policies do not cover flood insurance, which is usually its own standalone policy.

Residents making claims should document all damage with clear photos or videos, keep records of all damage-related expenses, and confirm with their insurers whether there are deadlines for filing and submitting documentation. They should also take reasonable steps to prevent further damage — placing a tarp over a leaking roof, for example — but should hold off on permanent repairs until the insurer has OK'd them.

On the Big Island, residents still unsure about their coverage can attend a public assistance center held by hurricane insurer Zephyr Insurance at 75-167 Hualālai Road, Suite 101, in Kailua-Kona. Representatives from Zephyr will be on hand from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday to help policyholders with filing claims, reporting damage and more.

 a time slot, but walk-ins will still be permitted, and assisted on a first come, first served basis. Additional events on Hawai‘i Island will be announced in the future.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: When in Maui

Kady Pascual

Social Media & Marketing Manager

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Hawai‘i Scene on Social: When in Maui

Authors

Kady Pascual

Social Media & Marketing Manager

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