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Hawai'i Skies

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by ChrisAnn Hayes in Kaimukī. "

 Avenue Kaimukī December 1 — goodbye November!"

To submit your Hawai'i Skies photo, visit us 

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

25 12 2 Higgins 16x9

<title>Hawai‘i Skies: Hello December!</title>

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by ChrisAnn Hayes in Kaimukī.

Hawai‘i Skies: Hello December!

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by ChrisAnn Hayes in Kaimukī. "The sky over Waiʻalae Avenue Kaimukī December 1 — goodbye November!" To submit your Hawai'i Skies photo, visit us online or email: general@alohastatedaily.com For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up here for our free Daily Edition newsletter.

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

Aloha Spirit

Filmmaker and Kaimukī resident Connor Trimble was selected by the media production company “The Inertia” to create a five-minute film about Haleʻiwa as part of a 

series about surf towns around the nation

The result of that collaboration? An approximately 22-minute film, “Hometown Hype: Haleʻiwa – Surfing’s Final Boss,” which released Friday, Nov. 28, on YouTube. In less than a week, the film has already had more than 64,000 views.

The series, which is presented by White Claw, features seven towns and seven filmmakers. “Hometown Hype: Haleʻiwa – Surfing’s Final Boss," directed by Trimble, features professional surfers such as Mason Ho and Jamie O'Brien, among others.

The film premiere was held Thursday, Nov. 20, at Haleʻiwa Distilling Co., which is located on the grounds of the Old Waialua Sugar Mill, where some of the film was captured.

Trimble, who is from Ohio, originally moved to Hawaiʻi to swim for the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. That was close to 12 years ago, he said.

“I wanted to swim outside,” Trimble said with a laugh. “Instead of swimming inside and going to morning practice in the snow and all the cold and everything else like that. I wanted to swim outside, and I wanted a totally different experience for college. What I tell people is: ʻGoing to Hawaiʻi from Ohio was a life experience more than a college experience because it was truly culture shock from the cornfields.’ I had to learn a lot.”

a feature with Gabriel Medina, the three-time world champion and Olympian, for Corona Cero

, according to Trimble’s wesbite. He also captured interviews from the water and land during the Paris Olympics.

Trimble spoke with Aloha State Daily by phone about “Hometown Hype: Haleʻiwa – 

,” while on a walk with his dog at the beach.

Can you share a little about the film and what inspired you to create it?

 The film really stemmed from “The Inertia” coming to me. They approached me with the film concept and idea, and they were looking for someone that had a lot of stock footage. I've been shooting up in the North Shore for 10 years, and so they just knew that I was sitting on troves and troves of footage. They were looking for someone that had a unique angle on the North Shore. I fit that bill because I'm actually not from the North Shore, so I could look at it from an outside perspective of: “What can you teach someone that doesn't know what the North Shore is?” But also show why it's so special from someone who spent so much time up there.

What was your favorite moment from filming? 

It's so difficult because there's a handful of moments that stand out to me. One that’s so cool is anytime you feel like you're connecting with the land. I was out at Joey Cadiz’s loʻi with Laulau Solutions. … Jon Pyzel taking me through his factory was super cool. And then, just having a chance to chat with him. … I took it upon myself and felt it was super important to just highlight all these different pockets [of Haleʻiwa]. Another pocket that I didn't mention was Old Waialua Sugar Mill. There are all these artisans out there. There are incredible shapers. There are just incredible people out there, in general. And it was super cool to have John Pyzel give me the lay of the land out there and then take me around. And I think the last moment that stood out was Noah Montes  —  he owns Skate Supply. He's the only skate shop on the North Shore, and he runs it out of his van. He's a pretty quiet guy — doesn't like the camera in his face or anything like that, but his laugh is contagious. [He’s] the nicest guy in the world, and him giving me time at all was just incredible.

My understanding is that you also film from the water, is that right?

 100%. And that is the main reason that they chose me is because they wanted somebody with unique footage. I would say 80 - 90% of the time, I'm shooting in the water.

What are some of the challenges of filming like that? 

All I have out there are fins, a wetsuit, a helmet, and my camera with a water housing around my camera. That's it. And then, you're kind of just trying to dodge surfers. You're dodging other cameramen. You're dodging waves. You're holding your breath. You're getting thrown around. You're getting just absolutely smoked by all these waves. And you're fully in it, and there's nothing else like it. It's a really beautiful, cool, chaotic thing to do. Especially at Pipeline, where there's just so much energy. And the waves, they sound like an avalanche — or like lightning or thunder or something — and your whole body is almost rumbling and it’s a really addictive, amazing thing. And it's just this really beautiful dance between man and nature, because these waves are huge.

 or learn more about his work on the filmmaker’s 

Billy Kemper

<title>Filmmaker Connor Trimble releases new film about Haleʻiwa</title>

This film about the North Shore celebrates the surf community that calls Haleʻiwa home. The collaboration between “The Inertia” and Hawaiʻi-based filmmaker Connor Trimble is now on YouTube.

Filmmaker Connor Trimble releases new film about Haleʻiwa

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Business & Tourism

Passions for coffee, health and wellness fuel Steele Dubar, owner and founder of two new independent businesses under one roof, Everyday and Lava Wellness.

The first, a coffee shop that sells organic coffee and teas, which soft opened on Sept. 29, and the latter, a healing environment that doubles as a social hub, expected to launch in the new year.

Though no date has been confirmed, Dubar said he is grateful for this experience and excited for the opportunities ahead.

“I'm actually super stoked with how we've opened and come out to the community so far,” he told Aloha State Daily. “As people start to find out what we're about 

 healing people and bringing that sense of community 

 then we can build more of an anticipation to get them ready and excited for the space.”

At Lava Wellness, services are intended for everyone, he said, and include access to a meditation pod (to his knowledge, only the second one in the state), a red light therapy bed, three hyperbaric oxygen chambers, and contrast therapy (cold plunge and sauna) in communal and private suites. Various health benefits are tied to each treatment spanning from relaxation and recovery.

Currently, yoga, pilates and other body movement and breathing classes are offered with sign-ups via 

. Soon clients will be able to book services ala carte to start off with, and then eventually membership packages, he noted.

According to Dubar, the first part of the biz’s name has a few meanings such as “new life,” “new beginnings,” and “transformation.” One of his favorite areas on the property contains a lava rock wall “that is outside and transports you somewhere else,” he said.

The approximately 8,000-square-foot building complete with two parking lots, located at 938 Pi‘ikoi and 1155 S. King streets, was purchased in 2024 and renovations took about a year, he said, adding, “My mom's an interior designer, too, so that helps

! We really wanted to build a space that is inspiring to people … that just feels good to be in, and that can heal you from just being in an area.”

Originally from California, Dubar transferred to The University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, where he played one year of football and graduated last May with a bachelor’s degree in communications. As an athlete, he said it was hard to find wellness centers here that he could go to recover. So he did some more research and pitched the business idea to family, who helped invest in the venture.

“I always knew I’d go into business because my dad is an entrepreneur and so is my uncle,” Dubar noted. They're just very relentless people that don't quit, and they make sure that the job gets done. I've learned grit and hard work from them.”

Other mentors of his include past football coaches.

“I want to give a shout out to Timmy Chang. I think he's a great mentor. I love what he's doing with UH football. I think that's super huge,” Dubar said. “There have been many different mentors that have really shaped me throughout the way.”

When asked about future community partnerships, he added that events with UH Athletics and UH Football is high on the list. So is giving back to first responders. With the coffee shop, he hopes to introduce more healthy food and drink items.

Leading up to Lava Wellness' grand opening, Dubar continues to build his team up from 12 employees, he said. Work perks include access to wellness services and being part of a “positive, close-knit group [who] are invested in caring about what they do and helping people.” Interested applicants may visit 

To stay well himself, Steele enjoys playing sports, being outdoors and utilizing the services daily.

Lava Wellness

<title>New wellness concept coming to Honolulu</title>

All too familiar with injury, former UH athlete Steele Dubar aims to help bring healing to everyday people and life through new dual venture.

New wellness concept coming to Honolulu

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

Lawmakers and ocean farming advocates are urging Congress to pass a measure expanding aquaculture production including in waters around Hawai‘i.

The Marine Aquaculture Research for America Act — or 

 — would establish an “Office of Aquaculture” within the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Aquaculture refers to enterprise that breeds and rears fish, much like cattle on land. Therefore, the Office of Aquaculture would allow businesses to apply for commercial-scale demonstration projects to prove their ability to raise marine life at scale without violating environmental regulations.

While the bill refers to these projects as “demonstration projects,” they would be permitted for 10 years, with the possibility of being extended for an additional decade at the discretion of the NMFS administrator.

The Office of Aquaculture would also establish “Aquaculture Centers of Excellence,” wherein certain colleges — pertinently, Native Hawaiian-serving academic institutions, per the bill — would be eligible for grant funding to support aquaculture education and curricula.

Hawai‘i Sen. Brian Schatz co-introduced the bill in July, saying at the time that developing offshore aquaculture is necessary to meet growing demand for seafood and can support coastal — or island-based — economies.

Since then, other lawmakers, including Hawai‘i Rep. Ed Case, have endorsed the bill. Case said of the bill that it dovetails with both the state’s and greater U.S.’ goals of diversifying their large-scale food production networks, and that aquaculture, if properly regulated, could transform food security.

“The lack of a clear and efficient permitting process for offshore aquaculture here in the U.S. has hindered the full potential of an American industry because it deters investment in offshore waters,” Case wrote in 2024 while attempting, unsuccessfully, to pass a similar bill. “Many investors simply take their capital overseas — bringing the jobs and revenue it produces with them.”

But the bill has progressed little since its introduction. It has been referred to the Senate’s Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, but has not been discussed at that committee.

Consequently, on Tuesday, two aquaculture advocacy coalitions — the Stronger America Through Seafood Coalition and the Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture — sent a 

 to that Senate committee urging the passage of the bill.

“Globally, open-ocean aquaculture is one of the fastest-growing and most sustainable forms of food production,” the letter read. “Yet, the United States imports the majority of our seafood, half of which is farmed overseas.”

The letter, signed by 140 Aquaculture businesses nationwide, including three in Hawai‘i, claimed that aquaculture could generate 22 million new jobs globally by 2050 and represents a $1.5 trillion investment opportunity.

Whether the letter will succeed in getting the Senate Commerce Committee to discuss the bill has yet to be seen. The committee’s next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 8, but its agenda only includes nominations of people to various boards.

Getty Images 2194565873

<title>Fish farming bill builds support</title>

A bill introduced by Hawai‘i Sen. Brian Schatz could tap into a trillion-dollar industry, advocates say.

Fish farming bill builds support

Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday and Thursday to crack down on potential Chinese influence in U.S. Schools.

Hawai‘i Reps. Jill Tokuda and Ed Case were split on three bills this week, beginning with the 

Combating the Lies of Authoritarians in School Systems Act

 prohibits any public elementary or secondary school that receives federal funding from accepting any funds or contracts with the Chinese government or any organization acting on behalf of China or the Chinese Communist Party.

Transparency in Reporting of Adversarial Contributions to Education Act

Promoting Responsible Oversight to Eliminate Communist Teachings for Our Kids Act 

 that any school receiving federal funds notifies parents of their right to request information about “foreign influence” in schools. Said influence could include any donations or contracts between the school and a foreign country or agency.

 for any school that has any partnership with a cultural or language institute that is funded by the Chinese government. The bill specifically refers to “Confucius Classrooms,” language and cultural programs funded by the Chinese International Education Foundation.

All three bills passed with similar votes — CLASS passed 242-176, TRACE passed 247-166 and PROTECT passed 247-164. Votes on all three measures were largely split down party lines, although a cadre of about 30 Democrats broke with the rest of the party to support each bill, Case among them.

Meanwhile, the House also voted on another two bills on Wednesday, both related to small businesses.

 the Small Business Administration to ensure that its annual small business regulatory budget — the cost to a small business resulting by any new federal rulemaking — is zero. This vote was largely split on party lines, with 15 Democrats — none of whom were Case or Tokuda — breaking with the party majority to pass the bill 223-190.

Destroying Unnecessary, Misaligned and Prohibitive Red Tape Act

 the SBA to continue to maintain a Red Tape Hotline, through which small businesses can notify the SBA about prohibitive rules, regulations and policies imposed by a federal agency. This bill garnered more bipartisan support, with 59 Democrats — including Case — voting in favor of the bill, which passed 269-146. Tokuda voted against the bill.

[{"type":"text","text":"ASD reached out to Case's office for comment."}]

Repz 16x9

<title>CONGRESS WATCH: Case splits with Dems on Chinese education bills</title>

Three bills cracking down on Chinese influence in schools got limited Democrat support this week, including from Rep. Ed Case.

CONGRESS WATCH: Case splits with Dems on Chinese education bills

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

In a game flush with storylines and Island ties, the Hawai‘i Bowl announced a matchup between the University of Hawai‘i and California on Thursday morning. 

Kickoff for the contest is set for 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex. It will also be televised nationally on ESPN. 

The Rainbow Warriors enter the contest 8-4 overall, while the Bears are 7-5. Hawai‘i began its season with a 

, while Cal's 31-10 loss to Stanford on Nov. 22 led to the firing of head coach Justin Wilcox. 

Following Wilcox's removal, Nick Rolovich was named the interim head coach for the Bears. Rolovich, a former UH quarterback, was the head coach for the 'Bows from 2016 to 2019 before departing for Washington State. In his lone game as the interim head coach thus far, Cal defeated SMU 38-35 on Nov. 29, knocking the Mustangs out of ACC title contention. 

, hails from ‘Ewa Beach and won the starting job immediately for the Bears as a true freshman. Other Hawai‘i high school graduates on Cal's roster include defensive lineman 

Stanley Saole-McKenzie [Saint Louis], as well as 

safety Aiden Manutal and defensive lineman LeBron Williams [Kahuku]. 

UH coaches who spoke to the media following Thursday's practice said that the Hawai‘i ties on Cal's roster and coaching staff will not serve as any added motivation. 

"There's so much respect for Nick and and what he's done here at the University of Hawai‘i," said current Hawai‘i coach 

, Rolovich's teammate in 2000 and 2001. "My time spent with him, personally, there's so much that I've learned from him as a player and as a coach, and so I have the utmost respect for Coach Rolovich. And then when he was made the interim and we've been communicating, I know it was just all praise and just thankfulness. Told him just go make the most of his opportunities and he's been unbelievable. So happy for him. It's very exciting. It'll be a very exciting game."

Rolovich and Chang had separate stints as assistant coaches at Nevada where they coached against Hawai‘i. Neither has coached against the Rainbow Warriors as a head coach, but that will change in Rolovich's case on Dec. 24. Coincidentally, Rolovich's UH head coaching debut was a 51-31 loss to California in Australia. 

On Christmas Eve, the Rainbow Warriors will play in their first bowl game since 2020 and their first Hawai‘i Bowl since 2019. Back in 2020, the Hawai‘i Bowl was not held due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Rainbow Warriors instead played in the New Mexico Bowl, held in Frisco, Texas, a 28-14 win over Houston. 

In 2021, the Rainbow Warriors were set to play Memphis in the Hawai‘i Bowl but a Covid-19 outbreak within the team forced the 'Bows to withdraw. 

In UH's last Hawai‘i Bowl, the Rainbow Warriors outlasted BYU 38-34 at Aloha Stadium on Dec. 24, 2019. Rolovich bolted for Washington State weeks later. It would also be the last time the Rainbow Warriors played in front of fans at Aloha Stadium, as the 'Bows played in an empty Aloha Stadium in a Covid-shortened season in 2020. Aloha Stadium was then condemned and deemed unsafe to hold fans of any sort, a major part in a process that led to planning towards a new stadium, 

currently targeted for the spring of 2029

. The 'Bows have played their home games on the UH-Mānoa campus ever since. 

"If you need storylines for this one to get your piss hot, then you can't be playing in this game," Hawai‘i defensive tackles coach Jeff Reinebold said. "It's just the way it is. This is a bowl game, ladies and gentlemen. When was the last time we had one where we participated on this Island? This is our bowl game, right? It's the Hawai‘i Bowl, right? This game was built for Hawai‘i because there were a lot of great Hawai‘i teams that never got to get to a bowl game. So, they created this game so that if we were a great team, we would be able to reward that team and play this game as well. Here we go, right? It's back to its roots."

Hawaii Bowl 120425

<title>Hawai‘i to face California in Hawai‘i Bowl filled with storylines</title>

The Rainbow Warriors will host the Bears on Christmas Eve at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex.

Hawai‘i to face California in Hawai‘i Bowl filled with storylines

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

A portion of Kailua Beach Park will be closed from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Dec. 8 to 11 to allow for the removal of a dozen trees, the City and County of Honolulu said Thursday.

According to a Dec. 4 announcement from the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation, the closure area includes approximately 550 feet of shoreline and the adjacent parking spaces on the makai side of the Kalapawai roundabout, an area “commonly used as a designated kite-surfing launch area.”

(ICYMI: The Kalapawai roundabout project, located at the intersection of Kalāheo Avenue and Kailua Road, opened last month following the completion of construction and safety improvements to the intersection.

 that the redesigned intersection “eases traffic congestion, enhances walkability and supports Kailua’s small-town appeal while accommodating increasing visitor activity.”)

The upcoming beach park closure, though, will allow arborist and specialized DPR staff to remove 12 ironwood trees.

The city says that two ironwood trees that fell onto the beach about two weeks ago, nine standing trees that have signs of erosion and one tree stump will be removed.

DPR crews removed several ironwood tree stumps and leaning trees on the Lanikai side of the Ka‘elepulu Stream in November 2024 with the beginning of the 

According to the announcement, the invasive ironwood trees are commonly found along the island’s shoreline, but don’t retain much sand in their roots and "restrict other native plants from flourishing."

“Therefore, they are not particularly effective at offsetting beach erosion,” the announcement notes.

The city says that access into Kailua Beach Park from Kailua Road will remain open, as will the bathhouse and parking lot closer to the Ka‘elepulu Stream.

The daytime closures come on the heels of a three-month pilot program 

 that implemented nighttime closures at Kailua Beach Park.

DPR spokesperson Nate Serota told Aloha State Daily in an email that the department is assessing the input it got from the pilot park closure program and hopes “to have a decision on it soon.”

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Kailua BP Drone1

<title>Portion of Kailua Beach Park to close for tree removal</title>

Arborists and specialized maintenance staff with the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Parks and Recreation will remove 12 ironwood trees in the area.

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