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Daily Smile

[{"type":"text","text":"He was teaching them how to play fetch with the dog and..."}]

Smile 12 31 25

<title>Daily Smile: Wednesday, December 31, 2025</title>

He was teaching them how to play fetch with the dog and...

Daily Smile: Wednesday, December 31, 2025

 He was teaching them how to play fetch with the dog and...

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

Keoni DeRenne grew up during the University of Hawai‘i baseball program's golden age, back when his father, Coop, was an assistant coach under Les Murakami. 

Baseball has been DeRenne's life from an early age. He ended up becoming quite the player himself and had a large selection of scholarship offers during a successful high school baseball career at ‘Iolani. DeRenne chose the University of Arizona and enrolled in 1997, citing his relationship with its coaching staff, which made multiple trips to O‘ahu to secure and affirm his commitment. 

DeRenne was an All-Pac 10 shortstop at Arizona and consistently caught the attention of MLB scouts, turning pro when he was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 12th round of the 2000 MLB Draft. His journeyman career as a player included eight seasons across five different MLB organizations in the minor leagues, as well as three seasons in independent ball. 

Following his playing career, DeRenne shifted to coaching, where he's been a part of three organizations, most recently with the Kansas City Royals as an assistant hitting coach. 

Although his baseball journey has pulled him away from the Islands, DeRenne continues to make frequent trips to his home state in the offseason, where he can be seen helping out the next generation of ballplayers. He was recently at a free University of Hawai‘i keiki camp at Les Murakami Stadium, where he fielded dozens of questions from an eager group of youngsters. 

Questions ranged from hardest pitcher he's ever faced to kindest teammate, as well as recommendations for college. "No reason for you to leave," interjected Hawai‘i head coach Rich Hill. DeRenne continued to be patient with the young players and their families, sticking around for pictures and autographs. 

"Every time I do come to this stadium, the few times that I've come since high school because the season kind of overlaps, I reflect on my childhood life, right? Because this is where I grew up from the time that my dad was coaching here. It always brings back great, fond, core memories and then opportunities like this," DeRenne told Aloha State Daily. "Coach Rich has been so gracious to let me come back, and something like this is my way to give back in a small way. I'm just honored that they want me to come out to share my story a little bit.

"Anytime that I can give back, especially in the baseball community, man, to me, it's an honor. It's what I want to do, and it's the platform that I have that allows me to be able to pay it forward."

Following the 2025 season, the Royals decided not to bring back their assistant hitting coaches in DeRenne and Joe Dillon, though DeRenne was able to land on his feet. The next destination in DeRenne's baseball journey is with the Durham Bulls, the Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, where he'll serve as the hitting coach on a two-year deal. Tampa will be his ninth different MLB organization as either a coach or a player. 

"I'm very grateful to go to an organization who has done a really good developing players, drafting players, developing coaches and front office personnel," DeRenne said. "If you look around Major League Baseball, their fingerprints are all over it, whether it's in the Minor Leagues, in the Major Leagues, front office, and a lot of those people have come from Tampa Bay to start, so I'm really excited to see what they got going on over there and how they operate, because it's going to help me grow. And hopefully it gets it gives me an opportunity to get back to the big leagues, which is still my my dream and still my goal: To be able to coach at the Major League level and win a World Series."

DeRenne originally joined the Royals in 2020 as the Minor League hitting coordinator. Ahead of the 2022 season, he was named an assistant hitting coach for the big league club, the first time he was in a Major League dugout as a coach or a player. During his time in Kansas City, he worked with some of the biggest stars in the sport, most notably Bobby Witt Jr.

"My time with Kansas City was nothing but unbelievable memories, relationships that I've been able to create and still have to this day, and they're lifelong friends and relationships that I'll carry to the day I'm done, or to the day I die. I'm very thankful that they gave me the opportunity to coach at the Major League level, to achieve my dreams as a little kid," DeRenne said. "I have nothing but respect for everybody that's there. I wish the players great, great luck, great health moving forward. And that's the one thing that I'm going to miss the most, is just the relationships that I've had with all the people there. 

"It's still kind of new to me, as far as the wound hasn't healed or closed up. But I know that once I close that chapter and move on, I'm going to be right back to where I need to be. Baseball is baseball. But I'm so, so thankful for that chance that they gave me six years ago to be a part of the organization."

DeRenne is one of the longest tenured members of a growing fraternity of coaches in MLB organizations with Hawai‘i ties. Baldwin alumnus 

Kurt Suzuki was named the manager for the Los Angeles Angels

 in October, while Waiakea alumnus Kai Correa was named the bench coach for the New York Mets, also in October. Meanwhile, Leilehua and Hawai‘i-Hilo alum Brendan Sagara is a pitching strategist for the Texas Rangers. ‘Iolani alumnus Mike Fetters was recently the bullpen coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks, which reached the World Series in 2023. 

Other coaches from Hawai‘i in the pro ranks include Kamehameha alumnus Kanekoa Teixeira, the manager of the Gwinnett Stripers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Braves, as well as Punahou alumnus Bryson Nakamura, the hitting strategist for the Miami Marlins. Additionally, ‘Iolani alum Jordan Hara was recently named the hitting coach for the Florida Complex League Cardinals, the rookie-level affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. 

"Very grateful and proud to be a part of that, but I only got there because I had a lot of help. God blessed me with the right people in my life. I'm just very grateful to be able to pass on and share knowledge," DeRenne said. "That's part of my job at the end of the day, no matter what, to get our players better, wherever I'm at, get the organization better, and then being able to come back home during the offseason and share some of that with some of the local boys who seek me out for any help that I can give them. And it's an honor for me to be able to do that."

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Keoni DeRenne 010726

<title>Keoni DeRenne keeps his heart in Hawai‘i during various pro baseball stops</title>

DeRenne, the new hitting coach for the Durham Bulls, was recently at Les Murakami Stadium assisting at a UH keiki camp.

Keoni DeRenne keeps his heart in Hawai‘i during various pro baseball stops

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Aloha Spirit

 has awarded more than $2.7 million to 31 local nonprofits focused on mental health, following the 2023 Maui wildfires. Grants of up to $100,000 will go to each organization that is working to increase access to mental health resources for individuals and families directly. 

The hui of funders particularly for this Mental Health RFP

, which sought grant applications in October, is comprised of the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, the HMSA Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund and Maui United Way. Established in response to the wildfires, The Maui Recovery Funders Collaborative has awarded more than 80 recipients over $9 million in total.

 continues to support wildfire response and recovery since the immediate aftermath of the fire, as we understand the deep trauma that fire survivors and their families have experienced,” said Keanu Lau Hee, vice president of community resilience and strategic implementation at Hawai‘i Community Foundation. “We are grateful to the nonprofits for their tireless efforts to support and strengthen the resilience of their surrounding communities, and we are grateful to the participants of the Maui Recovery Funders Collaborative for supporting community-led recovery efforts well over two years after this disaster.”

 that the Maui Strong Fund is committed to supporting “case management and the urgent needs of our community – both mental health and wellness, with a focus on the education of our youth, as well as thinking about our impacted workforce.”

Similarly, The Maui Recovery Funders Collaborative Mental Health RFP

’s aim to support health for youth, kūpuna and workforce, as well as first responders and mental health providers.

For Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, the funding will go toward its Maui Support Center in Wailuku, which is open to 

 told ASD that the center “provides counseling services for those tirelessly caring for and assisting survivors of the recent Maui wildfires

“The program provides individual and group therapy, wellness activities, outreach and much more," she said. "This continued assistance aims to promote healing and well-being within the community.” 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"The full list grantees are:"}]

Na Hoaloha-Maui Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers

Looking ahead, other funding priorities for Maui Recovery Funders Collaborative include food, housing and cultural and natural resource management. 

Interested in applying for a grant in 2026? Contact

Kaibigan ng Lahaina 2024 event

<title>Nonprofits receive grants to continue mental health services on Maui</title>

A hui of funders including the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, the HMSA Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund and Maui United Way committed more than $2.7 million to organizations providing support to survivors of the 2023 Maui wildfires.

Nonprofits receive grants to continue mental health services on Maui

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

[{"type":"text","text":"A facility to develop hydrogen fuel could be coming to Kapolei."}]

The Hawai‘i Board of Land and Natural Resources will consider an application by the Delaware-based Eurus Energy America LLC to build a facility in within Kapolei’s Campbell Industrial Park that would extract hydrogen from water.

The facility, according to a Department of Land and Natural Resources 

, would be constructed on a 100-acre government-owned parcel in Kapolei, directly adjacent to another parcel where the Honolulu Board of Water Supply has 

Currently, the lot is owned by the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and is unused, having previously been used as a feedlot. In 2022, DAB discovered tenants had been misusing the property by storing abandoned vehicles and equipment on the site, leading to their eviction. Now, DLNR seeks to take over most of the parcel from DAB for renewable energy development.

About 90 of the 100 acres would house a photovoltaic panel array capable of generating about 20 megawatts of electricity. That energy would then power electrolyzers and other equipment that would strip hydrogen from recycled water via an existing Board of Water Supply pipeline.

The oxygen left behind by the electrolysis process would simply be released into the atmosphere, while the hydrogen would be compressed and loaded onto trucks for transport offsite.

Alternatively, the document also mentions the possibility of transporting hydrogen offsite via a pipeline. However, if that option was pursued, the pipeline would be built and operated by a third party.

The project document estimates that the facility could produce between 500,000 and 800,000 kilograms of hydrogen per year, enough to fuel a semi-truck for up to 7 million miles, according to Department of Energy estimates.

While the document states that the facility could begin operations by late 2027, the project is still in early stages. The facility’s design remains under development, and the BLNR has not yet approved Eurus’ use of the land.

The BLNR will discuss the project at its meeting on Friday, Jan. 9, and may authorize a pair of future public meetings where Eurus representatives will present more information about the project at an undetermined date.

[{"type":"text","text":"Aloha State Daily reached out to Eurus for comment."}]

H 2a 2 16x9

<title>BLNR to discuss proposed Kapolei hydrogen plant</title>

Delaware-based energy company Eurus Energy America proposes to generate nearly 1 million kg of hydrogen fuel per year.

BLNR to discuss proposed Kapolei hydrogen plant

Yamachika Tom IMG 1913 Large

Tom Yamachika

Viewpoints

Happy New Year! Aloha to the departed 2025 and the 2026 before us! We start our year with a recap of the year behind us and give you a Word Find puzzle with 26 key words and phrases. 

The terms in all capitals in this article can be found in the Word Find matrix above. Words and phrases can be forward, backward, up, down, or diagonal. And please look carefully at the unused letters, because they contain a message. Good luck in the New Year!

The new Administration in Washington D.C. dominated news early in the year, with 

was created to slash the federal budget, together with the powerful Office of 

 and Budget, leading to early fears that Hawaiʻi’s state budget would be in 

 Grants, which our Department of Hawaiian 

 is several years behind in spending. They went from $22 million to ZERO in the federal 2026 budget. We at the Foundation urged heavier use of federal Supplemental 

 Assistance Program funds before the Feds noticed that we have a large carryover 

building on Beretania Street, business went on as 

 numbers replaced by blanks, moving through the legislature while perpetuating its culture 

 on cruise ships giving us yet another way to tax 

The cruise ship industry challenged the tax in federal court. Most of its challenges were 

 out near the end of the year, but not before the Department of

 gloves on and entered the ring. The tax will go into effect, prompting a press release saying that the Attorney General was very pleased, but 

Editor's note: Click through the gallery below to reveal the answer to the puzzle.

Puzzle hero

<title>Community Voices: Complete this Word Find for a hidden message</title>

A creative recap of the past year by the Tax Foundation of Hawai‘i with 26 key words and phrases having to do with government.

Community Voices: Complete this Word Find for a hidden message

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

 in late December that its Kakaʻako store on Cooke Street was closed and the business was moving.

Its new location isn’t far — the business is reopening tomorrow, Jan. 8, on Ala Moana Boulevard in the former space of Valyou Hawaiʻi.

Starting tomorrow, the store will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. This is the business’s largest location, according to manager Cecilia Yang. Its other stores are located in Pearl Kai Shopping Center and in Waipahu.

You can find all your favorite snacks, ranging from Kit-Kats to chips and drinks. Newer snacks can be found near the store entrance.

Since the shelves are organized by category — chips, candies, noodles and more — it’s easier to shop. The business recently brought in more drinks, especially teas, according to Yang.

Like its other locations, the store isn’t limited to snacks. Customers can find sauces and a variety of cooking products, as well as home goods.

Customer parking is currently available on the side of the store, and additional parking will eventually be available in the lot behind the store.

Stay tuned for the store’s grand opening celebration. 1-2 Buy Hawaiʻi will also be doing special promotions for the upcoming Lunar New Year.

1 2 Buy Hawaii store interior 010726

<title>Asian snack shop 1-2 Buy Hawaiʻi finds new spot in Honolulu</title>

The business’s Cooke Street store has relocated to Ala Moana Boulevard, in the former space of Valyou Hawaiʻi. It opens to the public on Jan. 8.

Asian snack shop 1-2 Buy Hawaiʻi finds new spot in Honolulu

 introduced its three-course tasting menu concept in 2024, but it became more consistent last year. Each tasting menu is featured for about a month.

The eatery just launched its January prix fixe menu ($48 per person), which is available from 5 to 7 p.m. until Jan. 31.

It includes the diner’s choice of an appetizer, main course and dessert from a pre-set selection.

“We’ve been having some of the staff come up with the menu items,” says chef Wade Ueoka.

The appetizer selection includes curry kabocha soup with fried basil, roasted vegetable salad and shrimp croquettes.

The salad comprises broccoli, onions, zucchini and carrots, and is topped with bacon, toasted macadamia nuts, dried cranberries and creamy apple cider vinaigrette. It’s a tasty way to eat your veggies (if you’re still trying to keep those New Year’s resolutions). The curry soup is thick and comforting; the kabocha flavor is mild and the soup has a slight spice.

The croquettes are filled with shrimp, carrots, onions, corn and edamame, and are served with a delectable yuzu garlic butter cream sauce.

Choose from entrees like tempura butterfish, Coq au Vin or “Korean mixed plate.” The tempura butterfish is a unique option, featuring a delicate, crispy batter and topped with a kabayaki sauce. It’s served with furikake edamame potato salad, white rice, and cucumber namasu.

Meanwhile, the “Korean mixed plate” includes spicy pork belly, fish jun, fried chicken, taegu salad, housemade kimchi and white rice. Coq au Vin is the eatery’s take on a classic French dish; this version features red wine-braised Jidori chicken with roasted potatoes and stewed vegetables.

Feeling fancy? You can upgrade your entrée to steak frites (supplemental $15), which come with polenta fries and sautéed spinach and mushrooms.

The steak frites and "Korean mixed plate" have been the most popular entrees, according to Ueoka.

“This is steak frites, but instead of regular potato fries, we did polenta fries,” he says.

Dessert choices include “Dubai chocolate” cream puff, pie selection of the day, tiramisu and lemon drop shave ice.

The “Dubai chocolate” cream puff is a nod to the trendy pistachio-filled chocolate bar. This version features a chocolate puff filled with pistachio pastry cream and topped with kataifi. The pie selection of the day will rotate; during our preview, a Waialua chocolate cream pie was served.

The classic tiramisu features light layers of Ladyfingers, mascarpone, coffee mascarpone and whipped cream.

If you enjoy tart, refreshing flavors, go for the lemon drop shave ice. Inspired by the cocktail, this dessert features a petite scoop of Thai basil yuzu sorbet covered with lemon vodka shave ice and lemon zest.

Tasting menu available from 5 to 7 p.m. until Jan. 31

Daily Smile: Wednesday, December 31, 2025

ASD Staff

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Daily Smile: Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Authors

ASD Staff

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