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Hawai'i Skies

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Barbra. "

Good morning, this picture doesn’t do justice to colors of this rainbow. It felt amazing, it was so big!  Beautiful start to Aloha Friday!"

To submit your Hawai'i Skies photo, visit us 

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

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<title>Hawaiʻi Skies: Aloha Friday</title>

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Barbra.

Hawaiʻi Skies: Aloha Friday

Today&#039;s Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Barbra. &quot;Good morning, this picture doesn’t do justice to colors of this rainbow. It felt amazing, it was so big!  Beautiful start to Aloha Friday!&quot; To submit your Hawai&#039;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.

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Sports

Five donors are collectively making a $5 million commitment to the student-athletes at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

UH on Wednesday announced that Bank of Hawai‘i, First Hawaiian Bank and Matson, along with longtime UH supporters Jack Tsui, chair of the Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation and former First Hawaiian Bank president, and Walter Dods, former CEO of First Hawaiian Bank, will each commit $200,000 annually for the next five years via the UH Foundation to support name, image and likeness, or NIL, opportunities for student athletes.

All told, the donations will provide $1 million per year for NIL support, “

helping UH Mānoa retain homegrown talent, recruit high-level student-athletes and provide equitable, Title IX-compliant opportunities across sports in an increasingly competitive Division I athletics environment," UH says. "It will also strengthen a program that generates statewide pride, visibility and meaningful economic impact for Hawaiʻi."

“This extraordinary commitment reflects something that has always made Hawaiʻi special: people who deeply believe in UH and understand the important role athletics plays in bringing our community together,”  UH Mānoa Director of Athletics Matt Elliott said in the announcement. “College athletics has changed, and our objective is to adapt in a way that reflects the values of this university and our state. Our goal is to build a stable, student-centered foundation that supports academic success, competitive excellence and responsible NIL opportunities while ensuring UH Mānoa remains ‘Our Team, Hawaiʻi’s Team.’”

, it wasn't until 2021 that the NCAA, or the National Collegiate Athletic Association, changed rules to allow students to profit from their name, image and likeness.

NIL "refers to a person's legal right to control how their image is used, including commercially," ESPN reported in March. "In college, student-athletes have long been prohibited from making deals to profit from their fame, so they forfeited their NIL rights by signing on with college sports teams. A combination of NCAA rule changes and state laws restored NIL rights to college athletes, and they've been making sponsorship deals ever since."

In 2020, Arizona State swimmer Grant House sued the NCAA in a landmark class action case alleging that the NCAA’s rules forbidding compensation for college athletes were illegal under antitrust laws, Hawai‘i Tax Foundation President Tom Yamachika 

, noting, "The settlement of that lawsuit in 2025 cleared the way for college athletes to be compensated for their name, image, and likeness (referred to as NIL)." You can read more about that 

According to UH, as NIL compensation becomes a "standard component of Division I athletics nationwide," universities across the U.S. have committed "significant resources to support student-athletes." That includes every member of the Mountain West Conference, which UH Mānoa will join as a full member on July 1, the university notes.

"University leaders estimate UH Mānoa needs approximately $5 million annually in NIL support to remain competitive in the Mountain West and on the national stage," UH says.

, which aimed to affirm the right of student-athletes to engage in NIL activities and establish an endowment to support the compensation of student-athletes, died near the end of this year's Legislative session, 

 final reading of the state Senate in an 11-12 vote, with two senators excused.

UH President Wendy Hensel said in the announcement that the new $5 million commitment provides an "important foundation" for Mānoa athletics, but noted that broader support will still be needed for long-term success.

Dods says that the changing landscape of college athletics requires action.

“People can certainly have different opinions about whether college athletes should be compensated, but the reality is already here,” he said in the announcement. “Every school we compete against is investing in NIL, and if we want Hawaiʻi teams to remain competitive and our student-athletes to stay home, then we — the state, the private sector and the broader community — need to step up in some way. We understand the pressures on the Legislature and that everyone is asking for support. That is part of why the five of us decided to act now and help create a foundation others can build on.”

The university underscored the economic impact athletics bring to the Islands, citing a 2015 study by the UH Mānoa Shidler College of Business. That study found that, based on a $35 million athletics budget at the time, UH Athletics generated $66 million in direct spending, produced $128 million in statewide business sales, generated about $7 million in tax revenue and supported more than 860 jobs across the state. An updated economic impact study is almost finished and expected this summer.

“I genuinely believe we are only scratching the surface of what UH Athletics can become,” Elliott said in Wednesday's announcement. “If we build this foundation the right way — with support from philanthropy, corporate partners and ultimately the state — we can retain local student-athletes, compete at a high level and continue creating opportunities for student-athletes who want to stay home, earn their degrees and represent Hawaiʻi the right way.”

According to Elliott, UH Mānoa Athletics intends to launch a new giving society later this year "to honor the individuals and organizations helping strengthen opportunities for student-athletes and support the department’s long-term future." 

(ICYMI: You can read Aloha State Daily Editor-in-Chief A. Kam Napier's recent take on the UH athletics 

Hawaii football 112125

<title>UH Mānoa Athletics get $5M for NIL opportunities</title>

Five donors have committed to give a combined $1 million annually for the next five years to support name, image and likeness opportunities for student-athletes.

UH Mānoa Athletics get $5M for NIL opportunities

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

[{"type":"text","text":"One misdelivered present last Christmas went a long way."}]

Lila Bermudes and Kamealani Carvalho — co-owners of 

 in Kāneʻohe — that’s how they first met.

“This all started when a package was delivered incorrectly to my new home, which was Kamealani’s old home,” Lila Bermudes says. “[Before this], all the neighbors had told me how great of a baker Kamealani was.”

Bermudes reached out to Carvalho — whose contact information was on the package — to see if she wanted to pick up the package.

“When she came [to get it], we got to talking, and we immediately clicked,” Bermudes says.

“A two-minute conversation turned into 30 minutes,” echoes Carvalho.

During their conversation, Bermudes asked Carvalho if she ever considered opening a farm stand in front of her house on Kukane Street.

“It would be so convenient for everyone that’s passing,” Bermudes says. “You can stop on the side, grab your coffee and baked goods, then you can go to work. My goal was to provide a peaceful place that was convenient.”

Little did Bermudes know that Carvalho and her husband already ran a farm stand, located in Hauʻula.

“We live in Kāneʻohe, but I’m from Hauʻula,” Carvalho says. “We started it there, but it [the commute] was too far.”

Carvalho talked with her husband, Nalu, about the idea — and the duo immediately started working on the business concept. Carvalho credits her husband for building the bake stand that customers see on Kukane Street today.

“I put a lot of work into designing it, but my husband built it,” Carvalho says. “He did such a good job.”

“We just went on faith and everything came together,” Bermudes says.

 officially opened in February. While the address isn’t listed on the business’s Instagram page, Bermudes says that customers can usually find it if they use Google Maps to search for the street name.

“You know this area — the back road — if you live in Kāneʻohe,” she says. “There’s a lot of people that pass by here.”

The business’s current name did not come up right away. 

originally referred to the biz as Kukane Farm Stand, but they went back and forth on it.

“We didn’t like it; we tabled it for a little bit,” 

 remembers. “We thought, ‘Let’s just called it ‘Kukane Street Stand’ and change it later, but everyone kept calling it that, so it stuck. It’s good for location purposes.”

The bake stand is usually open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 6 a.m. until sold out, according to Bermudes. She features specialty lattes that available for pre-orders, while Carvalho supplies the stand with a variety of baked goods.

“We only do the pre-orders for the lattes, but we make them in a certified kitchen,” explains Bermudes, who says previous latte flavors included blueberry, cinnamon roll and chocolate haupia.

The bake stand has been known to sell out by 9:30 or 10 a.m., according to Carvalho.

“That’s why everyone’s here at 6 a.m.,” she says. “They’re waiting.”

All the other baked goods at the stand are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The selection can range from bagels and lemon bars to scones. Carvalho’s cinnamon rolls, brownies, and chocolate chip cookies have been customer favorites.

“I’ve been baking since I was eight years old,” Carvalho says. “I started with brownies, then it was rolls and manapuas; then it went to cakes; then I did wedding cakes; then sugar cookies; and then it went to chocolate chip cookies and cinnamon rolls. It just built over the years.”

The bake stand also features desserts from other bakers across Oʻahu. Customers can refer some of their favorite bakers, and some have reached out to the business directly through Instagram.

"When we made the stand, it just allowed us to incorporate what we already loved doing — supporting local,” Bermudes says. “We feature other local bakers that are up and coming, or they don’t have a platform or a place to sell their items. People can give us their name and we reach out.”

Bermudes confirms that she and Carvalho make sure the featured bakers have their food handler’s license or bake in a support kitchen that’s approved by the State of Hawaiʻi, and that their products are a good fit for the stand.

“We make sure the pricing is right; our items only run from $3 to $7,” Bermudes says. “We want to keep it affordable for everyone.

“In order to come and sell at our stand — if you’re going to be a featured baker — it has to be homemade,” she adds. “We want it to be homemade, like you’re baking it for your kids. I like to say, ‘It’s from oven to stand.’”

Items at the stand need to fall under Hawaiʻi’s cottage food law, which allows home producers to sell shelf-stable foods. Allowable items include cookies, biscuits and breads, according to Bermudes.

Customers pay for their baked goods or lattes by using an honor system. 

They can pay for the baked goods by using Venmo or leaving cash in designated envelopes at the stand. There are instructions to follow.

Carvalho says. “People tipped, especially during the first month [we were open]. This is a really great town to do this in, because people like stuff like this. People will stop for it.”

Carvalho describes having a bake stand as a “full-circle moment,” and is grateful for the support from the community.

“We were here for five years; I did bake sales, but never to this extent,” Carvalho says. “I used to do bake sales from this driveway.”

“Our goal is just to serve our community; that’s what we’re here for,” Bermudes adds. “We didn’t expect what we got; we’re blown away [by the support]. It’s just so humbling and I’m so grateful. We’re having a great time.”

Open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 6 a.m. until sold out

Kukane St Stand owners 050826

<title>Kukane Street Stand is a new bake stand in Kāneʻohe</title>

The neighborhood bake stand offers a rotating selection of desserts and specialty lattes. Baked goods are available on a first-come, first-served basis; the bake stand is usually open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Kukane Street Stand is a new bake stand in Kāneʻohe

Business & Tourism

Several new retailers and restaurants have recently opened at Ala Moana Center in Honolulu and more are set to open soon, the center announced Tuesday. Here’s what you should know.

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[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Coming Soon:"}]

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Relocations and renovations:"}]

Ala Moana Center opened in 1959 and is the world's largest open-air shopping center with more than 2.4 million square feet of retail space. It offers more than 350 stores and restaurants, including 160 dining options.

(ICYMI: Last month it was announced that longtime anchor tenant Neiman Marcus 

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<title>What's new at Ala Moana Center</title>

The shopping center has welcomed a number of new tenants with more coming soon.

What's new at Ala Moana Center

Five new tenants have recently opened at Ala Moana Center and three more are set to open soon, the center announced Monday. Here’s what you should know.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"What’s new:"}]

 can be found Street Level 1 of the ‘Ewa Wing, offering Mexican-style cabana chillers, mango twisters and fresh fruit cups.

, a Native Hawaiian and ‘ohana-driven apparel brand, can be found on Level 3 of the ‘Ewa Wing.

(ICYMI: Aloha State Daily caught up with its owners at the Made in Hawai‘i Festival in August. Read 

Kawaii Kingdom, which offers an array of collectibles that include plush toys, character figurines, stationery, blind boxes, hair accessories, bag charm, key chains and more, can be found on Mall Level 2 of the Mauka Wing.

, a Hawai‘i-based jewelry brand, is located on Level 3 of the ‘Ewa Wing.

 has opened its second location at Ala Moana Center in the Makai Market Food Court on Street Level 1. Read more about the new location from ASD’s food and dining reporter Kelli Shiroma Braiotta 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Coming soon:"}]

, a clothing brand where every piece is cut and sewn in Hawai‘i, is set to open in February 2026 on Level 3 of the ‘Ewa Wing.

Eyeland Hawai‘i, which offers a selection of eyewear, prescription lenses, professional adjustment and repair services, will open this month on Street Level 1 of the Diamond Head Wing.

, a brand founded in Shenzhen, China, that offers a modern take on traditional tea culture, will open its first Hawai‘i store in February 2026 on Mall Level 2 of the Mauka Wing.

Ala Moana Center opened in 1959 and is the world's largest open-air shopping center with more than 2.4 million square feet of retail space. It offers more than 350 stores and restaurants and 160 dining options.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Ala Moana Center provided

The shopping center has welcomed a number of new tenants, with more coming soon.

Two new tenants have recently opened up shop at Ala Moana Center, one has temporarily relocated and more are coming soon, the center announced Wednesday. Here's what you should know.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"What's new:"}]

— The second brick-and-mortar location of 

, a Honolulu-based boutique offering swimwear and activewear, can be found on Street Level 1 of the ‘Ewa wing. It also has a location at 

, which rents mobility scooters, wheelchairs and strollers, and offers secure luggage storage, can be found on Street Level 1 at Center Court.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"On the move:"}]

 has moved to a new temporary location on Mall Level 2 of the ‘Ewa Wing while its permanent store is under construction. The new permanent store is scheduled to open next year.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Coming soon:"}]

, a Hawai‘i-based jewelry brand, is set to open on Level 3 of the ‘Ewa Wing this month.

 will open on Street Level 1 of the ‘Ewa Wing in December, offering Mexican-style cabana chillers, mango twisters and fresh fruit cups.

, the flagship brand of the Portland-based Columbia Sportswear Co., will open on Level 3 of the ‘Ewa Wing in February 2026. The brand offers 

outdoor apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment.

 will soon open their second location at Ala Moana Center in the Makai Market Food Court.

 will make its debut in the Islands in July 2026. You'll find on Mall Level 2 of the ‘Ewa wing.

More new tenants were announced at the end of August. Read about those 

Ala Moana Center opened in 1959 and is the world's largest open-air shopping center with more than 2.4 million square feet of retail space. It offers more than 350 stores and 160 dining options.

Aloha Spirit

Renowned Hawaiian waterman Duke Kahanamoku is being honored by local artists and entrepreneurs with a new collection of exclusive products that pay homage to his history and heritage.

Mana Up, a local business accelerator and venture capital fund, and The Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation, a Honolulu-based nonprofit working to perpetuate his spirit and legacy, have partnered to collaborate with seven Hawaii-based companies on the initiative.

The collection just hit shelves last week. Meli James, co-founder of Mana Up, told Aloha State Daily in an email that it will only be available through July 31, and products are already going fast.

"This collaboration was inspired by the growing momentum to celebrate Duke Kahanamoku's incredible legacy — from the 'Waterman' documentary to other recent efforts shining a light on his story," she said. "Working closely with the Duke Kahanamoku organization, we developed a collection that honor's Duke's impact on surfing, water sports, sustainability and Hawaiian culture."

Born in Honolulu in 1890, Kahanamoku, an official Ambassador of Aloha and record-breaking swimmer, was an Olympian and Hawaiian cultural icon who helped popularize surfing outside of the Islands.

Kahanamoku qualified for the U.S. Olympic swim team and won a gold and silver medal in the Stockholm Olympics in 1912, according to a 

. He introduced surfing to the East Coast in 1914, it notes. In 1920, he won gold medals in the Antwerp Olympics in Belgium, and took home a silver medal in the 1924 Paris Olympics.

Kahanamoku also spent time as an actor and served as sheriff of Honolulu from 1934 until the post was abolished in 1960, among his other accomplishments. He died of a heart attack on Jan. 22, 1968, at the age of 77. 

The new collection features products designed by seven local brands. According to a recent announcement:

— Ambassadors with Aloha, or AVVA, offers a collection of "functional, culturally rooted surfwear" that includes windbreaker jackets, graphic T-shirts and boardshorts that feature "reconstructed crests and emblems once lost to history."

“The name AVVA means Ambassadors With Aloha and it is with this spirit that we addressed this collection,” Founder Kekoa Cazimero, said in the announcement. “We were very honored to be able to work with the Duke Kahanamoku Foundation and we gave ourselves this challenge: What can we do to strengthen the Duke Kahanamoku brand while making sure that we honor, preserve, and protect his legacy? This artwork now becomes a part of the Duke Kahanamoku archive and will be able to be used by others to collaborate and promote the Duke Kahanamoku brand.”

— Meli Wraps offers an eco-friendly kitchen set that includes a three-pack of dishcloths and two-pack of kitchen towels with "vibrant, wave-inspired prints."

— Surf Shack Puzzles offers a limited-edition postcard puzzle, "designed as a sendable memento," with a vintage image of Kahanamoku.

— Jules & Gem Hawai‘i offers a 7-ounce soy candle, car freshener, reed diffuser and room spray infused with a maile lei scent. "As a Native Hawaiian, I am honored to be able to create this fragrance for Duke Kahanamoku," founder Lana Gronwald said in the announcement. "Growing up in the Islands and being a water girl, I have always looked up to him and admired his accomplishments."

— Aloha de Mele offers a limited-edition bucket hat by artist Jasmin Tanuvasa.

— Coco Moon offers a family-friendly line that includes a swaddle, infant coverall, polo shirt and a mama robe. A portion of proceeds from these sales support Nā Kama Kai and the Duke Foundation, the announcement noted.

— Nick Kuchar Art & Design Co. offers an 11-inch-by-14-inch print honoring Kahanamoku's 1957 appearance on "This is Your Life," in Kuchar's vintage style.

James said Mana Up selected the creators to participate by first identifying categories that aligned with Kahanamoku's legacy, things like surfwear, sustainable goods and items rooted in Hawaiian culture.

"From there, we reached out to entrepreneurs within the Mana Up community whose values, products and storytelling felt like a natural fit," she continued. "The creators who joined the collaboration all expressed a deep connection to Duke's legacy and were genuinely excited to interpret that through their own brands. It was important to us that this wasn't just a product collection, but a meaningful tribute created with heart and authenticity."

James said the collection has been well received and some items are already nearly sold out.

One standout is the windbreaker from AVVA, which features an inner lining filled with iconic imagery of Kahanamoku, she said. A sleek black candle from Jules & Gem, and a baby blanket and onesie from Coco Moon are also popular, as is Kuchar's print, she continued.

When asked what the ultimate goal for the collection is, James said Mana Up's mission is to "elevate Hawai‘i's unique stories, and bringing together local entrepreneurs to interpret Duke's legacy through their own creative lenses was pure magic."

Want to grab your own items before they're gone? You can visit Mana Up's retail shops, House of Mana Up, in South Shore Market in Ward Village or at Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikīkī, or shop online 

AVVA Tshirt Duke Kahanamoku Collection 0525

<title>New collection reimagines the legacy of Duke Kahanamoku</title>

Mana Up and The Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation partnered on a limited-edition collaboration with seven Hawai‘i-based companies which offer exclusive products that pay homage to the waterman.

Hawaiʻi Skies: Aloha Friday

ASD Staff

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Hawaiʻi Skies: Aloha Friday

Authors

ASD Staff

Reporter

More in Hawai'i Skies

Hawaiʻi Skies: Rain = rainbows

Hawaiʻi Skies: Legendary sunsets

Hawaiʻi Skies: In the moment

Hawaiʻi Skies: A bright and complete rainbow

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