Kam Napier Headshot

A. Kam Napier

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Food & Dining

Known for its vintage charm and handcrafted cocktails, 

 opened its unique speakeasy in the former 3660 on the Rise restaurant space in December.

Since then, the biz has updated its dinner menu and, most recently, launched a new weekend brunch. Brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Ask to see the “private collection” and you’ll be led into the speakeasy. Start with featured brunch beverages like sparkling mimosas ($12), White Sands Spritz ($16) and the Meet Cute ($16). The latter — a combination of Ketel One cucumber and mint, elderflower, mango lemon, absinthe and orange bitters — is an especially photogenic option.

Be sure to check out the rotating selection of house scones ($8) and other featured sweets. During our visit, we tried housemade mango scones with yuzu butter and a strawberry house bread ($8). The scones were nice and flaky with a distinctive mango flavor, and the yuzu butter gave it a refreshing zing.

One of my favorite dishes from the brunch menu is this curry egg salad sandwich ($18). It’s a unique twist on the Japanese staple, featuring creamy egg salad with  a Japanese-style curry remoulade and tangy red pickles served on shokupan bread with a side of Island Farmer salad. The egg salad itself wasn’t too mayo-heavy with just the right amount of curry flavor. When paired with the fluffy shokupan from BRUG Bakery, it was a heavenly combo.

If you love curry, go for the bacon curry donburi ($18), which features Japanese curry with house-cured bacon, asparagus, hash browns, two sunny side eggs and fukujinzuke (Japanese pickled relish) over steamed rice. 

The thicker curry has a nice flavor — you can taste the spices, but it isn’t spicy — and the curry and rice alone are a comforting combo. The house-cured bacon boasts an umami flavor and takes the dish to the next level. It’s savory, hearty and food coma-inducing if you finish the entire thing.

Other brunchy dishes include the Full Vintage Breakfast ($20) — a classic combo of two eggs over easy, house-cured bacon steak, Portuguese sausage and grilled tomato — ‘ahi Benedict ($24) and shrimp and grits ($24).

The left side of the brunch menu features shareable dishes that are some of 

the most popular options from the speakeasy’s dinner menu

. You’ll find the cowboy beef salad with fresh arugula and crispy brisket ($17), a vibrant tomato salad with caramelized garlic ($17) and cold mushroom tofu ($18). I highly recommend the house karaage ($21), which was love at first bite from my first visit to the speakeasy.

Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, these generous chunks of marinated chicken are bursting with flavor. They’re served with house Japanese mayonnaise and ketchup spiked with kimchi for dipping. Honestly, though, the chicken is so flavorful that you don’t even need the sauces — we recommend first tasting them without, just to enjoy that delectable crunch.

Brunch from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays

Vintage Books Hawaii brunch spread 061025

<title>New weekend brunch at this vintage speakeasy in Kaimukī</title>

Vintage Books’ new brunch boasts creative cocktails and gourmet comfort food, including a must-try bacon curry donburi.

New weekend brunch at this vintage speakeasy in Kaimukī

Sports

"Warriors Don't Bully" event at Hawai‘i Elite MMA

 served as a gathering for some of the state's most prominent mixed martial arts figures. 

Fighters and coaches came together to instruct approximately 54 children on a bevy of self-defense techniques in response to a viral bullying incident that occurred in Wahiawā. 

Throughout the course of the three-hour event, instructors at the event stressed concepts such as diffusing a situation and running away from a dangerous occurrence if possible, especially if one is outnumbered. 

Taking care of one's health, both physical and mental, was also a topic touched on by fighters present at the event. Former UFC fighter Martin Day, for example, said he hopes the keiki present integrate some sort of consistent training into their lives in order to develop discipline and self-confidence. 

Former and current UFC fighters were at the event. So were former champions, such as former Bellator flyweight champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane. Macfarlane, who flew in from her residence in California to organize the event, rounded up some of the biggest names in the sport, past and present, to come together for a cause that resonated with many.

One name that would have fit the description if not for legal struggles was Hawai‘i native B.J. Penn, viewed as perhaps the most influential figure in the history of Hawai‘i MMA. Penn, 46, was a UFC champion at welterweight and lightweight, just the second person in the organization's history to become a champion in two different weight classes behind Randy Couture. The UFC has opened four UFC B.J. Penn Gyms in O‘ahu, as well as an additional B.J. Penn Gym in Hilo. 

Penn's last victory in the UFC came against Matt Hughes at UFC 123 on Nov. 20, 2010. His career ended with a draw against Jon Fitch on Feb. 27, 2011, followed by a string of seven consecutive losses, the most recent to Clay Guida at UFC 237 on May 11, 2019. 

Penn has had legal struggles dating back to the time he was still with the UFC. In 2015, he was arrested in Kihei after fighting another man outside of a bar. In 2019, his former partner 

Shealen Uaiwa filed a restraining order against him. That same year, he also fought a bouncer outside of a Honolulu strip club and was involved in a bar brawl in 

Pāhoa. In 2021, he was changed with a DUI in Honoka‘a. 

Penn's most recent legal troubles saw him get arrested three times in the span of six days in May. He claimed on his personal Instagram account that family members of his had been killed and replaced by imposters. Penn was arrested on May 25 and 26 on charges that stemmed from abuse of a household or family member. Penn's mother, Lorraine Shin, filed a temporary restraining order against him. Penn was arrested again on May 31 after failing to appear in court. 

State court records show that a Hilo family court judge extended a protective order against Penn until Nov. 23. He is scheduled to appear in court on June 24. Penn was also sued — successfully — by Kealii Bertelmann in a civil case over accusations Penn made that Bertelmann had stolen from Lahaina fire victims, impersonated Hawai‘i Gov. Josh Green, and more, according to online records and 

In light of B.J. Penn's legal struggles, Aloha State Daily asked a handful of fighters at Sunday's Warriors Don't Bully event about their thoughts on what Penn is going through. Each fighter voiced genuine concern towards Penn while expressing the desire that he gets help. Below are their answers in full:

[{"type":"text","text":"Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, former Bellator champion:"}]

"Oh my gosh, braddah B.J. I mean, it's sad, and I think that as much as we love fighting, I think all the other fighters in the room today can attest to this, but as much as we love the sport, we do need to protect our health, and not just our physical health, but our brain health, our mental health. It's a tough sport and that's one of the big reasons why I wanted to retire sooner than later. It's because we have to protect our brains. I think that in B.J.'s case, I'm no doctor or expert, but I'm pretty sure there is some combination of CTE involved, and I'm hoping that he's able to get treatment, and I'm hoping, too, that the UFC is able to provide some kind of, you know, as fighters, there's no union. We don't get health insurance. There's no promotion that offers health insurance or medical benefits or anything like that, which is sad, because, again, we're sacrificing. We're literally putting our lives on the line to step inside that cage. So, I really hope that the UFC steps up and they come and help B.J., somebody who's made literally millions of dollars for their promotion and has contributed a lot to the fight sport. I really hope that they step up and they get him some help. And I hope that maybe this is a wake-up call for other fighters that we really need to take care of our brains."

[{"type":"text","text":"Brad Tavares, current UFC middleweight:"}]

"That's another situation that breaks my heart, because I've known B.J. for years. He's a really solid dude. I feel like I kind of seen it a while ago, and at first when he started making weird posts, I don't think the majority of people really was keen to it. But then I think when the focus started shifting to close friends and family of his, I think then people started really paying attention, like, oh, something is wrong there. But I've been praying for him. And I mean, I feel like right now that's all we can do, is just pray for him. Continue to pray for the Penn ‘ohana, and I just hope that he gets whatever help or whatever it is that he needs, because like I said, I've known him for years, always been a good, solid dude, probably one of the the greatest fighters to ever come out of Hawai‘i, as one of those guys that we all looked up that made an impact on our lives, so just wishing the best for him and his family."

[{"type":"text","text":"Martin Day, former UFC bantamweight:"}]

"B.J. is a personal friend of mine, my heart goes out to him and his family. I really hope and pray that B.J. gets the help that it looks like he needs. I mean, shoot, if B.J. hears this, or family hears this, I just I pray for that guy, and I wish him the best, and I hope he can take care of whatever it is going on with him, because he's loved by many. I mean, one of the inspirations that I had coming up as a fighter, and not just a fighter, but just a person in general in Hawai‘i. So much love for that guy, not just for me, but from the entire state of Hawai‘i and the whole world. So, I wish him the best, and if he needs anything, or family needs anything, I'm happy to help."

[{"type":"text","text":"Yancy Medeiros, current Bellator and former UFC fighter:"}]

"B.J. Penn is my friend. For one thing, he's always seeing things a different way from everyone else, and whether it's something true or not, I hope he finds the help he needs, because he's still my friend. People go through hardships and have hard times, and I don't know what's really going on, because I've only seen what the media approach is, but I know him personally, and I just hope that he's around the right people to help him make the righteous choices. It's not about right and wrong, it's what is righteous, what is the right thing to do, and all I can do is be there for B.J. I hope that he can find the peace and grace with his family and what's going on and he can see what truths he has to see. Because I don't know, I'm not there. I cannot judge him, but I do know him on a personal level, and I've always felt he was good to me and true and real. He was always real with me, so I'm not judging him for what he's going through. I just hope that he finds peace and closure and grace with whoever's around him and it gets to a healthy situation. I just see drama and politics, and that's not what I want to entertain. It's unfortunate. I hope things get better. Who am I to judge him? I don't know. I'm not living his life, you know? I just really think, I really hope, because he's my friend, that things get better for him. Whoever's right and wrong is just, I think about his kids. I think about his family, that's the ones you really gotta think about and I hope that they find a good closure to what's going on."

BJ Penn 052725 16x9

<title>Hawai‘i MMA fighters express concern toward B.J. Penn amid legal troubles</title>

Penn, one of the most influential mixed martial artists in the state's history, was arrested three times in a span of six days in late May.

Hawai‘i MMA fighters express concern toward B.J. Penn amid legal troubles

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Aloha Spirit

 met someone they'll never forget: Now a local executive and mother, a woman who at age 13 was homeless with her mother, shared how she benefited from the organization’s Ready to Learn program. The 27th annual back-to-school initiative provides free school supplies that help keiki feel prepared and empowered to learn, according to Executive Director Susan Furuta.

Furuta said she was elated to find out that over time, this young woman’s family was doing well and how her life was shaped by a kind gesture that reminded her that her community cared.

“Sometimes you just need that extra support to get through life’s challenges, especially with Hawaiʻi’s high cost of living,” Furuta told Aloha State Daily. “At its core, the program is much more than just handing out a backpack. We want our community to rally around our children, who are our future.”

July 31, Helping Hands Hawaiʻi will be collecting and distributing donations of new school supplies including notebooks, folders, binders, pencils and more. This year, the organization aims to provide fully stocked supply kits to 

before the start of the next school year.

A $50 donation can equip a child with the tools they need to succeed, Furuta said, adding that partnerships with government officials, businesses and community leaders have helped sustain this program over the years. Sponsors for 2025 Ready to Learn include Honolulu Cookie Co. and American Savings Bank.

“We are excited to support the Ready to Learn event once again,” said Kathy Arasaki, senior vice president of Honolulu Cookie Co., in a statement. “We believe that empowering young minds starts with access to the right resources.” 

 or mailed to Helping Hands Hawai‘i at 2100 N. Nimitz Hwy., Honolulu, HI 96819. In-person donations are accepted Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., and on the third Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

According to Furuta, Ready to Learn was founded in 1998 by U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye and wife, Maggie. At the time, she said they provided well over 20,000 backpacks to students. 

“We would love to get back to that one day – 3,000 children does not cover the need, but it’s what we have the capacity for right now,” she said.

The nonprofit took over the statewide initiative in 2005, when it cost $10 to fill a backpack, Furuta noted.

She added, Helping Hands Hawaiʻi has about 55 employees with an operating budget of more than $3 million. “We’re not a national org or backed by a religious group, but we do pack a mighty impact. On our property daily, we have about 20 to 25 people working or volunteering at the warehouse,” she said. “We believe it takes a village, so that’s why partnership is so important to our operations and the families we serve.”

, Helping Hands Hawai‘i served nearly 20,000 individuals through is programs that offer interpretation services, financial management and food assistance.

Furuta has been with the organization since 2001 and has served as executive director since 2019.

She said her priority at the start was was putting together a three-to-five year strategic plan, but lately, she’s been looking at creative ways to diversify funding and raise capital to maintain the nonprofitʻs Honolulu offices and warehouse.

“The business [of nonprofits] is changing. The economy is changing. [Hawaiʻi is] a tougher place to do business in any sector,” she said. “We want to work with everyone and be able to collaborate where we can. To see how we can work better together, and advocate for ourselves and each other.”

“Children, theyʻre our future. They are going to take care of us when we get older, take care of our land and take care of our state. ... We want them to feel good and be inspired with education to have a really good future.”

Families who are in need can register their children at 

Helping Hands Hawaii RTL volunteers

<title>Statewide nonprofit aims to build confidence in local students with free resources</title>

Learn more about Helping Hands Hawaiʻi's Ready to Learn program, which for 27 years, has provided basic school supplies for K-12 students in need.

Statewide nonprofit aims to build confidence in local students with free resources

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Entertainment

Arts & Culture

, a top contestant for the latest season of “American Idol” is set to perform two shows at Blue Note Hawaiʻi on Friday, June 27. Thunderstorm previously competed in “American Idol: Season 23,” where he was one of the top five contestants.

Artis is no stranger to musical competitions. He placed third in “The Voice” in 2020. Since then, he became a husband and the father of two boys. He also writes music. This month, Artis released his latest single “I Just Want You to Know”

Artis and his wife, Faith, and their two kids have been based in Nashville since 2019, but his mother and sisters still live in Hawaiʻi. He visits multiple times a year, Artis told Aloha State Daily just ahead of his last “American Idol” performance.

His “American Idol” journey started with an audition where he sang a song he had written called 

. The shows start at 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. at Blue Note Hawaiʻi. $45 - $55. 

Thunderstorm Artis

<title>This American Idol contestant to headline at Blue Note Hawaiʻi</title>

Hawaiʻi residents watched some of his performances on television as part of Season 23 of “American Idol.” Now this singer, who grew up on the North Shore of Oʻahu, is coming back for a day of concerts.

This American Idol contestant to headline at Blue Note Hawaiʻi

When University of Hawai‘i men's volleyball standout libero ‘Eleu Choy was a youth, he had bounced from school to school. His parents, Barney and Terri-Ann, vowed from the very beginning to support him and place him in an optimal environment.

A young ‘Eleu Choy proved to be aptly named from an early age. ‘Eleu, which means energetic and active in Hawaiian, was a name brainstormed by Terri-Ann. The name stuck, and it continues to be an accurate description for ‘Eleu Choy, who has amassed 191 digs for the Rainbow Warriors thus far in 2025. 

"It's funny how it turned out to fit the person," Barney Choy told Aloha State Daily. "It doesn't happen very often, but it fits him to a T."

As a preschooler at Seagull Schools, ‘Eleu Choy was the only student in his class that wouldn't fall asleep during nap time. While the rest of his classmates were sleeping, he would be found roaming around by himself. 

Though ‘Eleu was never one to make trouble, his teachers eventually met with his parents and encouraged him to undergo testing. 

"He's not doing anything naughty or anything bad," Barney Choy recalled. "He just gets up and he doesn't bother anybody and just kind of does his thing."

The next step in ‘Eleu Choy's educational journey took him to Wilson Elementary near his Wai‘alae home. After some time in the special education program, he rejoined the general education students in the third grade. 

"When he was young, he had some challenges, some little nuances. We used to take him to UH for therapies and that kind of stuff," Barney Choy said.

Although his parents appreciated Wilson's support system, they sought a more structured academic regimen for ‘Eleu, enrolling him at Mary, Star of the Sea.

In middle school, Choy was wait-listed at ‘Iolani, the same school where his sister, Bailey, was a rising volleyball star. ‘Eleu Choy eventually enrolled at University Lab School. His parents thought he had finally found his niche at University Lab, a K-12 school in Mānoa with a student enrollment of about 450, lending itself to more focused learning environments than that of a public school. 

Then one day, ‘Eleu Choy told his father he wanted to enroll at Farrington High School, citing its engineering program. 

"Everyone always asked me, like, 'Why? Why'd you go to Farrington?' I heard about the opportunities I could get there at Farrington," ‘Eleu Choy recalled.

Barney Choy wasn't so sure at first, but he also wanted to hear his son out. ‘Eleu shadowed Farrington principal Al Carganilla for one school day, and continued to ask his daughter, Kylie, how things were at the school. 

Barney and Terri-Ann Choy eventually decided to let ‘Eleu enroll at Farrington prior to his freshman year of high school, citing his pure eagerness to do so and how thorough he was in explaining why. 

Life at Farrington can be rugged at times, and Choy was certainly not an exception. He was bullied and called a nerd for answering too many questions in class. One student taunted him and struck him in the face, and both of their families were called in to the main office. After a forced apology, Choy responded by telling the student he forgave him and told him he still sees the good in him. 

"It was kind of rough because I was trying to adapt to the environment," ‘Eleu Choy recalled. "I was more used to sheltered, more controlled environments. Everyone at that school, we're just trying to get our degrees and try to figure out where our future is going to be. Granted, that might be different paths, but we all have that common goal that we were trying to get somewhere where we want to be.  

"I think that's what Farrington taught me, is to not be so close minded. Don't be strict on one path, but be open to everything, because you never know what really is going to happen."

While ‘Eleu Choy was being proactive academically, he also dabbled in a variety of sports. His first love was baseball. As a youth, he even gave karate a try. Farrington's new turf field at Skippa Diaz Stadium was the talk of the school in 2017, so Choy joined the soccer team as a goalkeeper. 

Growing up, ‘Eleu Choy says he idolized his sister, who had all the accolades he didn't have as a youth volleyball player. Bailey Choy (now De Vos) was the Hawai‘i consensus Player of the Year in 2015, then chose to play volleyball at the University of Utah over a bevy of other scholarship offers. 

‘Eleu Choy was surrounded by volleyball, following his father to Na Keiki Mauloa practices, a prominent girls club volleyball team based on O‘ahu. Barney Choy, who is the president of Na Keiki Mauloa and is the head coach of three of its teams, says he prefers coaching girls and their attention to detail and discipline compared to the boys. That meant when ‘Eleu played club volleyball, Barney was mostly an observer. 

‘Eleu played club volleyball for Ku‘ikahi for five years. Practices would end with scrimmages in which players were picked to each team. 

"I am not exaggerating when I say he was the last guy chosen every single night," Barney Choy said. "Every time comes in the car I go, 'Hey, how was it?' He would say, 'Oh, dad, that was so much fun.' He's the last guy chosen. He's the only guy standing there. He runs to the team (enthusiastically). And this went on for about three years."

‘Eleu Choy didn't play volleyball for Farrington until his junior year. In a win against Kalani, he had seven kills, five assists and four digs, outdueling future teammate 

In the club circuit, Choy caught the eye of UH coaches Joshua Walker and Charlie Wade, who continued to keep tabs on him.

Choy's senior year at Farrington came and went with all his future goals intact. He was set to graduate with 21 transferrable credits to UH-Mānoa and get a head start on his engineering degree. A scholarship to assist UH women's coach Robyn Ah Mow as a student manager was on the table, but playing was not in the cards. Then a few days before he was set to graduate from Farrington, Walker offered him a spot on the men's team as a walk-on. 

‘Eleu Choy committed on the spot, but Walker told him to talk it through with his family first. As with his initial desire to attend Farrington, ‘Eleu Choy's parents wanted to make sure it was something his heart truly desired. At the time, the Rainbow Warriors were coming off a 28-3 season in 2019, boasting a team that some believe is the best in school history, despite the fact that they lost in the national championship match to Long Beach State. The only condition Barney gave ‘Eleu was that if he committed, he couldn't quit. 

As a 17-year-old stepping into the UH practice gym for the first time, Choy was a 5-foot-7 true freshman walk-on competing against names such as Rado Parapunov, Patrick Gasman, Colton Cowell and Jakob Thelle, some of the giants in the sport at the time. 

"It was definitely daunting. I remember my first day like it was yesterday. I was so nervous," Choy recalled. "You see all these juggernauts, like here are these guys, senior veterans, played the game at a high level for a long time. ... I'm like, God, I feel so misplaced, like a black sheep.

"It was just an absolutely huge honor to see people like that committed to their craft and spent their whole lives playing volleyball. I was like, wow, this is an amazing opportunity."

Although Choy was a freshman, he already knew some of the players on the team, including James Anastassiades, who helped coach Na Keiki Mauloa.

"I knew ‘Eleu prior, and he was always this sweet, bubbly kid," Anastassiades said. "He always made an effort to be social, and just this adorable kid, like, he's just awesome. The first open gym we had he's like, 'I rode my bike six miles to get here.' I was like, what? That's crazy, but I respect that commitment."

Choy continued to be dedicated to becoming the best libero he could be. Whether it was by himself, teammates and coaches, or even members of the UH women's team, Choy craved the extra work, digging thousands of balls in the gym. 

Freshman are expected to set up the practice gym at UH as an initiation tactic, but from year one to six, Choy never relinquished those duties in order to maximize his time on the court. 

After appearing in five matches in 2020 and redshirting in 2021, Choy still had four years of eligibility entering the 2022. He contemplated leaving multiple years of eligibility on the table and accepting a job offer after getting his bachelor's degree, but he eventually decided to stay and get his master's degree. Choy won the starting job as a redshirt junior in 2024, starting all 30 matches. In 2025, he's been the only player on the roster to play in all 31 matches for the 26-5 Rainbow Warriors. 

"If he's not the best libero in the country, he's damn close," Wade said of Choy following the team's 

win over No. 1 Long Beach State on April 12

. The 'Bows defeated The Beach again two weeks later. In UH's starting lineup, Choy was the only player under 6-foot-5. 

The demands of being the team's full-time libero for two straight years has surely taken a toll on Choy's body. 

"A lot of fatigue," Choy said. "My body would just be naturally tired, and a lot of pain in my knees, because we have to stay low for long period of time. But other than that, I always tell myself, 'Hey, you're not getting it as bad as the hitters.' Those guys jump all the time." 

That type of humility has endeared Choy to teammates, coaches and followers alike over the years. 

"When I think of people who have sacrificed for this program, I can't think of anyone who's sacrificed more than ‘Eleu Choy," middle blocker Kurt Nusterer said earlier in the season. "He's the heart and soul of this team, and you've never seen anybody sacrifice and work as hard and have as much integrity as person like that."

"He is a real, genuine human and you're not going to find much better than ‘Eleu Choy," Wade added.  

Choy earned Honorable Mention when the AVCA announced its All-America team, as well as when the Big West announced its All-Conference team. Not bad for a walk-on from Farrington, but many thought he was worthy of more. 

"I think this year, I easily argue he's become the best libero in the NCAA," said Anastassiades, an analyst for Spectrum Sports and founder of Volley Method, a local volleyball training organization. "His journey was nothing but hard. But he's the epitome of what it takes. From the day he walked in to the day he walked out, he was always the first one in and last one out."

The days and weeks ahead will be a whirlwind for Choy. On Thursday, the 

Rainbow Warriors will face Penn State in the quarterfinals 

of the NCAA Tournament, with first serve set for 7:30 a.m. HST. The Rainbow Warriors missed the NCAA Tournament in 2024, but made four straight title games from 2019 to 2023. 

He'll also graduate with his master's degree and start his engineering career at Fukunaga & Associates, the same company that oversees athletic venues across the Islands, from baseball fields in Maui to Kahuku High School's turf football field. 

"I always want to give back to the community, because I know that the community always gave me so much, too," Choy said. "I was so blessed. My family, friends, uncles, aunties, they sacrificed so much for me. And I always wanted to give back."

Taking an engineering job out of school means Choy is not pursuing a professional volleyball career, something he is fully at peace with. Generations of Farrington alums have approached him over the years, expressing their gratitude in him representing the Governors in the way that he has. 

With his volleyball career set to come to an end, Choy says he has no regrets because he knows where he started from. 

"He's probably changed the lives of so many local kids with the dream to go play in college," Anastassiades said. "And I don't think there's a more special kid out here that could do something like that, just because of his personal background and his struggles, which is, again, what blows my mind. I get emotional talking about it and thinking about it."

Eleu Choy 050725

<title>‘Eleu Choy provides energy, inspiration for Hawai‘i men's volleyball team</title>

Choy, a 2019 Farrington High School alumnus, went from a walk-on to a two-year starter at libero for the Rainbow Warriors.

‘Eleu Choy provides energy, inspiration for Hawai‘i men's volleyball team

The whisper could be heard in the circle were members of kumu hula Brad Lum’s hālau held hands with artist 

. The voices playing on loop in the background included names from those petitions. 

The group was gathered inside a giant ʻumeke, built about 22 feet wide, and designed to hold group meetings, just like this one.

The work of art, designed by Meyer, is called 

inside Honolulu Hale, the City and County of Honolulu’s center of government and home to the mayor’s office and city council meetings.

The hālau shared tears and laughs, as well as 

, or stories. Several named kupuna in their families who had signed the Kūʻē Petitions of 1897, protesting the annexation of Hawaiʻi. The Hui Kālaiʻāina’s petition, with about 17,000 signatures, called for the restoration of the monarchy, while the Aloha ʻĀina’s petition, with approximately 21,000 signatures, protested the annexation, according to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Library’s website. 

This Friday, Feb. 28, will mark three weeks since the ʻumeke was installed. Meyer has personally met with more than a dozen groups in that space, including musicians, hālau, shamans from Mongolia and leadership of the Episcopal Church, she said.

“I just want to share that the time is now to do the work of healing,” Meyer told Aloha State Daily. “This is a fractious, impossibly difficult time for so many reasons, and I needed to go to hope.”

The ʻumeke will travel to Kapolei Hale in June. It has also been invited to Lahaina, Maui, and to Canada, she said. 

The ʻumeke is just one of many works of art on display across Oʻahu, Maui and Hawaiʻi Island as part of the 

, which runs through May 4. The exhibit’s theme is Aloha Nō, which is “a call to 

Hawaiʻi as a place of rebirth, resilience, and resistance; a place that embraces humanity in all of its complexities — with a compassion and care that can only be described as aloha,” according to HT25’s website. 

Meyer, who graduated from Stanford University with a bachelor’s degree in art in 1978 before returning to Hawaiʻi, worked with a number of people to create the ʻumeke. 

Kaʻipo and Kaʻiulani Baker — who graduated from Ke Kula ʻo Samuel M. Kamakau Laboratory Public Charter School, where Meyer taught them art — joined family and friends in reading names from the Kūʻē

Petitions, a process that took more than 30 hours, she said.

Students of the carpentry class at the University of Hawaiʻi’s Honolulu Community College, led by 

, helped to fabricate the piece. The lead fabricators included 

“the significant hands and heart behind team ʻumeke,” she said.

“It's all about pilina,” Meyer said. “It's all about relationships. And then when you know each other, you can count on each other. And that's what's so extraordinary about the work. It's not just a piece of art. It's actually much more than that.”

Art installation at Honolulu Hale

<title>Inside the ʻumeke with artist Meleanna Aluli Meyer</title>

Meet the artist behind the new art installation at Honolulu Hale.

Inside the ʻumeke with artist Meleanna Aluli Meyer

Kady Pascual Headshot RGZ5762

As a local girl from ʻEwa Beach, I know how easy it is to rely on coconut wireless — getting most of our facts from the “I heard from so and so” conversation. Social media has become today’s version of that conversation. You can stay up to date with your family on the Mainland, hear gossip about local celebrities and make new friends, all through a device that fits in your pocket.  

Prior to starting my career here in Hawai’i, I received a bachelor’s degree in creative media, as well as business marketing from the University of Hawai’i - West O’ahu.  

While at Aloha State Daily, my goal is to help local news feel as natural in your feed as your friends’ stories. I want to make it easy to stay informed —  one swipe, one story, one moment of connection at a time. Hawai’i has stories worth telling, and I’m here to make sure you don’t miss a beat.  

Kady Pascual

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