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Arts, Culture & Entertainment Reporter

Katie Helland

I’m excited to help bring a brand new source of news to the state. In my coverage, I look forward to sharing stories that will help you plan fun things to do for date nights and spend family time in Hawaii. I also hope to share stories about the people behind events and organizations, as well as their interests in music, hula, film, comedy and more.

I started working at the city newspaper when I was still in high school through summer internships. Since then, I have worked for the community newspaper in my college town, as well as The Santiago Times when I lived abroad in Chile. Most recently, I worked for Pacific Business News in Honolulu.

At ASD, I can’t wait to talk story, which is how reporters hear some of the best news tips! Hawaii has such an incredibly rich culture. And for me, it is home.

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Latest from Katie Helland

Iam Tongi has previously performed at Turtle Bay Resort, which recently rebranded as The Ritz Carlton Oʻahu, Turtle Bay.

ʻAmerican Idol’ winner Iam Tongi announces new single ʻSunshine’

The singer and songwriter talked about his father in his audition for ʻAmerican Idol.’ He grew up in Kahuku and also spoke about being priced out of paradise.

Katie HellandApril 15, 2025

Last year, the theatre held a similar workshop for first-time playwrights.

Kumu Kahua Theatre seeks first-time writers for free workshop

This theater is bringing Hawaiʻi-based playwright Daniel A. Kelin II and longtime director Harry Wong III together to teach Oʻahu residents how to write plays. The one-day workshop opens first to Windward and North Shore residents.

Katie HellandApril 15, 2025

Kalani Peʻa will headline several Lei Day performances on Oʻahu.

Kalani Peʻa to headline back-to-back Lei Day performances

The Maui-based singer and songwriter has won four Grammy Awards and five Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards. He is teaming up with award-winning singers and dancers to bring several memorable Lei Day performances to Oʻahu.

Katie HellandApril 12, 2025

Opera singer Robert Feng (center) is part of Hawaiʻi Opera Theatre's performance of “Carmen.”

Inside Hawaiʻi Opera Theatre’s production of “Carmen”

Opera singer Robert Feng shares the Hawaiʻi Opera Theatre performance that made him want to be a singer. The Punahou School graduate is now performing in the same group’s upcoming production of “Carmen.”

Katie HellandApril 11, 2025

Tony Pisculli wrote “The Magic of Polly Amnesia,” now on stage at Kumu Kahua Theatre in just four weeks.

Tony Pisculli shares behind-the-scenes moments from his play, “The Magic of Polly Amnesia”

Hawaiʻi-based Tony Pisculli is the playwright of “The Magic of Polly Amnesia,” which is on stage at Kumu Kahua Theatre through April 27. He is also a former software developer, a founder of the Hawaiʻi Shakespeare Festival and — sometimes a magician.

Katie HellandApril 10, 2025

The Easter Bunny is hopping around Oʻahu this year. Aloha State Daily checked in to see some of the famous rabbit’s planned stops.

Easter activities on Oʻahu

Aloha State Daily rounded up some ways to entertain keiki leading up to Easter, including appearances by the Easter Bunny across the island.

Katie HellandApril 09, 2025

This shot is one of many in the 10-minute documentary called “The Kona Beekeeper Legacy Project.”

Hawai‘i Island abuzz about bees

Leandra Rouse is capturing the history of beekeeping on Hawaiʻi Island in honor of her father, who came to Hawaiʻi on his honeymoon and stayed to work bees.

Katie HellandApril 08, 2025

Shot by editor A. Kam Napier for ASD

New legislation would bring tax cuts for movies with mostly local hires

Actors, stuntmen and others in the movie industry spoke in support of Senate Bill 732, which would incentivize the film industry to bring productions to Hawaiʻi through tax cuts if there are at least 80% kamaʻāina hires.

Katie HellandApril 05, 2025

Mike Garcia spoke with Aloha State Daily in Waikīkī before the show on Thursday, April 3.

Tickets on sale for pop-up with “Jackass” star Chris Pontius and North Shore comedian Mike Garcia 

A self-proclaimed “goofball,” North Shore comedian Mike Garcia shared he was a prison guard and a drummer in a reggae band before he became a full-time comedian. This week, he opens for Chris Pontius of “Jackass” at shows on Thursday, April 3, and Friday, April 4. ASD sat down with Garcia for an exclusive interview.

Katie HellandApril 04, 2025

Other Authors

Bishop Museum has a new chief executive officer, who currently works at a museum in Australia.

Bishop Museum names new CEO

The new executive for this local nonprofit was born and raised in Minnesota and currently works at the Australian Museum. He previously was a research zoologist and curator for the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History.

Katie HellandApril 03, 2025

Richard Chamberlain's star is part of the Hollywood Walk of Fame in California.

Hawaiʻi resident and “Dr. Kildare” star Richard Chamberlain dies at 90 in Waimānalo

This actor, known for his roles in “Shōgun” (1980), “The Thorn Birds” (1983), as well as “Dr. Kildare” (1961) grew up in California and later moved to Oʻahu.

Katie HellandApril 02, 2025

The Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall hosted the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra playing “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” in March.

Behind-the-scenes of the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall’s recent renovations

The Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall is home to Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra, Hawaiʻi Opera Theatre and touring Broadway productions. The next phase of renovations is currently out to bid and would include updates to the exterior of the more than 60-year-old performing arts space.

Katie HellandApril 02, 2025

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was the voice of Maui in the animated movie, “Moana 2,” which released in November of 2024,

Crime saga featuring “The Rock” finds home with 20th Century and Disney

This movie, featuring director Martin Scorsese and top-tier Hollywood actors and actresses such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Emily Blunt, tells the story of a mob boss in Hawaiʻi.

Katie HellandMarch 31, 2025

Michael-Thomas Foumai is the first composer in residence for the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra. He arranged music for the orchestra’s performance with guest performer Taimane Gardner. PC: Katie Helland

Meet the composer behind Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra’s performance with Taimane

Composer-in-residence Michael-Thomas Foumai is teaming up with the Nā Hōkū Hanohano award-winning Taimane Gardner for a concert with the Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra. Aloha State Daily takes you behind-the-scenes to their meeting before the concert in April.

Katie HellandMarch 29, 2025

Bishop Museum is hosting the music festival on its Great Lawn, a common location for community events.

Want live music for less than $20?

Check out this event, featuring Ooklah The Moc and others, at the Bishop Museum next week. AlohaLauLea, a two-day music festival hosted by the Hawaiian contemporary hit radio station KCCN-FM 100, starts at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5.

Katie HellandMarch 27, 2025

A number of stories intertwine in this short film, called “Ola nā iwi,” which is animated by artist Richard O’Connor and features audio recordings collected by students at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

Five films about Lahaina featured in this festival

Richard O’Connor is a New York City animator working with students to tell multigenerational stories about Lahaina. The short film he animated explores the devastating impact of the wildfires of August 2023. Watch a screening of this and other short films on Thursday, March 27.

Katie HellandMarch 27, 2025

This concert venue will soon open to the public again after a six-month hiatus for upgrades.

Tom Moffatt Waikīkī Shell is back!

This iconic venue is back, with upcoming concerts including Kehlani, on Wednesday, March 26, and Boyz II Men next month. Read about the venue improvements, which cost more than half a million.

Katie HellandMarch 26, 2025

Cayne Hiraoka plays saxophone at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

Free saxophone concert to showcase students from University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

This James B. Castle High School graduate is now studying music at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and will be performing in a free concert that also features high school students across Oʻahu.

Katie HellandMarch 25, 2025

David Nakazono is a recent hire of the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra, where he plays trumpet.

Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra to perform music for Star Wars movie

Fans can see “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” in concert this month at the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall. Aloha State Daily caught up with the orchestra’s principal trumpet player to learn how he started his music career.

Katie HellandMarch 21, 2025

Capitol Modern, located in Downtown Honolulu near ʻIolani Palace and the state capitol building, will host the first event in a new series called Night // Shift.

Celebrate Spring Equinox at the Capitol Modern

These art museums are teaming up to host an event that celebrates the Spring Equinox and draws inspiration from Nowruz, the Persian new year, as well as Hawaiian cultural traditions. The first event in a series called Night // Shift on Saturday, March 22, will include poetry and book readings, as well as food, lei making and lauhala weaving.

Katie HellandMarch 20, 2025

Cats check out the new sounds in their cafe.

Want the purrfect sound bath?

Mika Mimura at Cat Café Moff has you covered at this shopping center in ʻAiea. The cafe’s new series gives its attendees a chance to meditate, immerse themselves in healing sounds and enjoy time with furry friends.

Katie HellandMarch 20, 2025

Lei Llanos, center, was named Mrs. Hawaiʻi in 2021. This year, she has been selected as queen of the Lei Day court.

Meet this year's Lei Day queen Lei Llanos

Llanos, who is from Waipahu and was recently crowned queen for the annual May Day celebration put on by the City and County of Honolulu, shares more about her lei-making process.

Katie HellandMarch 13, 2025

The side-by-side concert, which features students and professional musicians sharing music stands, is the last event of the Beethoven Festival.

Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra and Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony to host free concert

The two musical groups will host the one-night-only performance as the final part of the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra’s Beethoven Festival.

Katie HellandMarch 11, 2025

Beckie Stocchetti, Hawaiʻi International Film Festival’s executive director, far left, at an event for the Hawaiʻi International Film Festival.

Tickets on sale now for Hawaiʻi International Film Festival’s ʻŌpio Fest

This year, the ʻŌpio Fest includes 16 feature films, as well as more than 50 ones created by students in elementary, middle or high school. The event combines HIFF’s spring showcase with a youth film festival for students from Alaska and Hawaiʻi.

Katie HellandMarch 08, 2025

Kalaupapa patients can purchase food from this store on Molokai. It is the only store in the settlement that sells groceries and supplies to residents, according to the website of the National Park Service.

Government agencies weigh future for Kalaupapa settlement

The future of an isolated peninsula where thousands of patients with leprosy, now known as Hansen’s disease, were sent to live in isolation from the rest of the world, is in development. Its last patients are now between 83 and 100 years old.

Katie HellandJanuary 31, 2025

The Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum is one of seven locations across the state offering free Native Hawaiian plants to local families on a monthly basis.

You know you want a pet plant ...

Residents of Hawai‘i can adopt ʻihi, koʻokoʻolau and native hibiscuses at locations across the state in February. The Native Hawaiian plants are free for local families.

Katie HellandJanuary 30, 2025

The humble chopstick is at the heart of this month’s writing prompt for Kumu Kahua Theatre.

How do you feel about chopsticks?

Aspiring playwrights, Kumu Kahua Theatre is looking for individuals to write up to 10 pages about someone’s first experience with chopsticks, which can “end with either success or failure,” according to the prompt.

Katie HellandJanuary 28, 2025

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