Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros
Aloha, I am Aloha State Daily’s senior editor reporting on community news. Know of any organizations and people making a positive difference in Hawaii? Please reach out to me at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
Originally from Los Angeles, I am Native Hawaiian with roots from Maui, residing on Oahu with my husband. Since moving to the Islands in 2019, I have volunteered for various local organizations such as 808 Cleanups, Keiki O Ka Aina’s Board and Stone, March of Dimes Hawaii and more.
Most recently, I was the associate editor of Pacific Business News for nearly six years. Prior to that role, I served as a copy editor and reporter for a daily newspaper, as well as a freelance writer for a lifestyle magazine, in California. Over the years, I have received multiple awards for my writing. I hold a bachelor's degree in communications from The Master's University, where I played soccer.
I am excited to build ASD as your go-to, reputable and fun news source for Hawaii. Happy reading!
Latest from Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros
From Waipahu to Fort Street Mall, this new sober living store and bar prepares to open in Downtown Honolulu
Viper Heart, owner of Viper’s SanctuarNII, took over Waipahu-based Nii Superette last year after her friend and store owner Stephen Nii died suddenly. Heart, who is in recovery from alcohol and drug addiction, hopes to promote healing in the new space, which officially opens April 1. Its offerings include spiritual services and community events complete with hand-crafted mocktails, herbal teas and mushroom coffee, crystals, chicken feet and more.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosMarch 15, 2025
Culinary teacher inspires student entrepreneurs on Maui
Joyce Miyamoto facilitates The Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation’s Young Entrepreneurs Program at Baldwin High School. The culinary teacher shares her experience working with more than 100 local students, who have developed and launched new products with locally sourced ingredients such as kalo, macadamia nuts and fresh Kula strawberries.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosMarch 14, 2025
Nānākuli teen named Youth of the Year by Boys & Girls Club of Hawaiʻi
Ladayna Aranas, 17, is a senior at Nānākuli High & Intermediate School with plans to attend the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in the fall. She joined the Boys & Girls Club Nānākuli Clubhouse at age 6 and today, volunteers at its Teen Center – and recently won an award for it.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosMarch 11, 2025
Krave Marketing brings back Kāneʻohe Night Market for St. Paddy’s Day weekend
The family-friendly event planned for Saturday, March 15, on Oʻahu’s Windward side, will feature more than 125 vendors, free keiki activities and live performances by Kaʻimi Hananoeau, Peni Dean and The Imposters Band.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosMarch 10, 2025
School vaccine measure HB1118 is dead for this session
A unanimous vote by the House on Tuesday shelved the controversial bill that would bar religious exemptions to vaccines at Hawaiʻi schools.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosMarch 08, 2025
LJ Duenas on how Alzheimer’s Association Hawaiʻi supports local families
Duenas, who has led the local chapter for five years, talks about his personal connection to the cause and the shared commitment of staff, volunteers and partners, to care for ʻohana affected by dementia and other brain diseases.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosMarch 07, 2025
Nonprofit seeks business help to boost volunteerism
National Volunteer Month is coming up in April. In Hawaiʻi, volunteer opportunities are listed year-round by local nonprofit Kanu Hawaiʻi, whose mission is to help people connect with one another through compassionate actions that build more resilient communities. Executive Director Keone Kealoha shares how organizations and businesses can engage with local volunteers and students, as well as visitors.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosMarch 06, 2025
What’s free to do at the 2025 Honolulu Festival and why this decade-long volunteer ‘keeps coming back for more’
For the first time, the Honolulu Festival Foundation will charge admission for its offerings at the Hawai‘i Convention Center, where most of the cultural and music performances, activities and exhibits are held. Many outdoor events will be free to the public. Since 2011, Conrad Maranon has volunteered at the festival. He shares his personal experiences and a charge to those looking to get involved.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosMarch 05, 2025
HOPA hosts community celebration
Shave ice brought the community together in ʻĀina Haina over the weekend during a two-day celebration commemorating the recent closure of Uncle Clay’s House of Pure Aloha.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosMarch 03, 2025
Community organizations advocate for Hawaiʻi’s working families at the Capitol
HCAN Speaks!, the lobbying arm of Hawaiʻi Children Action Network, spearheaded its first Working Families Day at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol on Friday, complete with a resource fair featuring more than 50 nonprofits, family activities and a rally around legislation. Here’s what government and nonprofit leaders said about their efforts.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosMarch 01, 2025
With HB1118 advancing, here’s a look at the state mandated vaccines for public school kids
As the measure that would stop new religious exemptions to vaccines at Hawaiʻi schools moves on to the Senate, readers may be wondering what vaccines are currently required and who decides how they get on the state's list. ASD spoke to DOE and DOH officials about the requirements. We also examined more than 2,000 pages of testimony submitted on HB118 on Feb. 21 and found that more than 1,600 people opposed eliminating the religious exemption, while 75 supported eliminating the exemption.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosFebruary 28, 2025
HANO’s Melissa Miyashiro navigates federal funding concerns, prepares for local impacts to nonprofits
Meet the executive director of Hawaiʻi Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations, who is tracking changes happening at the federal and state levels, to help strengthen the local sector by providing information and resources.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosFebruary 28, 2025
3 strategies to address childhood homelessness in Hawaiʻi
Family Promise of Hawaiʻi held its first-ever Childhood Homelessness Symposium on Tuesday, which brought together nearly 200 local and national experts and stakeholders to help inspire solutions for childhood homelessness statewide. Topics included homelessness among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, early childhood education, affordable housing and more.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosFebruary 26, 2025
Why this mom is advocating for water safety statewide
On Feb. 28, which is the 21st anniversary of her daughter's death, Allison Schaefers Dubovsky will visit the detention pond where 5-year-old Charlotte “Sharkey” Schaefers drowned rescuing her friend. The bereaved mom shares how advocating for legislation and developing a water safety plan this year will help prevent drowning in Hawaiʻi.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosFebruary 24, 2025
Aloha Freedom Coalition rallies against vaccine bill HB1118
The grassroots organization hosted a rally at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol on Thursday opposing legislation that would bar new non-medical exemptions to vaccines at schools.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosFebruary 22, 2025
Capitol buzzes amid Hawai‘i Farm Bureau’s annual Ag Day
Organizations that support local food production convened Thursday at the Hawai‘i State Capitol to boost awareness of bills this legislative session. Tai-li Medeiros from Kauaʻi County Farm Bureau, who was passing out apples and other produce donated by Garden Isle farmers, said the event is great for networking.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosFebruary 20, 2025
Hawaiʻi’s Vivia Cares expands to Washington
Executive Director Racheal Lynch on bringing a senior care model developed in Honolulu to Olympia. She shares hiring tips and more about her focus on ‘keeping the aloha mentality.’
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosFebruary 20, 2025
Vibe turns 5, celebrates by giving $5,000 worth of free marketing services to one local nonprofit
In 2020, founder and CEO Erica Mau-Schank branched out from her family’s business to create her own Hawaiʻi-based marketing agency, which caters to more than 30 small- to medium-sized companies and nonprofits. Today, her mission to boost business, while increasing community impact, continues.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosFebruary 19, 2025
Gov. Josh Green walks on water at the Capitol
No, it wasn't real water, but rather a glass pool mock-up of what will replace the Hawaiʻi State Capitol’s existing moat by December 2026.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosFebruary 15, 2025
Family business based in ‘Ewa Beach creates clothing that captures ‘working with aloha’
For Shane and Corry Ahlo, the owners of Ahlo’s Apparel, family and faith are what drive their passion to promote the aloha spirit in work environments. In addition to their full-time jobs in construction and as parents, the couple creates HI-Vis safety aloha shirts and other items, for those who want to rep Hawaiʻi wherever they are.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosFebruary 14, 2025
Bronson Chang, co-founder of Uncle Clay’s House of Pure Aloha, reflects on closing the ‘Āina Haina shave ice shop and living Pure Aloha
“It’s a time to honor and celebrate the legacy of HOPA with the people who made it special,” Bronson said. “This is why we were so determined, never threw in the towel for so many decades, even when I think most would have.”
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosFebruary 13, 2025