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Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

, is now open to the public. The Pinehopple Room is located on the second floor, directly above the Kaka

The space was previously home to the HI Brau Room, Aloha Beer Co.’s speakeasy that the biz operated primarily as a private event space.

“We always loved the room and felt like it had so much character,” says Candice Ishikawa, Aloha Beer Co.’s head of marketing and brand. “People who discovered it seemed to immediately fall in love with it, and we saw an opportunity to reimagine the space as something more distinctly connected to Aloha Beer and to Hawaiʻi, while opening it back up for more people to enjoy.”

Ishikawa explains that The Pinehopple Room concept came from the idea of taking the creativity and craft that goes into brewing beer and applying that same spirit to cocktails and hospitality.

“We wanted to create an intimate, upscale lounge that still felt unmistakably part of Aloha Beer, while offering a different side of Aloha Beer from the casual beer garden downstairs,” she says. “The name ‘Pinehopple’ comes from our logo icon and is a play on pineapple and hops, bringing together something immediately evocative of Hawaiʻi, with our roots as a brewery.”

[{"type":"text","text":"The venue’s name impacted its décor and ultimate vibe."}]

“We didn’t want to lose the darker, intimate character that made the original space special, so we built it with a vintage Hawaiʻi-inspired aesthetic, adding tropical botanicals, greenery, warm lighting and other details that make the room feel lush and inviting,” Ishikawa says.

She says The Pinehopple Room’s beverage program is where “the concept comes to life.” The drinks were inspired by the golden age of Hawaii cocktail culture, but the team wanted to bring its own unique twist to the beverages.

“We kept coming back to the idea that classic Hawaiʻi cocktails deserve to be remembered, not simply replicated,” Ishikawa says. “We’re taking those flavors and traditions, and reinterpreting them through fresh ingredients, thoughtful technique and our perspective as a craft brewery.”

So far, popular cocktails include the tropical itch ($18), Molokai fogcutter ($16) and paradise of the Pacific ($21). The tropical itch is made with 

bourbon, rum, orange curaçao, lilikoʻi, pineapple and a dark rum float; the Molokai fogcutter features aged and white rums, pineapple, lilikoʻi, lemon and orgeat; and paradise of the Pacific includes aged rum, tamarind, pineapple and hibiscus grenadine, according to Ishikawa.

Customers can also enjoy a scorpion bowl for two ($38), which is served in a vintage-inspired fish bowl. The drink is designed to be shared and also doubles as a fun centerpiece for the table, according to Ishikawa.

She also explains that The Pinehopple Room team is excited to offer a series of guided spirit flights.

“Guests can explore bourbon, Scotch, international whiskies, agave spirits, and Caribbean rum or Hawaiʻi-made rum, with a guided tasting sheet that provides some background and context for each pour without making the experience feel overly formal,” she says.

Customers can also enjoy light bites that pair naturally with the cocktails. Highlights include Pinehopple sashimi trio (market price) — served with a lilikoʻi-wasabi glaze — Pinehopple shrimp cocktail ($12), spinach dip salmon belly bites ($18), Cuban sliders ($13), paprika chicken pops ($18) and a salami caprese flatbread ($15).

“On the food side, we wanted dishes that were easy to share and felt at home alongside the cocktail program,” Ishikawa says.

The Cuban sliders feature brioche buns stuffed with mayo-mustard, ham, kalua pork, Swiss cheese, pickled cucumbers and cilantro-orange sauce. The paprika chicken pops comprises chicken drummettes in paprika batter, served with blue cheese honey-Red Zeppelin buffalo sauce and celery curls. So far, the chicken pops, spinach dip salmon belly bites and sliders have been customer favorites.

Ishikawa explains that The Pinehopple Room team has been excited to welcome guests and have them experience “the way different kinds of craft come together in one space.”

“Pinehopple is also about the experience around what’s in the glass,” she says. “There’s a sense of nostalgia and vintage Hawaiʻi hospitality without trying to recreate a specific era. We want it to feel special, but never overly formal — a place where people can slow down, connect and stay awhile.”

The Pinehopple Room is currently open from 5 to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The lounge does not have a formal reservation system set up and is primarily open for walk-ins, but if a customer calls ahead, the venue can hold a table for them, according to Ishikawa.

“Aloha Beer has always been about creating places for people to gather, and Pinehopple gives us a new way to do that,” Ishikawa says. “Someone can have a beer in the beer garden downstairs, then head upstairs for a cocktail or whiskey flight and feel like they’ve stepped into an entirely different experience without ever leaving Aloha Beer. We’ve loved this room for a long time, and we’re excited to finally open the doors and share it with more people.”

The Pinehopple Room decor 092826

<title>The Pinehopple Room is a new upstairs lounge in Kakaʻako</title>

Located upstairs from Aloha Beer Co. on Queen Street, The Pinehopple Room — previously home to the HI Brau Room speakeasy — recently opened to the public. The upscale lounge features a vintage Hawaiʻi-inspired aesthetic, along with classic Hawaiʻi cocktails with a modern twist.

The Pinehopple Room is a new upstairs lounge in Kakaʻako

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Crime & Courts

The woman charged with murder after allegedly fatally shooting a man in Kailua last weekend was turned in by her father the day of the event, according to a Honolulu police report.

Hilinaikailimakualopali Keeno, 24, was charged on Sept. 30 with second-degree murder, carrying a firearm in the commission of a felony and improperly keeping a pistol or revolver. She is being held pending a $1 million bail.

An HPD document — which was submitted on Tuesday, Sept. 29, to the Honolulu Circuit Court to establish probable cause to detain Keeno without a warrant — states that Keeno’s father brought her to the Kailua Police Station less than an hour after 

was declared dead of a gunshot wound to the neck in the Kailua Target parking lot.

The report states that HPD special duty officers, who were working security at the Kailua Fall Festival that day, were called to assist with a group of festivalgoers involved in an argument at about 8:26 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26.

Officers escorted the group out of the festival and watched them head toward the Target parking lot, only to hear another altercation begin among the group minutes later.

During this new altercation, a pop resembling a gunshot was heard, and officers saw two men — one of whom was Keeno’s brother — assaulting a third. Both assailants were placed under arrest for disorderly conduct, while officers discovered Malone on the ground, covered in blood.

[{"type":"text","text":"Malone was declared dead at the scene by 8:43 p.m."}]

At 9:39 p.m., Keeno was brought to the Kailua Police Station by her father, who told police she was involved in the incident and wanted to provide a statement in the presence of her attorney.

According to the HPD report, no interview was conducted with Keeno that night. Subsequently, HPD sought photographs and videos from the public to help piece together the event and identify the shooter.

On Sept. 28, another witness identified Keeno as the shooter, and HPD confirmed that Keeno has one firearm registered in her name, a Sig Sauer P365 handgun.

[{"type":"text","text":"Following this, Keeno was placed under arrest."}]

Keeno’s preliminary hearing, when she will plead guilty or not guilty to the charges, will take place Monday, Oct. 5. She remains in custody.

Hpd 16x9

<title>Woman charged in Kailua shooting turned in by father</title>

Hilinakailimakualopali Keeno faces a $1 million bail for a second-degree murder charge.

Woman charged in Kailua shooting turned in by father

The Washington man charged with throwing a rock at a Hawaiian monk seal earlier this year can travel somewhat more freely now.

 in May with violating the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act by allegedly hurling a rock at an endangered monk seal on a Maui beach, narrowly missing the animal’s head.

Lytvynchuk was released on a $25,000 bond with several conditions in May. Those conditions restricted his travel to only the Western District of Washington — which covers Washington west of the Cascade Mountains — and O‘ahu, although he was only permitted to travel to the island for court purposes, and was prohibited from accessing any beaches while in the state.

However, at a status conference last week — at which Lytvynchuk was not physically present — Lytvynchuk’s travel restrictions were loosened to allow for work-related travel within Washington.

An agreement signed by Magistrate Judge Rom Trader now allows Lytvynchuk to travel within the full state of Washington. While he is only allowed to travel to O‘ahu for court purposes, with any travel to the island to be approved in advance by the court’s probation office, the restrictions do not mention any requirement to avoid beaches or marine animals.

While the status conference also established a trial date of Nov. 16, Lytvynchuk’s attorneys filed a motion Monday requesting that date be postponed to an unspecified date in 2027 for multiple reasons.

In particular, Lytvynchuk’s attorney’s are seeking to subpoena evidence from Delta Airlines — the airline he used to travel from Seattle to Maui — about whether the airline made any announcements or advisories regarding Hawaiian monk seals, endangered species or any prohibited actions on Lytvynchuk’s flight.

In addition, Lytvynchuk’s attorneys have outstanding requests with the state Attorney General, Department of Land and Natural Resources, the U.S. Department of Justice and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration regarding records of previous Hawaiian monk seal-related investigations.

Those records are intended to investigate “whether similarly situated persons accused of comparable conduct involving Hawaiian monk seals were treated differently from [Lytvynchuk]” and whether any differences in treatment indicate that Lytvynchuk’s right to equal protection is begin impeded, according to the motion filed Monday.

In any case, the subpoena and outstanding records requests are unlikely to be resolved in time for a November trial date, hence the request for a postponement.

Whether that request is granted will be determined at a hearing on Oct. 13. Lytvynchuk will also not appear in person at that hearing.

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<title>Travel restrictions eased for man accused of throwing rock at monk seal</title>

Igor Lytvynchuk can travel throughout Washington state again, although is still barred from Hawai‘i save for court business.

Travel restrictions eased for man accused of throwing rock at monk seal

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Rick Hamada

Business & Tourism

Columnists

[{"type":"text","text":"Hawai‘i’s tourism industry is in trouble. "}]

Now, this is not breaking news. We have encounted over generations the apparent demise of our No. 1 economic engine. Time after time, we have emerged, at times even stronger, and business would continue, even flourish. 

However, our dependence on one industry would also continue. The exposure would continue. And our vulnerabilities would become more pronounced promoting uncertainty, anxiety and, yes, economic failures. 

I am not a tourism expert. I worked in the tourism industry when I was a younger and more adventurous man and I have been blessed to have hosted national and international tours with listenters 20-plus times over the years. But I do have eyes and I do have a degree of expectation and perspective when it comes to travelling and touring. I am sure you do to so instead of asking the “experts” I am asking you. 

[{"type":"text","text":"Why is Hawai‘i tourism in trouble? "}]

We first have to understand that our tourism is a product in the open market. Tourism is one of the most competative industries anywhere. Our product is the unique experience of Hawaiian culture and beauty in the Pacific. When selling a product, one of the most important aspects to a customer is value. 

When you’re considering a family vacation what is likely first on the list? You would think that it’s destination but leading the charge is price. Cost. Cash. Budget. Now, you may say it is destination first but I maintain that cost that is often the final deciding factor. 

OK, yes, some tourists don’t care about the cost. I want to go to Paris and I’m going. I want to go to Australia and I’m going. I want to go to Boise and I’m going. Well, two out of three and you get the picture. This percentile of traveler is comparatively low.

From the purveyor's perspective you base your business on one of two premises. 

One, you rely on volume. Your pricing and inventory determine profitability. I need to sell a thousand widgets a day at X amount of dollars, that covers my hard cost and what remains is profit. You don’t care who buys. As long as a thousand are sold, you’re good. 

Two, you rely on premium pricing to attract a specific demographic. You market your product as essential, desirable, exclusive, and assure the customer they will receive a premium return on their increased investment. It's not quantity, it's quality.

[{"type":"text","text":"There are some businesses that co-mingle these two different strategies."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"One that comes to mind is Macy's."}]

Macy's, especially here at home, has a certain cache, a reputation for upscale brands in virtually all they sell. Clothing and jewelry come to mind. But they are also known for their deeply discounted sale items. When the kids were young, we shopped at Macy's at Kāhala Mall for their clothing from infant to pre-teen years. It's not that we were loaded but the discounts on Polo, for example, were 30% to 50% off and more on some items. Cha-ching! 

[{"type":"text","text":"Hawai‘i marketed our tourism product in a similar way."}]

We would have travel organizations and agencies in the past that would market a discounted or budget experience in Hawai‘i. The state would rely upon great numbers of visitors to generate more of a volume-based revenue model. And it worked. For example, in 2019, we hosted about 10.4 million tourists. That's about 10 times the number of residents statewide. This number generated over $17.75 billion. From a marketing and sales perspective, this would define success.

[{"type":"text","text":"Then Covid hit."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Numbers plummeted, both in visitors and revenue."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"The industry and, well, life took a hit."}]

I'm in a fairly decent mood so I'm not going to continue down the Covid path. We all know because we all lived it.

[{"type":"text","text":"However, in the years to follow, recovery has been mixed."}]

The upside. Domestic travel increased dramatically. Many believe Hawai‘i is an exotic destination, albeit one safely within the United States.

The downside. International travel continues to produce flaccid numbers far below pre-pandemic times. 

According to a recent Civil Beat report, "there was once a time when about 1 in 4 tourists on Oʻahu was from Japan. In 2019, almost 1.5 million people — 24% of the total tourism traffic that year and more than any country outside the U.S. — came from the island nation. But that’s not the case anymore, according to data from the Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Over the last six years, the number of people traveling to Oʻahu from Japan dropped by roughly 50%. Last year, only about 1 in 8 tourists visiting the island was from Japan — a total of just over 715,000 people."

International tourists, especially Japanese, are the ideal customers. They spend more, they stay longer, and they'll come back. Unfortunately, that's not the case now.

"The number of foreign travelers coming to the Hawaiian islands crashed by 95%," Civil Beat reported, "falling from roughly 3 million in 2019 to just over 148,000 in 2021. The number of tourists from abroad remains about half of what it was before Covid-19. Visitors from countries including Korea, Canada and Australia still aren’t back to their pre-pandemic numbers."

[{"type":"text","text":"A post-COVID reality was the impact to locals after the pandemic."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Without tourists, we could again enjoy our home!"}]

Beaches were clear and open. Hiking trails were accessible. Locals reacquainted themselves with places like Waikīkī, the Ko'Olina lagoons, and tourist typical attractions. Once we got a taste of it, things changed. Overtourism was always a topic of discussion but this time it was more than just talk. Educational outreach to visitors on how to behave was implemented and the already-high rates for accommodations, car rentals and meals and restaurants went higher and higher. Interestingly, despite these changes, tourism numbers were holding steady for the first quarter of 2026.

[{"type":"text","text":"That swiftly changed."}]

Hawai‘i tourism is now having its worst year in recent memory, with storms, shorter stays, and higher costs worrying the industry. Residents and businesses have faced one severe weather event after another, and the tourism sector has taken a huge hit.

As a series of storms, powered by a strong El Niño, continued to skirt around the Islands, the number of visitors on any given day dropped dramatically. In March, the average daily visitor census was 

 compared with the year before. The decline widened to 

The state reported there was over $1 billion in damages suffered due to these storms. Coupled with the drop in tourism revenues the financial situation looks bleak.

I understand resiliency and that incredible quality which is found in our people, businesses and more.

[{"type":"text","text":"Yes, through time and incalculable efforts, we will overcome."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"But, at what price?"}]

I admire and commend the positivity held by those who were the most negatively affected by storms and more. You should be elevated, celebrated and advocated by all.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"italic"}],"text":" "}]

Unsplash waikiki aerial

<title>Hamada: Tourism on the rocks</title>

We said we wanted fewer visitors and our wish was granted — and now revenue is dropping. Where do we go from here?

Hamada: Tourism on the rocks

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

[{"type":"text","text":"Caizel Jesus-Kapesi's parents knew it the day he was born. "}]

The son of Clisha Jesus and TeeJay Kapesi, Caizel was the second of four children and weighed 10 pounds at birth. 

"Literally as soon as he was born, we took him home, and that's how it started — Fatboy. He was a chunky kid," Clisha Jesus-Kapesi recalled to Aloha State Daily. 

And thus, Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi, the one the world has grown to love in recent days, was born. Clisha and TeeJay can't remember which parent coined the nickname, but it certainly stuck. 

In a 14-13 locally televised win at Leilehua on Aug. 21, Jesus-Kapesi completed 13 of his 20 passes for 193 yards, two interceptions and a touchdown. The gritty victory included a key first down in the closing minutes in which ‘Aiea went for it on fourth down deep in its own territory and converted to seal the game. For his efforts, Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi was named the Spectrum OC16 Impact Player of the Game. 

While interviewed by Spectrum's Jimmy Bender upon receiving his award, a TV super displaying Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi's name, weight, position and class was on display. The 6-foot-1, 268-pound sophomore quarterback quickly became an internet darling overnight, fans from around the world smitten with his name and social media posts of him reaching hundreds of thousands in reshares. Google Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi, and it would be hard to find a national sports content website that hasn't recycled the same set of pictures of him. 

"You must be here for Fatboy," multiple members of the ‘Aiea football program tell a visitor at a recent Na Ali‘i practice. 

Perhaps the first thing to know about Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi is that he's fully embraced his lifelong nickname. He politely introduces himself as Fatboy, and in the days since his viral introduction to the world, people who have never met him will approach him and say, 'Hey, you're Fatboy!'"

Due to the viral nature of his name, Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi was asked if local brands, such as local restaurant chain Fatboy's, have reached out. 

"I don't know about the restaurant yet. Hopefully soon," 

. "I was thinking about the FatBoy ice cream. That too, hopefully."

For those curious to learn more about him, what else should we know about Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi?

"I love cheeseburgers. I love burgers. That's one thing about me. I love burgers, especially McDonald's burgers," he said while flashing a grin. "You know, that's the one right there."

Life for the Jesus-Kapesi family has not been the same since last weekend. Their phones are still constantly buzzing with memes and comments. Through it all, Fatboy has stayed the same humble kid. During his viral interview, before he conceived it was possible he'd become as famous as he has, Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi gave the credit to God and his offensive line.  

"Being (seemingly everywhere) on social media, I take a lot of pride in it," he said. "I

t means a lot not just to me, but to my family. I'm putting my family's name out there, too."

Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi has been the starting quarterback on the varsity team at ‘Aiea High School since the beginning of his freshman year. He has a 3.7 grade point average and aspires to play college football. As ‘Aiea awaits improvements to its on-campus stadium, all of its games are on the road in 2026. Na Ali‘i improved to 2-0 after the Leilehua victory and will next take the field at Nānākuli on Saturday.

"I really, really want to play college football one day," he says. "My recruiting process so far, I'm working on it, but I'm ready."

A conversation with Clisha and TeeJay about Fatboy's ‘Aiea upbringing reveals why their son has been able to remain grounded despite his newfound fame. Young Caizel had his "knucklehead" moments, Mom says, but through strong parenting, he eventually learned and began to appreciate the process of earning everything he has, both good and bad. 

"'You can't do this, don't go do that. You have to do this to get that.' Having him work for his rewards. You want that? Then you work for it," Clisha says. "If you think we're hard, we're teaching you. He'll always be a kid at heart, and that's what I love about him."

Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi wouldn't gave gone viral last weekend if he weren't the Impact Player of the Game, and those go to winners. 

"I'm really proud of where he's at and where his potential could take him. We always tell him that what's done in the dark comes to light," TeeJay said. "The work he puts in on and off the field, the drilling he gets, letting him know that football's an avenue, and you can have all the talent, but you have to do everything right on and off the field. The talent can't outshine everything, and the classroom and the football field, one can't overcome the other, and he handles his business on that."

TeeJay is also an assistant linebackers coach for ‘Aiea, and he doesn't take it easy on Fatboy in practice. 

"Every day, we try to get this defense to bring the best out of not just him, but our offense as well," TeeJay said. 

The ‘Aiea community has supported Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi long before his viral moment. The rest of the world is now catching up. As nice as the attention is, nobody involved is pretending it's all been positive. 

"Seeing not only the positive comments, but the negative was really harsh," Clisha says. "I just had to remind him to just keep with the positive. (The attention) is something that we're not used to."

Mika Li‘ili‘i, ‘Aiea's head coach: 

"We always talk to the kids about social media. It can be evil and stuff like that. But in this situation, it's also a blessing for our school, for Fatboy to represent and bring some attention to our school and what we're doing. I know he feels it and he understands he's getting all the notoriety because his teammates are catching his balls and blocking for him and stuff like that."

Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi has played football for as long as he can remember, but he didn't get an opportunity to play quarterback until he was 12. 

He also dabbled in soccer and competitive hula, his 

 taking home a runner-up trophy during his only competition in 2019. 

Always on the bigger side, TeeJay remembers how he was placed as a lineman by default. "When he finally got his shot to be a quarterback, we hit the ground running, and that's who we have here today," Dad says. 

When one watches Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi throw a football, it's clear that doing so is easy to him. Using his upper body to gain torque, Fatboy spins it effortlessly in practice while his receivers practice multiple routes with him. 

Another thing that appears seamless to Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi: blending in with his teammates. In pre-practice stretching and jogging, he truly is one of the boys. His demeanor remains mellow and approachable.

Following a set of reps, his teammates, perhaps in acknowledgement of media around, break the huddle with "1, 2, 3, Fatboy!" 

[{"type":"text","text":"Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi can't help but laugh coyly."}]

"More people seeing that I'm on social media, I mean, it would be great for them to come to our games so we could show love to our community, show them what ‘Aiea High School football is about," he says. "For me, ‘Aiea is more than just a football program. It's home to me, so it means a lot."

Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi 082726

<title>‘Aiea quarterback Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi takes his newfound name fame in stride</title>

Jesus-Kapesi, the overnight viral sensation, confirms it's fine to call him by his nickname. He says he even prefers it.

‘Aiea quarterback Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi takes his newfound name fame in stride

Like the Hawai‘i prep football icons that came before him, Hunter Fujikawa is poised to become the next great quarterback to come out of Mililani High School. 

, Fujikawa, a junior with the Trojans, is hoping his name can be uttered in the same sentence by the time it's all said and done. 

 from schools such as Ohio State, Alabama and Oregon, Fujikawa, a 6-foot-2 four-star quarterback, is on pace to have been on the list of notable alumni regardless of the school that produced him. And prior to this summer, that school would have been Punahou. 

Fujikawa won the starting job on Punahou's varsity team as a freshman and in all likelihood would have held the role for all four years. 

"Just a great opportunity to play under coach 

 and (offensive coordinator) Samson Satele," Fujikawa told Aloha State Daily of his decision to transfer. "Being able to have that caliber of coaches to help me develop and get to the next level. God closes one door and opens another."

Fujikawa is far from the only former Punahou standout to join Mililani this offseason. Star 6-foot-4 receiver Zion White, who began his high school career with the Buffanblu, transferred to national powerhouse IMG Academy for his junior season. White returned to the Islands for his senior year and will suit up for the Trojans alongside Fujikawa. 

"It's been great so far," White said. "Over here, all the boys just have their heads down 24/7, just working super hard."

White and Fujikawa grew up playing against each other on the youth circuit — White for the ‘Ewa Beach Hammerheads and Fujikawa for Fiyah Squad. Fujikawa was a freshman when White was a sophomore racking up college offers before Fujikawa went on to do the same. 

"I knew he had potential," White said of Fujikawa. "We kind of just had to build that relationship. We spent multiple hours just throwing together and just spending time together. And the connection, honestly, hasn't gone anywhere. It feels like a brotherhood in a sense."

In addition to Fujikawa and White, the Trojans will also feature a trio of Satele brothers in linebacker Toa, and defensive linemen Trison and Tayden. Toa and Trison have already committed to Oregon, while Tayden is entering his freshman year. Their father and offensive coordinator, Samson Satele, is a former University of Hawai‘i standout offensive lineman and eight-year NFL veteran. 

"It's been great so far," Fujikawa said of the transition to Mililani. "I love the boys. This team, we should have a great year ahead of us."

White, who is entering his senior year, has already committed to California, choosing the Golden Bears over a 

. Fujikawa, meanwhile, says he's putting his recruitment "on pause" in order to focus on his junior season. 

"Recruiting is going to keep going, but I just want to continue to build relationships with coaches and focus on the season, and then see what happens after," Fujikawa said. 

Mililani's season officially begins on Aug. 14 with a home game against Liberty High School of Henderson, Nev. As a program, the Trojans have two state titles to their name: one in 2014 as the HHSAA Division I champions, their lone top-tiered state crown. Mililani won the 2016 Division I HHSAA state title, but it was the same year the state introduced a new top tier in the Open Division. 

"What everybody wants to do and everyone's vision is winning the state championship," Fujikawa said. 

Added White, when asked about his individual goals for the 2026 season: "I have personal goals, but honestly, I'm a team-first kind of guy and I just want to win states above all." 

Mililani football 080328

<title>Mililani's new dynamic duo looks to take Trojans back to HHSAA mountaintop</title>

Former Punahou teammates Zion White and Hunter Fujikawa are reunited at Mililani and have the Trojans thinking big ahead of the 2026 high school football season.

Mililani's new dynamic duo looks to take Trojans back to HHSAA mountaintop

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ASD Staff

Hashbrown is a social pup, who gets along well with people and other dogs, and remains composed when exploring new spaces.

Hashbrown on Ilio Explorers with Beth 16 9

Adopt A-Pet March 31, 2025: Meet Hashbrown, ʻa gentle and adaptable companionʻ

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

The Hawaiian Humane Society says, "If you’re looking for a loyal, playful companion who loves adventure and cuddles, Ahi might be your perfect match!"

Adopt a pet Ahi 3.28.25

Adopt A-Pet March 28, 2025: Meet Ahi, a snuggly pup who loves a good treat

Learn how to adopt this pup named Bubbles from the Hawaiian Humane Societyʻs Mōʻiliʻili Campus.

Adopt a Pet Bubbles 3.27.25

Adopt A-Pet March 27, 2025: Meet Bubbles, a smart ʻgoofballʻ terrier mix

ASD is thrilled to debut this adopt-a-pet series, thanks to an ongoing partnership with the Hawaiian Humane Society, which has two locations on Oʻahu. Getting us started is Pata!

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Adopt A-Pet March 26, 2025: Meet Pata, a playful pit bull terrier mix

<title>Adopt a Pet</title>

Aloha Spirit

Kevin Clegg, who first adopted a pet rat from the nonprofit 13 years ago, now volunteers at the organization’s Mōʻiliʻili campus weekly. He shares what initially prompted him to give back to the community, what he likes most about working in adoptions and why if you love animals, it’s a great cause to join.