Aloha Spirit

Broadway producer and Hawaiian Council partner on new musical

The production shares the story of Hiʻiaka, who sets out on a journey to find the lover of her sister, Pele. The new production, which was created through a partnership between WitzEnd Productions and Hawaiian Council, will have its world premiere this week.

Katie HellandOctober 07, 2025

Uncles and Aunties: Robert Castro keeps plantation history alive

Through his years of volunteer work at Hawai‘i’s Plantation Village in Waipahu, Castro pays his respects to Hawai‘i's history and to that of his own family.

Cheryl Chee TsutsumiOctober 06, 2025

Art contest for keiki open for submissions

Young artists have a chance to win cash prizes and showcase their artwork at Capitol Modern. Submissions opened Oct. 1. Winners of the regional competition get a chance to compete at the national level.

Katie HellandOctober 03, 2025

Faith inspires Cobalt Zucker to do good in his neighborhood

Zucker, the face behind @trashcleanupshawaii, started cleaning up around his Oʻahu neighborhood during Covid. Now, through social media, his goal is to inspire others to do the same.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosOctober 02, 2025

Hawai’i Red Cross CEO on preparedness and priorities

Aloha State Daily recently sat down with Molly Schmidt, who was named interim CEO of American Red Cross the Pacific Islands Region in May and took the helm in August, for a wide-ranging conversation. Topics included her prior experience with the organization, lessons-learned from local disaster response, current priorities and more.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosOctober 01, 2025

JABSOM, HILT unite to train mental health providers to serve Isle communities

The University of Hawai‘i John A. Burns School of Medicine Department of Native Hawaiian Health and nonprofit Hawai’i Land Trust offer training to behavioral health specialists in clinical and culture-based care to better serve keiki and families across the Islands through new innovative program.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosSeptember 30, 2025

Donna Apisa named 2025 Realtor of the Year

Since 1967, Hawai‘i Realtors — a statewide professional trade organization — has annually recognized an outstanding Realtor in the state for their work in the interest of fellow Realtors, the profession and the community.

Stephanie SalmonsSeptember 30, 2025

Hawai’i nonprofits weave together at HANOCON

The annual event held by Hawai’i Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations, or HANO, convened industry professionals — as well as allies, supporters and advocates — to learn new strategies, share ideas and collaborate, while strengthening one another to carry out service to local communities.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosSeptember 29, 2025

Community Voices: Empowering the diaspora in the Pacific Northwest

“No matter how long you’ve been away from home, it’s still home,” says Leialoha Kaula.

Megan Ulu-Lani BoyantonSeptember 29, 2025

Celebrate National Coffee Day with these buzz-worthy deals

National Coffee Day is coming up Monday, Sept. 29. These discounts and deals ensure you have a ‘brew’-tiful day.

Kady Pascual & Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 27, 2025

Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra offers free ocean-themed concert

Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra is teaming up with the University of Hawaiʻi on this free concert themed around the ocean that includes animations, storytelling and hula. As of Monday, the performance was sold out.

Katie HellandSeptember 26, 2025

Meet this Maui Humane Society volunteer and the pets she cares for

Cassondra “Cassie” Christman, a volunteer at Maui Humane Society who wears many hats, loves working with animals — dogs in particular. Christman has used her own social media platform to advocate for adopting and fostering furry friends, in addition to sharing the organization’s needs from wishlists for specific pets to relocating dogs from Molokai and Lānaʻi.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosSeptember 25, 2025

Nonprofit aims to uplift Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students

Since 2020, The Kamery Lee Jr. Scholarships awarded by The Ho‘omau Foundation honors the life and legacy of an entrepreneur known by those he loved for his cultural pride, commitment to community and deep love for his family. His daughter, JoNelle Sood, established the foundation to empower Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students pursuing higher education, while staying rooted in their values. Learn more about the program from Sood and one of this year's returning recipients, Christina Young.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosSeptember 24, 2025

Reader Submissions: Aloha State Daily wants to share your sky photos

Whether you live here or are visiting, we’d love to share a recent photo that you have captured while enjoying views of the Hawaiian Islands.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosSeptember 23, 2025

Community Voices: Geothermal energy — solution or sacrilege?

The subject of geothermal energy has long divided the Native Hawaiian community. Proponents cite energy sovereignty and decreased reliance on foreign oil. Opponents point to the genealogical, cultural and spiritual ties that many Hawaiians have to Pele.

Cedric DuarteSeptember 23, 2025

5 questions with Pastor Mark Mohr of Christafari

Amid the Gospel reggae band’s Hawaiian Island Tour: Sounds of Salvation, Aloha State Daily talks story with Mohr about the group’s early beginnings and current goals, which include sharing a new album and biblical message to the masses worldwide, while uplifting the next generation of musicians.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosSeptember 19, 2025

Hawai‘i scientist discovers "Chewbacca" coral

Shaggy new coral species found off Molokai given name of Star Wars character.

Michael BrestovanskySeptember 18, 2025

Hamada: Fixing what's wrong in America

A lot of people feel like America is running off the rails, following the assassination of Charlie Kirk last Wednesday. The solution could be as simple as getting back to some basic rules we all agree on — don't kill anybody, don't lie about them, don't covet.

Rick HamadaSeptember 16, 2025

Hawai‘i conservatives mourn Charlie Kirk

Scores gather on Friday for a vigil in memory of slain conservative commentator.

Michael BrestovanskySeptember 15, 2025

Uncles and Aunties: Joanne “Cookie” Fujio's fight against ALS

When Gary “Black” Miyashiro was diagnosed with ALS, he and his wife, Joanne “Cookie” Fujio immediately became champions of the ALS Network. It's work Joanne has continued to do, a decade after his death. The next Hawai‘i Walk & Roll to Cure ALS is coming up on Saturday, October 11, at Kapi‘olani Park

Cheryl Chee TsutsumiSeptember 15, 2025

Catch Henry Kapono and other legends in September concerts

Henry Kapono will join well known and up-and-coming singers and musicians for the Home in the Islands Music Festival, hosted by the Henry Kapono Foundation. Among the events is the foundation’s inaugural In the Key of Aloha fundraiser gala, which features Kapono, Jerry Santos, Brother Noland, Kimié Miner, Tavana, and artists from the On the Rise program at the ʻAlohilani Resort Waikīkī Beach.

Katie HellandSeptember 12, 2025

Windward Community College’s Paniolo BBQ fundraiser celebrates culture and community

Supported by the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, the fundraising event is slated from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20, at the college’s Great Lawn, and will feature live music from ʻAlewa and Hawaiʻi Loa, a mechanical bull, petting zoo, Texas Hold 'Em, roping competitions and more. It is free to attend though pre-orders for BBQ meals are encouraged to help raise money for student scholarships at the college.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosSeptember 12, 2025

‘First real opportunity’ for public input on Ford Island’s future

Now through Oct. 4, The National Park Service is seeking public feedback for the sites it manages on Ford Island, which include six bungalows and the USS Oklahoma and USS Utah memorials. Pearl Harbor National Memorial Superintendent Tom Leatherman shares why the proposed long-term site management plan is needed now and how community members can weigh in via in-person and virtual meetings, as well as an online survey.