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Tom Yamachika

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David "Waxer" Tipton

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Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya Kapanui

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Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Aloha Spirit

Hawaii History

After 25 years as the general manager of the Wailea Community Association, Frank “Bud” Pikrone plans to retire this fall. A search for his successor is underway led by the board of director’s hiring committee and Inkinen Executive Search. 

“I volunteered to spend time with whoever they hire to get them used to the surroundings,” Pikrone told Aloha State Daily. “I’ll leave the hiring to the professionals. They’re looking for someone local, an internal or external candidate, who understands Maui and how relationships work on this island. If they have a connection to Wailea, even better.”

Interested in applying? See the job posting 

 or contact Inkinen Executive Search Consultant Cheryl Cross at 808-380-5445, or email ccross@inkinen.com.

When asked what his advice would be for his successor, Pikrone said, “Be you and don’t try to please everybody. This is a special place. The board would be happy if you just do what you do best.” 

He joined the 1,500-acre master-planned resort community as general manager in 2001, overseeing three staff members and monitoring development. Today, he leads a much larger team including office personnel, maintenance and landscape crews and 24/7 security officers, as well as different committees who handle design and architecture. 

“It’s grown since I came on board. I don’t think most people realize that we don’t own the land or the median strips or the trees, but our team trims all of the trees, fixes the irrigation lines, maintains the public areas – restrooms, parks and beach accesses, and even roadways – that belong mostly to the county, just to keep the common places in the shape that our members expect it to be.”

According to the organization, “membership consists of all property owners in Wailea, including individual condominiums, hotels, recreation and commercial amenities, single-family homes and undeveloped lots and land parcels,” which today totals more than 2,400 individuals, families and companies.

He said another responsibility of the GM is to inform members about ongoing construction and updates to the issues most important to them. “For instance, over the last few years, we lost some monkeypod trees due to the storms that came through here. They were big and had been there for 50-plus years. The community wanted to know what we were going to do about it. So, we worked it out with one of the hotels on the property to transplant their trees where we had lost ours. Those are the types of resolutions we work through together and collaborate on.”

Reflecting on his time at the Wailea Community Association, Pikrone is most proud “of the little things,” he said, like building a dog park that features new fencing and a silhouette landmark of his own pet, as well as key hires that make the day-to-day possible. 

During his tenure, he also developed a charitable giving arm within the organization that is funded from a portion of the members’ dues. One beneficiary is the University of Hawai’i Maui College Nursing Program, for which funding has covered airfare to take their licensing test on Oʻahu and scholarships.

In retirement, Pikrone plans to stay in Hawai’i with his wife, get back into golf and playing the ‘ukelele and guitar, go to happy hours and remain active in this community he’s lived in for 27 years. Prior to this role, the pair lived in Chicago, frequenting Cubs games when he was not working in the commercial design and marketing space. “That’s why they hired me when they did,” he recalled. “They were looking for someone business minded.”

The Wailea Community Association was chartered in 1987 to “provide the management, maintenance, protection, preservation, aesthetic and architectural control and development of the 1,500-acre master-planned Wailea Resort community,” the nonprofit corporation said. “The land area is approximately bounded by Pi‘ilani Highway, Kilohana Road, South Kīhei Road, the Pacific Ocean and Kaukahi Street.” 

Pikrone added, “We’re not just a wealthy community, we’re really a community that embraces the culture of this area and the entire state.”

Timeline (Source: “Wailea, reflections on Honuauʻula" by The Wailea Community Association)

1957: Matson Navigation Co. purchases 1,500 acres along the South Maui coastline, later to become Wailea Resort.
1969: Alexander & Baldwin acquires 1,500 acres from Matson Navigation Co.
1972: The 172-acre Blue Golf Course opens as Wailea’s first 18-hole golf course.
1975: Wailea’s Tennis Club opens; Ekahi Village Phase I is launched, and sales begin on Fairway I homesites.
1977: Wailea Shopping Village, later to become The Shops at Wailea, opens.
1984: Wailea Land Corp. purchases Northwerstern Mutual Life Insurance’s 50% interest in Wailea to form Wailea Development Company Inc., a subsidiary of Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.
2017: Wailea Resort in Pae‘ahu ahupua‘a in the district of Honua‘ula consists of seven hotels, 2,200 residences, three shopping centers, three world-class courses and a tennis club.

In 2019, the Wailea Community Association published a book called “Wailea, reflections on Honuauʻula,” honoring the historical roots of this district in Pae‘ahu ahupua‘a. In its foreward, Pikrone wrote, “Before I moved to Wailea more than 20 years ago, I was a regular visitor to Maui ... thankful to meet and become friends with many local residents. 

“When I eventually took this position at the resort, I was concerned about this sense of disconnection. So, some years after my arrival, I made a commitment to do what I could to bring the depth of Hawaiian culture to Wailea. I knew this would provide a common identity and sense of place to all who came to visit." 

He continued sharing lessons from from his kumu, who had invited him to an ʻawa ceremony. “As I was speaking, a pueo, a Hawaiian owl, flew at my head level directly behind me along the shoreline,” which was a positive sign, the kumu told him at the time. 

“It was a blessing and honor I will never forget,” said Pikrone in the book. “I encounter the pueo occasionally, as I watch the sunset or walk my dog, and it is a constant reminder of how the Hawaiians welcomed me, embraced me and enriched my life.” 

The book has since been passed onto homeowners of the Wailea Community Association to help give them a sense of place, both on Maui and in Hawaiʻi, he said.

For more information about the Wailea Community Association, visit 

Maui Wailea Assoc GM Bud Pikrone Bud Pikrone 16x9

<title>Bud Pikrone to retire as GM of the Wailea Community Association after 25 years</title>

Since 1987, the nonprofit corporation has stewarded the 1,500-acre master-planned Wailea Resort community on Maui, which today, has over 2,400 members and a budget of more than $3.5 million. A search for Pikrone’s successor is underway led by the board of director’s hiring committee and Inkinen Executive Search.

Bud Pikrone to retire as GM of the Wailea Community Association after 25 years

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Crime & Courts

A U.S. Marine stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i in Kāne‘ohe Bay was arrested last weekend for allegedly sexually assaulting an 11-year-old in Kailua.

Carlos David Becerraluis, 19, was arrested Saturday, April 19, on four charges of first-degree sexual assault, three of third-degree sexual assault, five of first-degree child abuse, two of promoting pornography to a minor and one of child enticement.

According to a Honolulu Police Department report, a Kailua mother informed the police earlier this month that she had found sexually explicit messages between her daughter and an unknown male on her daughter’s phone. Those messages crossed multiple messaging platforms, but began on the France-based app Wizz.

The daughter told police the male’s name was Carlos and that he was 15 years old. However, subsequent investigation of the male’s phone number identified him as Becerraluis, who Naval Criminal Investigative Service identified as a 19-year-old Marine.

According to the report, the victim told police that Becerraluis had first contacted her through Wizz, a messaging app aimed at youth between the ages of 13 and 24. Wizz touts on its website a userbase of between 4 million and 5 million users and claims that “25% of U.S. teens have downloaded Wizz.” 

According to Wizz’s website, users are organized into specific age groups — 14-year-old users can only interact with users of similar ages, for example — and new users must provide a clear photo of their faces so an AI can estimate their age for official verification.

The victim told police that she had claimed to be 14 on Wizz, but used a photograph of herself at 11 years old. Becerraluis, meanwhile, was identified on the app as being 15.

Becerraluis allegedly told the victim to download Snapchat to continue their conversation — pictures and videos sent via Snapchat automatically delete after being viewed. Following this, their conversations migrated to text messages, which were eventually obtained by Honolulu police officers.

In those messages, Becerraluis allegedly repeatedly asked the victim to meet in person, to which she eventually agreed. During their meeting in Kailua, she said, Becerraluis sexually assaulted her in his car multiple times.

Following that incident, police say, Becerraluis sent sexually explicit photographs to the victim, and encouraged her to do the same. After several exchanges, the victim stopped responding to his messages, which were eventually discovered by the victim’s mother.

First-degree sexual assault and first-degree child abuse are both Class A felonies, carrying a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. As the charges include child sex crimes, they also carry a mandatory minimum sentence of six years and eight months.

Becerraluis appeared in court Monday for an arraignment with bail set at $1 million. He will appear next in court for a preliminary hearing on April 23.

Aloha State Daily has reached out to the Marine Corps and Wizz for comment.

BECERRALUI Scarlos 16x9

<title>Messaging apps implicated in alleged assault of 11-year old</title>

A U.S. Marine charged with sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl had first contacted the child on an app called Wizz.

Messaging apps implicated in alleged assault of 11-year old

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

Mother’s Day is coming up on Sunday, May 11. Whether mom prefers brunch, buffets or a take-out meal, check out these options:

[{"text":"100 Sails Restaurant & Bar","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}]}]

: Prince Waikīkī, 100 Holomoana St., third floor, Honolulu 

: The Mother’s Day brunch buffet ($109 per adult, $54.50 for children ages 6-10) includes options like snow crab legs, seafood scampi, herb panko crusted baked salmon, smoked lamb chops, slow-roasted prime rib, porchetta, slow-roasted prime rib, smoked ‘ahi tartlets, s’mores cookies and more. 

The Mother’s Day dinner buffet ($107 per adult, $53.50 for children ages 6-10) includes similar offerings. 

: May 11, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; Mother’s Day dinner buffet is May 8-11, 5-9:30 p.m. 

[{"text":"Artizen by MW","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}]}]

: 888 Kapiʻolani Blvd., Ste. 102, Honolulu 

: The eatery’s Artizen Feast ($295) is designed to enjoy at home and can feed six people. The feast includes spinach and artichoke dip with won ton chips; ‘ahi nicoise salad with confit ‘ahi, long beans, kalamata olives, tomatoes and potato; garlic shrimp scampi with campanelle pasta; bucket of jidori fried chicken; Brandt beef pot roast; Small Kine Farms mushrooms and garlic jus; roasted vegetables and garlic potatoes; and Artizen chocolate cake. 

: Feast is available May 11; preorder deadline is May 9.

[{"text":"Eleven Honolulu","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}]}]

: Foodland Farms Ala Moana, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 

: Eleven Honolulu’s Mother’s Day weekend brunch buffet ($55 per person, $24 per child) includes assorted mini breakfast pastries, quiche Lorraine, a raw bar with local catch sashimi and Goose Point shucked oysters, ginger and orange glazed carrots, mochi waffle station, soft scrambled eggs, breakfast meats, carving station with herb and garlic crusted striploin roast, yuzu sake glazed salmon and assorted rotating desserts. 

: May 10-11, 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (last seating) 

[{"text":"Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}]}]

: Haleakalā Gardens, 3850 Wailea Alanui Drive, Wailea 

: The resort’s Mother’s Day brunch ($175 per adult, $65 per child) includes a raw seafood bar with crab claws, oysters, Hawaiian ‘ahi poke and sushi rolls; chocolate hazelnut French toast topped with crème anglaise, banana and Nutella sauce; Grand Wailea Benedict with crispy pork belly and spicy Hollandaise sauce; kimchi fried rice loco moco with Maui onion gravy; Chinese steamed dim sum, crispy Hawaiian snapper; Kona lobster mac and cheese; lilikoʻi meringue tart, mango crème brulee and fresh berries flambe on pineapple rum cake with vanilla ice cream. 

[{"text":"Hy’s Steakhouse","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}]}]

: Hy’s Mother’s Day brunch buffet ($150 per adult, $75 for children ages 6-12, free admission for children ages 5 and under) includes Hy’s signature Caesar salad, eggplant spinach quiche, assorted charcuterie and cheeses, spicy and shoyu ‘ahi poke, smoked salmon with herb roasted crostini, crab cake eggs Benedict, Hy’s slow roasted prime rib, honey glazed ham, leg of lamb with mint jelly, steamed snow crab, Mediterranean baked fish, chocolate decadence brownies, strawberry crunch trifle and more. 

: May 11, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. (last seating 1 p.m.) 

[{"text":"Kulu kulu Cake","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}]}]

: Royal Hawaiian Center, 2233 Kalākaua Ave., Honolulu

: Mother’s Day cakes are available in two flavors: strawberry shortcake (small $45, large $55) and strawberry rare cheese roll ($17.50). Preorders are accepted in-store and online. 

[{"text":"MW Restaurant","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}]}]

: 888 Kapiʻolani Blvd. Ste. 201, Honolulu 

: The eatery’s MW Feast ($695) is designed to enjoy at home and can feed six to eight people. It includes sashimi salad (‘ahi and Hamachi sashimi, crispy Asian slaw and soy wasabi vinaigrette), crab cakes with wasabi koji sauce, eggplant and tomato dip with toast points, miso honey glazed butterfish, taegu watercress salad, seafood lasagna, garlic Brandt beef prime rib with garlic au jus and wasabi sour cream, roasted vegetables and Yukon gold potatoes, and strawberry cheesecake for dessert. 

: Feast is available May 11; preorder deadline is May 9. 

[{"text":"Onkee Hawaiʻi","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}]}]

: This Mother’s Day special menu ($150 per person) includes a mini seafood platter with lobster tail, scallop and tuna poke; braised short rib served with a truffle cream sauce; beef platter with tenderloin, Miyazaki wagyu sirloin, fresh short rib and outside skirt; choice of Doenjang (soybean paste stew) or kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew); and mango bingsu for dessert. 

[{"text":"Orchids","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}]}]

: Halekūlani, 2199 Kālia Road, Honolulu 

: Orchids Sparkling Mother’s Day brunch costs $128 per adult ($68 for children ages 5-10 years). Highlights include a seafood bar with deep water snow crab legs, lobster tails and shucked oysters; assortment of sushi, nigiri and maki rolls; chef’s carving station with Waimanalo raised suckling pig, prime rib, sage-roasted turkey, roasted brisket and flank steak; housemade ice cream and sorbet station; and desserts like classic Halekulani coconut cake, red velvet cheesecake, warm chocolate bread pudding, lilikoʻi meringue tarts and more. 

[{"text":"Quiora Waikīkī","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}]}]

: The Ritz Carlton Residences, Waikīkī Beach, 383 Kalaimoku St., Honolulu 

: Quiora Waikiki’s Mother’s Day brunch buffet ($125 per adult, $63 for children ages 6-12, free admission for children ages 5 and under) includes options like Hy’s famous prime rib, crispy Mountain View Farms pork belly, assorted breakfast meats, corned beef and sweet potato hash, snow crab claws, Pacific oysters, matcha mousse cake, apple banana croissant bread with crème anglaise and more. There is a two-hour dining period. 

: May 11, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (last seating 1 p.m.) 

[{"text":"Slice by HB Baking","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}]}]

: Kilohana Square, 1016 Kapahulu Ave., Ste. 150, Honolulu 

: This dessert shop is featuring a fresh strawberry pie ($69) for Mother’s Day. It includes Tahitian vanilla bean pastry cream and citrus-glazed strawberries. 

[{"text":"Vintage Books","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}]}]

: 3660 Waiʻalae Ave. Ste. 101, Honolulu 

: This Mother’s Day prix fixe brunch ($70 per person) includes a mini scone flight (trio of house-baked scones), dim sum remix (smoked salmon gau gee), silken tofu with POG syrup and tapioca pearls, choice of entrée (‘ahi Benedict, shrimp and grits, French toast crunch or the eatery’s version of a loco moco), and chocolate sesame roll (three mochi sesame balls filled with warm chocolate and rolled in black sesame and poppy seeds) for dessert. The Mother’s Day prix fixe dinner ($90 per person) includes ong choi and Aliʻi hamakua mushroom salad, kimchi pork belly pancake, choice of entrée (crispy crab rice cakes, wagyu flat-iron steak, crispy brined roast chicken or summer squash masa cakes), and coconut flan for dessert. 

: May 11, brunch is 10 a.m.-3 p.m., dinner is 4:30-9:30 p.m. 

[{"text":"Wolfgang’s Steakhouse","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}]}]

: Royal Hawaiian Center, 2301 Kalākaua Ave., Honolulu 

: This special prix fixe menu ($79 per person) includes a glass of bubbles, choice of Beverly Hills chopped salad or Manhattan-style clam chowder, petite filet with au poivre sauce and garlic mashed potatoes, and New York cheesecake with a jumbo strawberry.

Mothers Day part 1 Wolfgangs Waikiki 041825

<title>Where to go on Mother’s Day 2025: Part 1</title>

Treat mom to unforgettable dining experiences.

Where to go on Mother’s Day 2025: Part 1

Child & Family Service authors 002

<title>Amanda Pump and Michael Young, Child & Family Service</title>