Aloha Spirit

It’s all about giving back.

ASD’s Aloha Spirit beat covers the kama‘āina who are making a positive difference in people’s lives. This is where volunteers are heroes and non-profit leaders are Hawai‘i’s navigators. We also cover Hawai‘i’s diverse faith community, and the religions which so deeply tie the Islands together.

Study: How Hawaiian cultural practices can help heal first responders

Vibrant Hawaiʻi CEO Janice Ikeda shares findings from its recent study, No Nā Pua, which put participants knee-deep in fishponds to work with the ʻāina – and each other. She shares the nonprofitʻs overall goal with studies like these, next steps and even whatʻs sheʻs been learning as a leader in the community.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosApril 25, 2025

Behind-the-scenes of Merrie Monarch prep with Hālau Pua Aliʻi ʻIlima

Kumu Hula Vicky Holt Takamine talks about how Hālau Pua Aliʻi ʻIlima will share a mele about Queen Emma and her visit to Mauna Kea at Merrie Monarch this week. For the longtime judge of the competition, Merrie Monarch is not about comparing hālau but rather supporting performances.

Katie HellandApril 24, 2025

Hawai‘i Island nonprofit seeks community support for transitional housing project

Humanity Hale’s Charis Higginson recently launched the organization’s first GoFundMe campaign requesting $550,000 to purchase a 10-acre farmstead in Captain Cook. Her goal is to build a safe haven for local youth, offering transitional housing, trauma-based support and Hawaiian arts and culture programming, as well as a community gathering space.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosApril 23, 2025

This volunteer hates food waste and loves giving back to the local community

Meet Sally Chow, a volunteer for Oʻahu nonprofit Aloha Harvest, which collects on average about 6,000 pounds of excess food per day and redistributes it for free to partner agencies that feed those in need.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosApril 22, 2025

Will the state acquire Downtown Honolulu’s Hawaiʻi Theatre?

Beset by mounting insurance costs, the historic theater's nonprofit operator hopes the state can take ownership.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosApril 22, 2025

Community Voices: Backyard Kuleana 2025 – When the systems fail, we must return to each other

We are looking at a collapse of many systems that our communities rely upon to sustain themselves. We will all need to step up our service going forward. Here, I share more about that forward-looking evolution.

Keone KealohaApril 21, 2025

Pigs, Spam and art – oh my!

This fundraiser combines painted pigs and cans of Spam with a chance to raise money for the Hawaiʻi Foodbank. Called the Piggyback Spam Project, it showcases made in Hawaiʻi artwork in a silent auction that closes April 26.

Katie HellandApril 19, 2025

What CRB Response is doing about this palm tree pest

Oryctes rhinoceros, also known as coconut rhinoceros beetle, was first detected in Hawaiʻi in December 2013 and has spread by the thousands across the Islands, most prominently on Oʻahu. We spoke to CRB Response, which has been on the frontlines of eradicating this invasive species in local communities.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosApril 18, 2025

The Future is Keiki Market comes to Kāhala Mall

More than a dozen young entrepreneurs have been getting a lesson in business and entrepreneurship through Vivistop Honolulu's Dream Incubator program, which culminates with The Future is Keiki Market this weekend.

Stephanie SalmonsApril 17, 2025

Video: Kumu Hula Michael Lanakila Casupang on Merrie Monarch, May Day celebrations

Spanning the next two weeks Casupang has three major showings. In this recorded conversation, he shares more about his upbringing and introduction to hula, as well as what audiences can expect to see at the 2025 Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo and May Day Lei Day celebration in Honolulu.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosApril 17, 2025

Easter service coordinator plans to serve hundreds of churchgoers at ‘Hill of Sacrifice’

Meet the coordinator of this historic event, The Rev. Samuel Domingo, a pastor at Wahiawa United Methodist Church. The 124th annual Punchbowl Easter Sunrise Service will take place this Sunday, April 20, starting at 6:15 a.m.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosApril 16, 2025

Nonprofit, community members to ‘March for Babies’ this weekend

March of Dimes Hawaiʻi is gearing up to host more than 700 walkers for one of its annual fundraising events this Saturday, April 19, at Kakaʻako Waterfront Park. The organization’s overall goal this year is to raise $280,000 for ʻohana statewide.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosApril 15, 2025

Young Entrepreneurs Marketplace on Oʻahu showcased student creations

More than 20 student-run businesses statewide set up shop at the KCC Farmersʻ Market on Saturday, selling snacks, beverages and skin care, among other locally made products, as part of the Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation’s Young Entrepreneurs Program.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosApril 15, 2025

Wai‘anae District Park gets renamed to honor late boxing coach

On Saturday, lawmakers, family and community members gathered to mark the official renaming of The Fred “Pops” Fernandez Pereira, Sr., Wai‘anae District Park Boxing Gym. Pops, who died April 25, 2024, was known for founding the Waiʻanae Boxing club and mentoring youth.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosApril 14, 2025

Hunt’s Tony Gaston shares how his work and community service go hand in hand

Gaston, a longtime Mililani resident and engineer, enjoys giving back to local public schools, as well the University of Hawai’i College of Engineering. For Hunt Companies Hawai‘i, he has also attended numerous Neighborhood Board meetings to help inform community members about ongoing road improvements at Kalaeloa.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosApril 14, 2025

Here are a few of the most well-attended Good Friday/Easter services on Oʻahu

Easter Sunday is a high attendance day for most churches across the country. While this is not an exhaustive list of Easter services statewide, hereʻs how three local organizations plan to celebrate "the greatest story ever told" this year.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosApril 11, 2025

3 things we learned from visiting a hula class at Mid-Pacific

Led by Kumu Hula Michael Lanakila Casupang, the private school’s Pūpūkahi halau has about 90 high school students, who study and practice Hawaiian language, culture and traditions, as part of their curriculum. Here’s how a recent $250,000 gift will help expand its hula program.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosApril 11, 2025

King Lunalilo Trust CEO shares plans to grow long-term care services, affordable housing for kūpuna

Meet Keolamaikalani Dean, a former attorney and health policy expert, who followed his aumakua and returned home to the Islands three years ago. Now, the CEO of King Lunalilo Trust and Home is mapping out expansion plans that include unveiling a new cultural center, affordable rentals and a larger long-term care facility.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosApril 10, 2025

RevoluSun: Homeowners beware of ‘misleading’ sales tactics by Mainland solar companies

RevoluSun’s Eric Carlson shares tips for individuals who may be targeted by door-to-door scammers. “If it feels off, it probably is,” he said in an interview with Aloha State Daily.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosApril 09, 2025

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

Local church network offers support to those affected by Myanmar earthquake

Aloha State Daily spoke with John and Gay Williams, directors of disaster relief ministries at Hawaiʻi Pacific Baptist Convention, to learn more about the organization's relief efforts underway to aid our neighbors in Southeast Asia, following the deadly 7.7-magnitude quake last week.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosApril 03, 2025

Longtime Hawaii attorney Gerald Clay wants his legacy to be ‘Partnering’

“Partnering", a collaborative approach designed to help groups become more effective, is an alternative to the legal system’s traditional dispute resolution because it promotes dispute prevention among stakeholders, says Clay, who is a trained facilitator. He recently wrote an article for the Hawai’i Bar Journal about why he launched Clay Partnering LLC, a company that aims to positively impact local businesses, nonprofits, government agencies and beyond.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosApril 02, 2025

District health offices to host community events in April

With National Public Health Week (April 7-13) right around the corner, Aloha State Daily spoke with Kaua‘i District Health Officer Dr. Janet Berreman about what attendees can expect from the Open House on April 11, as well as the initiatives she’s most excited about on Kauaʻi that are contributing to the state's health goals.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosApril 01, 2025

Block party for the keiki this Saturday

Looking for some free family fun this weekend on Oʻahu? Head to Our Kaka‘ako’s Keiki Street Festival presented by American Savings Bank on Saturday, March 29.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosMarch 29, 2025