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.

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

Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra offers free ocean-themed concert

Want to take your keiki to the symphony? 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.

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.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosSeptember 12, 2025

LahainaTown Action Committee to host cleanup event

Community volunteers from keiki to kūpuna can lend a hand at the 21st annual Lahaina Town Cleanup on Saturday, Sept. 27, as part of International Coastal Cleanup Month. Tambara Garrick, director of LahainaTown Action Committee, the organizer of the event, shares what she’s most looking forward to, the overall impact and what day-of participants can expect.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosSeptember 11, 2025

Auction supports surfer Dakota Briley’s recovery from pedestrian-vehicle collision

Now through Sept. 15, bid on items like signed Kelly Slater and John John Florence surfboards, signed guitars and ʻukuleles to golf and stays at The Ritz-Carlton O'ahu, Turtle Bay, gift cards to local restaurants and tour excursions, art and more — all benefiting Briley’s journey toward healing.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosSeptember 10, 2025

Frank Orrall reflects on Poi Dog Pondering and his new cookbook

The Henry J. Kaiser High School graduate is the founder of Poi Dog Pondering. Now, he is also the author of his first cookbook.

Katie HellandSeptember 09, 2025

Month-long fundraiser to support Kunia farmers, businesses

Nonprofits Kunia Village Development Corp. and the Hawai’i Agricultural Foundation, along with local businesses including Kō Hana Distillers and Nalo Farms, have launched the “Kōkua Kunia" campaign to support farmers in the area affected by the recent brushfires. A fundraising event is slated for Saturday, Sept. 20, at Kō Hana Distillers, which will feature a three-part rum tasting, food from various vendors in the neighborhood and a chance to meet first responders.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosSeptember 09, 2025

Catch this Gospel reggae band in Hawaiʻi for free this month

Christafari, a band of ‘musical missionaries’ who have performed across more than 85 nations since 1989, are set to play across three islands in September as part of its Hawaiian Island Tour: Sounds of Salvation. Learn more about the group, its members and mission, as well as where to watch them for free.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosSeptember 08, 2025

Empty Bowl Hawaiʻi returns after six-year hiatus

Proceeds from the event — set for Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Hawai’i Convention Center — will benefit Chef Hui and Aloha Harvest’s program, Feed the People Hawai’i, which combats food insecurity statewide. Hawaiʻi Potters’ Guild has contributed more than 3,000 hand-thrown bowls for guests to eat from and take home. Chef Mark Noguchi shares why he has participated in it for over a decade and the deeper meaning behind a bowl.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosSeptember 06, 2025

Audition for Duke’s Ukes

Duke’s Waikīkī is looking for young musicians to perform in its annual ʻukulele competition. Interested musicians can audition now through Sept. 10. First-place winners of the competition take home an ʻukulele made from koa.

Katie HellandSeptember 06, 2025

The Jabbawockeez donate and dance benefiting youth at Liliʻuokalani Center

The iconic white gloved and masked dance group made a pitstop in Hawaiʻi this week to perform at the new 97,000-square-foot building on Ward Avenue owned by Liliʻuokalani Trust. Aloha State Daily also took a tour of the eight-story facility, which includes a rooftop garden, fitness center and gym, commercial kitchen, collaborative and creative spaces and studios for dance, film production, broadcast media, and more, that serve Native Hawaiian youth ages 12 to 24.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosSeptember 05, 2025

Psychiatric practice born out of Mililani to expand

Fields Psychiatric Consultants Owner Dave Fields, who is a psychiatric nurse practitioner from Mililani and law student at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, shares how he got into private practice, what sets his business apart and plans for expansion on Oʻahu this year. Fields aims “to combine clinical credibility with legal leverage” to better represent patients and help them heal.

Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosSeptember 04, 2025

Art, aloha and steel guitar: Friday, Sept. 5 – Sunday, Sept. 7

Enjoy live music, tour ʻIolani Palace and participate in a festival honoring the Kōlea, also known as the Pacific Golden Plover. Check out these events and more happening this weekend on Oʻahu.

Katie HellandSeptember 03, 2025