https://youtu.be/SlrQhfmnhVg?feature=shared Songstress Irie Love is back and feeling elation thanks to a fresh sound, a forthcoming album and book, and “a new sense of confidence” in her art. It’s difficult to imagine Irie Love, the longtime queen of Hawaiian-reggae music, ever willingly walking away from the spotlight as a professional singer and recording artist. But that’s what she did following a rather rough patch in her personal life — she simply unplugged from it all. As Love explains, “I needed to take a break from music because of the way my very public divorce (in 2017) had affected ..read more

Fitness Center Supports Wildfire Victims Planet Fitness donated more than $13,000 to Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund. The fitness center also held a Maui Strong T-shirt fundraiser at its locations throughout the state. Pictured are (from left) Bryan Bustos, director of operations, Planet Fitness Hawai‘i and Malia Peters, senior director of philanthropy, Hawai‘i Community Foundation. Photo courtesy Planet Fitness Hawai‘i Service Club Aids Kailua Youth Center Rotary Club of Honolulu completed an improvement project at the Residential Youth Services and Empowerment Kawailoa Acces ..read more

Bank Supports Kidney Health, Awareness First Hawaiian Bank donated $25,000 to the National Kidney Foundation of Hawai‘i in support of its Kidney Walk, which took place on March 16 at Kapi‘olani Regional Park. The event aims to raise awareness and fund kidney health initiatives. Pictured are (from left) Ryan Masuno, assistant vice president and wealth associate of private client advisory services, FHB; Dean Uyeda, senior vice president and commercial banking regional manager of commercial banking group, FHB; Glen Hayashida, president and CEO, NKFH; Neill Char, vice chairman of retail banking g ..read more

Lucky Paws Animal Foundation founder Chris Thompson is doing all he can to help feral cats live their best nine lives possible. Chris Thompson knows the business he’s in is anything but lucrative. As the founder of Lucky Paws Animal Foundation, he spends his days rescuing and rehabilitating the island’s feral cats. Not a physically, emotionally or financially easy task, but it also results in regular kitty snuggles, soothing purrs and rubs of affection, so it’s more than worth it. “We know there’s no money in animal rescue and adoptions,” says Thompson, citing the high cost of vet care, medic ..read more

School Raises Funds For Heart Health Holy Family Catholic Academy raised more than $21,000 for the American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge. The school has participated in the annual event for more than 25 years and the amount that was raised sets a new school record. Pictured (from left) are Father Rheo Ofalsa, Holy Family Catholic Academy head of school; and Brittany Raz, senior development director of school engagement, American Heart Association. Photo courtesy Holy Family Catholic Academy Nonprofit Supports Wildfire Victims The Hawai‘i Parkinson Association donated $10,000 to Ha ..read more

Photo by Lawrence Tabudlo Blaise Babineck isn’t your typical teenager. Even at a young age, he already has a string of significant achievements under his belt. For starters, Babineck is believed to be the youngest teacher ever in the Hawai‘i Department of Education, which he joined last fall at the ripe age of 18.  “It feels exciting,” Babineck says. “Going into this, I didn’t know that I would be the state’s youngest teacher ever. But once I found out, it really showed me that even though something hasn’t been done before, it’s still possible to do.” Today, he’s a year older (he celebr ..read more

Photo courtesy Homeworld HomeWorld raised more than $6,300 for HUGS (Help, Understanding & Group Support) through its annual Stressless Event campaign. Customers who donated $50 or more to HUGS received up to $400 off select Stressless brand furniture. HUGS has been the beneficiary of HomeWorld’s charity campaign for more than six years. Pictured are HUGS dad Keola Higa (center) with HomeWorld Maui staff members (from left) Marci Savage, Toni Stanich, Lynde Lawson, Christopher Pacheco, Bridget Ferguson and Arlene Richardson. Restaurant Chain Aids Youth Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i wa ..read more

(From left) Dressed in their tartans and ready to celebrate are Hawaiian Scottish Association secretary Hardy Spoehr, chieftain Jeremy McOuat, vice-chieftain Bruce McEwan and treasurer Tina Yap. Photo by Lawrence Tabudlo Each April, the skirl of bagpipes, the thumps and grunts of athletic competition, and the joyous rhythms of jigs, reels and strathspeys are heard in Honolulu. These springtime sounds belong to a revelry birthed in a distant land but proudly grown and nurtured right here in the islands. The annual spectacle known as Hawaiian Scottish Festival & Highland Games is steeped i ..read more

Credit Union Provides Scholarships   Aloha Pacific Federal Credit Union donated $26,250 in scholarships to University of Hawai‘i Esports. Pictured are (from left) UH Esports program director Sky Kauweloa; Aloha Pacific Federal Credit Union president and CEO Vince Otsuka; UH Esports athletes Brandon Tabios, Ethan Nguyen, Ahren Diaz, Isai Foglesong, Benjamin Crawford; UH Esports athlete and assistant Kevin Nguyen; and UH Esports athletes Justin Chow and Christian Low.  Photo courtesy Aloha Pacific Federal Credit Union    Spectrum Supports Art Education Spectrum and Ovation TV ..read more

Foundation Aids Foster Care Families The Cades Foundation donated $10,000 to Family Programs Hawai‘i for its 25th annual holiday party. The event spreads holiday cheer and helps the organization continue the care they provide to keiki and families throughout the year. Pictured (from left) are Michele Loudermilk, Cades Schutte LLP partner and Cades Foundation vice president/secretary; Keith Kuboyama, president and CEO, Family Programs Hawai‘i; and Tina Scotty, director of development, Family Programs Hawai‘i. PHOTO COURTESY CADES FOUNDATION Aloha Council Honors Doctor With Award The Aloha Coun ..read more