Hawaii

Auliʻi Cravalho on How to Be a Respectful Tourist in Her Native Hawaii

Published

1 year ago

July 15, 2024

Auliʻi Cravalho on How to Be a Respectful Tourist in Her Native Hawaii

Auliʻi Cravalho is on a lifelong mission to give back to her native Hawaiian community. Having grown up in Hawaii — in Kohala, a region on the Big Island — “I have this chord in me that says this island home that I love so much has given me so much that that is simply what is right,” she says.

It’s why she continues to be vocal about spreading awareness and raising funds to help build back Lahaina after the Maui wildfires, and why she recently teamed up with Sheba, a cat food brand, and Kuleana, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring coral reefs in Hawaii. A three-part film series, the first of which released on July 15, follows Cravalho in Hawaii, hanging out with her cat Rocco and embarking on a dive in which she highlights coral and explains why saving reefs is so close to her heart.

“I also think coral is really cool. I graduated with a heck of a lot of science under my belt,” she says, adding that her interest in marine biology stems from her upbringing. In fact, she planned on pursuing that line of work until “Disney called and I pivoted really hard.” (In 2016, Cravalho booked her first role as Disney’s Moana at age 14.)

“Hawaii is beautiful, and to deny anyone from seeing a beautiful place is sad.”

But the actor isn’t just passionate about preserving the waters. As Hawaii continues to rebuild its infrastructure following the Maui wildfires in 2023 and the COVID pandemic of years prior, she emphasizes the importance of traveling responsibly to the Aloha State — and anywhere you visit, for that matter.

“Hawaii is beautiful, and to deny anyone from seeing a beautiful place is sad,” Cravalho says. “And yet, it is also so real that Hawaii’s main income is driven by tourism.” The “Moana” actor believes the state needs to diversify how native Hawaiians can continue living on the islands without getting “priced out of paradise.” But there are also ways you can be a more conscious tourist.

Her number one piece of advice? “Respect, or mālama, the land,” she says. She urges kuleana, which is the Hawaiian word for personal responsibility. “Something that my partner and I do while we’re here in Los Angeles is we pick up trash anytime we go to the beach. Consider it the same way,” she says. “If you are taking your family there, pack out what you pack in. Use reef-safe sunscreen. Use reusable water bottles. These are small things that make an impact.”

Showing respect not only applies to the land, but also to folks who live and work in Hawaii. “My family [in Hawaii] either works in hospitality or hospitals, and they are still trying to find rest, so understand that when you are entering these spaces expecting to be waited on, they are people, first and foremost,” she says. “Kindness, or the aloha spirit, as we call it, goes a long way. Everyone needs a break. Everyone needs a vacation. But you’re vacationing in my home, so treat me with respect as well.”

Cravalho also recommends supporting local businesses while visiting. As for her favorite spots, she loves Nā Mea Hawaiʻi, a craft store with pieces made locally or by artisans with Polynesian ties. “It’s these small choices that make an impact for us, for the kamaʻāina, the people who really live there and will be there after you leave.” Foodland, the largest local supermarket chain in Hawaii, is also one of her go-tos. “If anyone wants the best poke, go to the grocery store,” she says. “We don’t put mango, we do not put cucumbers, we do not put ginger, no nothing in our poke bowls, but it will be the best poke bowl you will ever have. They also have really good fried chicken.”

For her next trip back home, Cravalho is looking forward to eating, spending time with her family, and getting into the ocean. Since filming her docuseries with Sheba and Kuleana, she’s now a certified scuba diver and is excited to go on her next dive. “I have to say, I thought that scuba and snorkeling were tourist activities, but I have fully done a 180,” she says. “I love it now. I now look at it as such a beautiful educational tool to really see what’s going on at the bottom of our oceans.” Watch the first part of the video series below.

Yerin Kim is the features editor at POPSUGAR, where she helps shape the vision for special features and packages across the network. A graduate of Syracuse University’s Newhouse School, she has over five years of experience in the pop culture and women’s lifestyle spaces. She’s passionate about spreading cultural sensitivity through the lenses of lifestyle, entertainment, and style.

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Hawaii

Honolulu Marathon kicks off with a rainy start

Published

11 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Press Room

Honolulu Marathon kicks off with a rainy start

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The JAL Honolulu Marathon kicks off at Ala Moana Boulevard.

Hawaii News Now celebrates the 53nd anniversary of the Honolulu Marathon with a special edition of Sunrise.

We’ll be tracking runners throughout the entire course, sharing heartfelt stories from competitors, and going behind the scenes to spotlight dedicated volunteers — from malasada makers to medical crews — who help make this massive event possible.

Join us for live coverage throughout the 26.2-mile course on Sunday, Dec. 14, starting at 6 a.m. only on Hawaii News Now.

Click here to track a runner.

Tsegay Weldibanos from Eritrea came in first place in the elite men’s division with a time of 2:13:41.

He beat out last year’s winner by less than a minute.

Tsegay Weldibanos from Eritrea came in first place in the elite men’s division with a time of 2:13:41.

And in the women’s elite division, Calli Hauger-Thackery, from Great Britain, came in first place with a time of 2:30:44.

She also beat out last year’s winner by a tight margin.

Calli Hauger-Thackery, from Great Britain, came in first place in the elite women’s division with a time of 2:30:44.

For the second year in a row, Kota Hokinoue came in first place for the marathon’s men’s wheelchair division.

The course goes through downtown Honolulu, past Iolani Palace and the Christmas lights, through Waikiki and climbs up and around Diamond Head, before heading out through Kahala and out to Hawaii Kai. Turning back after Hawaii Kai toward Kahala and Honolulu, the course passes Diamond Head again on the ocean side before finishing in Kapiolani Park.

We have live team coverage of the 2025 Honolulu Marathon with reporters throughout the course.

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Hawaii

Celebrations across Hawaii to take place in honor of Sakada Day

Published

23 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Press Room

Celebrations across Hawaii to take place in honor of Sakada Day

HILO (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hawaii Island will commemorate the arrival of the first 15 Filipinos to Hawaii back in 1906.

A free Sakada Day Celebration in Hilo will take place on Dec. 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to honor the contributions of the Filipino plantation workers who sparked a wave of migration.

“Filipinos are actually a large group here in Hawaii, lot of times things like this are actually tend to be a little neglected,” said Iris Viacrusis, co-chair of the Sakada Day Celebration.

This year’s event will feature a lei presentation at 9 a.m. at the statue at Keaau Community Center, followed by lunch, entertainment and a presentation to three descendants of sakadas: Sandra Claveria, Lorraine Rodero Inouye and Angel Pilago.

Two exhibits will also be displayed for guests to learn more about the sakadas — one will feature stories of the sakadas’ legacy and the other will showcase cultural items and clothing from Viacrusis’ collection.

Dec. 20 was proclaimed Sakada Day under Gov. David Ige in 2015.

Event organizers are preparing for next year’s 120th anniversary of the sakadas in Hawaii.

Sakada Day Celebration(UH Hilo)

Meantime, on Oahu, a free Sakada Day Celebration is taking place today, Dec. 13, at Hawaii Plantation Village in Waipahu from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Philippine Celebrations Coordinating Committee of Hawaii, the University of Hawaii at Manoa Center for Philippine Studies and Filipino Curriculum Project organize the annual gathering, which honors the resilience, contributions, and cultural legacy of sakadas, migrant plantation workers whose hard work, courage, and spirit continue to shape the Filipino American experience today.

High school students will take part in stage performances, visual presentations, education booths and a fashion show.

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Hawaii Foodbank Kauai gets help – The Garden Island

Published

1 day ago

December 13, 2025

Press Room

Hawaii Foodbank Kauai gets help – The Garden Island

The Hawaii Foodbank Kauai received two major grants of $25,000 each on Thursday: one from Kauai HMS Host and The Journey for Good Foundation by Alvota, and one from DraftKings and FanDuel.

A team from the Kauai HMS Host and The Journey for Good Foundation by Alvota visited the Puhi facility to present a check for $25,000 in support of the work being done by the Hawaii Foodbank Kauai crew.

“The opportunity to partner with The Journey for Good Foundation by Alvota was truly a gift given to us by our local HMS Host team,” Hawaii Foodbank Kauai Assistant Director Tisha Remigio said in an email. “When this amazing group came to volunteer last month, they got to see the true, on-the-ground operations of our food bank and what it really means to keep our families fed here on Kauai.”

“We learned that the funds for The Journey for Good Foundation come from such a simple, grassroots idea — those change bins at the airport checkout stands where customers can drop their loose change,” Remigio continued. “It’s incredible how that money, which seems so small, creates such a massive impact, such as the grant award. Our local HMS Host is such a wonderful group of people, and we are so fortunate for their ongoing support, not only with this monetary grant, but with the essential grocery rescue work we do with them on a weekly basis. We truly hope this inspires others to adopt a small and simple, yet everlasting, impact idea like this to help those in need on Kauai.”

The Hawaii Foodbank Kauai also announced, in a Thursday press release, the receipt of a $25,000 donation from DraftKings and FanDuel to directly support the purchase of an additional food delivery vehicle for the Hawaii Foodbank Kauai’s mobile food pantry program.

“DraftKings is committed to strengthening communities,” said Sabrina Macias, Senior Vice President of Global Communications and CSR at DraftKings. “We’re proud to support Hawaii Foodbank Kauai in expanding access to fresh, reliable food resources, and helping families across the island receive the nourishment they need.”

The DraftKings and FanDuel grant will also sponsor the Hawaii Foodbank Kauai’s upcoming Nourish Gala that will be held on Dec. 19 at the Royal Sonesta Kauai Resort, starting at 5 p.m.

Proceeds from the gala fundraiser will help nourish families in need across the island. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available by visiting the website at www.kauai.hawaiifoodbank.org, or by calling 808-482-2088.

“FanDuel is honored to support Hawaii Foodbank Kauai as part of our commitment to uplifting communities,” said Keita Young, vice president of community impact at FanDuel. “Food banks are essential pillars of local resilience, and we are proud to contribute to ensuring families across Kauai have consistent access to the food and resources they need.”

The new vehicle will expand the Hawaii Foodbank Kauai’s ability to deliver food, including fresh produce and shelf-stable goods across the island.

“We are deeply grateful for this meaningful gift from DraftKings and FanDuel,” said Hawaii Foodbank Kauai Director Wes Perreira. “With many households on Kauai facing rising food costs, partnerships like this with DraftKings and FanDuel help ensure that none of our friends, neighbors or ohana go hungry.”

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