Hawaii
This Wahiawā Shop Uses Invasive Albizia Wood for Everything, Even Surfboards – Hawaii Magazine
You’ve probably heard of the age-old question: If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? For the team at Bizia Surf, falling trees not only do make a sound, they also make an impact.
Founders and owners, Joey and Christine Valenti, opened a shop and café in Wahiawā on Oʻahu in 2023 with a mission to restore native forests while connecting the tradition of wave riding on Hawaiʻi-grown wood.
How?
By sourcing the invasive albizia tree.
Introduced to Hawaiʻi in 1904, the albizia tree has become one of the most notorious invasive trees in the Hawaiian forest.
Photo: Courtesy of Bizia Surf
This species is found all across the state and is one of the fastest growing trees in the world. Not only does it compete with and displace native species and modify nitrogen levels in the soil, it’s notorious for damaging houses, roads and other public infrastructure. Through the certified regenerative lumber program of the the couple’s Albizia Project organization, Joey and Christine partner with local land stewards in tree removal and forest restoration projects, playing an integral role in Hawaiʻi’s albizia wood restorative supply chain.
“It feels a lot bigger than us,” Christine says. “It’s not necessarily our work. It’s just the work that we’re supposed to be putting out into the world.”
Bizia Surf’s owners Christine and Joey Valenti.
Photo: Courtesy of Bizia Surf
The work is powerful and palpable when you walk through the doors of their shop. The albizia wood finishes showcase its beautiful and functional possibilities as the artwork and paintings on the walls amplify its charming ambiance. The café offers a variety of drinks and baked goods, serving as a satisfying pick-me-up while browsing through the adjacent showroom that also includes albizia wood home goods such as frames, lamps and charcuterie boards. The immediate attention grabber is the array of surfboards stacked side by side for surfing enthusiasts to lay their eyes on. Visitors and patrons alike have taken sight and are on board for the ride.
“When we opened the shop, the response from the community was overwhelmingly positive and supportive,” Christine says. “It’s so fun to get generations of Wahiawā families coming in and be excited about [this initiative].”
Surfboards made from albizia wood in the Bizia Surf café in Wahiawā.
Photo: Courtesy of Bizia Surf
That initiative began when Joey worked on his dissertation in his final year of the architecture program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Through researching albizia and the efficacy in building with it came what Joey calls his “lightbulb moment.” That bright idea led to the founding of the Albizia Project in 2017. Seven years and well over a thousand tree removals later, the company stands tall as a key player in tackling the albizia problem and restoring the richness of Hawaiʻi’s ecosystem.
Today, Bizia Surf is turning heads in the local surfing industry, evolving the early chambered board blueprints of Dick Brewer, a legend in surfboard development, from a handmade approach to digital fabrication that includes 3D modeling. For Bizia Surf, it’s about keeping sustainability at the forefront of modern technology while also honoring the past.
“The wood beneath your feet gives you that closeness to nature and to the early surfing days,” Joey says. “It’s the board you want to really feel connected to the waves, the water, and Hawaiian tradition.”
A surfer riding a longboard made from albizia wood.
Photo: Courtesy of Bizia Surf
Through collaboration with renowned shapers, Bizia Surf offers six different surfboard designs wave riders everywhere can get their hands (and feet) on. The longboards, for example, have gotten praise for how they are sturdy enough to be great at holding noserides and walking the board, yet lightweight enough to make smooth turns and cutbacks. Singer-songwriter and Oʻahu native Jack Johnson calls his Bizia board “one of my best twin fins” as it goes fast down the line and holds all the way through the turns. Surfers can look forward to a new stringerless board in the future as the brand is currently prototyping and testing their latest innovation.
Inside the retail shop in Wahiawā.
Photo: Courtesy of Bizia Surf
The retail shop, located in the same industrial warehouse as its manufacturing facility, also proudly serves as a hub for community events and a friendly gathering spot for those in the Central Oʻahu area.
“This is where we started and where all the magic happens,” Joey says. “I feel like it’s a responsibility to share that with the community and love it back.”
Ecosystem restoration, import dependence reduction, landfill waste elimination—three things Bizia Surf stands firm on about what they deliver. For the husband-and-wife team, it’s a calling far greater than profit. It’s helping people direct their dollars to purposeful regeneration.
The company’s mantra outside the shop in Wahiawā.
Photo: Courtesy of Bizia Surf
“It’s a promise that business is never going to come at the cost of our environment,” Christine says. “We offer easy ways for customers to engage with that promise so that the things they are consuming are contributing to a positive, greener, more eco-friendly future.”
So, if a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? The answer is yes. It simply makes waves, in sound and in water.
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The search for Honolulu’s next police chief is moving into the next phase.
The Honolulu Police Commission announced it has narrowed the candidate pool to six semi-finalists, selected from an initial list of 11 applicants identified by a recruitment firm.
“The commissioners feel these six applicants exhibited the leadership and management skills necessary to lead an organization as large, complex and critical to the community as the Honolulu Police Department,” said member of the Honolulu Police Commission, Chair Laurie Foster.
“Those qualities were identified in part by surveys and stakeholder interviews conducted by the recruitment firm,” she added.
The names of the semi-finalists have not been released. Officials said confidentiality is being maintained at this stage to encourage applicants who may still be employed elsewhere.
The candidates will next be interviewed by stakeholder panels made up of community members and others who interact with the Honolulu Police Department.
The commission is expected to select finalists during a May 6 meeting, with those names to be announced afterward.
Finalists will then participate in additional interviews and a public appearance before the commission votes on the next police chief at a public meeting scheduled for May 20.
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
Pending Home Sales Increased From February to March in the U.S.
Despite higher mortgage rates, pending home sales in the U.S. were up 1.5% in March from the prior month while recording a 1.1% year-over-year decline, according to the National Association of Realtors. On a monthly basis, pending home sales were up in the Northeast and South, while they declined in the Midwest and West. Year-over-year contract signings, however, were down in every region but the South. Realtor.com
‘Untouched’ Scottish Island Selling for £350,000
An island in Scotland will be sold at auction this week with a guide price of £350,000 (US$473,441). Insh Island last sold in 2019, when the National Trust for Scotland sold it for a reported £353,000. The National Trust acquired the island from the will of a man who reportedly lived in a cave for 30 years. Daily Record
Iran War Puts a Pause on Hawaii’s Housing Market Recovery
Hawaii’s housing market was set to be on the road to recovery this year, with local interest rates predicated to decline. However, the war with Iran has caused rates to shoot back up, diminishing buyer confidence. Hawaii’s high concentration of condos and second homes keeps Hawaii’s average mortgage rates slightly higher. Pacific Business News
Unlivable Waterfront Home Outside Melbourne Sells for A$2.38M
An unlivable property in Williamstown, Victoria—a suburb of Melbourne—has sold at auction for A$2.38 million (US$1.7 million), more than A$680,000 over its reserve price. Despite its rundown condition, the sale price isn’t surprising to most, as it’s one of the last opportunities to build on the waterfront. Domain
Hawaii offers a wide range of small towns across its islands, each with its own draw. The state has hikes among active volcanoes near Volcano Village and long stretches of coastline like Waimanalo Beach on Oahu. One town below sits on a crescent-shaped bay that has drawn visitors for decades. Another holds a winery on volcanic slopes. The list ahead covers seven small towns spanning beach and inland Hawaii.
Hanalei
On the north shore of Kauai, the census-designated place of Hanalei is known for a laid-back atmosphere, a crescent-shaped bay, and a small collection of shops and restaurants. Hanalei Beach is a stretch of fine sand and clear water, and has been featured in films including The Descendants and South Pacific. It has been ranked among the state’s best beaches, with picnic tables, good surfing, and kayaking all within reach. Within walking distance is the Hanalei Inn, a small retro-style lodging near downtown.
Further into town is the Wai’oli Mission House, a historic two-story missionary home built in 1837 and preserved as a museum. Tours run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, covering the lives of the missionaries who lived there. Near Black Pot Beach is Pat’s Taqueria, a Mexican food truck serving Hawaiian-style tacos, burritos, and quesadillas within walking distance of the Hanalei Pier. Locals and visitors both favor it for its locally sourced ingredients.
Pāʻia
In the north of Maui is Pāʻia (also spelled Paia), a walkable community with local surf shops, restaurants, and ocean views. Lower Pāʻia Park is one of the more photographed beaches in the state, with calm waters good for snorkeling, surfing, and swimming. Basketball courts, a skatepark, and a youth center sit nearby. Near the beach, the Surf Club is an event venue for weddings, dinners, and corporate or private functions, with a short walk back to downtown.
Wabisabi Soba and Sushi is a sushi restaurant on the Hana Highway known for its 100 percent buckwheat Jyuwari soba noodles. The interior and garden lean Japanese, and the restaurant is BYOB. The Rip Curl Surf Shop in downtown stocks swimwear, boardshorts, surf accessories, hats, surfboard covers, and apparel for anyone heading out to the waves.
Waimanalo
On the east side of Oahu is Waimanalo, a community with a three-mile stretch of beaches, a laid-back culture, and an agricultural character. At the eastern end of town is Sea Life Park Hawaii, an aquarium and animal sanctuary home to dolphins, sharks, sea lions, native fish, rays, and birds. Visitors can interact with animals in the water, visit penguin habitats, meet sea lions, and see sea turtles. Waimanalo Beach is a wide stretch of white sand backed by the Ko’olau Mountains, with turquoise water for swimming and surfing, and Waimanalo Beach Park shaded by ironwood trees. Parking is limited, especially on weekends and holidays, so arriving early is best.
Further inland, Olomana Golf Links is an 18-hole par-72 course with the Ko’olau Mountains in the background. Former U.S. President Barack Obama has played here, and professional golfer Michelle Wie trained on the course. The Waimanalo Forest Reserve is farther still, with quiet hikes on trails such as the ‘Ohana Trail and the Maunawili Ditch Trail, home to wild birds, small mammals, and reptiles, along with views of Maunawili Falls within the 500-acre reserve.
Volcano
Volcano, or Volcano Village, sits as the gateway to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park in a cool, damp rainforest setting. The park is home to two active volcanoes: Kīlauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, and Mauna Loa, the largest shield volcano in the world. The rest of the park holds geographical features that often require multiday trips to reach. Visitors can view lava eruptions, hike, and explore the rolling hills of the Kahuku Unit.
In the heart of town, the Lava Lodge at Hale Kilauea offers cottages for visitors exploring the park. Each cottage has a small tropical garden. The hotel is within walking distance of the Lava Rock Cafe, which serves burgers, pancakes, and local Hawaiian dishes. Volcano Winery is one of only a few wineries in the state, with views of Mauna Loa and a rare chance to taste Big Island wines on the Big Island itself.
Lānaʻi City
At the center of the island of Lānaʻi is Lānaʻi City, a plantation town with historic homes, local restaurants and shops, and a walkable center. On Lanai Avenue, Dreams Come True Bed and Breakfast is a renovated property with mountain views and a garden. Further up in town, the Lānaʻi Culture and Heritage Center preserves the island’s history, traditional cultures, and plantation past through photographs and artifacts.
The Lānaʻi Art Center is within walking distance of the Culture and Heritage Center. It serves as a studio space for local artists, features a gallery, offers classes and workshops, and is the island’s main community arts program. On the outskirts of town is the Koloiki Ridge Trailhead, a roughly 5-mile trail that follows old cattle paths and opens up to panoramic views of the island.
Honokaa
On the northeastern coast of the Big Island is Honokaa, a census-designated place with plantation-era architecture and a role as gateway to Waipi’o Valley. The Honokaa Heritage Center is a museum covering the town’s history, with research materials and exhibits of photographs and artifacts. The center hosts the Hāmākua Sugar Days Festival every October, dedicated to the state’s plantation history with parades and a festival fair. South of the heritage center is the Hāmākua Country Club, a nine-hole course and one of the oldest on the island, set 1,200 feet above sea level with views of the Pacific Ocean. Carts are available for rent, and the course hosts tournaments.
Waipi’o Valley is just west of town. It was the boyhood home of King Kamehameha and is considered one of the most sacred places on the Big Island. Trails such as the Muliwai Trail lead into the tropical valley, where coconuts, green bananas, and papayas grow. Note that valley access is currently restricted to Hawaii residents.
Makawao
Upcountry from Paia is the census-designated place of Makawao, a community with boutique shops, art galleries, and an upcountry character. Makawao Public House is a gastropub serving local fare and paying tribute to the town’s past. On Baldwin Avenue, Banyan Tree Bed and Breakfast sits on 2.5 acres of gardens with cottages for stays, a short drive from local restaurants and shops.
On the southern outskirts of town is the Kahakapao Loop Trail, a 5.9-mile route in the Makawao Forest Reserve that is a popular hiking and mountain biking spot. At roughly 4,000 feet, the rainforest setting offers a cooler alternative to a beach day. At the northern edge of town, the Hui No’eau Visual Arts Center operates as a cultural hub with a gallery, classes, workshops, a gallery shop, and exhibits by local community members.
Small-Town Hawaii
Hawaii’s small towns provide a different side of the state from the major resorts, with local character, natural features, and regional history. Makawao draws visitors to the Makawao Forest Reserve. Volcano offers access to two of the state’s most active peaks. Waimanalo’s white-sand beach anchors the east side of Oahu. Each of these communities offers something different from the others, but all share a strong sense of place.
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