Hawaii
Good Neighbor Fund: Clinic’s mission aligns with helping families | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
The Fertility Institute of Hawaii is marking its 12th year of supporting Helping Hands Hawai‘i’s Adopt-a-Family program, which brings holiday cheer to 500 local families in need of extra support this season.
Each year, the institute “adopts” local ohana in need, focusing on families with mothers and children to align with the clinic’s mission of creating and supporting families. The team organizes a drive to collect items from the families’ wish lists and raises additional funds for gift cards for groceries, clothing and other essential items.
When the institute began participating in the Adopt-a-Family program 12 years ago, the office had a team of about 20 staff members. Now, with nearly 90 employees, the program is funded through staff donations of goods and cash.
“Looking back 13 years ago when I started at the institute, I have always been involved in the community in many different ways. I just really enjoy giving back in any way that I can,” said Chief Administrative Officer Robyn Washousky. “I brought it to Dr. (John) Frattarelli’s attention, asking him if around the holidays we would be able to adopt a local family. We did some research in the community and came across Helping Hands, who offered that opportunity.”
Washousky said that from a young age, she was taught by her late father “to always give back no matter what.”
“So it’s also a way for me to continue to honor him, and the office has been so gracious to allow me to continue to do that in some sort of way,” she said.
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The clinic offers various fertility and in vitro fertilization treatments, among other services. Frattarelli, CEO of the institute, described its participation with Helping Hands Hawai‘i as “an extension of what we’re normally doing for our patients. We also felt that was an important thing to do during the holidays. It allows our staff to be involved in giving as well.”
This year, the institute is supporting two ohana through Helping Hands Hawai‘i.
One family includes a mother, two older children and a father who was recently diagnosed with cancer. The second family comprises a recently widowed mother with three young children whose requests included essentials such as diapers and baby wipes.
Hawaii’s rising cost of living has driven families to seek help for everyday necessities, underscoring the importance of community support during challenging times.
“I think it’s sometimes difficult for individuals, especially with the challenges these days, to give because they may not feel like they can give enough,” Frattarelli said. “However, when you get an organization involved and have several people contributing, it really allows you to give more and provide whatever basic services are needed for the family. We were able to easily raise enough to take care of the family’s needs.”
This year, the institute has raised about $1,000 for the Adopt-a-Family program. Washousky explained that the donations aren’t always for essential items; sometimes, families request things like a vacation, something they’ve never had the luxury of experiencing.
She recalled institute employees raising enough funds last year to fulfill an Oahu family’s request for a staycation, since they had never stayed in a hotel before.
“The variety of gifts we provide depends on the families’ needs and their wish lists,” Washousky said.
This year, alongside their immediate Adopt-a-Family support, the institute helped a family they had assisted three years ago. After her young daughter died of brain cancer, the mother reached out to request art supplies and small toys for bed-bound children at Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women and Children, in honor of the girl’s birthday on Dec. 11.
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BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR
The Good Neighbor Fund is an annual campaign that collects donations to assist local ohana facing hardships during the holidays and throughout the year. Contributions to the fund help provide a variety of resources, including financial assistance for rent and/or utilities, essential goods, and services that support health, well-being and stability. In-person donations can be made at any First Hawaiian Bank branch, or contribute online at helpinghandshawaii.org/good-neighbor-fund. Checks made out to “Good Neighbor Fund” also can be mailed to: c/o Helping Hands Hawai‘i, MSC 61572, P.O. Box 1300, Honolulu, HI 96807-1300.
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>> The Edwin S.N. Wong Foundation $2,000
>> Suzanne P. Damian $1,000
>> John Okutani $510.65
>> Charles P. Nakagawa $500
>> Elaine & Jamie Wong $500
>> In loving memory of Bill & Jayne Gibson from Helen Gibson Ahn $500
>> Larry and Mary Ann Collignon $500
>> The Katos $500
>> Cynthia M. Smith $400
>> Mark A. Wakatsuki $400
>> Dennis Kawahara $300
>> Guy and Susan Fujimura $300
>> In memory of Kiyoshi, Irene and Neal Sakima $300
>> Michael T. Miyabara $300
>> In loving memory of Henry, Katherine, Henry Jr. and Nanny Wolter $250
>> In loving memory of Joseph and Elese Katona $250
>> Janice & Steven Kakazu $250
>> Claire M. Uechi $200
>> Elsa M. Nakamoto $200
>> In loving memory of Pop and G. Loo from their grandkids $200
>> In loving memory of Tutu & Opa, Popo & Papa $200
>> In memory of Gregorio and Trinidad Prado $200
>> Lance Nakamura $200
>> Daryl Bryan $150
>> Gerhard Hamm $128.04
>> Gloria Wong $102.53
>> In memory of Jan Arnett $102.53
>> Walter Sakuda $102.53
>> John Tokunaga $101
>> April K. Sasaki $100
>> Burt Yoshimi $100
>> Colleen Otsuka $100
>> Dayle Osborn $100
>> Eric and Joyce Hee $100
>> Harold H. Karimoto $100
>> In loving memory of Gilbert Choi $100
>> In memory of Alan Richard $100
>> In memory of Ebenezer Scrooge $100
>> In memory of Geri Nishimi Buchman $100
>> In memory of Jeanne Mieko Hamasaki $100
>> In memory of Sun and King Fong Hom $100
>> Merry Christmas $100
>> Raymond C. Pearl $100
>> Richard McCabe $100
>> Susan M. Hashimoto $100
>> Susan T. Takahashi $100
>> Bryant Yabui $51.52
>> James Nugent $51.52
>> Alan H. Kawamoto $50
>> Kyden, Keaton, Keegan, Kepa, Koby $50
>> Patrick E. Carvalho $50
>> Patti Tildsley $50
>> Sandra A. Hashimoto $50
>> Charles Harris $26.01
>> In loving Memory of Adam and Virginia Moniz $26.01
>> Dana P.M. Smith $25
>> Florida H. Jhoo $25
>> Jack and Frances Wong $25
>> Joy Ikeda $20
>> Violet Chung $10
>> Anonymous $505
>> Weekly total: $13,362.34
>> Previous week’s total: $20,849.92
>> Grand total: $34,212.26
The demolition of Aloha Stadium on Oahu took a big step forward Thursday with the first section of seating pulled down from the steel structure.
Half of the elevated deck-level seating on the stadium’s makai side was severed and toppled backward as part of demolition work that began in February.
The other half of the upper makai-side seating is slated to come down Tuesday, followed by similar sections on the mauka side and both end zones, though the concrete foundations for lower-level end-zone seating are being preserved for a new, smaller stadium to rise on the same site.
A private partnership, Aloha Halawa District Partners, led by local developer Stanford Carr, is replacing the 50,000-seat Aloha Stadium, which opened in 1975 and was shuttered in 2020, with a new stadium featuring up to 31,000 seats.
AHDP is using $350 million of state funding toward the cost of the new stadium, which could be $475 million or more, and will operate and maintain the facility on state land for 30 years with a land lease.
The development team also is to redevelop much of the 98-acre stadium property dominated by parking lots with a new mixed-use community that includes at least 4,100 residences, two hotels, an office tower, retail, entertainment attractions and open spaces expected to be delivered in phases over 25 years and costing close to or more than $5 billion or $6 billion.
Earlier parts of stadium demolition work led by Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. included removing four covered multistory spiral walkways leading to the upper level from the ground, and concourse bridges.
Demolishing the stadium is projected to be done by August, according to Carr.
Building the new facility is expected to be finished in 2029.
Hawaii
This Airbnb Tiny Home Sits on a Lava Field in Hawaii With Unbeatable Night Sky Views—and It’s a Guest Favorite
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/tal-airbnb-one-off-tout-1465b3bde0864117b43761b0d1dd346e.jpg?ssl=1 "This Airbnb Tiny Home Sits on a Lava Field in Hawaii With Unbeatable Night Sky Views—and It’s a Guest Favorite")
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The team behind a popular Hawaii-based home renovation show is now facing legal troubles after airing content that shouldn’t have been released, according to the state.
Hawaii’s Attorney General is now involved after HGTV’s ‘Renovation Aloha’ showed uncensored images of apparent ancient skeletal remains that were discovered at a Hilo property.
In a now-deleted clip on social media, Kamohai and Tristyn Kalama, along with the production team, discovered a cave beneath a Hilo property where they found the remains deep inside.
Video documented their shock when it was found, with the hosts saying, “There’s bones back here. I got to get out of here. Are you fricken serious? I’m serious dude. Is that a skull?”
Tristyn was seen standing further back, saying “This is terrifying. I’m at my stopping point” before leaving.
Hawaii News Now is not showing the bones, but confirmed with HGTV the episode was filmed in December 2025.
Video didn’t show them touching or moving the remains, and HGTV said authorities were notified after the discovery, the property was not developed, and the site was later blessed.
At the time, police said no crime was committed, and the state AG obtained a TRO to prevent the broadcast of the images in accordance with state law.
However this week, uncensored video of the bones was posted online by the Kalamas and HGTV, and included in the episode, triggering a quick rebuke from the community.
“We don’t kaula’i iwi. We do not lay our bones out in the sun to expose him in this manner,” former Oahu Island Burial Council Chair Kumu Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu said.
She also said the release of the images was “extremely disappointing,” saying the damage was already done.
“It is irrelevant that bones were not moved. It is irrelevant that they were not disturbed, per se, because somebody didn’t touch them — but you went into their space and that space becomes kapu space once they have transitioned over to po. And when you do that, we honor that. We don’t disturb them,” Wong-Kalu added.
The AG said they took immediate legal action to prevent the unlawful broadcast of images, pointing to a TRO issued prior to the episode’s release. They also said, “We are aware that the segment aired notwithstanding the court’s order, and we take this matter very seriously. The Department will pursue additional action as necessary.”
Court Documents revealed the Kalamas and producers of the show are now facing four counts for allegedly breaking Iwi Kupuna protection rules.
“If that were our grandparent, would we want them, after they have physically transitioned to po, would we want to share our family in this manner? I don’t think so,” Wong-Kalu added.
HGTV said in a statement, “We take the concerns raised by the community very seriously and are committed to ensuring our programming is respectful and appropriate. We apologize to anyone who found any part of the episode offensive, that was not HGTV’s intention.”
They also confirmed the original episode was removed, and re-edited without the bones included.
Through our communication with the HGTV spokesperson, Hawaii News Now offered the Kalamas a chance to respond directly, but they did not. They did however take to Instagram to address the episode, saying they followed the protocols they knew, and never intended to build there. They stressed their respect for Hawaiian culture and practices.
The investigation remains active.
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
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