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UCLA Commits Shine in Return to Hawaii

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UCLA Commits Shine in Return to Hawaii


UCLA commits and identical twin brothers Jaron and Kennan Pula look to be the next great Bruins wide receivers to walk through Westwood. Two more gems hauled in by DeShaun Foster, and before they make their way to Los Angeles, they’ll need to make a quick stop at their ancestral home.

ACCESS Newswire ran a recent story on them, speaking about their upcoming return to Hawaii to participate in the Polynesian Bowl.

“In the world of high school football, few names have generated as much buzz as Jaron and Kennan Pula,” ACCESS Newswire wrote.

“These nationally ranked four-star wide receivers, identical twins and athletic marvels from the class of 2026, have taken the recruiting world by storm. With over 25 Division 1 scholarship offers each as juniors, their trajectory toward collegiate stardom – and potentially the NFL – is undeniable.

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“This year, the twins were honored with invitations to play in the prestigious Polynesian Bowl, where the world’s top high school players gather in Hawaii to play in a nationally televised All-Star showcase held at the historic Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus in Honolulu.”

The Pula twins were born in Hawaii before moving to the mainland, and their maternal grandmother Audrey Hiram, is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools.

“The game pits the Mauka Team, representing the mountains, against the Makai Team, representing the sea – a symbolic clash as much as an athletic one,” ACCESS Newswire wrote. “The Mauka Team, which has home-field advantage high in the misty mountaintops of Kapalama Heights, is often defined by its grit and grounded power.

“Meanwhile, the Makai Team, seemingly buoyed by the energy of the sea, brings speed, flow, and unpredictability – attributes that mirror the electric playstyle of the Pula brothers.

“Although Jaron and Kennan moved from Hawaii at a young age, their return for the Polynesian Bowl is more than just another stop on their football journey – it’s a homecoming.

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“With a large extended family and deep community ties still rooted in the islands, their appearance is expected to draw a significant turnout of support from family, friends, and old neighbors alike.

“For the twins, stepping onto the field at Kamehameha won’t just be about representing their skills – it’ll be about honoring the ancestors who paved the way and reconnecting with a cultural legacy that runs as strong as their 40-yard dash.”

While the Pula twins’ return marks a special moment for their family, it also indicates UCLA’s continued success in recruiting and retaining Polynesian players. Large Polynesian populations, populations that love football, are located in states that UCLA heavily recruits.

UCLA defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe has the inside track to recruiting in his native Hawaii and in Washington, DeShaun Foster has the Los Angeles area locked down, and the Bruins are pushing east as the Pula twins play their high school ball in Utah.

It’s exciting times for UCLA, especially for a program built on players who are themselves but put others before personal gain.

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From aviation to shipping, how Hawaii’s transportation sector is going green

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From aviation to shipping, how Hawaii’s transportation sector is going green


From cars, to busses, to the new rail and even up in the sky, transportation is what keeps us moving.

So how will Hawaii keep moving on cleaner pathways to meet our state’s clean energy goals?

KHON2’s Empowered franchise is committed to providing information to keep people informed on sustainability issues in Hawaii. 

Joining KHON’s Gina Mangieri to talk about how we keep moving on cleaner pathways:

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  • Kathleen Rooney, Ulupono Initiative Director of Transportation Policy and Programs
  • Roger Morton, Director of the Honolulu Department of Transportation Services
  • Nahelani Parsons, Hawaii Renewable Fuels Coalition



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Matsuzawa now a consensus All-American, Hawaii’s first | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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Matsuzawa now a consensus All-American, Hawaii’s first | Honolulu Star-Advertiser


MARCO GARCIA / IMAGN IMAGES

UH kicker Kansei Matsuzawa reacted after making a game-winning field goal to beat the Stanford Cardinal at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex in the Warriors’ opener on Aug. 23.

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Kicker Kansei Matsuzawa today became the University of Hawaii football program’s first consensus All-American.

Matsuzawa, 26, earned the distinction after being selected today to the American Football Coaches Association’s All-America first team.

The NCAA recognizes five All-America teams. A “consensus” All-American is selected to three of those organizations’ first teams. Matsuzawa previously was named to the All-America first teams by the Walter Camp Foundation and the Associated Press. The Sporting News and the Football Writers Association of America will announce their All-America teams this week.

“This is a result of my teammates and coaches,” Matsuzawa said, noting without them “I couldn’t have done this. I appreciate my family, and the state of Hawaii and Japan.”

Matsuzawa is a self-taught kicker from Chiba, Japan. The school-promoted “Tokyo Toe” converted his first 25 field-goal attempts this season to tie an FBS record for best start. The streak ended when he was wide right on a 30-yard attempt in the fourth quarter of the regular-season finale against Wyoming.

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Last week, UH special teams coordinator Thomas Sheffield declared Matsuzawa as “the best kicker in the country. And I’ll stand on the tallest mountain and scream it from the tallest mountain until the cows come home.”

The Rainbow Warriors will play Cal in the Dec. 24 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl at the Ching Complex.

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Hawaii-based company in national spotlight for cookie deliveries

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Hawaii-based company in national spotlight for cookie deliveries


HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A Hawaii-based company was in the national spotlight this weekend for its sweet service.

The Maui Cookie Lady was featured on Good Morning America as part of a segment highlighting the best holiday cookies to order online.

The Makawao-based bakery made the list, curated by Bon Appétit and Epicurious editor-in-chief Jamila Robinson, alongside other standout cookie companies from across the country that can deliver delicious treats straight to your doorstep.

The Maui Cookie Lady was founded by Mitzi Toro in 2012 as a thank you to Maui nurses who cared for Toro’s ill father.

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Known for colossal-sized cookies in imaginative flavors, the company quickly became a favorite, with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Ludacris among its many fans.

“I’m still taking it in,” said Toro. “I’m proud of our team and grateful for the support that has carried us from our island kitchen to a national audience. I hope this moment reminds people how special our Maui community truly is.”





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