Hawaii
'Aloha Lahaina' showcase celebrates beauty of hardest hit area in Hawaii wildfires
!['Aloha Lahaina' showcase celebrates beauty of hardest hit area in Hawaii wildfires 'Aloha Lahaina' showcase celebrates beauty of hardest hit area in Hawaii wildfires](https://images.foxtv.com/static.fox13news.com/www.fox13news.com/content/uploads/2024/08/1280/720/ALOHA-LAHAINA-3.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
SARASOTA, Fla. – Milan Art Gallery Director Jock Armour has vivid memories of the wildfires in Hawaii that happened last year.
“There came a point where I didn’t know what landmarks were what, because everything was flat and ash and still smoking,” he said.
Armour was the director on Wyland Gallery on Front St. in the town of Lahaina, the hardest hit area. An estimated 2,200 buildings were damaged or destroyed, with the residences being most of them.
READ: Cosplayers wear costumes inspired by their favorite characters at Tampa Bay Comic Convention
“There’s a lot of sadness, but I’m an eternally optimistic person, so I want to take all of that and turn that into joy,” Armour said.
What the director of the Sarasota gallery means is using art to celebrate the beauty of Lahaina, through a showcase called “Aloha Lahaina.”
![](https://images.foxtv.com/static.fox13news.com/www.fox13news.com/content/uploads/2024/08/932/524/ALOHA-LAHAINA-2.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
“Aloha means ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye,’ so let’s say hello again rather than saying goodbye,” Armour said.
Around 25 different pieces, created by a handful of artists, were selected for the show. Two bronze statues were actually recovered from the Wyland Gallery.
MORE: Florida Botanical Gardens inspired newest exhibit at Creative Pinellas
![](https://images.foxtv.com/static.fox13news.com/www.fox13news.com/content/uploads/2024/08/932/524/ALOHA-LAHAINA-3.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
“She has coral growing on her by now and algae, so the artist preserved all of that. They really tell a pretty powerful story,” Armour said.
In addition, 25% of all sales benefit the Hua Momona Foundation, which has been feeding displaced families since the aftermath of the fires. Armour hopes to raise enough money to provide 1,000 meals. They have reached 75% of their target so far.
“Aloha Lahaina” will be on display at the Milan Art Gallery until September 1. The gallery is hosting a special livestream showcase on YouTube on Thursday at 6 p.m.
WATCH FOX 13 NEWS:
STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA:
![](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/np-logo.png)
Hawaii
Hawaii Supreme Court ruling sought in $4B wildfires settlement – The Garden Island
Hawaii
Bikinis, surfboards and battle-axes? Hawaii loosens long-strict weapons laws after court ruling
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii’s tourist hotspot of Waikiki is known for bikinis, shopping and surfboards. But resident Andrew Roberts has recently introduced a different item on evening walks through his neighborhood: a long-poled battle-axe.
Roberts, director of the nonprofit Hawaii Firearms Coalition, has been taking the 15th-century-style European halberd on strolls since May. That’s when Hawaii loosened its weapons laws in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision that Americans have a right to carry firearms in public for self-defense.
The so-called Bruen decision upended gun laws nationwide, but especially in Hawaii, which long had some of the country’s toughest restrictions — and some of the lowest rates of gun violence.
A subsequent federal appeals court ruling applied Bruen to the state’s ban on butterfly knives and found it unconstitutional. While that case and others related to Hawaii’s weapons laws continue to be litigated, lawmakers responded this year by passing a measure that generally allows deadly or dangerous weapons to be openly carried in public. Previously, anyone found armed with them was subject to immediate arrest.
The new law is providing opportunities for some to connect with Native Hawaiian and other cultures through traditional weapons. It’s also generating concern that as the display of weapons becomes more common, people will be more likely to use them.
Roberts called himself a “true believer in the Second Amendment.” He said his walks with the halberd or a shorter battle-axe help promote awareness of the laws and ensure police don’t give him a hard time about being armed with unusual weapons.
“I get stopped probably two or three times on an average evening walk and just have a conversation about what gun laws are in Hawaii and what the weapons laws are,” he said.
On a recent Saturday morning, a halberd-toting Roberts gathered with other coalition members in Waikiki’s sprawling Kapiolani Park. A few carried samurai swords. One had a butterfly knife — also known as a balisong, prominent in martial arts in the Philippines, where many Hawaii residents have roots. A wooden, Scottish sword dangled from the waist of a man in a red kilt.
Honolulu police officers, who got wind of their plans to march through Waikiki in celebration of the law, chatted with them. Roberts told one he got his halberd blade on Amazon for $56.
With officers escorting them, they strolled along Waikiki’s main oceanfront drag, Kalakaua Avenue. Some tourists did double takes, but many seemed unfazed by the armed men bearing a large U.S. flag.
“Nobody’s been overly shocked,” Roberts said. “It’s just an opportunity to talk to people about what’s going on in Hawaii, talking about Second Amendment rights.”
In a statement, the Hawaii attorney general’s office stressed that the new law didn’t create a free-for-all when it comes to carrying weapons in public.
“The notion that you can just carry weapons however and wherever you want is simply not correct,” it said. “There are numerous existing laws and regulations that govern the use and possession of weapons in many respects. All of these laws will continue to be enforced.”
It remains a misdemeanor to carry the weapons in a concealed fashion, and the law increased the penalties for carrying them while committing a crime. It’s also illegal to carry a weapon in a way that threatens harm or terrorizes other people.
While bladed weapons and clubs are not as dangerous as firearms, they don’t belong on the street, said Chris Marvin, a Hawaii resident with the gun-violence prevention group Everytown for Gun Safety.
“I totally can understand the self-defense argument that people make and I would rather they choose to use a knife or a blunt instrument over a firearm, but the cultural attitude that we’re starting to adopt is not the norm for Hawaii,” he said. “In making these laws, we’re becoming more and more like the mainland, which is full of aggressive, argumentative people who resort to violence too quickly.”
Michael Rice carried a wooden spear on his hourlong bus ride to the Waikiki gathering. Studying traditional weaponry like the spear, which his uncle made from koa wood, has helped him connect to his Native Hawaiian roots: “I don’t get to express my culture that often.”
Soleil Roache, a self-defense instructor who did not attend the walk, said the law now allows her to incorporate the balisong into her lessons and to learn about its importance in the Philippines, where her grandfather was from. The law gives her the “opportunity to dive into that part of my ancestry,” she said.
Filipino martial arts instructor Burton Richardson said he can now teach and practice in public parks using weapons, including balisong. “In the Philippines, the tradition of knife, stick and sword fighting … has been important to the culture,” he said.
The weapon has two pivoting handles that open and close, like butterfly wings, and aficionados make deft work of flashing the blade.
Umi Kai, who makes traditional Hawaiian weapons such as spears, daggers and clubs, was not part of the walk. He mostly uses the implements for ceremony or education; they’re impractical for self-defense in modern Hawaii, he said.
“For self-defense I wouldn’t be carrying around a shark-tooth-laden club every day,” he said.
Hawaii
UCLA vs. Hawaii Prediction, Odds, Key Players to Watch for College Football Week 1
![UCLA vs. Hawaii Prediction, Odds, Key Players to Watch for College Football Week 1 UCLA vs. Hawaii Prediction, Odds, Key Players to Watch for College Football Week 1](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4800,h_2700,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/si/01j6anxhb9nm3b66amky.jpg)
UCLA begins its Big 10 tenure on the road against Hawaii in nonconference action, one of the more intriguing matchups as the new-look Bruins adapt to first-year head coach Deshaun Foster.
Foster’s Bruins head to the island to take on Hawaii, who had a Week 0 matchup against Delaware State, playing through a wind storm and cycling in players throughout, making it tough to gauge the state of the Rainbow Warriors heading into this matchup.
There are plenty of questions ahead of this Week 1 matchup, let’s try to answer them with our full betting preview!
Spread
Moneyline
Total: 54.5 (Over -110/Under -110)
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
UCLA
Ethan Garbers: The veteran signal-caller will be tasked with keeping the Bruins offense afloat, transitioning from Chip Kelly to Eric Bieniemy’s scheme in 2024. Garbers has been more than capable at different points with the Bruins and will try to provide some stability to the position.
Hawaii
Brayden Schager: It was tough sledding for Schager in the opener due to some inclement weather, completing only 50% of his passes for 203 yards with two passing touchdowns. However, he showcased his legs with 38 yards on the ground on 10 rushes, adding two touchdowns. Can Schager, who passed for 3,542 yards and 26 touchdowns, showcase his growth in a big spot against the Bruins?
It’s tough to get a gauge for both teams heading into this one as Hawaii took some tangible steps forward in year two of head coach Timmy Chang’s tenure in 2023, but still ranked 90th in EPA/Play with a porous offensive line that was 115th in sacks allowed.
While the Bruins’ defense will certainly take a step back, returning only 52% of its production on a top 20 unit, the defense should have more than enough capabilities to keep a lid on the Rainbow Warriors offense with a shaky offensive line.
Meanwhile, Hawaii’s defense has plenty of holes, but I’m not prepared to say that Bieniemy’s and the Bruins’ offense will be humming so quickly on the road against Hawaii. UCLA was a national average offense in terms of EPA/Play last season, and I believe that the team will take some time to gel around the returning Garbers, only returning 46% of its production last season.
Further, is UCLA going to be running up the score in this one? Garbers had only four big-time throws last season with more than two-thirds of his passes going less than 10 yards. With Bieniemy’s offensive scheme coming from the pro ranks, will the Bruins play more methodically?
There are too many questions to trust both offenses right away, I’ll side with the under.
PICK: UNDER 54.5
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
Follow Reed on Twitter @ReedWallach and get all his college football bets on betstamp @rw33
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
-
Technology6 days ago
Breakthrough robo-glove gives you superhuman grip
-
Connecticut5 days ago
Oxford church provides sanctuary during Sunday's damaging storm
-
News1 week ago
Video: Biden Delivers Keynote on First Night of D.N.C.
-
News1 week ago
Video: Protesters Clash With Police Near the Democratic National Convention
-
News1 week ago
Ex-officer convicted in George Floyd's killing is moved to new prison
-
Politics1 week ago
Former teacher reveals which students suffered 'the most' under Walz's pandemic-era guidelines
-
News1 week ago
Video: D.N.C. Holds Enthusiastic Roll Call to Nominate Harris
-
World1 week ago
Panama deports 29 Colombian migrants from Darien Gap under US deal