Hawaii
‘Bring my A game’: Hawaii surfer Carissa Moore hopes to defend her Olympic gold title

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Carissa Moore is the most decorated competitive surfer in Hawaii’s history, topping former World Champs John John Florence, Andy Irons and Sunny Garcia.
And she’s the only Hawaii surfer to ever win Olympic gold in surfing.
Of course, Duke Kahanamoku won multiple medals, but those were in swimming.
“It was super, super special to you know, I felt like through the Olympic journey, last time, I felt like I got to learn a lot about Duke Kahanamoku and his legacy and feel a deeper connection and pride for where I come from, the place treally raised me, the waves, my community and being able to like, represent and surf for something bigger than myself,” Moore said.
Moore competed in the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, which was held in 2021 due to the pandemic, and became the first-ever winner of the Olympic gold medal in women’s shortboard surfing.
“Obviously getting to win in Tokyo in 2021 was so so special. But so many things had to fall into place. And so I don’t really feel too much pressure to have to back it up,” she said. “The Olympics far exceeded my expectations that I had, it was the first time so I didn’t really know what was going to happen or how it was gonna change surfing or, you know, if it was just gonna be like another CT event.”
“But it definitely did feel like a bigger stage.”
That’s in the rear view mirror now. Since the landmark victory, Moore has been able to get some me-time.
Previous Coverage: Carissa Moore is stepping away from competitive surfing, but she left a lasting impact
“So I, I’ve actually got to have a few months to just relax and go to Japan with my Nana and my sister. And, you know, I decided to step away from competing full time this year to focus on the Olympics, but also have some time to like, do other things. So it’s been a nice balance of both,” Moore explained.
In preparation for the Olympics, Moore has been logging a considerable amount of time training down in Tahiti on a wave that is not for the faint of heart.
“It’s one of the most intense, intimidating, challenging waves to surf, you really have to have a high level of skill to like read the wave and navigate the steep takeoff. And obviously, there’s a huge risk involved. There’s a shallow reef and you could get very hurt, but you could also have the ride of your life. Comfortable level is, you know, it’s getting there. I think the more than I spend time at the wave and hopefully learn and, and you know, just get the reps up, that will help me to feel more confident. But at this point, I don’t, I don’t know if you can ever feel like 100% comfortable,” Moore said.
Then there’s the competition, the best of the best will be there, including one Tahitian woman who has the luxury of a home break advantage.
“Everyone’s earned their spot and are very, very talented and experienced,” Moore said. “And I’m gonna have to bring my A game if I want to do well there and put in the work.”
Among Moore’s accolades is 11 national titles, five world titles and the Olympic gold title. While she’s a fierce competitor in the water, Moore says it takes a lot to tap into that side of her.
“It’s definitely not natural for me to like, just be super competitive, or confrontational. But like, you have to have a little bit of that like hunger and drive and fire and like get up close and personal at times,” she added.
When asked if another Olympic gold medal could a be trigger back to competing for the world championship again, she responded:
“I don’t know honestly, I haven’t really thought too much further than this summer I’m just trying to really simplify things… I will definitely give myself some space to kind of figure out what I want to do next.”
Win or lose, Moore’s next move will involve her Moore Aloha Foundation which aims to help girls and women navigate the waves of mental health and wellness, and create a life of positivity, purpose and passion.
Her message to young people?
“If I had any advice to the young ones coming up, or just anyone in general, I think just this belief that anything really is possible with hard work and dedication and a lot of love and a lot of aloha. Yeah, you can achieve your wildest dreams. I truly believe that.”
Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

Hawaii
UH Hilo hosts conference, aims to revitalize Olelo Hawaii

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The University of Hawaii at Hilo is hosting a conference to revitalize the Hawaiian language.
On Monday and Tuesday, UH Hilo is hosting He Olelo Ola, an event that invites indigenous language specialists from around the world, providing a unique opportunity to observe instruction of Olelo Hawaii from preschool to the PhD level.
Experts will discuss the future of the Hawaiian language along with endangered languages worldwide.
This year’s theme, No Anei Ko Kakou Ola (our identity is from this place, connecting back to the homeland), highlights the link between olelo Hawaii revitalization and similar efforts among Native American and Indigenous communities globally.
Panel discussions will focus on supporting Hawaiian speaking communities and connecting with the Native Hawaiian diaspora.
Discussions will also highlight how UH Hilo prepares students to navigate life in communities where Indigenous languages remain minority languages in their own lands, similar to olelo Hawaii.
Known as the Hilo Field Study, participants will explore UH Hilo’s Hawaiian language college which is home to the nation’s only BA to PhD Olelo Hawaii medium program.
The tour will also include a visit to Nawahiokalaniopuu, the largest Indigenous language medium school in the U.S., where students receive a full preschool-through-12th-grade education entirely in Olelo Hawaii.
UH Hilo linguists said Hawaiian speaking communities in Hilo share many similarities with diaspora communities in large cities where families often have mixed racial and linguistic identities in an increasingly globalized world.
Copyright 2025 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
Hawaii
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Hawaii
Access Denied: Honolulu Lounge Change Hits Travelers During Upheaval

Starting April 1, Hawaiian Airlines will revoke access to its Plumeria Lounge at Honolulu Airport for members of the global Priority Pass program. This change leaves some travelers scrambling for alternatives, signaling a broader transformation underway at Hawaii’s busiest airport, now driven by Alaska/Hawaiian Airlines.
Why Priority Pass is losing access to Plumeria Lounge.
Priority Pass recently confirmed the change on its website in All caps: “EFFECTIVE 01APR25 THIS LOUNGE WILL NO LONGER BE PART OF THE PROGRAMME. NO ACCESS WILL BE GIVEN ON OR AFTER THIS DATE.”
Until then, Priority Pass members can still enter the Plumeria Lounge between 6:30 a.m. and 10 p.m., space permitting. After that, entry will be limited to Hawaiian Airlines passengers flying internationally in business class or on specific routes to New York and Boston.
While most visitors do not consider the lounge luxurious, it was a valued perk. As one social media user put it, “While it isn’t the greatest lounge, it was nice to have access with an AmEx Platinum card—much better than waiting at the gate.”
Priority Pass is a global airport lounge membership program often bundled with premium travel credit cards. It grants access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide. For many travelers, it’s one of the most-used perks of cards like the AmEx Platinum or Chase Sapphire Reserve, offering a quieter space to wait, snack, and recharge before flights.
What Plumeria Lounge offered to Priority Pass members.
The Plumeria Lounge invited Priority Pass members to join Hawaiian Airlines elite fliers for modest self-serve snacks, beer, wine, soft drinks, Wi-Fi, and charging outlets. While its beige decor and limited space weren’t memorable, it provided a welcome escape from the terminal chaos when HNL is busy.
One traveler recalled, “Not a great lounge but way better than Premier Club. I like the local food—had a kalua pork slider on a taro sweetbread roll and also liked the yakisoba noodles.”
Premier Club, unlike the Plumeria Lounge, is for First Class domestic passengers and Pualani Platinum and Gold members. One user said, “I don’t know if I’d even consider the Premier Club a lounge.”
Other than offering a more comfortable place to wait for a flight, we’d agree the lounge falls short by nearly every standard. So much so that we’d say one of the highlights is the private restroom facilities.
Read: Don’t Dare Enter These Hawaii Airline Lounges On Arrival.
Where Priority Pass members can go now.
The IASS Hawaii Lounge in Terminal 2 is now the only Priority Pass option at HNL. Still, its limited hours (7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.) and basic amenities make it a far cry from Plumeria and a long walk from Terminal 1. For Hawaiian Airlines passengers departing from Terminal 1, it’s very inconveniently located, but for all other airline passengers, it will be much closer.
As one commenter lamented, “T2 lounge is even crappier. Can’t even call that a lounge.”
The move also follows a trend. One commenter pointed out, “Alaska did the same by removing Priority Pass many years ago. I’d assume the same thing is applying here.”
What’s next for Honolulu Airport lounges?
The new Hawaiian and Alaska flagship lounge planned for 2027 promises a much-improved space for top-tier travelers, with five times the space and a new location at the Mauka Concourse entrance. It’s likely to become a showcase for Alaska’s vision for Hawaiian Airlines. However, for the average Hawaii visitor, the gap between now and then may still feel wide.
Expectations are high. Randy A. commented, “Let’s hope this one actually delivers now that Alaska is in charge.” With both airlines operating under a shared strategy but separate brands, many will be watching how they define the future of Hawaii air travel.
As the Alaska-Hawaiian partnership evolves, travelers will be watching to see if these changes truly elevate the airport experience—or simply leave more passengers waiting at the gate.
For now, the end of Priority Pass access at Plumeria marks the first visible ripple in what could be a major transformation at Honolulu Airport. Whether that transformation benefits all travelers remains to be seen.
What’s your reaction to this change?
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