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.

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

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HONOLULU – A flurry of tropical activity has the Eastern Pacific Ocean making up for lost time. However, the season is still behind in named storms as there are normally nine named storms before the end of August.

Tropical Storm Hone is on its way out as it weakens southwest of the Hawaiian Islands. Now, Hurricane Gilma is tracking west toward the state but is about to encounter hostile conditions and cooler waters, according to the FOX Forecast Center. At one point over the weekend, Gilma was a Category 4 storm.

Gilma is forecast to weaken into a tropical depression as it moves near the islands on Friday into Saturday.

TROPICAL STORM HONE MOVING AWAY FROM HAWAII AFTER DUMPING MORE THAN 2 FEET OF RAIN ON BIG ISLAND

“Hone passed about 50 miles south of the Big Island,” FOX Weather Meteorologist Britta Merwin said. “(Gilma) could actually pass just north of the Big Island. It’s still producing rain and gusty winds. By the time Gilma gets there, it’s not going to be as strong as Hone was … but it’s the hit-after-hit.”

The heavy precipitation associated with Hone had a major impact on Hawaii’s Big Island. Many areas received more than 2 feet of rain, sending water rushing down the steep slopes of the mountainous terrain into low-lying neighborhoods. It will not take a lot more rain from Gilma to cause some flash flooding.

The National Hurricane Center said Tropical Storm Hector is following Gilma at the tail of the parade of storms but is not forecast to become a hurricane.  Hector’s track takes it toward the Hawaiian Islands but dissipates before reaching the archipelago early next week.