Hawaii
I moved into a penthouse in Hawaii with 19 strangers. Co-living helped me form friendships as an adult.
Last fall, I took a leap of faith and traded the concrete jungle of New York City for the tranquil shores of Honolulu.
After six months of living in NYC, the winter blues finally caught up to me and I began to seek a different way of living.
I stumbled upon Surfbreak HNL, a penthouse where co-living and coworking come together for digital nomads.
The home is located on the entire top floor of a high-rise, where the walls were knocked down and rebuilt to form 20 rooms in a circle surrounding a common space, almost like a college-dorm floor.
The penthouse is a 10-minute walk from Waikiki Beach, and the private rooms range from smaller spaces with a twin to corner suites with king beds. A room costs between $1,500 and $2,850 a month, depending on the size.
After speaking to a previous resident of the house, I applied to live in it.
From application to move-in, I didn’t know what to expect
Kaitlyn Cheung
After sending in my application online, I had a 30-minute interview and virtual tour of the space with the property manager.
During it, we discussed my goals for moving to Honolulu, my hobbies, and my personality.
A week later, I received an email telling me I was accepted into the house. Since I originally planned to stay for two months, I packed only one suitcase and hopped on a one-way flight.
As I toured the floor, current residents whizzed by, some cooking in the kitchen or heads-down on their corporate laptops, others clad in their swimwear heading to the beach.
Each room is furnished with the basics, including fresh bed linens and a desk because most people in the house are remote workers.
The kitchen was stocked with basic ingredients, and we shared things like dishware, cookware, and communal camping gear.
Living with 19 other people was a lifestyle adjustment
For someone who was learning to deal with uncertainty, moving to Honolulu knowing no one was a personal challenge.
As soon as I met my 19 roommates, the experience was a whirlwind of excitement and perpetual busyness. There was never a dull moment.
During a typical week, we would go out to dance and surf after work, then hike on the weekends.
As an introvert, staying sane in a house full of active people was challenging. I’d often find myself escaping the chaos by walking to Waikiki Beach, ordering an acai bowl at Sunrise Shack, and watching the sunset.
Although I loved the constant activity, I also found it important to keep my priorities clear and carve out time to rest and recharge.
I loved connecting with my fellow residents, who were remarkably open
Kaitlyn Cheung
Unlike many of my friends on the continental mainland, everyone at Surfbreak seemed genuinely excited about exploring new places.
It can be difficult as an adult to break the barrier of small talk and get to know someone on a deeper level, but when you see the same people 24/7, vulnerability comes easy.
I noticed most of my conversations with others focused on the human experience of living, not where we went to school or where we worked.
I made close friends in the house and enjoyed getting to know my housemates on such a deep level.
Many people find that forming close friends as adults is hard but co-living effortlessly and quickly breaks down barriers to forming adult friendships like time, distance, and vulnerability.
Although I no longer live in the house, I still have a friend group from when I did. And, to this day, I connect with other Surfbreakers who have lived in the house before or after me.
Surfbreak provided an amazing experience, but it doesn’t reflect what it’s actually like for many folks living in Hawaii
Living in the Surfbreak house for a few months gave me a glimpse into exciting expatriate life in Hawaii, but not what living in Hawaii as a local is really like.
It’s important for expats to appreciate the history and culture of the islands, which is something we visitors don’t always do well.
After all, Hawaii has a rich heritage, and temporary residents are responsible for respecting and protecting it.
I encourage anyone else who chooses to live in Hawaii temporarily or for the long haul to do their research, support local businesses and artisans, and participate in cultural activities with respect and humility.
By doing so, we can ensure that our presence in Hawaii is not just a personal adventure, but also a positive and respectful contribution to the community and the land we’ve come to love.
Hawaii
Tourist yells ‘I’m rich’ after beachgoers beg him to stop attacking endangered seal — before he’s detained
A tourist who threw a huge rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal in Maui boasted that he didn’t care about the consequences because he’s “rich” — before he was detained over the attack.
The man was filmed lifting a large rock from a beach and throwing it towards an endangered seal as it swam off the Lahaina shoreline last Tuesday, narrowly missing the animal’s head.
Kaylee Schnitzer, who filmed the video, can be heard yelling at the man: “What are you doing? Why would you throw a rock at it?”
She later told KHON 2: “We told him that we called the cops, and he was like, ‘I don’t care. Fine me, I’m rich.’ He said that, and he kept walking.”
The Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement’s Maui Branch dispatched officers to the beach, where they detained the suspect. Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources said it will not be share the suspect’s identity as he has not been criminally charged at this time. He is understood to be a 37-year-old man from Seattle, Washington.
A viral video captured a tourist throwing a large rock at an endangered monk seal in Hawaii (KHON2)
Hawaiian monk seals are among the most endangered marine mammals in the world. Harassing, injuring or killing one is against both state and federal law, and violators may face fines or criminal penalties. The horrifying incident sparked online outrage and Schnitzer’s video went viral.
The seal, named “Lani,” is beloved by many residents in the area after returning to Lahaina following the 2023 wildfires. Maui Mayor Richard Bissen noted in an Instagram post that both members of his team and locals have “watched over and deeply cared for” Lani since her return.
“Let me be clear, this is not the kind of visitor we welcome on Maui,” Bissen said. “We welcome respectful visitors that understand that our cultural environment and wildlife must be treated with care and aloha. Behavior like this will not be tolerated.”
Monk seals are one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world (Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources)
State officials said the suspect was questioned by authorities and later released after he requested legal counsel.
The Department of Land and Natural Resources said it is investigating the incident and will turn over the findings to NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement for possible federal action. The Independent has contacted the department for more information.
During a news conference on Wednesday, the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement Chief Jason Redulla said officials have not confirmed whether the seal was harmed by the rock.
Police reminded the public to avoid interactions with the protected species and report harmful behavior to authorities.
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Firefighters responded to a vehicle fire on the H-1 Freeway late Friday night.
The Honolulu Fire Department said the fire was reported around 10:40 p.m. on the H-1 eastbound, after the Kinau Street exit.
Witnesses told Hawaii News Now flames rose higher than the concrete barrier separating the eastbound and westbound lanes.
One unit with four personnel responded and quickly brought the fire under control.
The fire was extinguished, and the responding unit was cleared from the scene by 11:22 p.m.
No other details were immediately available.
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
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