Hawaii

Kamehameha graduate learns he's the third Native Hawaiian to become a Navy admiral

Published

1 year ago

October 4, 2024

Kamehameha graduate learns he's the third Native Hawaiian to become a Navy admiral

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – 51-year-old Rear Admiral Ryan Mahelona, a native of Kāneʻohe and reserve deputy commander for the U.S. Navy’s 10th Fleet in Maryland went back to middle school Thursday at Kamehameha Kapālama.

It’s where he started in 7th grade focusing on academics and athletics with hopes of becoming an engineer. He ended up working in cyber security in San Diego.

Doing online research, Mahelona discovered he’s the third Native Hawaiian to become an admiral in the U.S. Navy. The first was the namesake of the USS Chung-Hoon, Gordon Paiʻea Chung-Hoon and the second was Robert Kihune who will preside over Mahelona’s promotion ceremony onboard the USS Missouri Saturday.

“It’s crazy. It’s hard to believe, right,” Mahelona told Hawaii News Now.

He spoke to students interested in Native Hawaiian leadership and government. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he didn’t think he would be breaking barriers.

“I got more senior, I started to realize that, hey, you know, it’s not that far off. It’s something that is achievable,” said Mahelona.

“You set your mind to what you want to achieve and that’s what happened to me,” he added.

Mahelona stresses the importance of education, culture and aloha.

“I think it was very inspiring and powerful,” said Alazel Antonio, a Kamehameha 8th grader.

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Hawaii

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

Published

8 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Press Room

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:

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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Hawaii

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

Published

20 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

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.

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.

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.

—
More UH football coverage

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Hawaii

Hawaii-based company in national spotlight for cookie deliveries

Published

1 day ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

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.

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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