The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu welcomed the arrival of the Philippine contingent from the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard participating in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise 2026 that will be held from 24 June to 31 July 2026.

Led by Consul General Arman R. Talbo, the Consulate, together with members of the Filipino community in Hawaii, greeted the officers and crew aboard the PH Navy’s BRP Miguel Malvar and the PH Coast Guard’s BRP Gabriela Silang as they arrive and dock in Pearl Harbor, and conveyed support for their participation in the world’s largest international maritime exercise.

In his remarks, Consul General Talbo highlighted that the deployment of both a Philippine Navy and a Philippine Coast Guard vessel to RIMPAC 2026 reflects the Philippines’ growing maritime capabilities and its commitment to advancing maritime security, interoperability, and regional cooperation alongside allies and partners to promote a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific region.

The Consul General further underscored that the participation of BRP Miguel Malvar and BRP Gabriela Silang is especially meaningful as the Philippines and the United States commemorate the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year. He noted that the presence of both vessels at RIMPAC symbolizes the strength of the Philippines-US alliance and the expanding cooperation between the two countries in defense, security, and maritime affairs.

Named after two distinguished heroes of Philippine history, BRP Miguel Malvar and BRP Gabriela Silang also serve as reminders of the Philippines’ enduring legacy of courage, patriotism and unwavering dedication to national sovereignty.

The Philippine contingent will join other ships and personnel from participating nations during RIMPAC 2026 to further strengthen interoperability in multi-domain combat and contingency training. END

This article is brought to you by The Office of the Consul General of the Republic of the Philippines in Honolulu.

(BIVN) – 10,000 rubber duckies will “race” across the lake at the Kings’ Shops in Waikoloa this Fourth of July. 

The 34th annual Great Waikoloa Rubber Duckie Race will be on the Saturday, July 4th, held in support of the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Hawaiʻi. 

From a news release courtesy the Kings’ Shops and the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Hawaiʻi: 

The community fundraiser brings together a July 4 celebration, live entertainment, keiki activities and one of Waikoloa’s most visual traditions to support programs for children and adults with cerebral palsy and other disabilities with similar service needs. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with scheduled activities beginning at 11 a.m. and the rubber duckie race starting at 3 p.m. at Kings’ Shops.

“Each year, this event gives the community a fun, visible way to support programs for people with disabilities and their families across Hawaii,” said John Nishida, executive director of United Cerebral Palsy Association of Hawaii. “The duckie race has become a Waikoloa tradition because it brings people together for a celebration with a purpose.”

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More than $25,000 in prizes will be awarded, including a grand prize trip for two to Japan. Additional prizes include resort stays, golf packages, boat cruises, dolphin experiences, gift baskets, shopping and dining certificates, and more. The first 50 duckies to finish the race, along with the last-place duckie, will win prizes for the people who adopted them.

This year’s Super Quackers theme will bring costumed superheroes throughout the center for photo opportunities and family-friendly fun. Tommy Ching returns as emcee, and the first 250 people to RSVP will receive a commemorative Super Quackers can cooler, while supplies last.

Event highlights include A-Bay’s Watermelon Eating Contest, live music by Kona Soul and Keoni Thompson, the Original Big Island Shave Ice Co. Shave Ice Eating Contest, the Fitness Forever Challenge, a preview of Aloha Theatre’s “Seussical,” and the duck waddling and duck calling contests. Guests will also find a scavenger hunt, free keiki activities, local artisan and food vendors, merchant offers, temporary tattoos by the Hawaii Army National Guard, Keiki ID services by the Hawaii Police Department, and pupus and drinks at Roy’s Waikoloa Bar & Grill.

Duck adoptions are $5 each. Special adoption packages include the $30 Quack Pack, which includes five ducks in the race and a free T-shirt, and the $100 VIP package, which includes 40 ducks in the race and a free T-shirt. T-shirts for Quack Pack and VIP package adoptions will be held for pickup on race day. 

Duckies may be adopted online in advance. In-person adoptions will be available at Kings’ Shops on July 2 and 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and July 4 from 10 a.m. until sold out. 

For more information, contact UCPA of Hawaii at (808) 532-6744 or visit kingsshops.com/events.

Two years after the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that the access road to the Maunakea summit had been illegally seized and designated as state property in 2018 by the Hawaii Department of Transportation, plans to manage it going forward are under discussion.

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands — which the court determined is the rightful manager of the land on which a four-mile stretch of the road is located — has received several proposals for projects on the road and surrounding area.

The ideas include installation of a toll booth and charging for access to the summit, construction of a gift shop and cultural center, operation of educational tours, and environmental restoration efforts, among others.

At a meeting Thursday, the Maunakea Stewardship and Oversight Authority — the new state agency tasked with taking over management of the summit region from the University of Hawaii — discussed partnering with DHHL and other groups to help determine the best path forward.

“Early indications are that there will be a working group comprised of the authority, (the Center for Maunakea Stewardship, the Department of Land and Natural Resources), DHHL and other immediate stakeholders who can look at what the potential would be on a holistic comprehensive basis,” MKSOA Executive Director John De Fries said. “And in the meantime, DHHL is obligated to continue in the process of reviewing the proposals that they have received.”

DHHL planning office staff members presented two proposals and preliminary feedback at a meeting of the Hawaiian Homes Commission meeting last month.

Both proposals come from DHHL beneficiaries in the form of land-use requests under DHHL’s Aina Mauna Legacy Program, which was developed to oversee the trust’s lands surrounding Maunakea.

One of the proposals was submitted by the Waimea Hawaiian Homesteaders Association, also known as Waimea Nui. The group’s proposal includes building a cultural center, having trained cultural stewards on site and community and youth development opportunities. It would be funded in part by an access fee, but the presentation did not include cost or revenue estimates.

The other proposal is from Koa Kia‘i, a Native Hawaiian group led by Kalaniakea Wilson, a local tour company operator. It suggests installing a toll booth, parking lot, bathrooms, gift shop, playground, workout area and food truck along the access road, as well as operating astronomy, cultural and environmental tours. The proposal also includes cultural monitoring and ecological restoration measures.

The applicants estimate a cost of $1.5 million to implement the proposal, and a revenue of $1.75 million from the toll and parking fees in the first year of operation.

A survey of DHHL beneficiaries suggested preference for the Waimea Nui plan, but respondents also expressed desire for the two organizations to find a way to work together.

While it will ultimately be up to DHHL to make a decision, MKSOA Board Chair John Komeiji said the authority could serve in an advisory capacity and help align the proposals with broader management plans for the mauna.

“They have to make the decision. There are two beneficiary groups that are making the proposals, so they are … duty-bound to consider both proposals,” he said during Thursday’s board meeting. “But I think our job is to figure out, give them an overall holistic view of what is occurring now, how that might interface with whatever proposal.”

De Fries said he had invited a DHHL planning office staff member to join MKSOA’s Joint Management Committee meeting this week to further discuss the project and potential working group.

Email Grace Inez Adams at grace.adams@hawaiitribune-herald.com.