Hawaii
‘The state is watching’: Participants gather to share hugs — and strength — at Lahaina unity march
LAHAINA (HawaiiNewsNow) – It has been almost six months since a firestorm leveled Lahaina, killing at least 100 people and leaving thousands of residents homeless.
To commemorate all that was lost, thousands gathered on Saturday for a unity march and rally described as both an opportunity for healing — and a chance to move forward together.
“It’s amazing that we can all come together, especially Hawaii as a whole,” Lahaina fire survivor and attendee Stephanie Smythe. “From the other islands, they’ve come to support us and embrace us, and that means the world. I think the state now is watching Lahaina. We can be the trailblazers.”
The disaster that claimed Lahaina is the worst U.S. wildfire in more than a century.
Many are still in mourning — and that was clear as participants walked along the Lahaina Bypass for the Houlu Lahaina Unity Gathering on Saturday morning. There were plenty of tears and embraces.
Native Hawaiian leader Walter Ritte and his ohana (family) came from Molokai to be a part of the event and offer encouragement to residents. “This was the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom and then all of a sudden … tourism took over,” Ritte said. “We came in order to encourage the Hawaiians over here to organize and try to get a Hawaiian future for this place.”
Participants flew in from various islands, even the continent, to stand with the people of Lahaina.
“Justice will be restored for the people in Maui. The entire country is behind you, and we are here to say, ‘Maui Strong!’” said Raffi Kassabian, who flew in from Los Angeles just for the gathering.
But some local leaders chose not to participate, like community advocacy group Lahaina Strong, because Gov. Josh Green was invited. They feel government officials, including the governor, aren’t doing enough to find long-term housing for thousands of wildfire survivors.
“I understand their frustrations, I really do. But to rebuild an entire town and support an entire people is very challenging, but very necessary. So, I understand. I feel their pain and I absorbed part of it when we’re together. We’re gonna continue to do everything we can,” Green told HNN.
Everyone walked down Hokiokio Place and made their way to Launiupoko Beach Park for a Hoolaulea.
There, they were greeted by whales and waa (canoes), including the famed Hokulea and Hikianalia.
From there, more cultural protocols, but most importantly — unity.
Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The state Department of Health is warning the public of multiple brand names of organic carrots being recalled due to potential E. coli contamination.
Grimmway Farms is recalling multiple sizes and brands of bagged organic baby and whole carrots, including 365 Whole Foods Market, Bunny Luv, Cal-Organic, Good & Gather and O Organic brands.
These products were sold throughout the U.S. and were available for purchase at supermarkets and retailers in Hawaii, the DOH said.
Symptoms of E. coli can include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea and/or vomiting.
To date, 39 illnesses and one death have been associated with these products nationwide.
The DOH is investigating if the recalled products have affected any individuals in Hawaii.
The recalled carrots should no longer be available for purchase, but health officials urge consumers to check their refrigerators or freezers to see if products match up with any of the recalled products listed on the FDA’s website.
Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
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Signed Franchise Agreement Signals New Nontraditional Sector Development Exploration
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Multi-Unit, Multi-Brand Operator Specializing in Travel Plazas Adds Exceptional Coffee Concept to Growing Portfolio
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19,000-square-foot Travel Plaza Set to Open in Q2 2025
KENOSHA, Wis., Nov. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii, a leading coffee franchise renowned for its premium sourcing of Hawaiian coffees and unforgettable cafés, announces a new signed agreement that will bring a nontraditional location to the greater Kenosha market in Q2 2025. Bad Ass Coffee is set to become the flagship concept in a 19,000-square-foot travel plaza at County Highway E, I-94 Exit 339. This exciting development marks a major step in the brand’s expansion into nontraditional locations, highlighting significant growth opportunities on the horizon.
At the helm of this agreement is Paul Bhardwaj, CEO and founder of Golden Oil, which operates 12 travel centers and employs over 400 team members. In addition to building a multi-million-gallon fuel company, Bhardwaj is well-versed in the QSR space, owning franchises of top brands like Subway, Dairy Queen, and Cinnabon, among others. With over 30 years of industry experience, he’s witnessed shifting consumer preferences and evolving amenities. Driven by the demand for speed and quality, Bhardwaj sought a standout coffee concept to anchor the all-new travel plaza.
“Coffee is an untapped market for us with massive potential,” said Bhardwaj. “For a travel plaza, it’s a natural fit, and being near three college campuses positions us perfectly to become a go-to coffee destination. When we set out to find the right brand, we were looking for something truly distinctive and premium. Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii stood out – not only for its exceptional product, but also for its proven business model and impressive financials, making it a smart and seamless investment.”
Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii leadership share Bhardwaj’s enthusiasm for tapping into nontraditional expansion opportunities as a complement to the brand’s overall franchise development strategy.
“As we continue to grow, it’s crucial in this competitive market to identify nontraditional opportunities that will build awareness for our brand, while presenting an attractive business opportunity for our franchisees,” said Gregg Koffler Chief Development Officer of Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii. “With consumer accessibility and convenience top-of-mind, we’re committed to bringing our quality product to consumers through a wide variety of nontraditional locations, including travel plazas, airports, convenience stores, colleges, and other high-trafficked venues.”
The family of a 30-year-old Hawaii resident is searching for her in Los Angeles after she missed a connecting flight, sent unusual text messages and then went silent, the relatives said.
Hannah Kobayashi arrived in Los Angeles on Nov. 8 en route to New York City but missed a connecting flight because a 30- to 45-minute window to get to its departure terminal may not have been enough, aunt Larie Pidgeon said in an interview.
Kobayashi, of Maui, stayed in Los Angeles as she awaited an opening for a last-minute flight to New York and used the time for sightseeing, family members said. She went to The Grove shopping center in the Beverly Grove neighborhood, about 12 miles north of Los Angeles International Airport, to see a Nike marketing event on Nov. 10, they said.
Kobayashi’s Instagram account, verified by NBC News, includes a photo she posted that depicts a Nike notice of filming, apparently at or near The Grove.
The next day, she sent concerning text messages to loved ones, family members said.
“Hannah’s last message to us was alarming — she mentioned feeling scared, and that someone might be trying to steal her money and identity,” Pidgeon said on Facebook.
“She hasn’t been heard from since, and we are gravely concerned for her safety,” she wrote.
Pidgeon confirmed her Facebook account name, Larie Ingrum, by text. She was one of three relatives who recently sat for an interview about Kobayashi.
The three were part of a larger group of family members and loved ones who gathered in Los Angeles in recent days to launch a search effort.
Pidgeon said Kobayashi, an art fan and aspiring photographer, saved for the trip to New York City and was excited before she left Honolulu on Nov. 8.
She planned to visit the Museum of Modern Art and absorb Manhattan’s art scene as part of her effort to establish a career, Pidgeon said.
“She was really trying to school herself on how to become ‘it’ in New York,” she said.
Relatives have said they reported Kobayashi missing to the Los Angeles International Airport Police Department and the FBI, but the Los Angeles Police Department said it is the primary investigating agency on the case. Officer Tony Im, an LAPD spokesman, said Kobayashi was reported missing to the department Friday.
Pidgeon said texts sent Nov. 11 were alarming and at times didn’t sound like they were written in Kobayashi’s voice.
Family members quoted one of the texts, according to a video report from NBC affiliate KHNL of Honolulu: “I got tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds for someone I thought I loved.”
Pidgeon said the texts describe what amounts to identity theft.
“She said that someone was stealing her identity, that she felt scared,” Pidgeon said.
It appeared Kobayashi was at Los Angeles International Airport at the time, she said. Another aunt, Geordan Montalvo, whom Kobayashi was to visit in New York, tried to reach her, Pidgeon said.
“Her phone pinged at LAX at 4 p.m. and then after that, Geordan kept trying to talk to her, and then it went dark. Her phone went dead, and her communication cut off completely,” Pidgeon said.
The Nov. 11 texts were the last family members heard from her.
On a Facebook group called Help Us Find Hanna, which includes the participation of family members, a post by the RAD Movement — a San Diego County, California, missing persons nonprofit group — says security video in the area of Pico Boulevard and Hill Street in downtown Los Angeles shows Kobayashi with someone and has sparked concern.
Family members said they couldn’t speak about it in detail because they don’t want to hinder investigators. It’s not clear when the video was recorded. Pidgeon said that based on the video, there’s reason to believe Kobayashi “is not OK.”
Relatives say Kobayashi booked her trip to New York with a boyfriend with whom she has since broken up. They said the unidentified man was on the same flight to Los Angeles but didn’t have contact with Kobayashi and made the connection to New York City. They described him as very cooperative.
The group gathered in Los Angeles is focusing its own search on the intersection of Pico Boulevard and Hill Street, near the Convention Center, LA Live and Crypto Arena, family members said.
Father Ryan Kobayashi is among them.
“Everything is just a blur it seems, because I haven’t slept well since I’ve heard the news, and I really don’t know … it’s just really concerning,” he told KHNL earlier.
In 2013, the story of missing Canadian tourist Elsa Lam, 21, sparked international headlines when her body was found in a water tank on the roof of a run-down hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Security video of Lam pacing inside a hotel elevator and pressing multiple buttons before her death helped inspire conspiracy theories, but the Los Angeles County medical examiner determined she drowned accidentally in an event influenced by her bipolar disorder.
On Monday, citing speculation that Kobayashi needed a “break,” Pidgeon sought to reassure the public that she didn’t suffer from mental illness.
“Hannah has never once suffered from a mental illness,” she said. “She has no record on that. She is not on medication. Hannah’s someone that we can call and she’s going to call us back within an hour.”
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