Maui musician releases new song dedicated to the people of Lahaina

On this week’s episode of “Island Beat,” Billy V. sits down with Maui native and award-winning musician Joshua Kahula. He just released a new album for the first time in 13 years. One of the songs, “Cup of Aloha,” holds a special message of healing for the people of Lahaina. 

HIFF44 to honor Hawaiian film “The Queen’s Flowers”

On this episode of Island Beat, Billy V. takes a look at a film being featured in this year’s Hawaiian International Film Festival.  “The Queen’s Flowers” is among 24 short films and nine feature films now up for HIFF’s “Made in Hawaii” awards.

How Hawaii’s HGTV power couple went from $80K in debt to flipping homes in ‘Renovation Aloha’

Tristyn and Kamohai Kalama never dreamed they’d one day be hosting their own show on HGTV. Their new series, “Renovation Aloha,” which premiered on Feb. 20, focuses on the Kalamas’ business of buying some of the grungiest, most rundown properties on Oahu and transforming them into beautiful homes f…

Get to know Gabriel Goes, the Hawaii singer whose infectious energy impressed judges on 'The Voice'

Last week, 21-year-old Gabriel Goes, of Honolulu, passed the “blind audition” for his rendition of Sublime’s “What I Got,” getting Chance the Rapper to turn his chair. Despite the other coaches not turning their chairs, they all agreed that Goes’ energy was infectious. In the latest episode of Is…

Maui's Kamalei Kawa'a praised for ‘spiritual’ performance on ‘The Voice’

It took barely seven seconds for a Hawaii singer’s talent to be recognized on “The Voice” on Monday night. Maui’s Kamalei Kawa‘a performed his own rendition of “Redemption Song” by Bob Marley and the Wailers and barely got his first chords out of before Chance the Rapper swung his chair around. Ka…

Legendary waterman Archie Kalepa on rebuilding Lahaina — his home

When Archie Kalepa thinks back on his days growing up in Lahaina, he remembers a much different town from the tourist mecca that it used to be right before the Aug. 8 wildfire. It was a much simpler time, when he would go fishing with his grandparents. The renowned Maui waterman comes from nine g…

New Office of Hawaiian Affairs CEO describes ‘tremendous work ahead’ for agency

Stacy Kealohalani Ferreira took over as CEO of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs in November, and is already crafting a new vision for the agency. Ferreira previously served as budget chief of the Hawaii State Senate and was the executive strategy consultant and division director of Extension Educati…

How Phill Cain went from Waikiki scuba instructor to ‘Squid Game: The Challenge’ finalist

Phill Cain was working as a scuba diving instructor at Waikiki Dive Center when he got the call to compete for a chance to win $4.56 million in the Netflix reality show “Squid Game: The Challenge.” Little did he know that he would be one of the top finalists out of 456 contestants. Spoiler alert i…

What's next for Kaylee Shimizu after her time on 'The Voice'

Kaylee Shimizu, one of Hawaii’s “The Voice” contestants, is back home in the islands. Last week, the 18-year-old was eliminated during the “playoffs” round. She delivered a powerful rendition of Quincy Jones’ “You Put a Move on my Heart,” but Coach John Legend chose other singers to move on. Des…

A behind-the-scenes look at filming 'Squid Game: The Challenge' with Pashyn Santos and Allison Chu

For Hawaii’s Pashyn Santos and Allison Chu, competing in the Netflix series “Squid Game: The Challenge” was unlike anything they’ve ever done. Out of some 90,000 applicants from around the world, Santos and Chu were both chosen to be in a cast of 456 people vying for a chance to win $4.56 million.…