Deep within Hawaiʻi’s wet rainforests lives a small but fascinating creature known as nananana makakiʻi, or the Hawaiian happy-face spider. Recognized for the markings on its abdomen that can resemble a smiling face, this rare spider represents the extraordinary biodiversity found throughout the Hawaiian Islands. The presentation identifies the spider with the genus Exalbidion and explains that its evolutionary line diverged from its ancestor approximately 4.22 million years ago. It was...

A warm sense of aloha and deep cultural pride filled the air on Saturday evening, March 22, 2025, as the Waiʻanae Hawaiian Civic Club celebrated its 90th Anniversary at the breathtaking Makana ʻO Nalani Gardens. The evening, titled “Paʻina Makana,” brought together members, families, and community leaders to honor nine decades of cultural stewardship and community service. Guests were welcomed with Now Niu, a soulful musical set by Jesse Mikasobe-Kealiʻinohomoku, setting the tone for an...