There is nothing quite like this little corner of the world. From the early morning crowing of neighborhood roosters to the community members who bleed Red Raider red; from the world-famous surf and “ono” eats to the aunties and uncles whose quiet, little acts of service have shaped our whole world—we love it here. We count it a delight, a blessing and a privilege to study in such a place, especially among people whose North Shore upbringing guides their everyday life and teaches us how to be better.
With “Growing Up North Shore” as the theme for this issue, we here at Ke Alaka‘i wanted to showcase not only the place but also the people who are North Shore born and bred, as well as those whose love for this special place is relatively new but growing everyday. This includes local businesses (p. 8, 28, 26), North Shore lifestyles and hobbies (pg. 14, 30, 32) and tips on how to spend your time in this lovely place (pg. 18). Because this issue spans across both May and June, we also had the opportunity to pay tribute to student mothers (pg.38) and fathers (pg. 34) and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (pg. 36).
We hope reading and experiencing these stories allows you to take a look at the beauty all around us and have hope for the future. Working on this issue has also been a very personal joy for me—and bittersweet—as my time at BYUH and Ke Alaka‘i comes to a close after beginning nearly 8 years ago. Mahalo nui loa and fa’afetai tele lava for this incredible experience.