Aloha and Hafa Adai to my Pasefika brothers and sisters, If you turn on the news in Hawaii or scroll through social media, you hear the same exact message on repeat: Hawaii is too expensive. Paradise is unaffordable. Locals are being priced out. I hear...

Aloha and Hafa Adai to my Outer Island of Yap family and valued ifagalz friends and followers, For years, many of us have made the brave journey from our beautiful, remote atoll of Ifalik in Micronesia to build new lives here in the United States....

Back in 2015, the real estate journey began with curiosity, courage, and a deep desire to build something meaningful. Those early days were filled with lessons—some learned the hard way, others through patience and persistence. Each property, each negotiation, and each closing shaped a better...

It all started with a few banana plants purchased out of curiosity and a desire to grow fresh fruit at home. Over time, that curiosity turned into passion. Watching the plants thrive and multiply inspired a deeper appreciation for how resilient and rewarding banana farming...

Living with a recurring cancer teaches patience and perspective. It reminds that control is limited, but attitude is not. Support from doctors, family, friends, and now fellow survivors makes a difference. So does faith—faith in medicine, in healing, and in the possibility of better days...

Why Now Is the Best Time to Buy in Eden Roc, Upper Puna The winds of change are blowing through Upper Puna, and nowhere is that more evident than in Eden Roc. Once overlooked, this peaceful subdivision in Mountain View, Hawaii, is quietly transforming into...

What began as a simple idea has become a living system of sustainability, generosity, and gratitude—a reflection of what makes Puna such a special place to call home.

Clearing Land in Puna, Hawaii: Lessons Learned About Preserving Soil When clearing land in Puna, Hawaii, one of the biggest surprises is discovering how little soil actually exists. Beneath the lush greenery lies mostly lava rock, with only about an inch of soil in some...

From Buckets & Plastics to Flushing Toilets: Our Off-Grid Journey in Puna District On October 14, 2023, the first night in the off-grid home in Puna District marked the beginning of a life-changing chapter. The house had no roof—just walls and a dream. The sound...

The article by Mr. Dave Sokoti Bernard, “A Proposal to Update the Residency Requirement for Candidates Seeking Election to the Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia,” presents a timely and necessary discussion that deserves national attention—especially from Yap State. The current five-year physical residency requirement for...

Life has a way of testing resolve at the most inconvenient times. For me, that moment came during midterms at Oregon State University. I was buried in notes, caffeine, and the usual stress that comes with exams when I came home to find a notice...

The Yap State Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently conducted an environmental assessment following reports of a partially sunken and unsecured barge along the shoreline of Falalop Island, Woleai. The barge, previously used in the runway rehabilitation project to transport and offload aggregates, now poses potential...