Civil Beat’s photographers spent the holiday week covering the community on Oahu.
We share with you the Japanese New Year’s tradition of mochitsuki, big surf on the North Shore and Electric Beach’s natural attractions. Lastly, our photojournalism also brings attention to the toll of domestic violence and firearms in Hawaii.
Kine (wooden mallets) soak in water to prevent the mochi rice from sticking during a mochitsuki (mochi pounding) demonstration Wednesday in Honolulu by the Konko Mission of Wahiawa. The mission was established in 1940 to meet the religious needs of Japanese immigrants to Hawaii. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)After the gelatinous mochi rice has been pressed together, Clayton Matsuoka, from left, Bryce Adkison and Rev. David Yano rhythmically use kine to pound the rice inside the usu (mortar). Head minister Rev. Yasuhiro Yano, second right, custom-made this usu out of stainless steel. It is normally made of stone or wood. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)Water is added to the mochi to make it pliable and prevent it from sticking to the mallet. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)Wednesday’s high-surf advisory on Oahu’s North Shore invariably brought out folks to ride on the famous Waimea Bay wave. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023)Back-to-back large and extra-large North Northwest swells contributed to the conditions for surfers. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023)West Oahu’s Electric Beach is a popular spot for viewing sealife, including an endangered monk seal coming ashore on a recent afternoon. A Honolulu lifeguard, at right, prepares to cordon off the area to give the monk seal a place to relax. Also seen here are honu (green sea turtles) and spinner dolphins. The City and County of Honolulu began placing lifeguards at Electric Beach in August. (Kirstin Downey/Civil Beat/2023)The body of Theresa Cachuela, 33, lies in a Pearlridge Center parking garage in Aiea. Her husband Jason Cachuela shot and killed her three days before Christmas. He was later found dead in Waipahu by police. The mother of three had taken out a restraining order against her partner of 11 years. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023)Friends and family of Theresa Cachuela held a vigil Tuesday night. Hawaii News Now reported that friends said she had been the victim of domestic abuse and that she had been seeking support from local agencies. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023)The friends and family of Theresa Cachuela have set up a GoFundMe account to assist with funeral costs and to provide support for her children, Hawaii News Now reported. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023)
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