Latest news with #KalaniHighSchool
Khaleej Times
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
'Lilo & Stitch' love action remake actor David HK Bell dies
Actor David Hekili Kenui Bell, who recently appeared in the live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch and in shows like Magnum P.I. and Hawaii Five-0, has died. Bell's sister, Jalene Kanani Bell, confirmed his death in a Facebook post on Monday. The cause of death has not been announced by her or anyone else. "It is with a heavy heart I share that my sweet, generous, talented, funny, brilliant and handsome little brother David H. K. Bell will spend today in the company of our Heavenly Father," Jalene Kanani Bell wrote in a Facebook post. Bell is popularly known for playing Big Hawaiian Dude, a character who comedically drops his shaved ice dessert at the sight of an alien portal in the live-action remake of Disney's Lilo & Stitch. Bell recently shared photos from the movie set on Instagram, as well as a clip from his audition. In the post, he shared a video of his iconic scene of dropping an ice cream. Bell, Variety reported, was from Kaimuki and studied at Kalani High School. He was living in Waimea prior to his death and had worked as an assistant airport superintendent at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kaimuki Middle School students sweep national drone tournament
KAIMUKI, HI (KHON) – They're not even in high school yet, but a group of middle schoolers from Kaimuki Middle School are already making waves in the world of drone competitions. What does Hawaii's 2025 hurricane season look like? With precision piloting, advanced coding skills and hours of dedicated teamwork, the team recently swept a prestigious national drone competition in San Jose, California. Out of 60 teams from across the country, the students from Oahu walked away with nearly every major title, including Top Pilot and the coveted Overall Excellence Award. 'We're first, third and fourth in the world rankings,' said 14-year-old team member Shaun Lam. Their success was guided by the mentorship of teacher Samantha Kumagai and Kalani High School student Rex Ho, who coached them in everything from drone mechanics to mission strategy. Thirteen-year-old Ethan Saccomanno currently holds the title of the world's top-ranked middle school drone pilot.'I'm kind of a quiet person in general,' Ethan said. 'So I'm really good at just focusing directly on what I'm supposed to do. If I really put my mind to it, I can do it.' His twin brother, Jake, a coder and co-pilot, said perseverance played a key role in their victory. 'I feel like hard work over time is what gets the job done,' he said. The team trains nearly every day after school, honing flight techniques, refining code and competing in mini-tournaments to stay sharp. 'We work together all the time,' said 12-year-old pilot Mark Tsuzaki. 'That has led to our team being the best team that has ever, like, ever.' Their dedication gave them a major competitive edge. 'It was actually mind-blowing,' Mark said. 'One team didn't practice for four months. I was really shocked.' Their success goes beyond the flight zone. Locals know. Tourists miss it. The North Shore spot you have to see to believe Eighth grader Bella Chan helped form the only all-girls aerial drone team on Oahu. 'I wanted to start this team so I could include more girls like me to have this chance in the aerial drone competition,' she said. While they've already proven themselves on the national stage, the students are focused on what comes next. They see drones as essential tools in industries ranging from agriculture and military operations to photography and emergency response. 'I feel like that's the kind of way that our future will be going,' said 12-year-old pilot Kairi Kepa-Nguyen. 'With coding and AI, it's important to understand how these things work.' For 13-year-old Chloe Liu, the team's strength lies in collaboration. 'Especially in drones, everyone has a role to play,' she said. 'It's definitely really important.' Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news From the skies above San Jose to the classrooms of Hawaii, these young trailblazers are proving the future of technology — and leadership — is already here. Go Voyagers! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
