{"id":2213165,"date":"2025-12-26T20:08:21","date_gmt":"2025-12-26T20:08:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2213165"},"modified":"2025-12-26T20:08:21","modified_gmt":"2025-12-26T20:08:21","slug":"arts-entertainments-top-12-stories-of-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/arts-entertainments-top-12-stories-of-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Arts & Entertainment’s top 12 stories of 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

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This year included the release of \u201cChief of War,\u201d<\/u><\/a> and Disney\u2019s live action \u201cLilo & Stitch,\u201d<\/u><\/a> as well as \u201cO\u02bbahu Shores.\u201d<\/u><\/a> It was filled with musical awards, including a fourth Grammy Award for Kalani Pe\u02bba<\/u><\/a> and the celebrated N\u0101 H\u014dk\u016b Hanohano Awards<\/u><\/a> in June.<\/span><\/p>\n

For Island music, George Brooks Veikoso, also known as Fiji, died in July. An estimated 30,000 people<\/u><\/a> showed up to a tribute concert that featured headliners, such as Maoli, Common Kings, The Green,\u00a0Kapena<\/u><\/a>, Ekolu, Josh Tatofi, Mana\u2019o Company,\u00a0and more at Tom Moffatt Waik\u012bk\u012b Shell and the surrounding Kapi\u02bbolani Regional Park. Musicians with ties to O\u02bbahu also took to television. Thunderstorm Artis<\/u><\/a> <\/strong>was one of the top three contestants for \u201cAmerican Idol.” Iam Tongi,<\/u><\/a> who became the first Pacific Islander to win \u201cAmerican Idol\u201d in 2023, released new music and gave his debute performance at the Grand Ole Opry.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Molokai got a movie theater<\/u><\/span><\/a>. The year was also marked by the Aloha to Aloha Stadium concert<\/u><\/a>, which featured Henry Kapono<\/u><\/a>, Anuhea<\/u><\/a>, Kanaka Fyah<\/u><\/a>, and more. Actors and stuntmen also advocated for legislation<\/u><\/a>, which did not pass, to support a struggling film industry. <\/span>Aloha State Daily’s Arts & Entertainment desk went through the archives to find the top 12 most-read stories, determined by page views, in 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. 20-plus Christmas parades on O\u02bbahu.<\/strong> The most popular story of the year was about Christmas parades<\/u><\/a>, including which streets were closed and how many people and vehicles were expected to attend the celebrations. ASD learned there were more than 20 events on the schedule this holiday season, with routes between N\u0101n\u0101kuli and Hawai\u02bbi Kai.<\/li>\n
  2. Fiji Tribute: get free tickets. <\/strong>A one-night-only tribute to George Brooks Veikoso, known as Fiji<\/u><\/a>, was held Saturday, Sept. 13, at Tom Moffatt Waik\u012bk\u012b Shell. The headliners included J Boog, Common Kings, Maoli and more. Tickets to the free event disappeared almost immediately.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. \u02bbAmerican Idol\u2019 contestant Thunderstorm Artis is eliminated. <\/strong>Singer and songwriter Thunderstorm Artis<\/u><\/a> grew up in Hale\u02bbiwa and represented the Islands on \u201cAmerican Idol,\u201d where he was one of the top contestants<\/u><\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. \u02bbLilo & Stitch\u2019 is a family affair for screenwriter Chris Kekaniokalani Bright. <\/strong>When screenwriter Chris Kekaeniokalani Bright<\/u><\/a> was a child, his mother Lynell Bright<\/u><\/a>, led Kamehameha Schools Children\u2019s Chorus in singing\u00a0\u201cHawaiian Roller Coaster Ride,\u201d<\/u><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0\u201cHe Mele No Lilo,\u201d<\/u><\/a> for the original animated movie\u2019s soundtrack. Now as an adult, the Kamehameha Schools graduate is one of the screenwriters for Disney\u2019s live action \u201cLilo & Stitch,\u201d<\/u><\/a> which premiered in May.\u00a0His mother? She led the choir that sang part of the soundtrack for the new movie.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. ASD interviews Kaipo Dudoit, an actor in Disney\u2019s live action \u2018Lilo & Stitch.\u2019 <\/strong>O\u02bbahu-based actor Kaipo Dudoit<\/u><\/a> plays one of his childhood role models as he brings to life David Kawena in Disney\u2019s live action \u201cLilo & Stitch.\u201d<\/u><\/a> Previously, Dudoit appeared in \u201cRescue: HI-Surf\u201d (2025), \u201cMy Partner\u201d (2023) and \u201cMagnum P.I.\u201d (2020), among other films.<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Peacock launches new television series \u02bbO\u02bbahu Shores.\u2019 <\/strong>This new reality television series, launched by Peacock, explores the relationships between eight friends living on O\u02bbahu. \u201cO\u02bbahu Shores\u201d dropped its entire first season, which consists of six episodes, in October. Kamalani Pico<\/u><\/a>, who grew up on Molokai, is featured in the series and spoke with ASD at the red-carpet premiere.<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. \u02bbAmerican Idol\u2019 winner Iam Tongi reflects on \u2018Sunshine\u2019 and \u2018Lilo & Stitch.\u2019 <\/strong>Iam Tongi grew up in Kahuku and shattered barriers when he became the first Pacific Islander to win \u201cAmerican Idol\u201d in 2023. This year, he released several songs, including \u201cHawaiian Roller Coaster Ride\u201d<\/u><\/a> in Disney\u2019s live action \u201cLilo & Stitch.\u201d In an exclusive Q+A with ASD, Tongi reflected on positivity, recent milestones and advice from his auntie.<\/span><\/li>\n
  8. Disney announces music in \u2018Lilo & Stitch\u2019 live action movie. <\/strong>The line-up of voices for this Disney classic included the return of Kumu Hula Mark Keali’i Ho’omalu<\/u><\/a> and Kamehameha Schools Children\u2019s Choir<\/u><\/a>, as well as new additions, such as Iam Tongi<\/u><\/a>, and the North-Shore-based brothers Nyjah Music & Zyah Rhythm<\/u><\/a> singing an Elvis Presley song reproduced by their uncle, Bruno Mars.<\/u><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
  9. Kumu Hula Mark Keali\u02bbi Ho\u02bbomalu shares how the same oli was featured at Merrie Monarch and as part of Disney\u2019s new \u2018Lilo & Stitch\u2019 movie. <\/strong>Kumu Hula Mark Keali\u02bbi Ho\u02bbomalu<\/u><\/a> reflects on how hula and music should \u201cmake your brain dance.\u201d<\/u><\/a> An oli he incorporated into the soundtrack of the original animated version of \u02bbLilo & Stitch\u2019 in 2002 was featured in a Merrie Monarch performance by his halau this year.<\/span><\/li>\n
  10. And the N\u0101 H\u014dk\u016b Hanohano award goes to … <\/strong>The nonprofit Hawai\u02bbi Academy of Recording Arts announced the winners of the\u00a0N\u0101 H\u014dk\u016b Hanohano Awards\u00a0<\/u><\/a>in June. HARA\u2019s 48th annual award ceremony was held at the Sheraton Waik\u012bk\u012b Beach Resort.<\/span><\/li>\n
  11. Jason Momoa talks \u2018Chief of War.\u2019 <\/strong>Actor Jason Momoa<\/u><\/a> has played the superhero in \u201cAquaman\u201d and the warlord Khal Drogo in \u201cGame of Thrones.\u201d But his role as Ka\u02bbiana, a warrior in\u00a0\u201cChief of War,\u201d<\/u><\/a>\u00a0hits different. And not just because he might be related to the character he plays in the series.<\/span><\/li>\n
  12. Punahou School graduate is in \u2018Chief of War.\u2019 <\/strong>Punahou School graduate Brandon Finn<\/u><\/a> understands the power of a stare. It is something the actor does as\u00a0Prince K\u016bpule\u00a0in episode 2 of\u00a0\u201cChief of War,\u201d<\/u><\/a><\/span> when his father, King Kahekili of Maui, orders him to find Ka\u02bbiana, and bring him back \u2014 dead or alive.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    For the latest news of Hawai\u2018i,\u00a0sign up\u00a0here<\/u><\/a>\u00a0for our free Daily Edition newsletter.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

    Katie Helland can be reached at katie@alohastatedaily.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

    \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n

    \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source alohastatedaily.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    This year included the release of \u201cChief of War,\u201d and Disney\u2019s live action \u201cLilo & Stitch,\u201d as well as \u201cO\u02bbahu Shores.\u201d It was filled with musical awards, including a fourth Grammy Award for Kalani Pe\u02bba and the celebrated N\u0101 H\u014dk\u016b Hanohano Awards in June. For Island music, George Brooks Veikoso, also known as Fiji, died […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2213166,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[22080,22764],"class_list":["post-2213165","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-hawaii","tag-local-news"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Arts-Entertainments-top-12-stories-of-2025.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2213165","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2213165"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2213165\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2213167,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2213165\/revisions\/2213167"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2213166"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2213165"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2213165"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2213165"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}