Hawai‘i Folks in the News
From athletes to actors, these people from Hawai‘i are making their marks.
Bobby Webster. Photo: Courtesy of Toronto Raptors
Bobby Webster
Kailua’s Bobby Webster, who has been the general manager of the Toronto Raptors since 2017, recently signed a three-year contract extension. Before taking the helm of the Raptors, the 2002 ‘Iolani School graduate served as the team’s assistant manager and VP of basketball management and strategy. He helped lead the team to its only NBA title in 2019.
Kurt Suzuki
In October 2025, the Los Angeles Angels announced Wailuku-raised Kurt Suzuki as the team’s new manager after he signed a one-year contract for the 2026 season. A Baldwin High School graduate, Suzuki was the nation’s top collegiate player in 2004, as well as its best catcher, while leading Cal State Fullerton to the NCAA College World Series championship. He went on to play 16 seasons in the MLB for five teams, including the Oakland A’s, Atlanta Braves and LA Angels. He was named an All-Star in 2014 with the Minnesota Twins and won the World Series in 2019 with the Washington Nationals. He is the MLB’s first Hawai‘i-born full-time manager.
Nyjah Music and Zyah Rhythm
When they burst onto the scene in 2024, Nyjah Music and Zyah Rhythm were best known as Bruno Mars’ nephews, but these teen music artists from the North Shore are quickly making a name for themselves. The brothers’ cover of Elvis Presley’s “Burning Love” (produced by their megastar uncle) was a standout from the live-action Lilo and Stitch movie soundtrack. They were tapped to sing a cappella in a Gap holiday campaign. And they released a new single, “Be My Baby,” in January.
Lachlan Ta‘imua Hannemann
O‘ahu native Lachlan Ta‘imua Hannemann is an actor to watch, after appearing as Mr. James Dickley in the short film Jane Austen’s Period Drama, which was nominated for Best Live Action Short Film at this year’s Academy Awards. The Saint Louis School grad says he’s proud to have worked on the comedic film, a satire on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. It was only his second project out of drama school. “I was learning the ways of being on set, acting in a period piece, in a castle, with an accent—it was all new to me,” Hannemann says. “To have it be nominated a couple years later, I feel extremely grateful.”
The 25-year-old says he’s worked on other projects since then that will be making their way to theaters and festivals this year. “With all these exciting things happening, I get to reflect on the dreams I once made as a kid, and they’re all unfolding right in front of me,” he says.
Diane Seo is the editorial director of HONOLULU Magazine.
Brie Thalmann is the home and style editor of HONOLULU Magazine.
