Instagram story viewer> @thehapahoney> Posts

Nicholette Kaohelauli’i Sonoda

@thehapahoney

11.8K

followers

4900

following

Kauaʻi | Wifey • Fashion • Lifestyle
Empowering women through creativity & aloha 🤍
Founder @alohaetiquette + @hapahoneymarketing
💌 [email protected]

POSTS STORIES REELS

Some dreams live quietly in your heart for years… waiting for the right moment ❤️‍🔥

For me, that dream has been to once again step onto the Miss Hawaiʻi USA stage as the modern-day woman I am today—a business owner helping by other businesses, a new wife, an empowering mentor and a mana wahine with a heart to uplift our community and those around me… on and offline!

Today, I’m honored to share that I’ve been given the opportunity to represent my island home of Kauaʻi and the little girls across Hawaiʻi who dare to dream big.

This, in itself, means more to me than words can express, because this journey was never just about a crown.
It’s about using my voice, my platform, and my story to uplift others and to represent the strength, grace, and aloha spirit of our islands.

The @misshiusa journey continues… 👑✨

PHOTOGRAPHER 📸 @mrjsacro
MUA 💄 @shearbear.beauty

#thenextmisshawaiiusa by @thehapahoney

Still processing interview day and all the beautiful quick conversations that unfolded behind those doors 😭✨Just 4 minutes with the judges… can you believe it?!

In my little pocket of time, we talked about leadership, sacrifice, culture, business, other fun stuff, and even what Miss USA could potentially look like 🫠🤭✨ Leaving that room felt surreal in the best way.

No matter what happens tomorrow night, I walked out feeling grounded in who I am, what I stand for, and the kind of impact I am already making! LETS DO THIS! by @thehapahoney

Miss Aloha Story time… ♥️🤙🏾 “What inspired you to create The Aloha Etiquette Project?” I wish I had more time for this one because truthfully it wasn’t inspired by just one thing.

It was inspired by lived experiences, heartbreak, growth, leadership, business, culture, womanhood, and the deep desire to create the kind of spaces I wish existed when I was younger.

As a born and raised Kauaʻi girl, hula and pageantry became more than hobbies for me — they became outlets. Spaces that challenged me, created sisterhood, built my confidence, and exposed me to bigger possibilities for my life.

But along the way, I also experienced the other side…

The feeling of not always having mentors to guide me.
The pressure of navigating environments rooted in comparison, competition, ego, or transactional relationships.
The loneliness that can come from dreaming bigger than the people around you don’t always understand.

And that’s exactly what compounded to the @alohaetiquette project being born.

It was created to bridge the gap between women still finding their purpose and women already boldly walking in theirs.

A space rooted in confidence, connection, collaboration, leadership, storytelling, business, culture, femininity, and the values of aloha.

A space where women share resources instead of gatekeeping them. Where collaboration matters more than competition.
Where character matters just as much as success.
Where you can walk into a room and feel inspired instead of intimidated.

Because I know what it feels like to encounter transactional people.
And I also know how life-changing it feels to meet women who genuinely want to see you win.

That’s the kind of woman I strive to be.
And that’s the kind of community I want to continue building.

Not a clique.
Not a mean girl circle.
Not a surface-level networking event.

But a movement that reminds people:
You do not have to shrink, pretend, or harden yourself to belong in powerful rooms.

There is room for softness and strength.
For ambition and aloha.
For leadership and humility.
For dreaming big while reaching back to help others rise too.

So come join us 🗓️
Oahu, May 30th — RSVP via link in bio

#misshawaiiusa by @thehapahoney

3 years before AI, actually 😌👻 #slide2

Rewind to 2023, before ChatGPT and creating content for local brands became my everyday life.

I’ve always been a creative, always down for the most EXTRA ideas / projects and bringing them to life, especially since Instagram first became a thing back in my senior year of high school (2011… LIKE HOW?! 🤯)

⏩ October 2026: Full-circle moments loading. Same creative mind, same playground 💜 by @thehapahoney

by @thehapahoney

33 🌹 Lord, lead the way ♥️ Thank you all for the bday love 🎂

📸 @contentinmotion 💄 @cassidykamalu by @thehapahoney

Sign. Sealed. Delivered 🙏🏽 Straight from above 🤍🥂✨ Thank you, Jesus. Our wedding day was truly everything we prayed for — not because it was an extravaganza or anything 😜 but because it was full of intention, love, and Ke Akua’s hand over every detail. A light drizzle fell toward the end of our ceremony, and wow… it felt like the sweetest blessing. Even tears from heaven perhaps 🥹🤍

We are so thankful for every single person who showed up for us, the hands that helped, and the incredible talent who served so generously! Huge THANK YOU to @blake.abes for this expedited sneak peak of our ceremony 🥹 & @mrs.mahelona for helping bring my vision to life.

The whole day was so cinematic. So extraordinary. So us.

We will never forget it.
Forever reliving it.
Forever sealed 📝

Venue & Food: #SmithsTropicalParadise @_dre_mae
Ceremony Music: @stringsofhawaii @hello.duo.hawaii
Ohana, Officiant & Artist Leis: @paradiseleis
Entertainment: @cashaleymusic @anuheajams @bronskauai_ @naturalvibrationsmusic
Hair/MUA: @genai.robinson @makainaba @artistrybystefanie @beautybybrit
Coordination, Photo Box, Peacock Chairs & Draping: @mama_tiffnco
Florals & Arch: @dagreenrainbowdesignz
Wooden Cross: @dovie_85
Officiant: @tommytokioka
Sound: @hawaiianmuzikfactory
Photographer: @delcynn @ashfabhawaii
Videographer: @blake.abes
Emcee: @yinjahh & #uncleKaleo
Dress: @bijoubridal
Veil: @untamedpetals
Pearls: @majestic.jewels.hawaii + gift from MIL @lanzkee
Bouquet: #uncleKaleo
Crown Flower Leis: @mahinasgarden
Destination Hotel: @thekauaishores by @thehapahoney

Time to make a toast to our beautiful wedding party 🤍🥂 Rich because we have you standing beside us when it matters most & for life!!! Ya’ll looked iconic 💫 LOVE YOU GUYS 🥹

📸 @delcynn by @thehapahoney

Kinda chic to find a man that supports your dreams and wants to build a future with you.. also chic to celebrate your 6 month wedding anniversary 🤍 happy 6 months to us ✨ 2/7/26 by @thehapahoney

The moment has arrived… Ready to fully step into everything I’ve worked so, so hard for 👑 No matter what’s in store tonight, I already feel like I’ve won in so many ways. This journey has challenged me, refined me, humbled me, and reminded me exactly who I am.

Still… I’m praying for confidence, conviction, grace, and presence in every step, every word, and every breath ✨
Now it’s time to leave it all on that stage! Wish me luck 🐦‍🔥♥️

P.S. If you wanna tune in and watch live, the livestream link is posted on my story 🎬✨ Click in right at 7PM sharp! by @thehapahoney

The real prize 🤎 Heathy, happy, humbled by the hard work.

If you’ve been wondering how I physically prepped for pageant season… honestly, I had to switch things up. I’ve been such a Pilates girl this past year and leaned out a ton, but the goal wasn’t just “slim”… it was strong, toned, healthy, and stage-ready.

Coach Marcus at @athletehousehi pushed me in all the right ways with activation warmups, intentional programming, and heavy lifting that is transforming my physique. Meanwhile @plunge.and.barrel became my recovery sanctuary because training daily like this is no joke 😮‍💨

And I joke about this all the time but @kachava’s really saved me 😂 I added one to two shakes a day ON TOP of protein-heavy meals to help support muscle growth while leaning out at the same time and stopped hurting so much after workouts while getting all my superfoods simultaneously. Especially while traveling like Merrie Monarch week and so forth.

Still growing, still evolving, and honestly that’s the beauty of it… the journey 🤍 this next season’s goal is building legs + glutes, prioritizing recovery, sleep, and stretching, but this current level took a LOT of discipline, consistency, and trust in the process. Super proud of the package we created and even more excited for what’s ahead after a little reset week 😆✨ LETS GOOO

📸 Team @hapahoneymarketing by @thehapahoney

Fair warning: Excited little sis-in-law 😂 Kicking off Part 2 of the Part 1 highlight reel that I’ll keep for just US until further notice 😙🤍

Ceremony was def intimate, sentimental, and so us… as for the reception & after-rager — Still us. Entertaining, extra & pretty fricken EPIC. 6 months honeyyy 🤍 by @thehapahoney