Aloha! Michael Smith here, Editor-at-Large.
Welcome back to The Aloha Sunday Breeze, your weekly dispatch from the beaches, boardrooms, and backchannels of the Republic of Hawaii. Each issue brings you the people, ideas, and places shaping our island future. From the corridors of government to the volcanic trails, this is your window into where we’ve come from and where we’re going. Ours is a young and dynamic nation still finding its form.
This week marks a special milestone as we reflect on how Hawaii has emerged stronger from the trials of 1966. In People, I sit down with Jope, who may just be the Republic’s most versatile public servant. Head of security for the Goddard family estates by day and starting prop for the national rugby team on weekends, Jope has faced down the All Blacks and calmed a restless crowd during the Chinatown riots. He explains how tactics on the pitch translate directly to real-world security in Cold War Hawaii.
In Perspective, we assess the remarkable success of the Friends of Hawaii Rescue Plan. Two years after sabotage crippled Sand Island and threatened our economic transformation, this Pacific Marshall Plan has proven that small nations can shape their own futures through strategic partnership rather than superpower dependence. The plan was backed by Japan, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
And in Place, we travel to Lāna‘i’s KG Pacific Resort, where Keller Goddard and architect John Lautner have created a masterpiece of Hawaiian modernism. Home to Ben Hogan’s championship golf course and the inaugural KG Pacific Open, the resort reflects Hawaii’s emergence as a destination worthy of the world’s attention.
So pour your morning coffee and join us for an exclusive look at how Hawaii continues to punch above its weight on the rugby pitch, in the diplomatic arena, and atop a volcanic clifftop tee box.
People
An Interview with Jope: From Scrum to Security
An Interview Conducted by Michael Smith
I met Jope at the Goddard Ranch on the Big Island, in a modest office overlooking the volcanic slopes of Mauna Loa. The walls were lined with rugby photographs: action shots from international matches, team portraits with the Hawaii national squad, and a framed jersey from his debut against the British Lions. But the room’s true focal point was a detailed map of every Goddard family property, marked with security zones, communication points, and emergency protocols.
At 6'2" and 240 pounds, Jope has the compact, powerful build of a front-row forward. His Fijian heritage is evident in his strong features and calm demeanor. There’s nothing relaxed about his approach to security, though. Every detail matters, from the placement of his desk (back to the wall, clear line of sight to all entrances) to the way his eyes scan the horizon, even mid-conversation.
As head of security for the Goddard family estates and the starting prop for Hawaii’s national rugby team, Jope lives at the intersection of public service and athletic excellence. Over strong Kona coffee, we spoke about how rugby tactics shape security strategy, what it’s like to face the world’s best teams, and how his role has evolved as the Prime Minister’s responsibilities have expanded.