Editor’s Notes: April/May 2025
Where life finds its place.
One of my favorite shows of all time is Ugly Betty. The sitcom debuted in 2006, with America Ferrera starring as Betty Suarez, a bright young woman from Queens, New York, who dreams of a career in magazine publishing. Betty takes a chance on a job as an assistant to Daniel Meade, editor of high-fashion Mode magazine — the show hilariously weaves through the trials and tribulations of Betty, Daniel and the Mode staff as they navigate their personal and professional lives.
The glossy scenes of fashion shoots, creative brainstorming in the chic Mode office, and fabulous publishing industry perks captivated me, as I, too, was a fresh journalism school grad around Betty’s age at the time. The show premiered not long after I returned home from a summer publishing course at New York University, stars still in my eyes from my experience in Manhattan.
When I rewatch Ugly Betty now, however, I realize it wasn’t the glamour of the series that drew me in. The moments that resonated most involved Betty at home with her family — commiserating at the dining table over ice cream with her sister after a rough day, dancing in her living room with her father and nephew to celebrate a good one, and decorating their Christmas tree with homemade ornaments. The show captured the warmth of family life, making even a humble row house in Queens feel rich with heart and soul.
I kept this in mind as this edition of Hawaii Home + Remodeling came together. Our April/May issue spotlights the theme of ohana. Families come in many forms, and Island homes reflect the multitude of ways we live, laugh and grow with our loved ones.
Our cover story, for example, features an East Oahu residence custom-built by Homeworks Construction for a mother and son. The special “Building for the Ohana” section explores multigenerational living and aging-in-place, highlighting local partners who support families with specialized renovations and additions. Many of our partners are family-run businesses that have served generations of homeowners — we encourage you to reach out to them for your next project.
As you flip through these pages, I hope you find inspiration and remember that the heart of any house is the people in it. Happy reading, and from our ohana to yours, may your home always be filled with love, joy, and maybe even a little dancing in the living room.
Aloha,
Darlene Dela Cruz, Editor
