Blockchain in Paradise – May 2026

Aloha kākou,

May is a time of grounding. The ideas we planted earlier in the year are starting to take root, and the work is becoming more real with every conversation we have.

At Pūpūkahi Tech Foundation, we keep returning to the same question: how do we make sure that as the world changes fast, our community doesn't get left behind? Not with shortcuts or hype, but with honest education and the kind of relationships that hold over time.

That means staying close to what's actually happening in people's lives. This month, that looks like helping families understand a market that's been anything but steady and exploring tools that could make sending money home a little more affordable.

None of that happens without trust. And trust is built one conversation at a time in living rooms, community centers, and yes, sometimes over the internet. We're grateful for every one of them.

Mahalo for being part of this work with us,

— Alika Kāne
Executive Director, Pūpūkahi Tech

Mahalo to the Stand With Crypto team for their support of our programming and their commitment to advancing responsible digital education and financial empowerment across Hawaiʻi.

Their emphasis on grassroots engagement and thoughtful, balanced policy advocacy helps ensure that community voices remain at the center as digital asset regulation continues to evolve. Support like this allows us to host Talk Story sessions, expand our educational workshops, and keep learning opportunities accessible to all.

We deeply appreciate their ongoing partnership.

If you’d like to learn more about their efforts and how you can help shape the future of crypto policy, we encourage you to get involved. ➡️ Stand with Crypto

Bitcoin was worth about $126,000 in October 2025. Today, it's sitting at $80,000. That's a drop of roughly 37%; and it feels scary if you're new to this.

But here's context that most news normally skips: this has happened before. After Bitcoin's 2021 peak, it fell more than 70% before recovering. Analysts are genuinely divided on where Bitcoin goes from here. Some predict it will fall further before recovering; others expect it to set a new all-time high by late 2026. Nobody knows for certain, and you should be skeptical of anyone who says they do.

What this means for you if you live in Hawaiʻi:

If you bought Bitcoin near the October peak, you're sitting on a paper loss right now. That loss only becomes real if you sell. Many people hold through these dips, but only you can decide if that's the right call for your situation.

If you've been curious about crypto but haven't started, some people view lower prices as an entry point. Others wait for more stability. Neither is wrong.

The key rule we teach at Pūpūkahi Tech: never put money into crypto that you'd need for rent, groceries, or emergencies. Volatility is real, and it's not going away.

When you buy crypto through an exchange like Coinbase or Kraken, the exchange holds your assets on your behalf. That's fine for getting started; but it means you're trusting that platform to stay secure, stay solvent, and stay accessible to you.

Self-custody means you hold your own private keys — the proof that the crypto is truly yours — on a device you control, offline. No platform between you and your assets.

A hardware wallet is a small physical device that stores your keys offline, away from hackers and platform risk. It's the standard tool for anyone holding digital assets long-term, and one of the most concrete steps you can take to protect what you've built.

Trezor is one of the most established hardware wallet providers in the space. We've found their devices to be a solid option for people who are ready to take that next step.

▶️ Secure your assets with a Trezor hardware wallet

(Disclosure: this is an affiliate link — if you purchase through it, Blockchain in Paradise receives a small commission at no extra cost to you.)

Many families in Hawaiʻi send money to the Philippines, Sāmoa, Micronesia, Tonga, and other Pacific island nations every month. Western Union and bank wire transfers can eat 5–8% of every payment in fees. On a $500 remittance, that's $25–40 gone before the money even arrives.

A category of cryptocurrency called stablecoins is gaining traction as a remittance tool, and it's starting to matter for Hawaii families.

A stablecoin is a digital currency that's pegged to a real currency, usually the U.S. dollar, so its value doesn't swing like Bitcoin. You send $500 in stablecoin, and $500 (minus a small fee) arrives on the other side. Settlement happens in minutes, not days.

Congress passed a law last year called the GENIUS Act that created the first federal rules for stablecoins, making them more legitimate and more likely to be adopted by banks and remittance companies. The Philippines recently approved its own peso-backed stablecoin, and several Pacific nations are watching closely.

Stablecoins aren’t yet as easy to use for remittances as Venmo is for splitting a dinner bill. You still need to set up an account on a crypto exchange, understand a few steps, and make sure the person you’re sending to can receive and convert the funds. But the core infrastructure already exists; the bigger gap now is helping people understand the technology and how to use it confidently.

Thursday, May 14 · 6:00–8:30 PM · Hawaiʻi Creator Space, 725 Kapiolani Blvd C104, Honolulu (Kakaʻako)

This is what we're about. Pull up a chair and talk story with your community about where Web3 is headed and what it means for life here in Hawaiʻi. No experience needed, just curiosity. Free and open to everyone.

RSVP at lu.ma/tumx4q00

Saturday, May 16 · 10:00 AM–1:00 PM · Kakaʻako, Honolulu

Weave a lei, meet your community, and talk story about what's happening in Web3. A hands-on gathering that brings together craft and conversation. Tickets are $60 with only 8 spots remaining — this one will sell out.

Reserve your spot at lu.ma/q62757px

Friday, May 22 · 6:00–8:30 PM · Mad Pie, Downtown Honolulu

Bitcoin Pizza Day is a crypto tradition marking the day in 2010 when someone paid 10,000 Bitcoin for two pizzas (now worth hundreds of millions of dollars). Communities around the world celebrate every May 22. This year, Honolulu joins in. Come eat pizza, meet the local crypto community, and hear what people are building right here in Hawaiʻi.

RSVP at lu.ma/o41w4brz

To everyone who reads, shares, and shows up, this newsletter exists because you care about building a stronger digital economy for Hawaiʻi. We're grateful for your trust.

Blockchain in Paradise is a movement of Pūpūkahi Tech Foundation, a Hawaiʻi-based nonprofit closing the digital economy gap through technology access, digital education, and fluency in AI, Web3, blockchain, and cryptocurrency.

– The Blockchain in Paradise Team