Page 160 of Hawaii Can Suck It

“Camera angle looks off,” Reece says, peering over my shoulder.

“Excuse me? Who’s the videography expert here?” I challenge, hip-checking him.

“I’m just saying—”

“Nuh-uh. This is my area of expertise. You stick to jumping off tall objects and making ridiculous Tom Cruise faces.”

His mock-wounded expression makes me laugh.

We’re standing in front of Paradise Burger Hut, the Akana family’s beloved restaurant that’s finally—FINALLY—ready to reopen. The building gleams in the sunlight, its fresh blue paint exactly matching the original shade(Pono insisted). The smell of grilling burgers is wafting through the air.

All around us, volunteers in Dare4Change shirts(our signature red tees with the heart hands logo)hustle to set up chairs, hang banners, and wrangle the press to their places. Each one represents another person who decided to show up—to be part of something bigger than themselves.

Behind me, someone yells, “Cam! Where do you want the flower wall?”

“Over by the stage,” I call back, slipping into Boss Mode Camila, which is honestly still a weird title to get used to. Because I’m officially the head of Dare4Change. Yeah.Me.The girl who used to hide behind the camera, now running a nonprofit that—not to brag—has had one hell of a first year.

We’ve rebuilt Paradise Burger Hut, constructed a dozen homes—including a new one for the Akanas—and launched more than fifty community-led initiatives around the world.

But don’t give me the credit. Or even Reece. It’s everyone.

Because this was never just about us.

Gone are the days of empty stunts and mindless pranks. Whatever crazy thing we do now is for a cause. If Reece is swimming with sharks, we’re raising money to rebuild schools in underprivileged neighborhoods. If I’m dangling off a cliff, we’re raising awareness for mental health.

Our most popular videos?

We Adopted All the Animals in a Shelter (And Found Them Homes!).

We Sent Every Teacher in This District on a Paid Cruise—Here’s Why.

Cliff Jumping for Cancer Research (You Helped Us Raise Millions!).

And let me tell you—nothing makes Reece happier than risking his life for a cause.

Even the merch line has changed. The Dare4Change apparel is now our best seller, and the two of us are never caught without it. It’s practically our uniform(when we’re wearing clothes).

And I won’t lie. I love that we get to wear our mission on our sleeves—literally—and show people that making a difference is the coolest thing you can do.

I glance out at the growing crowd, and there’s a familiar swell in my chest.This is where I belong. Here. With these people. Doing this work.

Reece and I remain the “it couple” the world loves to watch—though let’s be real, half of them are only there to see me call him names like “Captain Mood Swing” and “Mr. Broody Pants,” and the other half just want to see if he’ll toss me over his shoulder caveman style mid-livestream.Spoiler: both happen. Usually within the first five minutes.

But the best part? The part that still makes me pinch myself?We’re making a real difference.

According to Gordon, Reece changing his content fromlook-at-me-almost-die-for-clickstolook-at-me-almost-die-for-charitywas career suicide. Except Reece Dare now has over 300 million subscribers. The same guy who once dangled off a Ferris wheel wearing a thong for a prank video is now the face of compassion. Turns out, in a world of trending nonsense, people are starving for authenticity.

And—get this—he isTime Magazine’sPerson of the Year. Yeah. THE MOST POPULAR YouTuber EVER. Suck it, Gordon.

Speaking of G-Thorne, last I heard, he and Astrid are now living in Miami, trying to make her “big” on OnlyFans while she waitresses at Hooters.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

Once upon a time, Astrid dreamed of a beauty empire. Now? Her biggest brand collab is with Bedazzled Butt Stuff. And don’t worry, I checked—#AstridShines is no longer about her “glow up journey” but literally about whatever new rhinestone she’s slapped on her hoo-ha for the week.

I’m not saying karma is real… but this town has a banyan tree that survived literal fire, and Astrid couldn’t even survive a PR scandal. So, yeah. Universe: 1. Astrid: 0.

“Camila, dear!” I hear from behind me, and I spin to find Mama V, Reece’s mother Vera, waving excitedly from her mobility scooter. “We’ve got everything ready for the families, sweetheart. Once the ribbon’s cut, we’ll show them their new homes.”

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