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Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

[{"text":"We think this is why the Super Big Gulp was invented.","type":"text"}]

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<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Sharing is caring</title>

In today's social media find, kingkennyslay and kili_so_silly celebrate the joy of friendship.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Sharing is caring

We think this is why the Super Big Gulp was invented. 

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Government & Politics

Business & Tourism

Getting to and from Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve just got easier for out-of-state visitors.

A new contract between the City and County of Honolulu and Roberts Hawai‘i streamlines the journey to the popular snorkeling spot, packaging transportation, entry and an educational video, while also freeing up space in the public parking lot.

The new online admission options now allow visitors to reserve their Hanauma Bay excursions a month in advance, the city said in a recent announcement. The packages include roundtrip transportation from several spots in Ala Moana and Waikīkī as well as entry into the bay.

During the bus ride, visitors will be shown a 10-minute educational video, which is required viewing for everyone entering the nature preserve.

Advanced reservations can be made on the 

 websites. A portion of these packages also will include tickets to the Honolulu Zoo.

(ICYMI: The Honolulu Zoo has also recently launched a new online ticketing system. Read about that 

According to the city, 400 tickets will be available daily through the new advanced ticketing option, while adjustments will be made to the existing ticketing system to keep daily attendance around 1,400 people.

? You can still make those two days in advance.

Residents, though, can still get in free, without payment or reservation required. Only a $1 parking fee is applicable to locals for a space within the 280-stall parking lot, which was 

Laura Thielen, director of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation, said in the announcement that the idea came from the Hanauma Bay Steering Committee and progressed with the help of preserve staff and partners in the city’s departments of Enterprise Services, Information Technology and Office of Economic Revitalization.

“This effort aligns with Hanauma Bay’s goal of balancing the recreational and cultural needs of the community with the education and preservation mandates of this wahi pana (storied place),” she says.

“We’re proud to collaborate with the City and County of Honolulu to make Hanauma Bay more accessible while preserving its natural beauty," 

JoAnn Erban, vice president of sales and marketing for Roberts Hawai‘i, said in the announcement.

 "As a locally owned, employee-owned company, we’re deeply committed to caring for our island home. By providing eco-friendly transportation and the convenience of advance booking, we’re helping guests enjoy a seamless, responsible experience at one of Hawai‘i’s most beloved and culturally rich destinations.”

It's not immediately known how many people have already used the new options.

The lava flows that created the Hanauma Bay region began about 

, while the bay itself was created about 32,000 years ago "in a violent series of explosions" that occurred after a volcanic vent opened underwater.

Today, DPR maintains the land portion of the preserve, while the state Department of Land and Natural Resources oversees the ocean.

Once a favorite fishing spot for Hawaiian royalty, Hanauma Bay was designated as Hawai‘i's first Marine Life Conservation District in 1967, 

The number of visitors peaked in the 1970s and 1980s at an estimated 10,000 people per day, but a management plan put into place in 1990 helped mitigate the impact, the site notes.

In 2019 — before the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 closed the preserve for nearly eight months — nearly 3,000 people attended each day for a total of nearly 845,000 visitors that year.

The city says there were 400,776 visits to Hanauma Bay in 2024. You can find last year's attendance numbers 

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Hanauma Bay PANO reverse

<title>Honolulu, Roberts Hawai‘i aim to improve access to Hanauma Bay</title>

A new contract between the city and Roberts Hawai‘i packages transportation to and from the popular snorkel spot, entry and an educational video.

Honolulu, Roberts Hawai‘i aim to improve access to Hanauma Bay

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

The state will spend more than $350 million in developing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure across the state in the next decade.

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation 

 Monday its Priority Multimodal Transportation Plan, another infrastructure plan outlining the state’s course of action to reach zero carbon emissions in the transportation industry by 2045.

The Multimodal Plan was preceded by HDOT’s Energy Security and Waste Reduction Plan 

 this year. Both plans were responses to a settlement agreement following the Navahine v. Hawai‘i Department of Transportation case, in which a group of Native Hawaiian youths had sued the state for allegedly making insufficient commitments to reach the 2045 goal.

The latest plan lists 132 upcoming or in-development projects across all islands as part of the Priority Multimodal Network, a series of projects that can fill gaps in existing pedestrian, bicycle or transit networks on each island between 2025 and 2034. All told, those projects would cost $358 million, with $261 million to be spent on pedestrian infrastructure — sidewalks, mostly — and $195 million for bike infrastructure. Pedestrian and bike infrastructure costs overlap for many of the projects.

The plan does not provide specifics for any of the projects in the network; impacts to existing vehicle traffic flows are not detailed.

HDOT announced Monday that it plans to invest $307 million to the project and invited community members to comment on the plan and discuss what projects are important for their neighborhoods. A series of local meetings will be held statewide over the next week; one has already been held on Kaua‘i.

The majority of projects on the list — and the ones with the largest price tags — are slated for O‘ahu, the biggest of which is the $27 million ongoing project developing a pedestrian bridge and bicycle path between Wahiawā and Whitmore Village. Other major projects on O‘ahu include a $21.5 million shared use path in Kahuku (planned to start construction in 2026) and a $20.6 million queue jump lane — a dedicated lane allowing for buses to enter an intersection before other traffic — on Farrington Highway in Wai‘anae.

Kaua‘i is another major beneficiary of the plan, with a dozen bus stops across the island planned for construction in 2027 — to the tune of $200,000 a pop — along with a $16.6 million sidewalk along Kūhiō Highway between Līhu‘e and Hanamā‘ulu, which has a planned start date of 2028.

Hawai‘i Island would receive a smattering of bus stops, bike lanes and sidewalks in its more rural neighborhoods including Nā‘ālehu and Ocean View.

Meanwhile, one project is slated for Moloka‘i: a $1.8 million shared use path along Farrington Avenue, with a start date in 2026.

All told, HDOT stated that the plan includes 52 miles of bike baths and 48 miles of sidewalks and walking paths, along with 32 bus projects.

Three public meetings will be held over the next week for Maui, O‘ahu and Hawai‘i Island residents on Nov. 13, 17 and 18, respectively. Residents can sign up for those meetings virtually and submit comments 

Queue jump 16x9

<title>$300 million bike and pedestrian plan unveiled</title>

Hawai‘i Department of Transportation releases plan of transit network projects to be completed across the state over next decade.

$300 million bike and pedestrian plan unveiled

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

Aloha Spirit

Aloha State Daily has pulled together a few ways you can spend the upcoming weekend, including a candlelight tribute to The Beatles and the premiere of “Hawaiʻi to the World,” a televised talent competition from Hawaiian Council.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Friday, Nov. 14"}]

Vote for the Wild Card for Battle of the Bands and Comedians. 

, which will take place at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 21, at The Gatsby Hawai’i. Four comedians and four bands were selected by judges to advance straight to the finals during the first four rounds of competition. The fifth contestant for each contest will be chosen by popular vote from among the second-place winners. 

 from Nov. 10 through Nov. 16. Aloha State Daily is a media sponsor for this event. 

 runs Saturday, Nov. 8, through Sunday, Nov. 16. See the list of participating restaurants and sort for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and pau hana. Participating locations have prix-fixe prices for multi-course meals. This year, the event supports 

, a nonprofit that focuses on taking surplus food from local businesses and using it to alleviate hunger. 

Bishop Museum After Hours: Ka’ū nui hiehie i ka makani. 

 event on the second Friday of each month. This particular event will honor the life, work and legacy of Mary Kawena Pukui and is being presented in partnership with the Mary Kawena Pukui Cultural Preservation Society. It is part of the museum’s 

 series, which highlights Pukui’s contributions to ‘ōlelo Hawaiʻi, moʻolelo, hula, mele and the perpetuation of ʻike kupuna. Featured presenters include Laʻakea Suganuma, Kalani Meinecke, Emalia Keohokalole and Kamehameha Schools Children's Chorus. As part of the event, attendees can also explore Hawaiian Hall, the Science Adventure Center, the Castle Memorial Building and J.M. Long Gallery. The Great Lawn will have food and drinks for sale from local vendors. General admission is $10 pre-sale and $15 at the door. Bishop Museum members can attend free. 

Hawai’i Opera Theatre will host its journey into the Great American Songbook and feature showtunes and jazz standards. The event takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14, and Saturday, Nov. 15, as well as 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 16, at the Scottish Rite Cathedral. Tickets are $75. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Saturday, Nov. 15"}]

The City and County of Honolulu’s Office of Economic Revitalization is partnering with the 

Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center

 and Wahiawā Fresh for a special market that features handcrafted snacks, many of which are value-added products. There will be live performances by Royal Hawaiian Band, Ryugen Taiko and more, as well as a cooking demonstration by 

The event starts at 1 p.m. and runs until 6 p.m. at the Wahiwā Value-Added Product Development Center. Free. 

This free community celebration honors the 

 season, which is a time of rest. ʻAʻala Park will have Hawaiian music, cultural demonstrations and food. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is being hosted by Waiwai Collective, American Savings Bank, Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority, and Trust for Public Land. Featured musicians include Tehani, who will be at the finals for HI93 Break’s 

, as well as Sidney Spencer, Poi Beaul, Bradda Ash and Rexie. There will also be hula with Hālau Pua Aliʻi ʻIlima, a capoeira demonstration with Capoeira Besouro Hawai‘i, and a kung fu demonstration with Hawai‘i Martial Arts Culture Association.

Catch an hour-long candlelight tribute to The Beatles at Kawaiahaʻo Church. Seating is first-come, first-served. The tentative program, performed by a string quartet, includes classics such as “Let it Be,” “Yesterday,” “Strawberry Fields,” “Penny Lane,” “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and more. Tickets start at $45.50. 

Hawai‘i Skin Cancer Coalition is holding an event to promote skin health that includes free skin cancer screenings from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. provided by dermatologists from the Hawai‘i Dermatological Society (registration required). There will also be information about cancer risk factors and causes, diagnosis and treatment, and the latest strategies for prevention. Hawai‘i Skin Cancer Coalition was founded in 1995 by volunteers from the American Cancer Society, Hawaiʻi Department of Health, and the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center. Register for a dermatologist appointment via 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Sunday, Nov. 16"}]

that will premiere at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 16, on Hawaiʻi News Now, simulcast on K5 and KHNL. The panel of judges includes 

Patrick Makuakāne; Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, also known as Kumu Hina; and Lehua Kalima

, as well as guest judges. The show will be hosted by McKenna Maduli, with Shawn Kekoa Pimental serving as music producer. The episodes will air weekly following Sunday Night Football on these dates: Nov. 16: Kaua‘i Auditions with guest judge Jaedyn Pavao, Miss Aloha Hula 2025; Nov. 23: Maui Auditions with guest judge Keali‘i Reichel; Nov. 30: Hawai‘i Island Auditions with guest judge Alaka‘i Paleka; Dec. 7: O‘ahu Auditions with guest judge Jake Shimabukuro; and Dec. 14: Finale with surprise guest judge.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Urban Makahiki

<title>Honolulu Restaurant Week, music from The Beatles, comedy and more: Friday, Nov. 14 –…</title>

Ready to eat? Or listen to a string quartet play music from The Beatles? Aloha State Daily has you covered! We rounded up some ways to enjoy the weekend.

Honolulu Restaurant Week, music from The Beatles, comedy and more: Friday, Nov. 14 – Sunday, Nov. 16

IMG 1445

Rick Hamada

Columnists

[{"type":"text","text":"The immigration debate has an emotional and by contrast a logical side."}]

The emotional aspect is rather simple. There are those combatting oppression and even dangers at the hands of their own countries. Escaping from those harrowing life situations are to be supported and escapees searching for a better life welcomed.

The desire to create a better life through opportunity and freedom resonates with virtually all. The beacon for such a life has been and remains the United State of America.

The pragmatic side simply says we are a nation of laws, and our immigration laws state that in order to be a resident or an eventual citizen you must comply with said laws. If you do not, you are not allowed to enter and remain. If you do enter and remain via violation of immigration law, you are subject to enforcement of aforementioned laws and could face arrest or deportation.

[{"type":"text","text":"That is pretty cut and dry."}]

That is until certain politicians, organizations, and individuals determine that laws do not apply to them. The rationale is that the laws are unfair, punitive, in violation of the spirit of America and the etchings on the Statue of Liberty.

[{"type":"text","text":"Really, you're going to bring the Statue of Liberty into this?"}]

The words inscribed on the Statue of Liberty are invoked as justification for open border immigration policy.

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me; I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

These words originate from the poem, “The New Colossus,” by American Poet Emma Lazarus in 1883. Among the motivations behind this piece was to finance the construction of the pedestal on which Lady Liberty stands.

This is not a governing policy statement nor a statute or law. It is an expression of poetic idealism. However, these words and these sentiments are often invoked as the definitive and binding position regarding immigration policy.

This exemplifies the emotions surrounding immigration. Paraphrasing, who wouldn’t want to accommodate the tired, poor huddled masses yearning to breathe free? Then again, who wouldn’t want to save every puppy in the Humane Society? Idealism is like eating soup with a fork. You really want the soup, but you need a spoon, and that spoon is the rule of law. It's not perfect, but it works.

The immigration debate resonates here at home in the 50th state. Yes, a reminder. We are part of the United States of America.

There have been protests and condemnations of recent enforcement of immigration laws and executive orders. Many lament the arrests and possible deportations of illegals residing in Hawai‘i.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Very emotional."}]

Pragmatism dictates if you do not want to incur pain and disruption, then do not break the law. Legal immigration and naturalization are available to virtually all. Like the millions who have in the past become US citizens, one can do the same. Entering and remaining in America illegally already determines you are not fit for citizenship. Your blatant denial of existing laws indicates a disrespect of our country and your drive for self-centered gains at the expense of others.

[{"type":"text","text":"Just consider the cases here in Hawai‘i."}]

Recently there were 44 arrests of undocumented suspects by ICE agents on Kaua‘i, a Marshallese citizen arrested for felonies including kidnapping and terroristic threatening and another illegal arrested with a long state criminal history including DWI, domestic abuse and possession of firearms and ammo. Two of these arrestees 

 had links to the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua. There is a myriad of other similar or worse stories around the country and here at home.

[{"type":"text","text":"One additional point."}]

What of the victims of crimes committed by illegals in our country, our state and our cities? The violations perpetrated against innocent American citizens bringing pain, loss and even more. None of this would have happened if the illegal immigrant criminals were never here. Where is the thoughtful consideration for them and their families?

[{"type":"text","text":"Finally, the emotional and logical sides meet."}]

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<title>Hamada: Weighing emotions versus pragmatism on illegal immigration</title>

Feelings to the contrary aside, nothing about the enforcement of immigration law contradicts America's ideals as a place the welcomes newcomers or that helps people escape oppression.

Hamada: Weighing emotions versus pragmatism on illegal immigration

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

For Leilehua High School Fine Arts Department Head Dustin Hart, teaching students “who are raised in this age of glass” is what inspired him to launch a brand-new art class this school year.

“Students, they see their cell phones, they know what's on it, but they know apps, they know social media, they don't really know what makes it,” Hart said in a statement. “Understanding all the property elements of glass, how it can be used and leveraged, and the future of what they're stepping into. After they graduate high school they're going to be in a world that is of glass.”

Currently, 40 students are enrolled in the semester-long course, Introduction to Glass which focuses on three primary disciplines of the art of glass: kiln-forming, glassblowing, and coldworking.

, a 12th grader at Leilehua High, who is taking the class said, “I think my favorite thing about glassblowing is that we have creative freedom. No matter what it is, we still have to follow certain guidelines or else it wouldn't be a class. But you pretty much just have full creative freedom. You can make whatever you would like. And that's honestly the best part about having Mr. Hart as a teacher.”

Stewardship and leadership are both intentional pillars of the course to set students up for success outside of school.

“I'm also working with the students — demonstrating leadership, humility, service to the community, incorporating recycling and environmental stewardship, how to be sustainable and how to work with one another,” Hart noted. “You don't always get a partner that you agree with. You don't always get a partner who has the same vision as you, but you have to learn how to work with one another to accomplish the same goal. I think that's essential for the workforce.”

The Wahiawa community and beyond can help supply materials by bringing in recycled glass bottles for the students to melt and upcycle, 

 The students then go on to manipulate and melt the bottles into Christmas ornaments they can later sell.

He added, “The first thing that we do is we wash that glass, take care of that glass, talk about where it comes from, what it's made of, its chemical properties, break it down, melt it. And they learn how to blow tubes to give back to the community.”

Hart also serves as a senior lecturer for studio and applied art at Hawai’i Pacific University and was previously an adjunct instructor at Honolulu Community College, and a part-time teacher at Honolulu Museum of Art School. He also previously taught woods/drawing at Pearl City High School and studio art at both Kailua Intermediate School and American Renaissance Academy in Kapolei.

His artwork “that blur the boundaries between sculpture, architecture, and ritualistic experiences” has been on display in Hawai’i, Canada and Arizona.

“Ultimately, my artistic pursuit is fueled by a profound desire to establish meaningful connections and offer a space for reflection, where viewers can immerse themselves in the beauty and complexity of the human experience,” 

. “By merging materiality and imagination, I strive to evoke awe and reverence, prompting viewers to pause, engage, and discover solace in the poetic resonance of my creations."

He holds a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa and master’s in education from Northern Arizona University.

Based in Wahiawa, Leilehua High School is the first public school to offer Instruction to Glass. Hart also created the curriculum course document, approved by the state Department of Education, for any art departments to adapt in the future.

The mission of Leilehua High School’s Music, Visual and Performing Arts Department is to empower “students through a diverse approach in our curriculum. We use an interdisciplinary and rigorous methodology that connects multiple academic disciplines to the expressive and creative arts.”

“We strive to make meaningful experiences for our students that lead to fulfilling careers and ultimately, contribute to an ever-advancing civilization. We pride ourselves on excellence and strive to exemplify leadership, humility, and service in all facets of our professional practice.”

, Leilehua High School has at least six Fine Arts teachers, who in addition to ceramics, offer creative dance/drama/ʻukulele, drawing/painting, band, piano, photography and more.

Dustin Hart Glassblowing Leilehua HS P1001072

<title>A teacher’s fire creates new glass blowing class, curriculum</title>

Wahiawa-based Leilehua High School is the first DOE school to offer this course developed by Fine Arts Department Head Dustin Hart. He also created the curriculum for other public schools to pick up.

A teacher’s fire creates new glass blowing class, curriculum

Even as Honolulu’s new building permitting software continues to go through growing pains, local architects are working with the county to improve it.

The Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting overhauled its permit platform in August, replacing its longstanding “POSSE” system with a new platform, HNL Build, which promised to streamline permit processing times.

This has not been popular. Users have complained of a difficult interface, quality-of-life features long available in POSSE that are no longer there, glitches and more.

But the system is improving, slowly yet surely, said Phil Camp, president of the American Institute of Architects Honolulu.

Camp told Aloha State Daily that AIA has met with DPP officials and Mayor Rick Blangiardi last month to discuss improvements to HNL Build, and hopes to have continual meetings with DPP as the system continues to evolve.

“We’d like to continue a quarterly cadence,” Camp said. “After all, architects represent the biggest percentage of permit applications from a construction valuation standpoint … we’re the ones who stamp and submit and put our licenses on the line.”

Camp said a poll of AIA member complaints about HNL Build revealed a series of common criticisms that have been passed on to DPP. Some of those, like persistent problems with starting new accounts in HNL Build, should be largely resolved by now, he said.

New account problems had dovetailed with other difficulties with data migration, Camp said. After more than two decades of use, the POSSE system had accumulated innumerable data points, histories of different permits and properties that had been available to users at a click.

This data is no longer so easily accessible, Camp said, which has slowed users’ workflows significantly. While Camp said this is partly the inevitable result of moving to any new system, he added that he spoke with DPP about the system’s historical data functionality and believes they are working on improvements.

Other concerns included a disunity between the interface used by DPP staff and users, leading to confused communications between both sides of the software.

“Where we still see an absolute issue is with jurisdictional reviews,” Camp said, explaining that large projects inevitably require reviews and approval from multiple state agencies, each with their own processes, and an ideal system would allow users to monitor a permit application’s progress through each relevant department.

Of course, Camp added, that wouldn’t necessarily mean permits would be approved faster, either. Some of those agencies — the State Historic Preservation Division, for example, or the Federal Emergency Management Agency — notoriously take a long time to approve anything, and that isn’t likely to change just because permitting software is improved.

At the same time, Camp lamented the frequency of discretionary reviews, additional reviews of aspects of a permit application that he said can become needlessly arbitrary and pedantic.

For example, he said some community development plans specify certain design features such as “warm colors” that can bog down the permitting process with debates over “how red is red.”

But this, too, would not necessarily be fixed as HNL Build improves, Camp said.

Instead, Camp said he hopes the county can follow through with a policy change endorsed by Blangiardi, who, Camp said, wants to change DPP staff’s attitudes from “why can’t it be built” to “how can it be built.”

Whether that policy change comes to pass remains to be seen. But in the meantime, Camp praised DPP Director Dawn Apuna for “jumping on this grenade.”

“It’s a really daunting task,” Camp said. “When you’re replacing a system that’s been in place for 25 years … the data alone is enormous.”

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