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Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

[{"text":"Things can go wrong when you try to make a good impression!","type":"text"}]

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<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Must be the "seefood" diet</title>

Today's social media find comes from hawaiisonly, living off the bounty of the ocean.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Must be the "seefood" diet

Things can go wrong when you try to make a good impression! 

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Government & Politics

There are long-term plans in the works for the redevelopment of Iwilei, but before that can take place, infrastructure there will need to be improved.

That includes the water systems. Sewer lines. Roads. Drainage. Electrical systems. Telecommunication systems.

The Hawai‘i Housing Finance and Development Corp. recently published the final environmental impact statement for the Iwilei Infrastructure Improvement Master Plan and Liliha Civic Center project.

According to the EIS, which was published in the state's 

 late last month, the Iwilei infrastructure plan covers 555 acres in Iwilei-Kapālama and proposes improvements that will help help advance state and City and County of Honolulu's transit-oriented development goals there.

Randy Chu, HHFDC's development branch chief, told Aloha State Daily that redevelopment in Honolulu is moving west.

"The next area where we foresee that redevelopment is going to happen is moving westward, so it's Iwilei, Kapālama, Kalihi," he said.

HHFDC — the state agency that oversees affordable housing finance and development in Hawai‘i, its website notes — commissioned the master plan to determine what will be needed to facilitate redevelopment, Chu says, noting that the lack of infrastructure is one of the biggest issues preventing development from moving forward.

"The roads, the sewer lines, the water lines were all designed 40, 50 years ago," he explained. "Now that we want to increase the density, there's more demand, so you have to upsize all these facilities, the infrastructure. That's what we wanted to do — identify what do we need to do to enable development or redevelopment of the area."

For the master plan, Chu says HHFDC spoke with the various landowners in the area and the city, then determined what was need to improve the sewer lines, water lines, drainage lines, the electrical system, telecommunication systems and streets.

Based on the goals of the Kalihi Neighborhood TOD Plan and the Downtown Neighborhood TOD Plan to transform the area into a"high-intensity, full-service mixed-use district" over the next three-plus decades, the EIS says that the infrastructure master plan aims to find the potential alignment, phasing and costs for improvements to the existing infrastructure systems. 

These improvements will allow for the development of some 27,500 new housing units and the change in use of nearly 2 million square feet of existing commercial, institutional, industrial and mixed-use space, it notes.

Any work will need to be a phased approach — Chu says the cost to improve the infrastructure is estimated to be around $1.3 billion.

Meanwhile, the Liliha Civic Center Master Plan proposes a mixed-use development on nearly 3.8 acres in Iwilei in a collaboration between HHFDC and the state Department of Accounting and General Services.

As far as the Liliha Civic Center Master Plan, Chu says site is a state-owned property at the corner of King Street and Iwilei Road. Potential plans call for two towers, one with space for government offices and the second that would have up to 600 affordable units, he said.

"Why at that location? Because the Kūwili rail station is a couple hundred yards away," he said. "It would be ideal for TOD or transit-oriented development. And King Street is a main artery for the bus, too. So, perfect location where it's close to town, where people can work and live."

, or TOD, is a mixed-used development within a five- to 10-minute walk of a rail station.

Now that the final EIS has been published, Chu says implementation is the next step. That means "finding the money to do it and doing it in a phased order such that we can afford it."

As far as a timeline, the EIS notes that the master plan was analyzed in four phases and expected to completed in the next five to 30-plus years.

Iwilei is, indeed, primed for redevelopment. The City and County of Honolulu is among the property owners with big plans in the works, centered around the rail development.

, the city acquired the former First Hawaiian Bank building at 445 N. King St. for $8.4 million and in January 2024 it acquired the Iwilei Center for $51.5 million.

, says these acquisitions, which total nearly five acres of land, "will form the catalyst of its redevelopment and revitalization efforts around the Kūwili Rail Station in Iwilei, consistent with the Downtown TOD Neighborhood Plan."

In March, the city's Department of Land Management, in partnership with the mayor's Office of Housing, issued a 

 for the redevelopment of the Iwilei Center.

Late last month, the city also announced it was moving forward with the next phase of the Kūwili Station TOD area redevelopment, and that the Department of Design and Construction, in partnership with the Department of Land Management and the Mayor’s Office of Housing was beginning outreach to property owners along Ka‘aahi Street to start the acquisition process for additional parcels of land.

"Acquisition of these additional parcels of land is necessary to advance its master planning efforts for the Kūwili Station TOD Redevelopment Area by enabling the redevelopment of key blocks into new affordable housing, infrastructure improvements, and public amenities that support a vibrant, transit-oriented neighborhood," the city said in a March 31 announcement. "In addition to supporting affordable housing and improved accessibility, these land acquisitions aim to address critical environmental concerns, including flooding and rising sea levels. These risks will be assessed and mitigated as part of the city’s comprehensive master planning effort, ensuring that redevelopment in the Kūwili Station area is resilient and sustainable."

"Redevelopment is not a bad thing," Chu said. "When you really think about it, what was built 50 years ago was adequate at that time — single-family homes, one-story buildings. But this is a different time, where land is so expensive that you need to make better use of the land. ... At this point in time, we've got to look at using more density to maximize the use of the land."

The EIS, which includes a list of impacts and proposed mitigation, can be 

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<title>What's planned for Iwilei infrastructure, Liliha Civic Center</title>

The final environmental impact statement includes an infrastructure plan that covers 555 acres in Iwilei-Kapālama and proposes improvements that will help spur redevelopment, and the Liliha Civic Center Master Plan, which proposes a mixed-use development on 3.79 acres in Iwilei.

What's planned for Iwilei infrastructure, Liliha Civic Center

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

These new limited-edition Lilo & Stitch Spam Classic cans are now available at Hawaiʻi retailers. We learned this through a post from 

, and stopped at the closest Longs Drugs store (in this case, the one at Salt Lake Shopping Center) to see if we could get our hands on them.

There are three different designs available, but this Longs Drugs store only had two of them.

We were told the cans are usually $3.79 each — the same price as the other Spam varieties — but there was a sale during the time of our visit, so we scored two cans for $5.50. And no, this isnʻt a tropical Spam flavor; the cans just sport a new design, in honor of the upcoming live action Lilo & Stitch movie by Disney.

If you don’t see these limited-edition cans, ask a staff member. In our case, these were so new that they weren’t even stocked on store shelves just yet.

While these cans are currently available at Hawaiʻi retailers, they will be on the US Mainland starting May 1, according to the 

You will also be able to find them at the 

Lilo and Stitch Spam cans 041825

<title>Limited-edition Lilo & Stitch Spam classic cans now available in Hawaiʻi stores</title>

There are three different designs available.

Limited-edition Lilo & Stitch Spam classic cans now available in Hawaiʻi stores

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Aloha Spirit

Entertainment

It’s all fun and games until you show up to the Punahou Carnival and donʻt know where to park. 

Don’t fret, Punahou School’s junior class organizers have got you covered. 

, on-campus parking for carnival goers will be open at certain times and Middle Field parking is reserved only for those with placards.

Everyone else should plan to park off campus at these five neighboring partner sites: Central Union Church ($10 cash), Shriners Hospital for Children ($20-$50), Lutheran Church of Honolulu ($20 cash), The Episcopal Parish of St. Clement ($20-$50) and Maryknoll School’s two campuses ($10-$50 cash). 

Parking fees will help support participating organizationsʻ programs and services.

Street parking is slim but available. TheBus routes 4 and 5 pass the school.

This year’s paniolo-themed event will run from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Feb. 7 and 8, featuring rides and games, food, music and more. Other highlights include a Variety Show, art gallery and silent auction – with proceeds benefiting students in need of financial aid. More that 4,500 volunteers will help make the carnival a success, a Punahou School official said.  

Admission is free. Cashless purchases can be made via Apple Pay, Google Pay, and major credit or debit cards.

[{"text":"E.K. Fernandez Shows to stirrup some fun at Punahou Carnival","type":"text"}]

Entertainment company E. K. Fernandez Shows, known for putting on the 50th State Fair, has supported the Punahou Carnival for decades, “providing rides and games that have become a beloved part of the event,” according to third-generation family business owner Scott Fernandez.

“We continue working closely with Punahou School to support and enhance the experience for attendees,” Fernandez told Aloha State Daily. “The Punahou Carnival is a longstanding tradition. … Our continued investment reflects our commitment to providing a fun and memorable experience for the community.”

This year, E. K. Fernandez Shows is debuting its 

 that allows guests to purchase credits for all rides and games at the Punahou Carnival. “This new feature makes it easier than ever for the community to enjoy the carnival experience,” he added.

Overall, the company’s “goal is to create lasting memories by bringing joy and excitement to every event we participate in," Fernandez said.  

E. K. Fernandez Shows is actively searching for a new home for the 50th State Fair, he said. “Once a location is secured, we will share the details on 

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