ASD Staff

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

[{"text":"No need post bail, when cell phones exist in jail.","type":"text"}]

Firefly funny illustration of a bald man in prison giving advice on a cell phone 125937

<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: A comedy crime saga in two parts</title>

Today's social posts come from howsdisguy: Part one and two of talking story with your roughboy philosopher relative.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: A comedy crime saga in two parts

No need post bail, when cell phones exist in jail.  

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

 is no longer only open for dinner. Earlier this month, the Kapahulu-based eatery launched a lunch menu for the first time.

Lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays to Fridays to start. If there is a demand, the restaurant might extend the days and hours.

The menu is currently limited to a few lunch-exclusive dishes and popular options from the dinner menu.

If you have to choose one entree from the menu, go for the Nonbei hamburger steak ($17). It features a 5-ounce wagyu patty with Nonbei’s Japanese-style gravy over a bed of rice.

The hamburger patty is ultra juicy and tender, but the gravy is the dish’s crowning glory. It’s the perfect balance between sweet and savory, and if you have leftovers, ask for more gravy to-go.

The chicken katsu curry is a comforting option. It features rich Japanese curry with panko-crusted chicken thighs and rice.

The chicken thighs boast a juicy interior, and the thicker curry has a slight spice. The hamburger steak and chicken katsu curry are only available during lunch.

Tempura soba is one of the signature dishes on the izakaya’s dinner menu. It consists of buckwheat soba (served hot or cold) with shrimp and assorted tempura.

Other lunch entrees include pork ginger ($17) — Kurobuta pork sautéed with onions, ginger and house sauce, served with rice — and maguro poke ($15). The latter includes fresh ‘ahi tossed with onions and housemade shoyu.

Reservations are welcomed, but since the lunch menu is so new, it’s easy to walk in. Takeout orders are also accepted.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Izakaya Nonbei lunch spread 081825

<title>This Kapahulu izakaya now serves lunch</title>

Izakaya Nonbei’s new lunch menu includes dishes like chicken katsu curry, soba and a mouthwatering hamburger steak.

This Kapahulu izakaya now serves lunch

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Government & Politics

Aloha Spirit

More than 150 dignitaries, military personnel and community members welcomed four 11-year-old children from Holy Family Home, an orphanage in Osaka, Japan, to Hawaiʻi with cheers, lei and aloha at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on Monday.

As part of a 76-year cultural exchange between the orphanage and the 27th Infantry Regiment “Wolfhounds,” the children – Umi, Kanami, Ryota, and Ryuki – will stay with military host families for two weeks, while enjoying Oʻahu’s culture and attractions with planned visits to the Waikīkī Aquarium, Kualoa Ranch, the Outrigger Canoe Club and more.

The relationship between the Wolfhounds and Holy Family Home began in 1949 under the leadership of Master Sgt. Hugh O’Reilly, who secured funds and materials to build a new facility for the orphanage where they were stationed after World War II. Following O’Reilly’s death in 2006, Hawaiʻi-based nonprofit Peace Bridge formed “to carry on and expand this tradition of compassion and friendship between the Holy Family Home and the Hawaiʻi community, fostering one of the longest-running military-civilian partnerships in U.S. Army history,” according to the organization.

“It was Christmas 1949. After witnessing the conditions of the orphanage, the soldiers began to pass around an Army helmet for donations to improve the living conditions. The men raised $143 and donated it to the orphanage on New Year’s morning,” it was said during the opening remarks of Monday’s ceremony.

The soldiers of the regiment spent their spare time repairing the facility. “In 1957, the Wolfhounds invited two children to visit their soldiers and familiy stationed in Hawai’i. Thus began the longstanding tradition we’re witnessing today.”

Hugh O'Reilly Jr. was present at the festivities and has helped continue his father's legacy.

Lt. Col. “Teddy” Borawksi, 1st Battalion Commander said, “We’re honored to host our four special guests Umi, Kanami, Ryota, and Ryuki, for the next two weeks and we look forward to sharing our lives, our traditions in this beautiful island that we call home.

“As Wolfhounds, we are known for being ferocious in battle and compassionate in peace. The children of the Holy Family Home embody the spirit of compassion and we are privileged to be your gentle wolfhounds. It is hard to put into words how much it means to us to continue this tradition. One born from the hearts of Wolfhounds long before us. Our commitment to this bond is just as strong today as it was decades ago. And we will not allow this cherished connection to fade.”

Gov. Josh Green presented a proclamation to Borawski, marking Aug. 18, 2025, as "Wolfhounds Day." 

, he made a stop at Holy Family Home to meet with the children and staff, he said.

“It was just so loving, and there was so much care,” Green recalled from that visit.

“You are honorary citizens today. We are grateful that you will be able to share our culture, and then be able to go back and share your experiences. … Our young guests, we hope this will be an amazing trip with long lasting memories and new friendships. … Let’s hope for another 76 years of love and compassion.

On behalf of Mayor Rick Blangiardi, City and County of Honolulu Chief of Staff Andy Sugg,

echoed the governor’s sentiments, while thanking the host families, among others, and presented a proclamation from the city. 

“The turnout is unbelievable,” he said of Monday’s event. “I didn’t know what to expect, but this is really incredible. ... So, thank you all for your dedication and for your commitment and for thinking of the children. There’s a lot going on in the world and we often forget that this is the future and we’ve got to really nourish and take care of all of our kids."

President of Peace Bridge Rika Hirata shared more history, describing the organization’s role “as a bridge between the Wolfhounds, Holy Family Home and the local community.”

The nonprofit’s mission is “to sustain and grow upon this tradition of aloha,” she continued. Its website states the aim is to continue “legacy of peace and love for the children of the Holy Family Home.”

“On behalf of Peace Bridge, I thank all of you for your support and ask for your continued support in the future,” she said.

Peace Bridge is volunteer-run and has supported more than 150 children without families. Learn more about the local organization, 

Japanese orphans 2025

<title>Turnout for Osaka orphans at HNL ‘unbelievable,’ says gov’t official</title>

Four 11-year-old children from Holy Family Home in Osaka, Japan, landed at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport Monday met with cheering, lei giving and aloha, from dignitaries, the U.S. Army “Wolfhounds,” and local nonprofit Peace Bridge and its community supporters. These orphans will stay in Hawai’i for two weeks with military host families, while enjoying  Oʻahu’s culture and attractions, promoting international peace and partnership.

Turnout for Osaka orphans at HNL ‘unbelievable,’ says gov’t official

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

As telescope lease agreements on Mauna Kea near their expiration dates, the process for renewing them remains up in the air.

Doug Simons, Director of the University of Hawai‘i's Institute for Astronomy, advised the state Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority last Thursday that the window for observatories on the mountain to negotiate their leases of state land is rapidly closing.

All observatories on Mauna Kea are legally bound to decommission their facilities and fully restore their sites to natural conditions by the end of 2033 if they are not able to negotiate further land use with the state. Because of this, Simons said that the telescopes could be very close to the end of their operational lives: decommissioning would likely need to begin by 2028 in order to be completed by the deadline.

In 2020, Simons said he predicted that those observatories that intend to remain operational beyond 2033 must negotiate their leases with the state by the first half of the 2020s — “which is right now, more or less.”

Despite this, those negotiations have not yet been completed, Simons said. Between the protests against the Thirty Meter Telescope in 2015 and 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the MKSOA taking over management of the mountain from UH in 2028, the process has been paused and restarted multiple times over the years.

But without an understanding of how many telescopes will continue to operate beyond 2033, it is difficult for any observatory to estimate the cost of operating on Mauna Kea. Simons said all observatories in the Mauna Kea Science Reserve contribute millions of dollars each year to various shared infrastructure costs, so each telescope that doesn’t have a lease renewed will increase costs for the rest.

“So that really gets you back to the basic question … how much is it going to cost?” Simons said. “And if we don’t know the answer to how much a lease is going to cost, the process is basically stalled.”

Even if the MKSOA can get through the negotiation process quickly, Simons said any new leases will almost certainly be challenged in contested cases and litigation, which will eat up even more time.

Further complicating affairs is the myriad of international funding agencies involved in the various observatories, all of which would need to agree to lease terms, which Simons said is a particularly complex and time-consuming part of the process.

And, of course, all of this is taking place as major cuts are planned for American science funding, with President Donald Trump’s administration 

 in June enormous slashes to NASA and National Science Foundation budgets.

MKSOA board members remained optimistic that they can expedite the lease negotiating process relatively quickly: “It’s not like we’re sitting at the table yet, but the more we prepare ourselves to be at that table, the quicker it will go,” said member Neil Hannahs.

But the MKSOA and its executive director John De Fries already have a lot on their plate as they race toward 2028, when the Authority will assume full control of the mountain from UH. A new management plan for the mountain is being developed, and is not expected to be completed until mid-2026.

At the same time, MKSOA is developing its strategic 

 — a short, three-page document outlining the Authority’s guiding principles regarding Mauna Kea that would impact any proposed lease terms. Public 

 will be held around Hawai‘i Island through September to solicit feedback on the draft document.

Doug Simons BLUE small 16x9

<title>Clock ticking for Mauna Kea leases</title>

Negotiations for renewing Mauna Kea observatory leases need to start soon, warns IFA director

Clock ticking for Mauna Kea leases

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Arts & Culture

It's hot and bright, just before noon on Thursday. Honolulu's Chinatown is lively midday and people are strolling through Kekaulike Mall, where vendors and shops are selling fruits, produce, fish and other goods.

, co-founder of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue and chairman of A Better Chinatown Association, is excited!

About Chinatown. About a new archway planned for Kekaulike Mall. And about other revitalization efforts in the works.

Aloha State Daily met with Flores in Chinatown Thursday to learn more about the arch and plans for the area.

The project is five years in the making. Flores says that former Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell had reached out to him, noting that Honolulu's Chinatown, one of the oldest in the U.S., didn't have an arch and asked if Flores wanted to build one.

Flores, who was raised nearby, says an arch is "almost like to show a symbol of the Chinese community and coming together. So if you go to every Chinatown in America, you will see a big arch."

In a follow-up email, Flores said he started the nonprofit A Better Chinatown Association to lead fundraising efforts. Aside from some of his office staff, he's largely working by himself on the project.

[{"type":"text","text":"But the arch is just the beginning."}]

Phase one of the project — which includes the construction of the traditional Chinatown arch at King and Kekaulike streets, along with the installation of lanterns, banners and murals and other aesthetic improvements — is expected to be finished by June 2026, a recent announcement from Flores says.

Why put the arch at that location? Among other reasons, Flores notes the future Skyline rail Chinatown station — 

 — which will be located nearby at Nimitz Highway and Kekaulike Street.

"It will become a destination, not only for the tourists but for the local community," Flores told ASD. "I want them to come here. ... We want people to come here, to have business, activity, development."

Meanwhile the second phase, which includes a planned launch of free daily walking and food tours, cultural activities and craft fairs, as well as the creation of a website and social media to promote Chinatown as a destination, is expected to be complete by December 2026, the announcement noted.

"People know Eddie," he says. "If I do something, it's going to be done. When I said I will do it, I will do it. People know my reputation. I want to develop this to make this [a] really nice Chinatown for the community and for tourists alike. I want people to come in."

According to provided information, the total cost of the project — including design and engineering, materials, fabrication, shipping, site prep, and foundation and civil work for the arch; installation of banners, red lanterns and murals; staff and other costs — is approximately $1.15 million.

Flores says the arch, which will be fabricated, will be ordered in about a month or so.

Kekaulike Mall is city-owned property but this revitalization project is privately funded. Flores noted 

 already. He also expressed his gratitude to Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi and his team.

"This is an investment in legacy and investment for all those who live and work and visit Chinatown, and an investment toward the future of this place and all who will experience Chinatown, given its rich history and all the it means to Honolulu," Mayor Rick Blangiardi told Aloha State Daily Thursday.

Interested in supporting the cause? Donations can be mailed to A Better Chinatown Association, 2138 Algaroba St., Honolulu, Hawaii 96826, or emailed to 

Eddie Flores Jr Kekaulike Mall 071725

<title>Archway planned for Honolulu's Chinatown</title>

The effort is being spearheaded by L&L Hawaiian Barbecue co-founder Eddie Flores, who also serves as the chairman of A Better Chinatown Association, a nonprofit leading fundraising for the project.

Archway planned for Honolulu's Chinatown

Real Estate

As the third generation of his family born and raised on Lānaʻi, Kurt Matsumoto

 joined Oracle Corp. founder and billionaire Larry Ellison’s company, Pūlama Lāna’i, in late 2012. He said he wasn’t its first employee but came on board the same year it was formed (when Ellison purchased 98% of the island).

“The biggest change over time is that the island used to be a completely dedicated pineapple plantation. And now, there’s no pineapple grown at all. We have two hotels now, but as you drive through town, a lot of it still looks the same as it did when I was growing up.

“It’s a classic picture of rural America – kids walking to school and the neighbors all looking out for each other,” he said.

When asked what initially drew him to the role, Matsumoto said, “The opportunity to work with somebody like Larry Ellison and help the island have a chance at reaching sustainability is, of course, very attractive.”

That, and giving back to the island that raised him, he noted, adding, “I owe a lot to growing up on Lānaʻi and I look forward to continuing to create positive change.”

Pūlama Lānaʻi, a land and resource management company controlling Ellison’s holdings, aims to preserve Native Hawaiian culture and the ‘āina, as well as build community and economic opportunities, 

Delivering more affordable housing is one thing Matsumoto is proud of. “We just got done adding 150 new workforce rental homes – that’s a 10% increase in housing.”

Spanning 76 acres, Hōkūao, is the first housing development to be built on the island in 30 years. More than half of the single-family homes are affordable, with the remaining at market rates.

“Lānaʻi has some of the lowest rental costs in the entire state,” he said citing the 

The University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization

. According to report, median rent in ZIP code 96763 is $1,087 and the median single-family home price is $675,000.

For a population of over 3,000, there are more than 1,500 housing units on island. Matsumoto estimated that the island’s 

number of employed workers is close to 1,600.

ʻi directly employs 400 workers, he said. “We have an entire leasing and maintenance operation, so we

re the ones repairing homes and making housing available when new employees arrive on the island. On the commercial side, we own the grocery store, the gas station, the theater, and coming soon, a new bowling alley.

“It’s all about making the lifestyle on the island more manageable, making access to goods and services easier and less expensive,” Matsumoto continued. “Prior to us owning the gas station, gas prices were the highest in the state. Now, we're the lowest.”

In addition to a barge that brings in goods once a week, Pūlama Lānaʻi covers the cost of flying things in “to keep the shelves full,” he said.

This year, one of the company’s goals is to demolish the old, shuttered bowling alley and build a brand new one with a full-service restaurant and ’50s diner theme by November.

Other priorities include building more houses and outdoor art installations; upgrading the water system; and contining efforts to fence off 20,000 acres from mauka to makai to keep sheep and deer out and revegetate the land, Matsumoto said.

“The focus is really about making the lifestyle on Lānaʻi better for the people who live there. We’re not developing luxury homes for sale or only catering to visitors, we want to keep employment up, too,” he said.  

In 2015, Pūlama Lānaʻi and the University of Hawai‘i Maui College launched its dual credit program, which allows Lāna‘i students to earn both a high school diploma and college credit. This year, 15 high school seniors participated from Lāna‘i High & Elementary School, the only school on the island, bringing the total to more than 200 students over 10 years.

“Reaching 10 years is a significant milestone. We started off as way to supplement what happens at school. But it’s turned into a pathway for kids to save money for their families and help achieve their higher education goals.”

Matsumoto said Lāna‘i High & Elementary School’s graduation rate had been high, but the matriculation rate was “well below the state average.”

“So, this has really changed that dynamic and has had a good impact on youth on island. Being able to see the results of the things we’re committed to is rewarding," he said. "All of our projects are being funded by Larry and it's all part of his commitment to the island and residents.”

He added, Lānaʻi students have come back home after going away to college to work on island, and even with Pūlama Lānaʻi.

“Within our workforce, of the people who serve in manager and director roles, close to 50% of them are either from Lānaʻi, meaning graduated from high school here, or they lived on 

 for 20 years or more. So, yes, we do have challenges filling holes, but we really try to invest in people, train them up and find appropriate work for them, which goes back to our role of enriching the community.”

Lanai Bowl rendering

<title>A new bowling alley, more workforce housing planned for Lānaʻi</title>

Learn more about the initiatives at Pūlama Lāna’i, including its dual credit program for students on the island, a 10-year partnership with the University of Hawai’i Maui College.

A new bowling alley, more workforce housing planned for Lānaʻi

[{"text":"Most real estate reporting focuses on median home prices.","type":"text"}]

Of course, that's only one way to look at things — the statistical midpoint, where half the prices are higher than the median and half are lower.

In reality, buyers and sellers are interested in that fuller range of real prices. With that in mind, Aloha State Daily will be looking at neighborhoods, even at single apartment buildings, to find the highest priced home on the market as well as the lowest, so that you can see the range of what you can get for your money.

Today, we’re looking at active listings of single-family homes in the Kailua Beachside neighborhood, which is located on the oceanside of Kalāheo Avenue.

[{"text":"Here’s what we found.","type":"text"}]

[{"text":"Lowest: 50 Kamani Kai Place","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}]}]

[{"text":"Price: $3,999,000","type":"text"}]

[{"text":"Co-listed by Kerri Jo Heim and Cathy Bridges, Compass","type":"text"}]

This newly remodeled 2,660-square-foot, five-bedroom, three-bath home — located just a short distance from Kailua Beach — hit the market last week.

, the home has hardwood flooring, and a new custom kitchen with a “unique” copper range hood and lead-paned windows.

Heim told ASD that when redoing the kitchen, the placement of everything was kept as it was.

“What they’ve really done is really nice upgrades and really keeping the original character of the home.”

The sewer line that goes from the house to the street also has been replaced, she said.

According to the listing, the primary suite has a newly remodeled bathroom with a separate shower and tub, while three other bedrooms located on the other side of the home share another remodeled bathroom. And the lower level of the split-level home has been converted into a new guest suite with a wet bar, bathroom and laundry room.

Built in 1968, the home was designed by noted local architect 

Heim says Hogan was known for his mid-century modern designs — but this house doesn’t have that aesthetic. The owner who commissioned the home had a lot of input, she said, “so that’s why it’s got more of a Mediterranean feel rather than a mid-century modern feel.”  

Hogan was also known for spending a lot of time at a site before designing a home, she said, adding that it's said that he did that with this home, to see how the air flowed and light played on the lot.

“The home is situated just a little differently. It just captures breezes and it just feels right,” Bridges said.

The property also has a heated pool as well as a covered, screened-in lānai with built-in seating that fronts the pool.

The other side of the home also has a lānai with more of a garden view, the Realtors said.

The “spectacular ceiling” and the finishes are some of Heim’s favorite features of the home.

The real estate agents, who spoke to ASD in a joint phone call, also noted the home’s floor plan.

“There’s a lot of separation and space in that house,” Heim said. “You don’t feel like you’re on top of each other.”

[{"text":"Heim and Bridges said the house is a unique custom home for the area.","type":"text"}]

[{"text":"“This house just is full of charm and character.”","type":"text"}]

Highest: Mele Komo Beachfront Estate, 508 N. Kalāheo Ave.

[{"text":"Price: $50 million","type":"text"}]

[{"text":"Listed by Stephanie Rae Band, Compass  ","type":"text"}]

Sitting on 2.2 acres on Kailua Beach, Mele Komo Beachfront Estate is comprised of three structures: two homes totaling 12,005 square feet and a pool cabana that provides additional living space.

The property, which has its own privately owned beach access, also offers views of the Mokulua Islands off the Windward Coast.

, the first 5,835-square-foot home has 6 beds and 6.5 baths while the second home has the same number of beds and baths and is 6,170 square feet.

A 2,000-square-foot pool cabana, which is an accessory dwelling unit, or ADU, also boasts a full kitchen, full bath, loft space and laundry facilities.

Band says the oceanfront property is “very special,” and that you won’t be able to find another oceanfront lot available in the neighborhood that’s bigger.

“It’s right in the best spot of Kailua, where the beach is super sandy, and the water is not very close to the property line, which is great. You actually do get a beach.”

One of the homes, positioned closer to the beach, offers views of the Mokulua Islands and the other has “this beautiful 180-degree ocean view,” according to Band.

Because of its design, Band says nine of the 12 bedrooms face the ocean and 11 have private lānais or outdoor spaces. One room actually has two private lānais — one that overlooks the ocean and one that overlooks the pool and the mountains. 

Along with 201 linear feet of beachfront, the property also features a 96,000-gallon pool that has a waterfall, commercial-grade slide, jacuzzi and grotto.

[{"text":"For Band, the pool area is one her favorite parts of the home.","type":"text"}]

“It’s just impressive. I truly believe that resorts don’t have a pool like this.”  

There’s plenty of space in the pool area, too, and the landscaping and design also offers privacy, Band says.

508 N Kalaheo 1

<title>High-Low: On the market in Kailua Beachside</title>

Median home prices are just one way to look at the real estate market. In this new feature, Aloha State Daily will look at neighborhoods, and even single apartment buildings, to find the highest- and lowest-priced homes on the market so readers can see the spectrum of what's available. Up first, Kailua Beachside.

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