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Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

But hold on, is it bad luck to even joke about this? Oh no, now we've repeated the joke! Ahhh!

Pali Tunnel i Stock 182908571 16x9

<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Pork over the Pali</title>

Today's social media find comes from kenekethegreat, tunneling his way to laughter.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Pork over the Pali

But hold on, is it bad luck to even joke about this? Oh no, now we&#039;ve repeated the joke! Ahhh!  

Kam Napier Headshot

A. Kam Napier

Columnists

Government & Politics

Aloha State Daily received a press release today from a Mainland-based national interest group, U.S. Term Limits (USTL), letting us know that “2026 Hawai‘i state senate candidate, Wallyn Christian (District 13) has committed support for term limits on Congress by signing the term limits convention pledge.”

Why does this matter to that organization? “(USTL, the leader in the national, non-partisan movement to limit terms for elected officials, is gathering support from state lawmakers across the nation,” the statement says. “Its mission is to get 34 states to apply for an amendment proposal convention specific to term limits on Congress.”

Term-limiting Congress is a popular idea, and USTL cites a 

 that, “An overwhelming majority of adults (87%) favor limiting the number of terms that members of Congress are allowed to serve. This includes a majority 56% who strongly favor this proposal, just 12% are opposed.”

The idea emerges often for local politicians, as well. Civil Beat has found public support for term limits to be as high as 70% in a 2018 poll of likely voters, a stat Honolulu Civil Beat resurfaced 

 of the lawmakers themselves to see where they stand on the idea of limiting their own time in office. “Nearly half of House members and more than a third of senators say they support term limits. There are enough undecideds in both chambers to give it a good shot if they held their position for two years,” CB found.

Respectfully, all of these people are wrong. Well intentioned, but they're aiming term limits at the wrong people.

I mean, I totally understand where the frustration is coming from. We elect people, nationally and locally, then are disappointed in their results. We could end their terms ourselves by simply not reelecting these people and yet obviously a lot of the people who say they want term limits do something very odd: They seem to reelect the lousy politicians they say they want to term limit.

You want to limit someone’s term? You’re just a month away from your next opportunity to vote for someone else!

So we’ve always had the power to fire politicians with every election, but don’t, then remain convinced that what we need is more turnover in government to make it more efficient, effective and responsive. Somebodies’ terms need limiting, but who?

Easy: The workforce. The bureaucrats. See, I want term limits, too, but I want them on the people staffing all the departments and agencies that we’re perpetually frustrated with. 

Consider, to cite just one example, how many different mayors you’ve seen over the past 20 or 30 years promise to reform the departments of planning and permitting in each county. The mayors have term limits. They come and go. Have any of them succeeded at this reform?

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi has done more than any predecessor but there’s a long way still to go.

How many Hawai‘i governors — term-limited governors — have promised Hawai‘i a public education second to none? Which of them succeeded? Who is still in place, immune to reform?

What happens in real life is, candidates make bold promises of reform, we elect them, then they announce bold plans for reform and those plans run headfirst into a culture of unfirable civil servants shielded by union protections. These folks don’t even have to noisily and aggressively oppose the reform, all they have to do is … not do it. And wait. Four years later, or eight years later, their antagonist is gone, the staff remains, with its culture of job security over excellence safely intact.

[{"type":"text","text":"We, the taxpayers and voters, then sit around wondering what happened."}]

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Two Hawai‘i’s"}]

What’s happened is simple: Since statehood, Hawai‘i’s people have steadily split into two camps, those who work for government and everybody else. The appeal of Government Hawai‘i is the security and benefits — lifelong employment, if you want it, totally protected from market forces and competition, with solid benefits like healthcare and retirement, paid for by the rest of us in Real Hawai‘i.

If you think the security and the bennies of government jobs are a trade-off to compensate for low pay, guess again. Government Hawai‘i earns more than Real Hawai‘i.

The annual average wage of a non-government job in Hawai‘i is 

 from the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

The average annual wage in state government? 

What does Real Hawai‘i get in return? One of the highest tax burdens in America for one thing, and then very little to brag about in high-quality government service. (

I would say that that two Hawai‘i’s have hardened into opposing camps, except that’s not exactly true. Government Hawai‘i drives an Us vs Them dynamic, that was never clearer to me than it was during Covid, when Government Hawai‘i showed us that it will shut the rest of down for years at a time given the slightest opportunity. It will also protect itself first, at the expense of the public is supposedly serves, as we see in the lingering effects of the schools closing for so long. That policy made no one safer, but it did mess up the kids. (And have you noticed ever since then, Government Hawai‘i takes the day off for even bad weather like it never did before, while the rest of us soldier on with our work?)

Out here in Real Hawai‘i, we grumble but otherwise settle for apathy (i.e., low voter turnout) or outright flight to states where it feels like a good life is more possible. I don’t know who Government Hawai‘i is going to tax when the last of us moves to Vegas.

With all that in mind, term limits on government service seem like the one revolution we haven’t tried, haven’t even discussed, but should. Say 10, 15 years max, total lifetime employment in government at any level. We want people to stay long enough to learn the ropes and finish things they’ve started, not so long that they just settle in and kill time until retirement.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"The upsides:"}]

Breaks up all the pockets of resistance to change. Turnover would occur systemwide, one person at a time, as they age out. Reformers at the top have a chance building support in the workforce among newer staff.

[{"type":"text","text":"Brings in new people and new ideas in government at every level."}]

Opens up more opportunities for Government Hawai‘i and Real Hawai‘i to trade places and live in each other’s worlds. This may be the biggest upside — more of us would get a chance to feel like we had a chance to change the system from the inside and deliver the service we’ve always wanted, while more of them would be forced to realize that Real Hawai‘i is something more than subjects to be ruled and tax cows to be milked.

Forces a revolution in how government hires. Using Mayor Blangiardi again as an example, he’s talked about how it took people six months on average to get hired by the City & County of Honolulu when he assumed office. 

, he had cut that down to three months. Compared to the speed at which the private sector can hire, that’s still an eternity, and that would have to change immediately to deal with the kind of turnover we need.

(To be fair, government is not alone on this front. In my decade at Pacific Business News, I heard executives at Hawai‘i’s larger companies talk endlessly about a labor shortage. At the same time, I knew plenty of talented people who could not land great jobs. Something is seriously broken in the hiring process, and I suspect HR, especially using automated keyword-based filters on resumes, is to blame. Make Direct Hiring by Managers Great Again!)

Loss of expertise, I suppose, but we’ve seen what the accumulated expertise gets us: A chief elections officer who thought a lauhala basket suited the dignity of a Hawai‘i electoral tie-breaker and ended getting his office sued — successfully — and 

. Scott Nago has worked at the Office of Election for nearly 26 years, almost 17 of those years as its chief election officer. As Civil Beat 

, it’s just about the only place he has ever worked in his life. Well, in the private sector, you can lose your job for bungling things so badly you get sued. Under my plan, the private sector is where he would’ve been sent years ago. Had someone else, perhaps with a wider range of life experience, been at the helm, maybe that person would've made better decisions.

[{"type":"text","text":"So, OK, there are no downsides."}]

Term limits on government service. If you like this idea, spread the word. We’d be moving a mountain to make it happen. But that’s got to be better than carrying the mountain of Government Hawai‘i on our shoulders forever.

A. Kam Napier is editor in chief of Aloha State Daily. His opinions in Pipikaula Corner are his own and not reflective of the ASD team.

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People take time out of their lives to participate in the democratic process by testifying before committee hearings. Too often, the committee isn't there.

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Pipikaula Corner: Invisible Legislators

It's not getting much media attention, but the private diaries of Dr. Anthony Fauci have been published online by Sen. Rand Paul in advance of his hearings this week into Fauci and Covid-19. What they reveal across thousands of pages is man in love with the adulation he received, who privately knew that many of things he said publicly about the pandemic were wild exaggerations.

Getty Images 2155919948

Pipikaula Corner: Fauci revealed as fear-mongering, fame-loving fraud

<title>Pipikaula Corner: Limiting the wrong terms</title>

It's an election year, and some people are running on the popular idea that legislators and Congress should have term limits to prevent lifers from working the system. ASD Editor in Chief A. Kam Napier argues this is a great idea, with the wrong target. What if it's actually the government workforce itself that needs a term limit?

Pipikaula Corner: Limiting the wrong terms

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

As soon as the University of Hawai‘i kicks off its 2026 season at Stanford on Saturday at 1 p.m. HST, 

 will have officially broken a generational curse. 

The upcoming season will be Chang's fifth at the helm, marking the first time in almost two decades that a UH football coach has been at the helm in Mānoa that long. 

June Jones, the same man Chang played for, coached UH from 1999 to 2007 before bolting for SMU in 2008. He was followed by Greg McMackin, who was forced to resign after the 2011 season, his fourth as head coach. Norm Chow was fired during the 2015 season, also his fourth, and replaced by Nick Rolovich, who coached the Rainbow Warriors from 2016 to 2019 before departing for Washington State. Chang's predecessor, Todd Graham, lasted from 2020 to 2021 before becoming the subject of a state senate hearing then resigning. 

"I didn't know that," Chang said when told of his upcoming Year 5 milestone. "My mentor (Jones) is special. He's a special coach, and I'm glad I played under him and learned under him and continued to run his offense. I'm very proud to now be back home and leading the program and having assistants that also have played under coach Jones and so really we owe a lot to him and it's an honor."

 that will take his contract through January 2031. Dream job aside, the team's focus for the last week and a half has been on Stanford, a program starting over with new head coach and former Cardinal quarterback Tavita Pritchard. After breaking camp last weekend, the Rainbow Warriors have taken multiple practices to nearby ‘Iolani School in preparation for Stanford's grass surface. 

"I think you prepare for everything, and then you adjust as it goes," Chang said of Saturday's matchup. "But really, football is football. We gotta tackle, we got to throw the ball and catch balls. 

"I just think the guys, they put themselves in position to succeed. They work really hard and I'm proud of how they work, but now it's time to go and execute and go have fun."

In addition to Pritchard, Stanford has new coordinators in offensive coordinator Terry Heffernan and defensive coordinator 

Kris Richard as it revamps its entire program under general manager Andrew Luck. Adding to Saturday's mystique is the fact that neither team has released a depth chart as of Tuesday. 

he most important thing is for us to understand who our opponent is, and I believe by kickoff on the 29th, we'll have a pretty good understanding of them, who they are, and what they're like," Hawai‘i defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman said. "They're a new team, a new guy calling plays, but Stanford is going to be Stanford. They're gonna be a well-coached, well-disciplined football team, and they're gonna do what they do. They're not gonna make mistakes, so we can't we can't go in there and make mistakes."

The Rainbow Warriors and Cardinal opened the 2025 season against each other, with 

 despite a disastrous start in which its first offensive play was a sack and fumble for a Stanford touchdown. 

Quarterback Micah Alejado, who suffered a early leg injury and gutted out the second half of the 2025 opener, knows the team can't afford to start slow again. 

"Just staying sound and just playing our game," Alejado said when asked what the key to victory is. "Last year, we come out really bad. I gave up a sack for a touchdown. We gave them 10 points. Our biggest point of emphasis is starting fast, not waiting for the first half to come on."

Timmy Chang 082526

<title>Hawai‘i head football coach Timmy Chang set to hit longevity milestone during season…</title>

UH athletics director Matt Elliott recently confirmed Chang's contract is set to run through January 2031.

Hawai‘i head football coach Timmy Chang set to hit longevity milestone during season opener

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

 officially opened on Oct. 8. The Kalākaua Avenue eatery is the brand’s first Hawaiʻi location. The restaurant spans almost 13,000 square feet — it’s the former space of Atlantis Seafood & Steak and California Pizza Kitchen, combined — and offers seating for more than 300 customers.

The brand is a Canadian restaurant chain, which now has more than 70 locations across North America. Each of the Earls restaurants are designed with their local communities in mind, and the Waikīkī location is no exception. Its interior design is inspired by Hawaiʻi’s tropical beauty, and features open-air skylights, lush tropical greenery and artwork from local Hawaiian artists.

The open-air restaurant also includes a bar and patio space that overlooks Kalākaua Avenue.

After attending the grand opening party, we re-visited the restaurant on three different occasions to get a comprehensive taste of its menu — it’s extensive, with plenty of options for brunch, dinner and happy hour.

[{"type":"text","text":"The cuisine is described as Modern American with global inspiration."}]

“We pride ourselves on a culinary philosophy that delivers big flavor with every dish,” states Randy Pena, regional chef for Earls Kitchen + Bar. “Diners can expect truly addictive dishes like the sticky Korean ribs, spicy Calabrian pasta, tomahawk maple-glazed pork chop and our must-try wagyu beef oshi press.”

The dinner menu consists of appetizers, sushi, salads, sandwiches, pastas, seafood and steaks. Plant-based options are also available.

The meaty Korean ribs are a nice balance of sweet and spicy, with a slight kick from the Gochujang sauce. The ribs’ sticky texture contrasts nicely with the crunch from the crispy onions. 

Of the appetizers we order, the jumbo lump crab cake ($26.75) was my favorite. It features jumbo lump crab topped with pickled red onions, avocado, arugula and a lemon vinaigrette, and is served with a caper remoulade.

There’s a generous portion of lump crab with minimal filler, which is always a win.

The aburi salmon sushi press ($21.75) and wagyu beef oshi press ($23.75) come highly recommended, since both feature the eatery’s pressed sushi, which is especially popular in Canada. The pressed sushi features more compact, rectangular-shaped pieces that are often flame-seared.

Both the torched dashi salmon and flame-torched beef were savory choices and boasted a nice, smoky flavor.

Choose from salads like little gem Caesar ($16.75), southwest chicken avocado salad ($26.75) and Cobb salad ($19.50). The latter is a colorful concoction comprising smoked bacon, crumbled blue cheese, Oʻahu oven-roasted tomatoes, avocado, a soft boiled egg and creamy ranch dressing.

Entrees include a variety of pastas, seafood and steaks. Customers can also choose from sandwiches, burgers and tacos.

The Chilean sea bass is coated in a Shiro miso marinade and mushroom dashi broth, and is served with quinoa and bok choy. The flaky fish is moist and tender, boasting a melt-in-your-mouth texture. The marinade has a slight miso flavor — it’s not overwhelming, and complements the fish nicely — and the savory, light mushroom dashi broth took this dish to the next level.

The Tomahawk maple-glazed pork chop ($45.75) is one of the eatery’s signature dishes. The Kurobuta bone-in 14-ounce chop is massive and boasts an impressive presentation. It’s served with dry-cured bacon jam, garlic mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables and peppercorn jus.

If you’re craving steak, the eatery offers a bountiful selection. Its steaks are aged for a minimum of 45 days to achieve superior flavor.

Classic options like filet tenderloin ($56.75) and USDA prime rib-eye ($69.75) are served with garlic mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables.

Luxe options and combos range from steak and truffle tortellini ($41.50) and Cajun blackened steak ($59.75 for 7 ounces, $72.75 for 14-ounce rib-eye) to surf and turf ($70.75 for 7 ounces, $83.75 for a 14-ounce rib-eye) and black truffle butter steak ($61.75 for 7 ounces, $74.75 for a 14-ounce rib-eye). While the rib-eye was tender, flavorful and cooked perfectly to our liking, we preferred the black truffle butter steak, thanks to its rich, umami flavor.

While only four desserts are currently available, it’ll be difficult choosing just one.

If you prefer chocolate treats, opt for the sticky toffee chocolate pudding ($14). The indulgent dessert is like a dense molten lava cake, and comes with almond Florentine, fresh berries and vanilla ice cream.

The creme brûlée cheesecake is also a winner, and is ideal if you want something a little less heavy but still sweet. We enjoyed the New York-style dessert’s fluffy interior and caramelized topping.

The eatery also offers a bi-daily happy hour in its bar and lounge — once from 2 to 5 p.m., and a late-night option from 10 p.m. to close. The same menu is featured during both happy hour times.

We’re told the restaurant closes at midnight during weekdays and at 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. If you’re concerned about happy hour seating, rest assured that the “lounge” area is pretty spacious, if you can't get a space at the bar.

Happy hour dishes feature discounts on some of the eatery’s most popular appetizers, along with some exclusive features.

The charred corn and avocado dip ($10 happy hour) is a creamy concoction with a slight spice, thanks to the Chipotle aioli and Tajin. It’s topped with feta and served with crispy corn tortillas.

The Szechuan shrimp and pork dumplings ($16 happy hour) are a bestseller. The dumplings are coated with black vinegar and garnished with chili crunch, roasted peanuts and green onions. The heat builds as you eat more of these, but the dumplings are succulent and flavorful. 

The Nashville crispy chicken and pickled skewers ($14) are a happy hour exclusive; however, the chicken is featured in the dinner menu’s Nashville crispy chicken sandwich. The hot, fried chicken thighs are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.

The spicy ‘ahi tuna or spicy salmon crispy rice sushi ($16 happy hour) is ideal for sharing; we loved the contrast between the creamy spicy ‘ahi and crunchy sushi rice base.

The petite steak frites ($16) are another happy hour-exclusive dish; it’s basically the mini version of the steak frites entrée featured on the dinner menu. For this dish, the steak is sliced pūpū-style, making it easier to share — which is nice if you want to try several other dishes.

During happy hour, customers can enjoy select cocktails at half price. Choices include Earls lime margarita, nitro espresso martini, white sangria and Earls Old Fashioned. Since cocktails normally cost $16.75 to $24, this is one of the best deals during happy hour.

Other drink discounts include $3 off select beers, wines by the glass and Earls Mai Tai; and $7 cheekies (or mini cocktail shots and tiny tinis).

Earls Kitchen + Bar’s weekend brunch menu is served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends, and features dishes like guava pineapple pancakes ($21.75), chilaquiles brunch bowls ($22.75), Nashville crispy chicken and waffles ($25.75) and a hearty breakfast burger ($23.75).

The restaurant currently doesn’t validate parking, but there are multiple parking garages nearby (check the individual parking lots for validation requirements).

Earlsrestaurants.com/location/earls-waikiki

Open 11 a.m. to midnight Mondays-Thursdays, and Sundays; 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Fridays-Saturdays; weekend brunch served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays

Earl Kitchen and Bar late night happy hour 103025

<title>Here's what you'll find at Earls Kitchen + Bar</title>

While the eatery officially opened in early October, its menu is so expansive that it took us several visits to work our way through it. The Waikīkī location offers a weekend brunch, bi-daily happy hour, and dinner.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Pork over the Pali

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Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Pork over the Pali

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