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Kady Pascual

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"But we all secretly vibe to this song."}]

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Mitch And Brie car dj 16x9

<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Embracing music from the car DJ</title>

Today’s social media find comes from @MitchandBrie, with a questionable playlist.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Embracing music from the car DJ

But we all secretly vibe to this song.  Make sure you follow @MitchandBrie on Instagram! For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up here for our free Daily Edition newsletter!

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

[{"type":"text","text":"Frequent fliers take note."}]

A combined loyalty program for Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines will debut next month, a move that comes as the airlines continue to integrate operations.

Alaska Air Group, Inc. and Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. 

 that Alaska Airlines would acquire Hawaiian Airlines in a deal that was valued at approximately $1.9 billion, including $900 million of Hawaiian’s net debt, according to an announcement at that time. The acquisition was 

The distinct Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines brands will be maintained but the loyalty programs from both will be combined into a singular program.

A Hawaiian Airlines spokesperson told Aloha State Daily in an email Thursday that the combined loyalty program will be unveiled in August, with Alaska's Mileage Plan transitioning to the new program at that time.

The HawaiianMiles program will remain through Sept. 30, but on Oct. 1 "will fully transition into the new combined loyalty program of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines," they noted.

"We're making great progress and look forward to unveiling a new combined loyalty program that will deliver the most generous and exciting benefits in the industry," the spokesperson said.

They did not share the name of the program or the date it will be unveiled but said the transition will be "seamless for members of both programs."

[{"type":"text","text":"Do members need to do anything to ensure their miles transfer?"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Not necessarily. "}]

The spokesperson told ASD that if members do nothing, miles will automatically transfer to the new program on Oct. 1.

"That said, we do encourage HawaiianMiles members to sign up for an Alaska Mileage Plan account and link their Alaska and HawaiianMiles accounts to start taking advantage of Mileage Plan’s current benefits, including traveling on more than 30 oneworld air partners," they noted. "We will track their elite-qualifying miles, or EQMs, in both programs and award elite status in both programs, based on their combined EQM balance. Linking accounts now will also ensure the most seamless transition to the new program.

"HawaiianMiles members are welcome to covert their miles into Mileage Plan miles at any point. When the combined loyalty program is launched, any miles that haven’t converted will be moved over automatically."

But the spokesperson said the most important things HawaiianMiles members should keep in mind is that everyone's miles are safe and there are no changes to the credit card benefits.

Additionally, Huaka‘i by Hawaiian — a new free program

 for residents of Hawai‘i that offers monthly deals, travel perks and a free checked bag when traveling interisland — will also continue with the new loyalty program, they said.

"In preparation for HawaiianMiles to transition to the new loyalty program, HawaiianMiles member actions will be limited several days prior to Oct. 1," the spokesperson noted. "We will share more information with members in August. For now, members may continue to access their HawaiianMiles account as normal."

You can find more information about the combined loyalty program 

. Hawaiian Airlines also shared a blog post about it 

 of Hawaiian Airlines in September following its combination with Alaska Air Group.

ASD sat down with Sprague earlier this year to talk about the merger and future plans. You can 

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Hawaiian airlines

<title>What's happening with Hawaiian Airlines' loyalty program</title>

A combined loyalty program for Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines will launch next month. Here's what you should know.

What's happening with Hawaiian Airlines' loyalty program

Real Estate

, a $62-million affordable rental community in ‘Aiea for kūpuna 62 and older.

Located on the former site of the ‘Aiea Sugar Mill at 99-385 Pōhai Place, ground broke on the project in the fall of 2023. Residents are expected to begin moving in next month.

EAH Housing, one of the largest nonprofit housing development and management organizations in the western U.S., is the project's developer.

"Many kūpuna in our communities are quietly struggling — living on fixed incomes while housing costs continue to rise," Karen Seddon, regional vice president, Hawai‘i, told Aloha State Daily in an emailed response to questions. "Affordable, age-friendly options are few and far between. Aloha Iā Halewiliko provides a place where kūpuna can live independently, safely and affordably, while staying close to their roots in ʻAiea."

The three-story community is part of a broader 

, and located in a residential neighborhood adjacent to the ‘Aiea Public Library, a recent announcement from EAH noted.

There are 140 units, including 83 studio apartments, 56 one-bedroom apartment and a manager’s unit. You can find the 

income limits and move-in qualifications here

Seddon says the developer is in the final stages of inspections and once the certificate of occupancy is issued — which is expected in August — residents can move in.

For residents, Aloha Iā Halewilikō has a multipurpose room, walking paths, fitness facilities, community gardens and digital literacy programs, the developer says. Nonprofit partner Lanakila Pacific also will provide on-site services, including Meals on Wheels and other wellness programs that support aging in place.

It’s incredibly moving to have reached this milestone."

"After years of planning, partnerships and construction, the vision for Aloha Iā Halewiliko is nearly complete," she continued. "We’re now just awaiting our certificate of occupancy and once that’s in place, we’ll be able to open the doors to our kūpuna. Future residents have been waiting for this opportunity for a long time, some coming from overcrowded or unstable housing. Knowing that they’ll soon have a safe, affordable home in a community they love is deeply rewarding. It’s a powerful reminder of why this work matters."

Seddon says the developer is seeing "real momentum in applications," both online and in-person, but units are still available.

"Residents, local leaders, and service providers alike have voiced strong support for the project’s mission to deliver high-quality, affordable housing for kūpuna in the 'Aiea neighborhood," Seddon told ASD.

According to the announcement, EAH Housing currently manages 23 properties with more than 2,700 units across the Islands, and has other affordable housing developments underway.

 in Hilo was completed at the end of 2024 and is fully occupied with residents 62 and older, with a preference for veterans and their surviving spouses.

Meanwhile, on Maui, she says that two of EAH's projects are advancing through entitlements and permit approvals.

 will provide 303 new homes in two low-rise buildings with an anticipated construction start in 2027," Seddon says. "Wailuku Mission will provide 85 new homes and also anticipates starting construction in 2027."

EAH HOUSING 070325 ALOHA IA HALEWILIKO EXTERIOR AC 1

<title>Leasing underway for new affordable senior rentals in ‘Aiea</title>

Leasing underway for new affordable senior rentals in ‘Aiea

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

Early morning practices, a former staple for the University of Hawai‘i football team in fall camp, were not part of the routine on Wednesday. 

The Rainbow Warriors took the field at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex on Wednesday at 11 a.m., just as the afternoon heat in Mānoa began to intensify. The 'Bows would usually be long done with practice by then, but Wednesday's practice was a deliberate move by head coach Timmy Chang. 

Wednesday marked one month until the Rainbow Warriors open their 2025 season at home against Stanford. The contest, which will be televised nationally on CBS, kicks off at 1:30 p.m. The following week, UH plays at the University of Arizona in Tuscon, a locale where temperatures hover around 100 degrees Fahrenheit. 

"It'll be hot down here," Chang said of the Aug. 23 opener, "and so we want to make sure that we give our guys the best opportunity to face what they're gonna see and put them in the elements. We figured the first two games, here and Tucson, will be pretty hot for us."

Chang began his fourth fall camp as the head coach for the Rainbow Warriors on Wednesday, some of the freshman he came in with already seniors. One of them was senior safety Peter Manuma, who will be viewed as one of the leaders of the team. The Campbell alum understood the rationale, likening it to the team's narrow 16-13 loss to UCLA on Aug. 31, 2024, a contest that also kicked off at 1:30 p.m.

"Whoever came up with this idea, it's a great idea, but a bad idea," a sweaty Manuma joked. "I feel like it would definitely get us ready, because last season, we played UCLA at around the same time. That was a way different game. So I mean, shout out to the coaches, the support staff, for coming up with this idea of ahead of Week 0."

On each side of the ball, the Rainbow Warriors appeared confident and comfortable. The practice itself was light and contact-free as the 'Bows acclimated to their first official team session of the fall. 

"For our first practice, we really wanted to be detailed in our fundamentals, our technique and the things that are the simple things that are going to win us games," Chang said. "We have a slogan: Be great at simple. And that's what we wanted to do today, paying a lot of deep attention to just the little things. Their stance, their first two steps, their eyes, their feet, their hands, those are the little things in the battles that they're going to need."

In other facets surrounding the program, the little things are to be appreciated at a place like the University of Hawai‘i, where some resources can be lacking compared to their Division I FBS counterparts. The 'Bows are set to play their fifth consecutive season at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, a makeshift on-campus stadium after Aloha Stadium was condemned in 2020. 

, UH's former grass practice field adjacent to Ching was recently converted into a new facility for the school's soccer and track and field teams. 

With only its temporary stadium to practice on, more turf was installed on Ching's makai sideline over where the track used to be, giving the Rainbow Warriors more practice space. 

"It really helps, because it gives us some more space where guys can work," Chang said. "It allows us to open up the field for some of the skill guys to run around and throw the ball or cover and do those type of things. It allows our specialists to work as well. It's almost 20 yards by 110 yards. All of that space helps for us."

UH football 072325

<title>Hawai‘i football makes subtle changes to practice routine as fall camp begins</title>

The Rainbow Warriors intentionally took the field later than usual for their first fall practice on Wednesday.

Hawai‘i football makes subtle changes to practice routine as fall camp begins

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

More questions than answers surround a state plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation industry.

, the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation published an “

,” a proposal to reduce carbon emissions across the transportation sector to meet the state’s 2045 deadline to achieve 100% clean energy.

Currently, the plan is in the midst of an extended public comment and review process, with a final draft expected to be published in October. As part of that process, DOT representatives are holding online meetings on the proposal over the next several weeks, with the 

While sparsely attended, that first meeting raised questions about the impacts of some of the strategies proposed in the plan. For example, the plan calls for a 75% reduction in cruise ship ports-of-call by 2045 — which would have significant impacts on local businesses.

During last week’s meeting, DOT Director Ed Sniffen said “the goal is not to kick [cruise ship operators] out of Hawai‘i; our goal is to make sure they bring cleaner ships.”

“If we had to get rid of some kind of operation in our commercial harbors, it’s not going to be our cargo shipments. It definitely won’t be our military operations. It’s going to be the cruise ships,” Sniffen said. “But, of course, we’ll be working with them to … help incentivize them to clean up.”

Sniffen added that the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority will work with HDOT and cruise operators to try to make the process as smooth as possible, but noted that annual cruise ship traffic accounts for only a fraction of total out-of-state visitors.

Other attendees questioned the plausibility of mass adoption of clean airplane fuel — the plan focuses on “sustainable aviation fuel,” or “SAF,” which the International Air Transport Association has committed to fully replace current fuel by 2050.

Sniffen said he believes converting to SAF by 2045 is feasible, although he noted that accelerating the IATA’s plans by five years will “cost a lot” and he expects airlines to have their own comments on the proposal.

Sniffen did not attend a Wednesday meeting of the Honolulu City Council’s Infrastructure, Transportation and Technology Committee, where HDOT representatives briefed councilmembers about the plan. That briefing raised further questions.

Mā‘ili Rep. Darius Kila attended the committee meeting in person to question its relationship with reality, noting that many of his constituents are “counting pennies” to stay in the state.

“When you have green, it’s easy to go green, but when you don’t have green, you cannot go green,” Kila quipped.

Kila went through many of the plan’s proposals, highlighting where they will likely raise costs for residents. For example, plans to decarbonize maritime shipping, switching vessels from diesel fuel to “renewable diesel” will require shipping companies to retrofit their fleets to use a less efficient fuel — with which Kila said companies will “gladly comply,” as they can simply pass on the increased costs to the end users in Hawai‘i.

Other proposals, including one for congestion pricing in urban zones, will disproportionately impact rural residents who can’t afford to live and work in the same neighborhood.

Kila also said plans to entirely phase out internal combustion vehicles are unfeasible, particularly in the face of likely rollbacks of federal incentive programs for EV adoption. 

 by Matson earlier this month that the shipping company will no longer transport EVs on its vessels, citing risks of lithium-ion battery fires.

And Kila warned that the proposed cutback of cruise ship traffic will have predictable, devastating impacts on local businesses, restaurants and tour operators.

“Hawai‘i has been an amazing leader in leading the charge [toward decarbonization], but if we’re leading the charge and people are still left behind, that’s not progress at all,” Kila said. “There is a reality for Hawai‘i residents that every penny that increases their costs of living … is pushing [the question] whether they should stay in Hawai‘i or not.”

Additionally, Councilman Tyler Dos Santos-Tam noted another side effect of decarbonization: loss of fuel tax revenue, which is used to maintain road infrastructure. As adoption of EVs increases, the county’s fuel tax revenues have already dropped from $51 million in 2019 to an anticipated $43 million next year, Santos-Tam said — “and it’s going to go down every single year thereafter.”

“So the question is, do we put [the shortfall] on the users, the people who are driving, the people who are consuming gasoline?” Santos-Tam said. “Or do we do things like property tax revenue, which affects everybody, including non-drivers?”

Answers for all these questions were not immediately forthcoming at the committee hearing Wednesday. However, further public meetings on the plan will be held 

 on July 27 at 2 p.m. and July 28 at 6 p.m. Additional meetings in August have yet to be scheduled.

The final draft of the plan is slated for publication in October. Much of the proposals mentioned in the document are expected to be part of a 2026 legislative package.

Oahu Nevi 1 scaled 16x9

<title>Decarbonization proposal raises eyebrows at Council meeting</title>

Residents and lawmakers question cost, feasibility of emissions-cutting proposal.

Decarbonization proposal raises eyebrows at Council meeting

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

Save the date: sushi specials are back at 

During these dates, customers can enjoy discounts on bluefin tuna nigiri. Feast on akami ($3, regular price $6), chutoro ($4.50, regular price $8.50) and otoro ($6, regular price $12) when you dine in (not valid for takeout). This is an especially good deal if you love otoro (the fattiest part of the tuna belly). 

Customers can also enjoy mixed bluefin tuna handrolls ($6, regular $12) which feature a mix of akami, chutoro and otoro.

Kaiten Sushi Ginza Onodera akami 071825

<title>$3 sushi is back at Kaiten Sushi Ginza Onodera</title>

The popular conveyor belt sushi restaurant is bringing back discounted nigiri from July 26 to 28.

$3 sushi is back at Kaiten Sushi Ginza Onodera

A Hawai‘i senator tried and failed to salvage funding for emergency broadcasters from a round of public broadcasting cuts.

The U.S. Senate voted Tuesday 51-50 to advance the 

, which slashes $9.4 billion in funds to various agencies including the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Those cuts permanently rescind funds made available to the CPB for the 2026 and 2027 fiscal years, about $1.1 billion in total.

The rescission request from President Donald Trump's administration 

 the cuts because the funds “would be used to subsidize a public media system that is politically biased and an unnecessary expense to the taxpayer.”

 in May specifically demanding that CPB cease funding National Public Radio, or NPR, and the Public Broadcasting Service, or PBS, which are funded partially through CPB grants.

But Senator Mazie Hirono raised concerns about the proposal’s impact to emergency broadcast stations in rural communities.

“Public broadcasters are essential to rural communities, often serving as the only emergency alert system when disasters or emergencies occur,” Hirono said on the Senate floor Wednesday. “These alerts can mean the difference between life or death.”

Hirono offered a motion to recommit the bill Wednesday, recommending that any public broadcasting station that participates in the Federal Communications Commission’s Emergency Alert System be exempt from funding cuts caused by the Rescissions Act.

As of 2023, more than 25,000 radio and television broadcasters participate in the EAS nationwide, according to 

“As natural disasters increase in frequency across our country, this motion will help protect our communities and ensure they can get timely, life-saving information when disaster strikes,” Hirono said.

However, Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, had previously testified to the Senate that emergency broadcasting services will be safe from the cuts.

The Senate ultimately voted to reject Hirono’s motion, which failed 48-51. Two Republicans, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Maine, broke with their party to vote in support of Hirono’s motion.

The Senate has not made a final vote regarding the bill. If they vote in favor of it, the bill returns to the House for further discussion. Congress must pass the bill by midnight Friday to meet or else the funds rescinded in the bill must be released to their respective departments.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Embracing music from the car DJ

Kady Pascual

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Authors

Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

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