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Kady Pascual

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

Locals love Cheesecake Factory, too, though.

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<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: “Island Style” by John Cruz with a little twist</title>

Today’s social media find comes from @JRDGuz, singing about the typical tourist visit.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: “Island Style” by John Cruz with a little twist

Locals love Cheesecake Factory, too, though.  Make sure you follow @JRDGuz on Instagram! For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up here for our free Daily Edition newsletter!

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Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Aloha Spirit

[{"type":"text","text":"Domestic Violence Action Center is at a point of transition."}]

For more than 33 years, co-founder Nanci Kreidman led the statewide nonprofit agency, which provides resources such as individual counseling, agency referrals, legal services and help with housing and personalized safety plans, for victims of domestic violence and their families.

Kreidman retired in June 2023 and the following year, Monique Ibarra was named CEO. Prior to her appointment, Ibarra served as executive director of Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Centers Inc. She previously spent two years at the Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline on Maui (DVAC’s

Earlier this month, Ibarra stepped down for “personal reasons,” according to DVAC, which tapped Laurie Tochiki, former president and CEO of nonprofit EPIC 

Tochiki, whose background is in family law, social services and human resources, co-founded EPIC, an organization “that strengthens ʻohana and enhances the welfare of children and youth,” its mission states. She has taught family law courses at the University of Hawaiʻi William S. Richardson School of Law and is a current member of the Hawaiʻi State Bar Association.

“I do want to express our gratitude for Monique and her dedication to DVAC over the last two years. She stepped into the organization during a very difficult time,” Board President David Tumilowicz told Aloha State Daily. “That was DVAC

’s hard to anticipate how difficult it can be to follow in the footsteps of a founder. Monique did some really important work at DVAC during her time there.”

Tumilowicz, who is the senior director of marketing and community health at Kaiser Permanente Hawai'i, shared that Tochiki “is the right person at this point in time to continue DVAC’s life-saving work for a couple reasons: her background in decades of experience advocating for Hawai

ʻi’s children and family and her deep belief that everyone deserves to live in a safe home."

Tochiki’s relationship with UH's law school is key for one of the organization’s current priorities of developing the local pipeline of attorneys, he noted, adding, “We believe she is ideally suited to help DVAC innovate and bring more legal resources to the community.”

It was intentional, too, that the board named Tochiki as interim CEO “as soon as possible,” Tumilowicz said. “While Laurie and Monique’s tenure did not overlap, Laurie came in on Monday following Monique’s departure, so there wasn’t any in-between time.”

As the search for a permanent CEO begins to get underway, Tochiki will head the agency for the next year, he said. “When it does [begin], it will be with staff and community engagement as it has been in the past.”

DVAC currently has 44 employees. In fiscal year 2025, staff responded to more than 2,700 helpline calls resulting in 1,029 safety plans, 695 community referrals, and more than 1,100 callers who received legal information and education. DVAC also provided more than 7,000 court-related services and a total of 121 legals services, which included court appearances, legal consultations, divorce decrees and post-decree cases, and protective and temporary restraining orders.

, its annual operating budget is $4.5 million.

Tumilowicz told ASD more about where the organization stands currently and where it’s headed. He shared DVAC’s short and long-term goals, as well as his own personal commitment to speaking out against domestic violence.

What lessons have you/DVAC’s board learned since moving away from a founder-led organization?

So many people are at DVAC because of Nanci Kreidman, me included. Nanci approached me when I was publisher at Hawai’i Business [Magazine] many years ago and said, ‘Hey David, I bet you don’t know it but domestic violence is a business issue you should be writing about.’ ... Nanci is tenacious and persistent, and we continued talking about it until I did come to understand how the issue of domestic violence is a community issue, a moral issue and a business issue. 

The agency has transitioned away from such a charismatic leader, who was responsible for its growth over the years in an ad hoc way. Oftentimes one of the opportunities moving on from the founder is to create stronger processes and systems and so forth, moving to a more bureaucratic structure.

The board is the governance body and the most important thing that a board does is select the leader of the organization. We are not running the day-to-day, but our focus is on employee well-being, along with the clients, as our most important stakeholders and audience. Board members, me included, went and spent time with staff in-person to inform them of the most recent leadership transition and to talk it through.

We all knew this was going to be a significant transition for DVAC, but I don’t think anyone really understood what that fully meant in terms of the details. 

Moving forward, what are some of the operational goals under Tochiki’s leadership over the next year? 

Going forward with Laurie, we’ve identified a couple of major themes. The first is to focus on staff and staff well-being; building meaningful career development opportunities and ways to support our staff even better is high on the list; providing a safe place to process secondary trauma they experience in work that they do; and making sure we have the right culture at DVAC. Another thing is DVAC, like any employer for-profit or not-for-profit, has to be concerned about the challenges of cost of living here in Hawai

ʻi. So, we’re striving to compensate our staff adequately and provide a living wage.

The second piece is around bringing more legal resources to the community. DVAC has been a learning ground for many lawyers over the years and I think that we need to understand that better. We

’re really excited about exploring and bringing some innovative ways to s

olve the legal staffing issue to the table.

Third, is building upon our relationship and collaboration with other agencies. No one can do this work alone. None of us. We all need to work together to ensure everyone has a safe home to live in.

’re focusing internally, building the strongest organization possible and navigating the leadership transition.

What does the organization need most right now? 

It’s really thinking about the problem of domestic violence as a community issue that we all need to find our voice and learn about so we can each weigh in. DVAC welcomes volunteers, so that’s an area for engagement. We do hold the annual Men’s March Against Domestic Violence, which is a very important opportunity for men to learn about the problem of domestic violence and find their voice. That’s how I got involved with DVAC initially as a participant and then later, helping to organize and grow the march to over 1,000 men each year. The way that we did that was by engaging with all our Downtown [Honolulu] businesses.

I’m a parent, I have two sons in their early 20s. I talk about the second conversation after the birds and the bees that we need to have with our children about our expectations for how they’ll treat each other and their significant others. Domestic violence affects 1 in 5 adults in Hawaiʻi. DVAC is working closely with care delivery organizations including Kaiser Permanente, conducting trainings with our care providers to help us understand how we can support patients who are victims of abuse, hopefully before they end up in the emergency room. DVAC is an incredible partner for [Kaiser] to refer our patients to for safety planning and services.

Ultimately, the goal is to end domestic violence. 

We believe everyone has the right and deserves to live in a safe home. We’ve made progress in removing some of the stigma associated with domestic violence, putting the problem of domestic violence on the same tier as any other social issue. This is all of our problem. This affects our moms and sisters and aunties and families and we can’t tolerate it!

All of DVAC’s services are fully operational. We want the community to know that we’re here for you. 

If you or someone who you know is struggling, please reach out to our helpline at 800-690-6200, or textline at 605-956-5680. It is truly life-saving work.

When I look back at my experience, this was a very uncomfortable issue for me to get engaged with 15-plus years ago. I was uncomfortable talking about the problem of domestic violence. I felt the stigma of the conversation. It’s really with practice and understanding that we get past that stigma to truly address this in a human way and to provide true help for people who are suffering.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Mailing address: P.O. Box 3198, Honolulu, HI 96801

Business Office and Administration: 808-534-0040

DVAC David Tumilowicz headshot 16x9

<title>Domestic Violence Action Center board president shares next steps</title>

Aloha State Daily spoke with DVAC Board President David Tumilowicz about the nonprofit’s recent leadership transitions, near-term priorities and overall goal to end domestic violence. He also shares his personal journey to help reduce stigma around the issue.

Domestic Violence Action Center board president shares next steps

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

Honolulu police and news outlets are at odds over a city proposal to allow certain media groups access to police radio channels.

Bill 46 would require the Honolulu Police Department to allow certain trusted organizations access to HPD’s dispatch radio systems.

These trusted media outlets would be either Federal Communications Commission-certified broadcasters, an outlet that is already listed as a publication of note for legal or public notice purposes, or to be a reputable journalistic outlet for at least 10 years. These requirements would preclude Aloha State Daily, at six months of publication, from inclusion.

But HPD interim chief Rade Vanic said Thursday at a meeting of the Honolulu City Council Committee on Public Safety and Economy that he cannot support Bill 46, warning that it would compromise the safety and effectiveness of police operations and open the department to potential legal penalties.

“Our dispatch radio often includes highly sensitive personal information,” Vanic said. “That includes names, home addresses, medical conditions and criminal histories.”

Releasing this information on a public radio channel could constitute a violation of federal and state privacy laws, Vanic said.

Furthermore, Vanic said HPD relies on FBI databases to conduct investigations, and access to those databases is contingent on adhering to FBI information security policies. Allowing public access to HPD dispatch radio could therefore cut off the FBI databases, and make criminal investigations much harder.

An FBI spokesperson could not confirm whether this was true to ASD Thursday.

Vanic said he agrees with the intention of the bill and that HPD and media groups could work together to make vital information more accessible more quickly without opening up the radios. But he added that releasing information real-time can and has led to media inadvertently interfering with investigations when reporters arrive on crime scenes before first responders.

Vanic’s position was an about-face from previous council discussions of the bill, where he said that he had heard that other reputable Mainland police departments have taken similar measures, and so therefore HPD “should be able to figure it out.”

However, Vanic said that further investigation found that most of those Mainland departments haven’t opened their dispatch radios to media, and the ones that have wish they hadn’t.

“They had to dramatically change their operations,” Vanic said of one Mainland police department.

But some media representatives urged the committee to reconsider Thursday. Kristina Lockwood, general manager of KHON, said reporters’ abilities to provide up-to-date information about fast-developing events have been badly impacted by HPD’s 2022 switch to encrypted radio.

Instead, Lockwood said media groups are limited to police-supplied incident logs, which she said are often incomplete and don’t mention significant events  — as an example, she said the police’s log for July 6 did not mention the mandatory wildfire evacuation Mā‘ili.

“Journalists aren’t just listening to scanners to sensationalize a situation,” said Chris Leonard, president of the Hawai‘i Association of Broadcasters. “They’re using it to mobilize staff, to verify facts, get accurate updates out quickly.”

Leonard said there are ways to keep personal information private while still allowing media organizations access to real-time information, such as only allowing credentialed access to radios, or officers keeping tactical communications on private channels.

But Vanic was skeptical of these proposals, arguing that HPD’s dispatch radios aren’t set up for multiple channels, that changing channels in a critical situation is an added distraction that could endanger officers, and that HPD is already having a difficult time filling its current dispatcher positions with only one encrypted channel.

Vanic told the committee he would only support the bill if the clause requiring HPD agreements with media outlets for dispatch radio access was removed. Councilmember Tommy Waters noted that this would defeat the entire purpose of the bill, and instead moved to pass the bill to the full Council without changes.

However, Waters said the Council will discuss future amendments to the bill that address Vanic’s concerns.

I Stock 2199972571 16x9

<title>Should police radios stay private?</title>

News outlets and HPD debate radio access bill at City Council committee hearing

Should police radios stay private?

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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 

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

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

Everyone’s looking to save money and get the most bang for their buck. This series will show you where you can save while still savoring a good meal.

Oh, shucks! Shellfish afficionados, take note — you can get $2 oysters during the week during 

The eatery’s Sip & Shuck Social is basically like an oyster-themed happy hour deal. It’s available from 3 to 5:30 p.m. in the eatery’s lānai area, called The Cove.

The deal launched a few months ago, but it’s still going strong — especially with National Oyster Day coming up Aug. 5.

During our visit, Miyagi oysters were featured. They’re served with cocktail sauce and mignonette.

Besides oysters — which can be ordered by the half dozen or dozen — other drink specials include a bucket of beers for $25, a flight of the eatery’s signature dirty martinis ($24), and a variety of bubbles ($10 prosecco, $14 rose champagne).

While you’re there, you can also take advantage of The Lānai's daily happy hour, which is from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Customer favorites include the beef burger ($15 happy hour, regular $20), fish and chips ($16 happy hour, regular $20) and Lānai veggie pizza ($16 happy hour, regular $20). The latter is topped with olives, mushrooms and arugula. The fish and chips features battered cod — golden exterior, flaky and moist interior — that’s served with crinkle-cut fries and tartar sauce.

Pro tip: If you’re dining during happy hour, ask to see the menu of “speakeasy eats.” It’s one of those “if you know, you know” deals that’s usually available at the eatery’s bar from noon to 10 p.m. 

Speakeasy eats include pork lumpia ($10), escargot ($20), a pau hana pizza and beer deal ($20) and grilled brie ($18). The pau hana combo is especially popular, as it includes any pizza with 2 Maui draft beers.

The grilled brie, however, was my absolute favorite. A spicy honey sauce is poured over the cheese tableside to create a sizzling effect. The result: Melty, creamy brie that’s easy to spread over sliced crostini with a slow-building heat from the sticky honey.

Sip & Shuck Social menu served from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Mondays to Fridays

Mahina and Suns food spread 072325

<title>Budget Bites: Mahina & Sun’s $2 oysters</title>

The eatery’s Sip & Shuck Social features a $2 oyster deal from Monday to Friday.

Budget Bites: Mahina & Sun’s $2 oysters

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

The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikīkī Beach just wrapped an $82 million renovation.

According to an announcement Monday, the 552-room luxury hotel, which opened in 2016, has refreshed the guest rooms in its ‘Ewa Tower, front desk and both infinity pools; unveiled a new collection of suites and has introduced a new dining concept.

[{"type":"text","text":"It's all part of a multi-phase, multi-year renovation."}]

Huy Vo, director of marketing communications told Aloha State Daily in an email that the adult pool renovation began in August 2023 and was completed in December of that year. Work on the resort pool began in January 2024 and was finished in April 2024, while work on the rooms in the ‘Ewa Tower began last July and was completed last month.

"Being only in our ninth year of operation, this renovation underscores our commitment to maintaining an exceptional product for both our guests and owners to enjoy," Vo said. "The renovation started with our ‘Ewa Tower rooms because that opened first in 2016. There is a planned renovation in the future for our Diamond Head Tower, which opened in 2018, but a date hasn't been set yet."

Designs in the newly refreshed ‘Ewa Tower aim to take guests from the sky to sea — figuratively, at least.

The hotel notes that the Deluxe Level, which spans floors 9 to 22, features a color palette of blue and natural tones are meant to recall the wind and shores of Waikīkī; the Grand Level, spanning floors 23 to 32, features wood accents and forest green, meant to "evoke the bamboo and lush foliage of Mānoa Valley"; and the blue, white and grays on the Premier Level, floors 33 to 36, "celebrate the vivid sky, clouds and rainbows" perched atop the Ko‘olau Mountains.

"Curated artwork in all three floor categories by a selection of O‘ahu artists, amplify the island's story in all rooms and suites," the announcement said.

The hotel also recently debuted The Ritz-Carlton Suite Collection — a penthouse, three-bedroom suite and four-bedroom suite found on its highest floors.

In these suites, guests will also find multiple floors, floor-to-ceiling windows, fully equipped chef’s kitchens, a pre-stocked refrigerator with complimentary local beverages and refreshments, the announcement noted. You'll also have access to exclusive amenities that include roundtrip luxury airport transfer; private arrival and private check-in experiences; premium turndown service and a dedicated VIP concierge.

, which offers "Hawai‘i regional cuisine reimagined with fresh, locally sourced ingredients and a modern touch," the announcement noted.

“As we approach our 10th anniversary milestone next year, we are proud to welcome our guests to experience the next chapter in our hotel’s evolution, complemented by the exceptional service we are known for,” General Manager Mike Kass said in the announcement. “For nearly a decade, we have taken great pride in upholding the highest standards of excellence for our property, from the personalized service of our ladies and gentlemen to the continual refinement of our hotel offerings. These new enhancements reflect our unwavering commitment to providing an unrivaled luxury experience and a profound sense of place in Waikīkī.”

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co., LLC is based in Bethesda, Maryland, and is part of Marriott International, Inc. It currently operates more than 100 hotels worldwide and has has two other hotels in the Islands: The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua and The Ritz-Carlton O‘ahu, Turtle Bay.

The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach Grand level ocean view suite living room

<title>Luxury Waikīkī hotel unveils $82M renovation</title>

The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikīkī Beach, which opened in 2016, has refreshed the guest rooms in its ‘Ewa Tower, front desk and both infinity pools; recently debuted The Ritz-Carlton Suite Collection on its highest floors, and has introduced a a new dining concept.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: “Island Style” by John Cruz with a little twist

Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

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Hawai‘i Scene on Social: “Island Style” by John Cruz with a little twist

Authors

Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

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