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Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

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<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: How local are you?</title>

Today’s social media find comes from @JustSmallKineThings, with a kamaʻāina quiz.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: How local are you?

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Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

The state Department of Education is taking heat after the state Auditor revealed a classroom air conditioning project riddled with incompetence and mismanagement.

 Tuesday about a pair of DOE projects to air condition Hawai‘i public school classrooms, after a 2016 announcement by then-Gov. David Ige that he would cool 1,000 classrooms by the end of that year.

In May 2016, DOE received $100 million for the Cool Classrooms Initiative, a project to install air conditioning units in classrooms throughout the state. But not even the state Auditor is sure about how that money was actually spent.

“We fully expected that the department would be able to verify what was spent, where it was spent, and what it was spent on,” the audit report reads. “DOE was unable to do so with complete confidence or certainty.”

Ultimately, the report was able to determine that the program spent about $122.8 million and cooled 838 classrooms. This led to an average of $125,253 per classroom.

About $25 million of the project funds were paid to seven design and project management firms, with another $78 million spent on construction.

The report describes a disorganized enterprise at the heart of DOE: missing or conflicting DOE documents, hasty retrofits of aging public school buildings, and money wasted on strategies that never panned out.

The vast majority of classrooms cooled were on O‘ahu, with more than $9 million spent on one school — Nānākuli High and Intermediate — to install 112 air conditioning systems in 63 classrooms. Several other schools, including Kahakai Elementary, the only Hawai‘i Island school included in the project, never saw their projects go to construction.

The decision for which schools got cooled supposedly came from an average temperature ranking of their geographic region, but the audit reported that many schools in the program were not highly ranked on that list, and that DOE officials could not explain how specific classrooms were selected.

To remove the need for electrical upgrades, DOE focused on solar-powered air conditioning, but the cost of solar panels limited the systems’ period of operation to merely five hours. And because many old classrooms still relied on jalousie windows, those windows had to be sealed with plexiglass — leading to classrooms with even poorer ventilation that couldn’t be air conditioned through all hours of the school day.

Even after successful installations, many of the solar systems and conditioning units failed or didn’t work properly, were installed poorly or were damaged, leading to estimated repair costs — again, undated and contradicting DOE documents made an accurate accounting impossible — between $3.3. million and $6 million.

While Ige and DOE declared that they had successfully cooled 1,000 classrooms in 2017, the general failure of the Cool Classrooms Initiative to actually cool classrooms led to a follow-up, the School Directed AC Program, in 2019.

This project was funded through remaining Cool Classrooms Initiative funds and would allow schools to request an electrical assessment to determine how many air conditioning systems the school’s electrical system could bear. Based on those assessments, schools would be authorized install air conditioners themselves.

The School Directed AC Program appears to have been even more haphazard than the Cool Classrooms Initiative, with next to no oversight or record keeping by the DOE. The Auditor was never able to obtain a DOE list of which schools participated in the program — as with many such inquiries, the report relied on records kept by contractors — and the department did not track how many air conditioners were installed through the program.

Ultimately, the audit described the program as an “afterthought” for DOE, and noted that, at the time of the investigation, it was unclear whether the program even still existed at all.

DOE Superintendent Keith Hayashi submitted a letter in response to the audit that noted that “virtually none” of the key managers involved are still with the program. The letter added that DOE began “protracted measures to enhance procedures for the School Directed AC Program” in 2024.

[{"type":"text","text":"Hayashi issued a similar statement to Aloha State Daily Wednesday."}]

“The initiative was launched with urgency and good intentions — responding to real heat challenges affecting our students and staff — but was undermined by flawed execution, inconsistent oversight, and ineffective systems at the time,” read that statement. “Our priority now is to apply the lessons from this report. That includes improving internal accountability, ensuring proper planning for future projects, and delivering on our commitment to safe, comfortable learning environments for all students.

“We are taking meaningful steps to improve and rebuild confidence in how we serve our schools and communities,” Hayashi’s statement concluded.

The audit included a response to Hayashi’s letter, which the Auditor argued missed the point of the audit.

“Being able to account for use of public funds is quite simply a basic, fundamental responsibility of the (DOE),” the audit reads. “It is noteworthy that the Superintendent’s letter does not address how, going forward, (the DOE) will ensure it is accountable for its use of public funds.”

[{"type":"text","text":"DOE did not respond to further questions from ASD, which included:"}]

Who was the administrator in charge of the design of the Cool Classrooms Initiative? Who took over the project after their resignation in 2017?

Who was in charge of the School Directed AC Program?

How often does DOE follow up with contractors for status reports?

Has anything changed about the DOE’s record-keeping system since 2016?

What “ineffective systems at the time” is Hayashi referring to?

How was information about the School Directed AC Program conveyed to school administrators?

What standards do DOE follow when selecting contractors?

How many classrooms are currently considered unacceptably hot?

Hawaii Department of Education building 2 021325

<title>$125,000 air conditioners, and other DOE stories</title>

State audit of DOE air conditioning program reveals mismanagement, waste and more.

$125,000 air conditioners, and other DOE stories

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Real Estate

[{"type":"text","text":"Hotel Molokai has been sold."}]

Molokai Hotel Group, LLC acquired the property for an undisclosed price in a sale that closed Aug. 6.

The property was listed by Standard Commercial President Ian Clagstone nearly a year ago with a $4.9 million asking price.

Clagstone told Aloha State Daily in an email Wednesday it's the only true hotel on the island and this has been a "high profile transaction since the last time it sold was nearly 20 years ago."

Up for sale was the majority fee-simple interest in the oceanfront hotel, located at 1300 Kamehameha V Highway in Kaunakakai.

The hotel is part of a condominium association that manages the common areas and exterior structures, according to a listing brochure provided by Clagstone. The offering included 51 of the property's 59 total units —  49 hotel units and two commercial units.

 was built in 1968 and includes "Polynesian-style village with tropical bungalows," an oceanfront pool and onsite restaurant.

In a statement provided to ASD, Clagstone said 

 "was pleased to find a buyer who understands the hotel’s deep connection to the Molokai community and is committed to being a responsible steward moving forward. Retaining the entire hotel staff, most of whom have been with the property for years, was also a top priority for the seller and a key part of the transition.”

Standard Commercial also has listed for sale the Manago Hotel in Captain Cook for $5.75 million.

The unbranded Hawai‘i Island hotel is more than a century old and is also home to an award-winning restaurant, commercial spaces and residential rentals, the listing notes.

Dating back to 1917, the Manago Hotel Restaurant — touted as Hawai‘i's oldest —received a 

Hotel molokai

<title>Hotel Molokai sold</title>

The property was acquired for an undisclosed price in a sale that closed Aug. 6.

Hotel Molokai sold

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

meeting was held on Wednesday morning. The board typically meets on the last Thursday of each month, but Wednesday's meeting was organized in an effort to execute a contract between the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District (NASED) and the developer, Aloha Hālawa District Partners (AHDP), before a self-imposed Aug. 15 deadline between the two parties. 

Following a prolonged executive session as the Stadium Authority sifted through some 600 pages of legal documents, a vote was unanimously approved to initiate a ground lease agreement with 

, which would begin with demolishing the current stadium. 

All signs point toward a March 2029 completion towards the new Aloha Stadium, which will seat 22,500. The initial target date for the new stadium was August 2028, with the University of Hawai‘i's Aug. 26, 2028 opener against Kansas being eyed as the first game the Rainbow Warriors would play in their new home. 

The only game thus far on Hawai‘i's 2029 schedule is an Aug. 25 home contest against Arizona. Former Stadium Authority board chair 

, who stayed on as a special advisor, says he hopes events are held at the new stadium in the months before the 2029 college football season in order for organizers to get their bearings on what works well operationally and what doesn't. 

New Stadium Authority board chair Eric Fujimoto expects the city to issue demolition permits next week. 

The seating capacity of 22,500, as well as 10 luxury boxes, was agreed upon as the best number to begin with after 

, such as tariffs and the delivery of materials and supplies. Future seating expansion remains an option. For now, the intent is to have a stadium suitable for football, soccer and rugby. 

AHDP, led by Stanford Carr, is prepared to spend $475 million in total in building the stadium itself. Of the $475 million, $350 million comes from the state. An additional $49.5 million in operating costs has yet to be accessed but has brought the state's allocation towards the stadium to $400 million. That means as part of the public-private partnership, AHDP would allocate $125 million of its own money to meet the $475 million towards the stadium.

In addition to the completion of the stadium in 2029, AHDP will continue to work on building the surrounding entertainment district, which also includes affordable housing. A official timeline for the completion of the entertainment district has not been released. 

As NASED and AHDP neared an agreement, August 2028 no longer seemed feasible, but December 2028 did. 

"But that would have been very aggressive," Morioka said following Wednesday's meeting. "None of us would have been comfortable with setting an overly aggressive date, knowing that the date is probably going to change and in trying to be as transparent as possible. ... This project has been based on transparency. So we wanted to make sure that this is what transparency looks like, right? The good news, as well as some of the not so good news.

"We think that the March 2029 date is a very realistic date, very achievable date, that I think people can kind of start setting their minds around. We didn't want to set an aggressive date and then we go through construction, start not hitting certain dates and milestones. Then the public starts talking about, well, there we go again. You know, we wanted to be very upfront from the very beginning. These are expectations. These are what we believe are achievable. And so we wanted to make sure that the public knew this is the path forward that we're going for."

Despite Wednesday's announcement, NASED officials still need a signed operational agreement from AHDP but are able to proceed with demolition of the current stadium. 

Although there are still items that need to be checked off throughout the process, Wednesday's meeting had an air of triumph to members of the Stadium Authority board. 

"If you love Hawai‘i, share this with me: I proudly affirm a unanimous vote," Fujimoto said at the end of the meeting, receiving a round of applause in the room.

Meanwhile, on Aug. 23, the University of Hawai‘i football team will open its 2025 season against Stanford on 1:30 p.m. at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, marking the fifth season in a row that the Rainbow Warriors have used their temporary stadium on campus. 

"Very excited for the state of Hawai‘i," head coach Timmy Chang said after Wednesday's practice when asked about the possibility of a new Aloha Stadium. "We all as a community use it for reasons and purposes. When it gets done, it's going to be exciting."

Chang played in the old Aloha Stadium as a high schooler for Saint Louis as well as collegiately for UH. 

"Playing is one thing, but I really just enjoyed my childhood there being a ball boy and watching when life was a lot more simpler, and just running around up and down the sidelines and throwing the ball to referees and being a ball boy for ILH football games," Chang recalled. "Those are some of my best memories, just being able to play or catch field goals and just be at big games and Prep Bowls and those type of things, and so I really enjoyed that time in my life."

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Aloha Stadium Authority meeting 081325

<title>New plans for Aloha Stadium revealed</title>

The Aloha Stadium Authority board held a special meeting on Wednesday prior to the self-imposed Aug. 15 deadline between NASED and AHDP, where a new completion date and seating capacity were revealed.

New plans for Aloha Stadium revealed

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Aloha Spirit

Families traveling with keiki age 12 and under now have the option to use a dedicated airport security screening lane at Daniel K. Inoue International Airport (HNL).

HNL is among several airports nationwide participating in “Families on the Fly,” 

by The Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The new initiative aims to “minimize their stress while maintaining the highest level of security” during the busy summer travel season and beyond.

According to the announcement, “Families on the Fly” benefits include dedicated family lanes, discounted TSA PreCheck fees for families and dedicated TSA PreCheck lanes for service members and their families. 

TSA and Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation conducted a press conference Wednesday about the campaign. The new lane for ‘ohana is located at HNL Terminal 2, TSA Checkpoint 4, between Lobbies 6 and 7.

TSA’s Federal Security Director for Pacific Airports Nanea Vasta said that they soft launched the lane last month, with plans to expand the offering to Terminal 1 soon.

“Things have been going smoothly, and we’ve gotten positive feedback,” she told Aloha State Daily. “We’re also looking at other airports that may benefit from this based on passenger traffic.”

Since its HNL launch, approximately 3,000 people use the lane per day, HDOT officials said.

According to Vasta, there were no increases to TSA staffing to man the ʻohana lane. Existing staff were "moved around,” she said.

“The goal is to enhance passenger traveling experience with a dedicated lane for families and to lessen the wait time in other lanes. Though this initiative focuses on hospitality, being thorough and effective to ensure safety is always a priority.”

The Real I.D. rollout in May also has helped improve safety, in addition to ongoing upgrades to airport security’s state-of-the-art equipment and trainings offered to TSA officers, 

“We appreciate that TSA has chosen the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport to be one the nation’s first airports to have a dedicated family lane as part of the ʻFamilies on the Flyʻ initiative," said HDOT Director Ed Sniffen in a statement. “Having the new lane at HNL is especially significant, given the importance of ʻohana (family) in the Island and Hawaiʻi's popularity as a family friendly destination.”

Curt Otaguruo, deputy director of transportation for airports, noted that the HNL Airport app has interactive terminal maps and navigation tools to help ʻohana find this dedicated lane and more. “We call it wayfinding. It even has flight updates, so itʻs all in one place,” he said.

 so far include Orlando International (MCO), Charlotte-Douglas International (CLT), John Wayne Orange County Airport (SNA), Jacksonville International (JAX), Will Rogers International Airport (OKC), Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport (PVD) and Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU), with plans to add more across its 435 airports throughout the country.

HNL is not currently participating in TSAʻs "Serve with Honor, Travel with Ease," campaign, which was also launched this summer. HDOT said that initiative has gone live at 10 U.S. airports.  

Family flies

<title>Families fast-tracked at Honolulu airport</title>

TSA launches new initiative at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport that enhances hospitality for families traveling with keiki 12 and under. The “Families on the Fly” campaign rolled out this summer across several airports throughout the country.

Families fast-tracked at Honolulu airport

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Entertainment

Arts & Culture

What do a Niʻihau shell lei, a handmade quilt and a three-hour, off-road vehicle tour of Kualoa Ranch have in common? They are all part of 

, an online auction that benefits the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum. Bids for more than 90 items open at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 14.

The 11-day silent auction supports the museum’s mission, staff and work, according to representatives of the museum. The auction closes at 9 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 24.

“Our Bishop Museum ʻohana expresses our deep appreciation and mahalo for the community’s continued support,” said Janet Bullard, the museum's vice president of institutional advancement and marketing communications, in a written statement. “Donations raise vital funds to ensure Bishop Museum can continue to protect, preserve and perpetuate the rich cultural and natural heritage of our Islands and the Pacific for generations to come.”

The Bishop Museum was founded in 1889 by Charles Reed Bishop in memory of his wife Bernice Pauahi, a royal descendant of King Kamehameha I. Today, the Bishop Museum has more than 25 million objects and specimens and serves more than 200,000 people each year.

Other items in the auction include a two-night stay at the Halekulani Hotel; a get-away to The Royal Hawaiian Resort, a Luxury Collection Resort, Waikīkī; and time at the Sheraton Waikīkī Beach Resort, among other staycations. There is also original artwork and private behind-the-scenes tours of the Bishop Museum focused botany, native snails and reef fish.  

Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum

<title>Auction: bid to support the Bishop Museum</title>

E Ulu A Paʻa, an online auction to benefit the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, opens for bids at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 14. The 11-day event benefits the museum and its work.

Auction: bid to support the Bishop Museum

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

 was because of the business’s gorgeous sushi cakes. The fresh sashimi roses, high-quality fish and perfectly textured sushi rice had me hooked.

The catering business still offers its signature catering menus — which feature dishes ranging from smoked marlin poke and Ora king salmon poke to spicy ‘ahi on sushi rice and poke nachos — but just opened its new brick and mortar space. If the address sounds familiar, that’s because it was the former home of 

 (now on Sand Island Access Road) in Māpunapuna.

Business owner Ryan Souza says he’s been doing seafood catering for about seven years. He started out by doing sashimi platters, but started offering sushi cakes a few years ago when the trend started.

“I always wanted to have my own place; it’s always been my dream,” he says.

The business’s new daily menu features an assortment of sashimi donburi, specialty donburi, poke bowls/nachos and other specials.

Donburi include white rice, sushi rice or tossed salad, shoyu, ginger, wasabi and takuan, along with two featured sides.

“Each plate comes with two sides that we feel matches the dish,” Souza says.  

The Fish House chirashi ($35) is one of the signature dishes. It features a colorful assortment of akami, chutoro, otoro, king salmon, hamachi, ikura and Hokkaido uni.

The Souza Special ($27) is another popular favorite. It’s similar to the Fish House chirashi, but doesn’t include Hokkaido uni. Also popular is the trio ($22), which comes with akami, chutoro, king salmon, zuke ikura and hamachi from Japan.

“We either source local or we get them (our fish) from Japan or New Zealand,” Souza says. “Salmon comes from New Zealand; the bluefin and hamachi come from Japan.

“They (customers) like the Souza Special, but if you like uni, the Fish House chirashi is where it’s at,” he adds. “I made the menu where you can have all bluefin, you can have some bluefin with some salmon, or you can have more variety.”

Customers will also notice a display case featuring a selection of poke for the day. Choose from options like spicy ‘ahi, shoyu ‘ahi, spicy salmon, hurricane ‘ahi and limu-style ‘ahi. Hurricane ‘ahi features spicy ‘ahi with imitation crab. While the most popular flavor depends on the day, Souza says limu-style ʻahi is a customer favorite.

[{"type":"text","text":"Stay tuned — the business will soon offer hot foods as well."}]

“People like to eat cooked foods, so I’m going to incorporate that,” he says. “Local foods like smoked meat and kalbi, stuff like that."

Souzas Fish House Ryan Souza 081125

<title>New poke and sushi shop now open in Māpunapuna</title>

Souza’s Fish House, which started as a seafood catering company, is now open in the former Kau Kau Grill restaurant space. Its new daily menu features sashimi donburi and poke — and local-style plates are coming soon.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: How local are you?

Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

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Hawai‘i Scene on Social: How local are you?

Authors

Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

More in Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Anything for the shot

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