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Kady Pascual

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

I still don’t understand why they made Ka Makana Aliʻi an outdoor mall.

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@DaCheehoos

<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Keiki with attitude</title>

Today’s social media find comes from @DaCheehoos, who’s shedding light on every town.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Keiki with attitude

I still don’t understand why they made Ka Makana Aliʻi an outdoor mall.  Make sure you follow @DaCheehooson Instagram! For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up here for our free Daily Edition newsletter!

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Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

Restrictions are coming to deepfakes and AI chatbots under a pair of new laws Gov. Josh Green signed on Tuesday.

As AI-generated products grow increasingly commonplace, 

 — now enshrined in law as Acts 247 and 248, respectively — attempt to limit the potential harm those products can cause.

The first, Act 247, establishes circumstances where using AI to generate the likeness of a real person is and isn’t permitted. Publishing such a “realistic digital imitation” — commonly referred to as “deepfakes” — in a way that causes reputational injury or financial harm, or is intended to commit fraud, harassment, or other criminal acts, entitles the subject of those images to sue for up to $25,000 per image.

The law also prohibits the use of deepfakes in advertisements without the subject’s consent.

Green said Tuesday that he expects the state will face lawsuits attempting to overturn Act 247. Although he did not specify who might file such a suit, the Department of the Attorney General warned during the bill’s passage through the state legislature that the measure could be considered a violation of the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment.

Meanwhile, Act 248 is aimed at combatting “

,” a purported phenomenon where frequent users of AI chatbots develop delusional beliefs exacerbated by the chatbot’s responses. In some cases, chatbot users — often young people in their teens — have ended their own lives after they confided their suicidal thoughts to a chatbot, only for the chatbot to validate those thoughts and encourage them to kill themselves.

The law sets requirements for developers of AI chatbot services to include periodic reminders for users that the chatbot is non-sentient. If the user is believed to be a minor, those reminders must be persistently visible throughout the session.

Furthermore, chatbot services are required to respond to user prompts about suicidal ideation or self-harm by referring the user to crisis intervention services and make clear that the chatbot is not intended to provide professional mental health care. Developers of the chatbot must also institute measures to prevent the service from encouraging a user to self-harm or cause harm to another person.

When a chatbot user is believed to be a minor, developers are also required to prevent the service from using a point system to incentivize engagement, or to otherwise discourage disengagement, with the service, and to prevent the service from producing sexually explicit materials.

Beginning in 2028, chatbot operators must provide an annual report to the Department of Health detailing how many times their services have referred users to crisis intervention services.

Green acknowledged that neither of these bills will be sufficient to keep up with the rapidly changing AI industry, adding that he believes the legislature will likely need to update the measures next year “to add thoughtful and appropriate guardrails.”

“It was 80 years from when cars started to the time we got smart enough to know seatbelts save lives,” Green said. “It’s happening so fast, it’s not going to be 80 years, or eight years, or even eight months … We’re going to have to be on top of it.”

While Green didn’t speak about the measure Tuesday, he also signed another technology bill into law: 

, which requires social media platforms to include a mechanism for users to permanently delete their accounts and all personal information associated with said accounts.

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<title>Green signs laws restricting AI</title>

Regulations are coming to deepfakes and chatbots under new laws.

Green signs laws restricting AI

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Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

Business & Tourism

Kam Bowl Restaurant just announced that it will be permanently closing on Sunday, June 28, at 3 p.m. The restaurant posted its closure notice over the weekend; the notice states that it is the end of the eatery’s lease term.

The Kalihi-based restaurant will be reopening on July 1 at 10:30 a.m. under new management and name — Ali

The notice also states that Kam Bowl Pearl City will be opening in mid-July at Times Square Shopping Center.

The restaurant in Kamehameha Shopping Center has been a local favorite. It opened in its current location in 2016 — in the former Kenny’s Restaurant spot — but the original Kam Bowl opened in the 1950s. The original location included a coffee shop and bowling alley, and it closed in 2007.

Kam Bowl restaurant is famous for dishes like the hamburger steak with brown gravy ($12.50 small, $15.95 regular) — made with a homemade hamburger patty and grilled onions — and its oxtail soup.

The oxtail soup is available in small ($21.95), regular ($24.95) or extra-large ($33.95) sizes. It’s served with white rice, fresh Chinese parsley, green onions and ginger.

The menu also features favorites like adobo fried rice, loco moco with brown gravy, chop steak and more.

Breakfast is served all day and features options like a Japanese breakfast, Kam breakfast with two eggs, steak and eggs and the mini Kam breakfast (served from 7:30 to 11 a.m.)

During our visit Monday, the restaurant was facing technical difficulties, so only cash was accepted. The restaurant’s owner was not available for comment.

The restaurant is currently open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. (last seating is at 8:30 p.m.)

Open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. (last seating at 8:30 p.m.)

Closing at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 28, at 3 p.m.

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<title>A hui hou, Kalihi's Kam Bowl Restaurant</title>

The Kalihi-based restaurant is closing this Sunday, June 28, at 3 p.m. It’s reopening on July 1 at 10:30 a.m. under new management and a new name — Aliʻi Diner. Kam Bowl Pearl City is set to open in mid-July at Times Square Shopping Center.

A hui hou, Kalihi's Kam Bowl Restaurant

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Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Aloha Spirit

ommunity continues to come together following weeks of severe storms and flooding that has displaced neighbors and destroyed livelihoods across the Islands. 

Several churches on Oʻahu have opened shelters, distributed supplies and hot meals, and helped clean up the mess.   

 told Aloha State Daily that this is "our first time responding to a flood emergency at this scale on our island."

"But this isn't anything new. We've done this in Lahaina," he said. "I think personally for me, this is the first one where our hands and feet are getting some mileage."

Inspire Mililani became a hub for shelters, complete with hot meals and showers, and continues to serve as a donation site. 

Chinen said 55 people found rest there, and the church's initial volunteer count was 100.

"We responded as a whole organization and were ready to open in less than 48 hours," he added.

He noted that three weeks prior to the storms, the church purchased a 15-seat passenger shuttle for church services. "We've transported more pounds of water than we have people in the last few days. We're using every resource we can. We’re not going to sit on stuff we have."

 delivered thousands of donated hygiene kits by Rob [last name not given] to Hale

ʻiwa Distilling Co., which stopped accepting individual donations Wednesday due to “getting full” from the community outpouring.

"That’s divine response. That's how incredible God is, people are responding out of their own heart," Chinen said. "I do think Waialua is going to recover quick because people are responding to the need and the right resources are getting to the people quickly. There's not a delay. No one has to wait for government to step in. This is everybody's kuleana."

 has served for 15 years in various leadership roles at Inspire Church, which has six locations statewide overseen by Senior Pastors Mike and Lisa Kai. Chinen's congregation in Mililani is about 800 people.

"We have this saying at Inspire Church, 'Blessed are the flexible, so they will never be bent out of shape,'" he said.

mission is “to multiply leaders: equipping individuals to lead with purpose, serve others, and impact their families, churches, and communities for the Kingdom of God,” its website states.

Chinen said teams will be helping serve lunch at Waialua High School on Thursday and Friday. A medical tent will also be set up in the area. 

Looking ahead, Inspire Church aims to assess and fill individual needs in the affected communities to ready for cleaning and rebuilding, he added.

For upcoming outreach and donation opportunities, visit 

iwa-based North Shore Christian Fellowship did not gather for a typical service this past Sunday, but rather united “to be the Church," per an Instagram post. They headed out in teams across the community “to serve, clean and help restore what’s been impacted."

Pastor Danny Angel said that one-third of the churchʻs 400-person congregation was directly impacted by the flood, yet still about 300 volunteers showed up to serve, "pray over the people and be the hands and feet of Jesus."

Over the last couple days, our primary role is just to be sending the most help to where the greatest need is," Angel told ASD. "So, we have a system where people can come sign-up and volunteer. We give them the tools they need, and we've been sending out teams all over the North Shore. We've probably serviced 50 or more properties."

Government, church and nonprofit partners, as well as individuals, have aided in the relief, he said, including 

North Shore Christian Fellowship is now seeking donations of 

dehumidifiers, floor-dry powders and masks to remedy mold. Additionally, for more specialized needs once rebuilding starts, 

carpenters, electricians, plumbers and more, are asked to contact 808-269-8927 or info@nscf.church.

Supplies will be available for families at Waialua Community Association Gym in Hale

iwa until Friday, May 27. For the weekend, Angel says the church is looking for farmers to help out.

"This is our community and our neighbors. 

We know we’re going to be here long-term, when the cameras and help have left," he said. "

We recognize the spiritual need we can help fill, especially as the church. We plan to follow-up and maintain relationships by being present, sitting and listening to people in need."

The church is “a community of followers of Christ whose mission is to preach the gospel and to ‘Love God and Love Others’ by seeking to glorify God in all areas of life,” 

Interested in serving or making a donation to its flood relief fund? 

collected donations and set up distribution hubs in Mānoa.

“One of the ladies in our church opened her home the same day as the flood to be a hub for the community and collect donations for them,” said Pastor Maiola Vivas. “She and another woman from our church have been working with Inside Outreach to connect with people in the community to find out what their needs may be and send volunteers their way.”

The church also created an Emergency Disaster Relief Fund and is seeking volunteers to help sort and pack donations. Sign-up or donate 

 in Wailua teamed up with the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal service organization, EPIC Young Adult Ministry and the community to clean and restore areas like Haona Street and 

Otake Camp. It also served as a sub-hub for the collection and distribution of cleaning supplies, water, hot meals and food for those affected, Parish Pastoral Associate and Secretary Joshua Kapika told ASD by email.

"Throughout the week, hundreds of volunteers arrived to assist hundreds of families in clearing flood debris from their homes," he said. 

As soon as residents were able to return to their homes, the community came together in a powerful way. People picked up whatever tools and buckets they could find and got to work — neighbor helping neighbor. Hundreds of individuals from across Oʻahu came together to support this small North Shore community, demonstrating a true spirit of aloha and solidarity in helping Waialua begin its recovery." 

On Sunday for mass, he said, "the streets were packed with volunteers caring shovels and buckets, front loaders moving debris and volunteers helping to keep everyone hydrated and feed to keep the work going."

"Everyone banded together to support each other," he added. "It's even clear in the various partnerships between other groups to help achieve the mission of getting our community back on its feet."

St. Michael Parish "will continue working closely with community partners and local ministries to ensure the ongoing needs of our community are met."  

He added: "As we enter into Holy Week, our parish will also remain open for worship and prayer, offering spiritual support and a place of peace and hope for all those affected."

 in Honolulu normally operates a food pantry, offering free food to those in need.

As a result of the storms, Rev. Brian Rallison told ASD by email, “

Our Food Pantry patrons have increased significantly over the past two weeks, and we’ve received multiple donations, both in kind and monetary, to support our efforts in feeding the people in Makiki.

According to Hawaiʻi Foodbank’s website,

 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Waialua will be distributing food Wednesday from 3 to 6 p.m. at 66-842 Kaukonahua Road, as will St. Stephen's - Liliʻuokalani Protestant Church starting at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 27, at 66-090 Kamehameha Hwy.

As of noon Wednesday, Gov. Josh Green said that the Wahiawā Dam has been stabilized and the National Guard, among other reinforcements, will assist with cleanup efforts for recovery.

North Shore Christian Fellowship flood cleanup crew

<title>Oʻahu churches serve neighbors impacted by flooding</title>

Inspire Church, North Shore Christian Fellowship, St. Michael Parish and more, have mobilized to provide shelter, cleanup, supplies and meal services to those in need following severe storms. Aloha State Daily spoke with pastors, who along with their crews and community members, are still boots on the ground in Haleʻiwa, Waialua and Mānoa.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Keiki with attitude

Kady Pascual

Social Media & Marketing Manager

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Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Keiki with attitude

Authors

Kady Pascual

Social Media & Marketing Manager

More in Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

Enter for a chance to win tickets to see Disney’s live action adaptation of the animated film ‘Moana’

Hawai‘i Scene on Social meets Hawai‘i Skies

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