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Kady Pascual

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

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<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: PTO preparations</title>

Today’s social media find comes from @KennyKharisma2.0, who may need to stay home for a few days.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: PTO preparations

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Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

It's the end of an era for Hawaiian Airlines.

 that Alaska Airlines would acquire Hawaiian Airlines — and just over a year after 

 — the last Hawaiian Airlines flight to the use the HA call signal arrived in Honolulu early this morning from American Samoa.

The move comes after Alaska Airlines on Wednesday received a single operating certificate, or SOC, from the Federal Aviation Administration. It’s a major milestone in the continued efforts to integrate the operations of the two airlines.

The distinct Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines brands remain, but this means the airlines are now operating under a single call sign, AS, which pilots and dispatchers use to communicate with air traffic control, Alaska Airlines explained in an 

According to that announcement, this is an FAA regulatory requirement that “marks the successful integration of training, policies, procedures and manuals across both airlines.”

Alex Da Silva, regional communications director — Hawai‘i for Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines

, told Aloha State Daily it was a smooth transition, and that there are no material changes for guests.

“The most notable change is that we are assigning new HA flight numbers to avoid duplication with AS flight numbers, but the HA code preceding the flight numbers will remain in place until we reach a single passenger service system in late April.”

Once the airlines transition to a single passenger service system — the main technology guests use to plan trips, book tickets and on the day of travel — all flights will use an AS code, the announcement notes, but adds that travelers can still view and book Hawaiian Airline flights, which will be branded across its digital channels with an image of the Pualani aircraft tails.

The adoption of a single passenger service system next spring is the next big milestone in the merger and integration process, Da Silva says, noting that’ll be followed by the combination of collective bargaining agreements with the airlines’ unionized teams in about 12 to 18 months.

Another key milestone, however, was marked at the start of the month with the transition from HawaiianMiles to a joint loyalty program offered by both Hawaiian and Alaska airlines, 

“We're very pleased with the transition of HawaiianMiles to Atmos Rewards and excited for our members to experience the full benefits of the program,” Da Silva told ASD. “At the same time, we recognize there is a learning curve as our members familiarize themselves with the features of the new program. We remain engaged with our members and always appreciate their feedback, and we are honoring several legacy HawaiianMiles benefits through the end of the year.”

Additionally, with the single operating certificate secured, Wednesday also marked the changing of the guards, so to speak, at Hawaiian Airlines, with several Honolulu-based leadership roles formally taking effect.

Diana Birkett Rakow, formerly the executive vice president of public affairs and sustainability at Alaska Airlines, became CEO of Hawaiian Airlines Wednesday. The first woman to hold that position, she succeeds 

, who has held the position since the acquisition was completed in 

Jim Landers, Hawaiian Airlines senior vice president for technical operations, is now head of Hawai‘i operations and Shelly Parker, Horizon Air’s vice president of station operations and inflight is now head of Hawai‘i guest operations, Wednesday's announcement noted. Read more about the 

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Alaska Hawaiian Airlines 1920

<title>Alaska, Hawaiian airlines reach merger milestone</title>

Alaska Airlines on Wednesday received a single operating certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration, allowing it to operate alongside Hawaiian Airlines as two separate brands.

Alaska, Hawaiian airlines reach merger milestone

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Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

New fishing rules that could resurrect the aquarium fishing industry in West Hawai‘i will be put to a referendum.

The state Board of Land and Natural Resources voted Friday to begin a public comment schedule over a 

 of new regulations that would once again allow for the taking of certain fish from West Hawai‘i waters by commercial aquarium fishers.

The new rules would grant commercial aquarium fishing permits to up to seven people per year. Those seven people would be allowed to catch eight specific fish species, but only up to collective annual catch limits.

Commercial aquarium fishing in West Hawai‘i has been effectively banned since 2017 due to a Hawai‘i Supreme Court ruling that found that commercial aquarium fishing could not be permitted without a proper environmental review process. The proposed rules, then, would restore the industry after nearly a decade.

The BLNR’s discussion of the new rules Friday was only over whether to initiate a series of public hearings to collect feedback before making any sort of rulemaking decision. But the board likely has a good idea of public opinion: people testified for nearly four hours Friday, with dozens largely in opposition.

“For decades, our Native Hawaiian fishermen, from all the islands, have reported critical declines of marine resources due to aggressive collecting of fish,” said Leialoha Kaluhiwa. In 2018, the West Hawai‘i aquarium collecting ban resulted in the largest yellow tang abundance ever documented on these reefs.”

Should commercial aquarium fishing again be allowed in West Hawai‘i, Kaluhiwa said species like yellow tang — which the new rules would particularly target, allowing 200,000 to be taken annually — would again be threatened. Kaluhiwa compared Hawai‘i island to Ni‘ihau, whose marine ecosystem she said is being “raped” by illegal aquarium fishing that DLNR cannot consistently enforce.

Two state senators appeared before the board to join the chorus against the new rules. Sen. Samantha DeCorte — who represents Wai‘anae, Mā‘ili, and elsewhere — said resurrecting aquarium fishing poses a threat “not only to our culture, but … to the only sacred place we have in the state of Hawai‘i, which is the last fishing village here,” referring to the West Hawai‘i village of Miloli‘i, which is subject to a DLNR-enforced subsistence fishing area.

‘Ewa Beach Sen. Kurt Fevella also attended the meeting and echoed Kaluhiwa’s language: “We don’t have the money, we don’t have the resources to have this sacred area to be pretty much — I don’t want to use the word — raped, and taken advantage of constantly.”

Kaikea Nakachi told the BLNR that the whitelist of permissible species should be rewritten to exclude fish endemic to the area and any food fish sought by subsistence fishers — the list includes kole, or the goldring surgeonfish, and the umaumalei, or orangespine unicornfish, which are both considered food fish.

“I believe the sheer number of fish being proposed to be removed in West Hawai‘i is ridiculous,” Nakachi said. “It goes against Hawaiian values and practices in general, … but I also believe it’s a violation of [DLNR’s] hierarchy of use priorities.”

DLNR’s Hierarchy of Use Policy, adopted in 1998, directs the department to consider commercial activities last when taking management actions that impact natural resources. Nakachi and many others argued that cultural and ecological considerations for West Hawai‘i marine ecosystems should, therefore, outweigh the desires of aquarium fishers.

Some aquarium fishers spoke Friday in support of reopening the industry. Fisher Ron Tubbs told the board that, according to multiple fishery reports, fish populations were not significantly different between areas open or closed to aquarium fishing.

“So science is not being quoted here, it is actually being perverted,” Tubbs said. “So why are they perverting science? Because all they have is the cultural [argument].”

Tubbs, along with several other fishers, had also filed a request for a contested case hearing challenging a 2023 BLNR decision to begin this very rulemaking process. The board voted unanimously to deny his request, following legal guidance suggesting that contested cases don’t apply to DLNR rulemaking.

Following hours of impassioned testimony, Hawai‘i Island board member Riley Smith proposed an amendment to the rules excluding food fish entirely from the list of whitelisted species and reducing the annual catch limits for yellow tang to 100,000.

Smith’s other amendments included a recommendation to consider a fee structure for licensees and a change to the license structure to allow for safety divers to join the licensed fishers.

Moreover, Smith said that the board is “legislatively required to allow aquarium fishing,” seemingly in reference to another Hawai‘i Supreme Court verdict in 2024 that approved an environmental impact statement for reopening aquarium fishing permits. Therefore, he said, the board must proceed with rulemaking procedures that “consider social and cultural norms that we feel are appropriate.”

The board voted unanimously to proceed with public hearings on the rules with Smith’s amendments. Dates for those hearings have not been set.

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<title>Aquarium fishing proposal draws crowd</title>

Dozens spoke for hours Friday on proposed new rules for West Hawai‘i aquarium fishing.

Aquarium fishing proposal draws crowd

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Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

 is opening at The Kāhala Hotel & Resort in early 2026.

, the resort’s signature fine dining restaurant, will conclude service in the first quarter of next year to prepare for the new restaurant. Since its opening about 30 years ago, Hoku’s has been a staple in Hawaiʻi’s fine dining landscape. The eatery has been known for its attentive service and refined approach to regional flavors.

A founding figure of Hawaiʻi Regional Cuisine, James Beard Award-winning chef Alan Wong will be a consultant to guide the restaurant’s menu development and opening. The restaurant’s revamped concept will highlight a curated selection of signature dishes from Wong’s popular King Street restaurant.

Alan Wong’s first opened its King Street location in 1995. The restaurant was known for its innovative use of local ingredients and refined island hospitality, and it helped shaped Hawaiʻi Regional Cuisine. The restaurant was ranked twice by 

 among America’s Top 50, and Wong has been named “Master of Hawaiʻi Regional Cuisine” by 

. The King Street restaurant closed in November 2020, after 25 years of operation.

“What I look forward to most is welcoming back guests who have made cherished memories at our King Street restaurant and inspiring new moments of connection and celebration in this new era at The Kahala,” states chef Alan Wong. “It’s an honor — and in many ways, a full circle moment — to call The Kāhala our new home.”

Chef Joe Almoguera, the resort’s current executive sous chef, will be promoted to executive chef of the resort. Mark Shishido, general manager of the Pineapple Room by Alan Wong and beverage director at Alan Wong’s King Street location, will be the general manager of the new restaurant.

“For more than six decades, The Kāhala has been defined by timeless luxury, gracious service, unforgettable experiences and a legacy of aloha,” states Joe Ibarra, general manager of The Kāhala Hotel & Resort. “This transition is not an ending — it’s an evolution. After nearly 30 years of exception culinary experiences at Hoku’s, welcoming Alan Wong’s represents both a return to our roots and a bold step forward in celebrating Hawaiʻi’s extraordinary culinary heritage.”

Chef Alan Wong headshot 102325

<title>Alan Wong’s is opening at The Kāhala Hotel & Resort</title>

The eatery will be replacing Hoku’s as the new signature restaurant at The Kāhala Hotel & Resort in early 2026.

Alan Wong’s is opening at The Kāhala Hotel & Resort

“I’ve always had a deep love for matcha,” says chef Anastacia Watson. It’s about 10 a.m. — the opening time at her latest matcha pop-up at Paiko in Kaka

ako — and there’s already a small crowd forming a line for her aesthetically pleasing matcha drinks.

A chef with more than a decade of experience — including creating meals for celebrity clients — Watson launched her culinary brand, Haus of Fusion, in 2020.

“I’ve made it my mission to craft unique, health-forward creations,” she says.

After one of her handcrafted matcha drinks recently went viral thanks to an influencer, Watson created 

“It’s an extension of my culinary journey, dedicated to intentional, handcrafted matcha drinks and healthy elixirs, highlighting the best of local and organic ingredients and premium, ceremonial-grade matcha,” she says. “I’ve been interested in matcha for a long time; it has so many health benefits and you don’t get the crashes like you do with coffee.

“Making matcha is such a therapeutic thing to me; it’s so relaxing,” she adds.

Watson currently accepts matcha preorders for pickup in Kaimukī, or you can find Haus of Aloha at various pop-ups across O‘ahu. Her next one is at Paiko in Kaka‘ako on June 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The pop-up’s theme is Matcha and Bloom, with three main floral-themed beverages. Choose from Full Bloom ($12) — ceremonial matcha with organic coconut water or choice of milk, rose craft syrup and strawberry rose cream top — Lavender Dreams ($12) with lavender craft syrup and a matcha cream cloud top, or Passion Fantasy ($12). The latter features organic white jasmine tea, organic coconut water, liliko

All drinks are 18 ounces and served cold, and feature craft syrups that are made from scratch in small batches. Each includes 2 to 5 grams of matcha.

“Every drink is made with love,” Watson says. “They’re hand-whisked or cold-whisked ceremonial matcha with craft syrups and infused cloud tops.”

If you want something more traditional, opt for a custom matcha latte with ceremonial matcha and a choice of syrup, ranging from haupia and chai to lychee and liliko

i. Matcha sodas ($11) — “a super healthy twist on soda with sparkling mineral water,” according to Watson — are also available.

“They’re always evolving and always artfully made,” she says. “At Haus of Aloha, we don’t just serve drinks — we serve connection, presence and the essence of aloha.”

Direct message on Instagram to preorder for pickup in Kaimukī

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: PTO preparations

Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

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Hawai‘i Scene on Social: PTO preparations

Authors

Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

More in Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Dreams do come true

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Going big

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Take a trip

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Too busy vibing

Most read