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ASD Staff

Hawai'i Skies

Today's Hawai'i Skies was captured by Dustin Narikiyo at Hilo Bay. "

Pele was unfortunately quiet during my visit, but I was able to capture and enjoy the fire in the sky Sunday evening."

To submit your Hawai'i Skies photo, visit us 

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

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<title>Hawai'i Skies: Fire in the sky</title>

Today's Hawai'i Skies was captured by Dustin Narikiyo at Hilo Bay.

Hawai'i Skies: Fire in the sky

Today's Hawai'i Skies was captured by Dustin Narikiyo at Hilo Bay. "Pele was unfortunately quiet during my visit, but I was able to capture and enjoy the fire in the sky Sunday evening." To submit your Hawai'i Skies photo, visit us online or email: general@alohastatedaily.com For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up here for our free Daily Edition newsletter.

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Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

A long-running battle between conservation groups and commercial fishers is flaring up once again.

The Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources is preparing to adopt 

 administrative rules governing aquarium fishing off the western shores of Hawai‘i Island.

These new rules would permit commercial aquarium fishing of eight specific species by up to seven permittees. Those permit holders would be subject to collective annual catch limits for each of those eight whitelisted species.

Despite the severe restrictions posed by the proposed rules, they would be a boon for a moribund industry, as aquarium fishing has been entirely banned in West Hawai‘i following a 2017 ruling by the State Supreme Court — the court found that DLNR had improperly permitted aquarium fishers to take vast amounts of fish without any environmental review.

But environmental groups believe the new rules fly in the face of the Board of Land and Natural Resources’ previous rulings on the matter.

“It’s a pretty big betrayal,” Rene Umberger, executive director of environmental group For the Fishes, told Aloha State Daily.

Umberger, who was one of the plaintiffs in the Supreme Court case that halted aquarium fishing, said that the BLNR in 2023 directed the DLNR’s Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) to develop stringent rules to regulate aquarium fishing, having decided that a total ban was not feasible or fair long-term.

At a 2023 meeting, BLNR Chair Dawn Chang told DAR that the new rules may determine an acceptable level of aquarium fishing that is “short of zero.” Umberger said that she and other environmentalists figured that “short of zero” would still be close to zero.

Instead, Umberger said, the catch limits within the new rules are unacceptably high. She claimed that, before the ban on aquarium fishing, seven permit holders could collectively bring in about 46,000 fish every year, but the new rules allow seven permittees to bring in more than 200,000.

“They’re just letting aquarium collectors back on the reef,” Umberger said.

Umberger said she and other advocates had suggested alternate rules that would still allow aquarium fishers to operate. For example, she said allowing unlimited take of non-native species could be beneficial for the ecosystem and would still allow fishers to collect attractive and photogenic specimens.

Alternatively, Umberger said she suggested a ban on taking yellow tang or other species currently available through captive breeding.

Instead, Umberger said, DAR has proposed rules that she believes cannot stand.

“I believe that the board will see that this is not what they asked for,” Umberger said. “I really don’t think the board will approve this.”

But the board on Friday is no doubt in for a long day. The 2023 hearing on the subject lasted for three days as hundreds of people testified, mostly in opposition to aquarium fishing.

A statement by For the Fishes published last week cited a poll that found that 84% of O‘ahu and Hawai‘i Island residents support permanently ending the catching of reef fish for commercial aquariums.

However, commercial fishers disagree. Commercial aquarium fisher Ron Tubbs has filed a contested case against the BLNR’s 2023 decision, although the board seems poised to deny it.

When asked to comment on the new rules, Tubbs presented ASD with a 2024 DAR 

 that found negligible differences in targeted fish populations across multiple ocean management areas before the ban on commercial aquarium fishing.

That report concluded that DAR found no clear evidence that previously proposed take limits — some of which were higher than those currently being discussed —  will result in population declines that will impact the population’s long-term viability, and that DAR can effectively manage and mitigate any potential negative impacts by commercial aquarium fishing.

The BLNR will discuss scheduling public hearings on the new rules at its Friday hearing at 9 a.m.

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<title>Environmental groups to challenge proposed West Hawai‘i fishing rules</title>

New fishing rules would once again allow commercial aquarium fishing in West Hawai‘i waters

Environmental groups to challenge proposed West Hawai‘i fishing rules

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Keliʻi Akina, Ph.D.

Viewpoints

When it comes to the future of the Honolulu rail, it feels like we’re on a runaway train — pun intended.

The Skyline project has blown way past its construction deadlines and cost estimates, and there’s little evidence that anyone is fully in control.

It is becoming increasingly apparent that at some point, it’s going to be up to the public to hit the brakes and put things back on track.

 that the fiscal 2027 budget for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, which manages the rail project, will be 9.5% greater than the current budget, clocking in at $1.07 billion for combined operating and capital costs.

When the annual budget of a project plagued by spending issues and disappointing ridership numbers breaks through the $1 billion mark, that’s kind of a bright red-flag moment, wouldn’t you say?

Making matters worse, city officials are now considering extending the rail several more miles through O‘ahu’s urban core from its current planned end point in Kaka‘ako to the University of Hawai‘i in Mānoa. Yes, really.

Perhaps it’s time O‘ahu voters were given a chance to weigh in on these decisions about rail. I think the chances are good that the public vote that authorized the rail project way back in 2008 might have turned out differently if we could have seen where it stands now.

Even back then, the Honolulu rail proposal squeaked by with just a 53% approval rating, since many people were already aware that public rail projects virtually never finish on time and within budget.

Now, after so many problems and with so many questions still hanging over the Honolulu rail project, Hawai‘i residents are rightfully getting restless. It is obvious that we are in for a long-term financial obligation that we can ill afford, whether the train line is extended or not.

I know holding elections is no small matter, but with that in mind, I encourage our policymakers to consider whether major decisions regarding this widely acknowledged boondoggle should be put to a public vote. We couldn’t see the future back in 2008, but we certainly know what to expect now.

Reprinted with permission from the Oct. 11, 2025 "Presidentʻs Corner" of 

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<title>Community Voices: Rail is a fail; who’s going to hit the brakes?</title>

We don't know yet just how late and over budget the Honolulu Skyline rail system will be. We do know that its annual budget is growing by nearly 10% a year and city officials are talking about any number of rail extensions. Maybe it's time to let the public drive this train and put such decisions to a vote.

Community Voices: Rail is a fail; who’s going to hit the brakes?

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Tom Yamachika

This week we revisit Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF.  Under TANF, the federal government provides a block grant to the states, which then use these funds to run their own programs for relief of the poor. To receive federal funds, states must also spend some of their own dollars on those programs, known as the “maintenance of effort” (MOE) requirement, or face severe fiscal penalties if they fail to do so. The federal government has given Hawai‘i a shade less than $100 million a year.

But we haven’t used it. We have let it pile up. 

 that in federal fiscal year 2020, we had an “unobligated balance,” namely authorized federal money that we haven’t spent, of $364 million. 

, fiscal year 2021, that balance crept up to $378 million. In 2022, we enacted a law (

) that allowed TANF funds to be used for more things. But did that bring the balance down?  

, the balance was $452 million. That is 4.59 years’ worth of federal grants, by far the highest in the nation. (The next three states are Tennessee, 3.94 years; Montana, 1.98 years; and Mississippi, 1.81 years.)

 asked our Department of Human Services what was going on, they said that they were looking at expanding their programs to Compact of Free Association (COFA) residents. But they needed to think twice about expanding their programs because of the MOE requirement, that pulling down federal money would require allocations of additional state money.

But hold on a cotton-pickin’ minute!  It turns out that there are several categories of programs where (1) federal funds are available, but (2) we are spending 

Obviously, we are contributing our share. Can someone tell us why we are not pulling down any federal funds for these activities?

For example: Basic Assistance. Poor people need help. We give them some money. We spent $23.6 million of state money in federal fiscal year 2023. We spent zero federal funds. Nationwide, $3.3 billion of federal money was spent on basic assistance.

Or how about education and training activities? We can teach poor people job skills so they can go into the workforce. We spent $41 million of state money in federal fiscal year 2023. We spent zero federal funds. Nationwide, $810 million of federal money was spent on education and training.

Subsidized employment counts too. We help pay the salaries of eligible folks who are hired into the workforce so they can get real life experience. We spent about $200,000 in state money with not a dime from Uncle Sam. $105 million was spent nationally.

And did you know that TANF money is available to subsidize refundable earned income tax credits? Nationwide, $305 million of federal money was spent to do this in federal fiscal year 2023, none in Hawai‘i. Yet we have a refundable earned income tax credit in Hawai‘i (it was made refundable in 2022 by 

taxpayers claimed $19.8 million of credits for calendar year 2022

The moral of the story is that we in Hawai‘i had better start pulling down some of that free federal money. If we don’t, there are plenty of bureaucrats with chainsaws and sharp axes who are more than willing to cut off the funding because we apparently don’t need it … and, by the way, we happen to be a blue state. In 2016, the first Trump Administration noted that the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands receives annual Native Hawaiian block grants but hadn’t been spending the money. The Administration cut off the grants. Our Congressional delegation had to scramble big time toget them restored. Let’s learn from our mistakes, folks!

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<title>Community Voices: Even More TANF Hoarding</title>

While federal cuts to spending on the states for social service gets headlines, the fact is, Hawai‘i has been letting federal money sit unspent — more than $400 million so far. Here's what the money could help with in the Islands if the state would only use it.

Community Voices: Even More TANF Hoarding

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Stephanie Salmons

Thousands of riders made their way aboard Skyline in the days after the second segment of the rail 

According to the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Transportation Services, there were:

— 11,879 rides taken on Skyline on Thursday, Oct. 16, the first day segment two opened to the public; 

[{"type":"text","text":"— 10,471 rides on Friday, Oct. 17;"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"— 19,562 rides on Saturday, Oct. 18; and"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"— 20,056 rides on Sunday, Oct. 19."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Saturday and Sunday were part of a fare-free weekend."}]

"DTS is extremely pleased with the first four days of Skyline segment two service!" Travis Ota, information specialist for the department told Aloha State Daily in an email. "Not only did we open Skyline to some of the island’s largest employment centers, but we also saw a tremendous turnout of riders eager to experience the new segment. From keiki to kūpuna, thousands of riders boarded Skyline over the weekend, taking in the views and exploring new commute options.

"Many riders also went multimodal, coming in by our newest rapid bus lines, and bringing their e-bikes and scooters aboard to test their full commute from Skyline to work or school," he continued.

 and spans just under 11 miles from East Kapolei to Aloha Stadium. This section includes the rail's first nine stations: Kaualakaʻi (East Kapolei), Keoneʻae (University of Hawai‘i-West Oʻahu), Honouliuli (Hoʻopili), Hōʻaeʻae (West Loch), Pouhala (Waipahu Transit Center), Hālaulani (Leeward Community College), Waiawa (Pearl Highlands), Kalauao (Pearlridge), and Hālawa (Aloha Stadium).

The newly opened 5.2-mile stretch of guideway now carries riders beyond Aloha Stadium to the Middle Street Transit Center and has four new stations: Makalapa (Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam), Lelepaua (Daniel K. Inouye International Airport), Āhua (Lagoon Drive) and Kahauiki (Middle Street Transit Center).

Ota says DTS had volunteers providing assistance to riders throughout the weekend "and couldn’t be happier with the response."

"There were a lot of people cheering for the airport station, and even families coming straight off the plane with their suitcases, heading west on Skyline for the first time," he says. "Of course, as with any new service, there are technical details we’re continuing to fine-tune. Rider feedback from the busy opening weekend is incredibly valuable and helps us continue improving the Skyline experience."

, daily ridership counts ranged from 1,842 to 7,519. Monthly ridership numbers this year have been as low as 89,167 in June and as high as 119,513 in September. You can find more 

New and modified bus routes, which also take effect Oct. 16, aim to "improve connectivity between Skyline, TheBus and key destinations across O‘ahu," a recent announcement from DTS noted. Read more about 

 to the ground transportation operations at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.

People with inquiries, questions or reports for Skyline rail operations should call 808-848-5555 (option 4) or email 

More information about Skyline can be found at 

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<title>Thousands turn out for Skyline's expansion, free-fare weekend</title>

The newly opened 5.2-mile stretch of guideway now carries riders beyond Aloha Stadium to the Middle Street Transit Center and has four new stations.

Thousands turn out for Skyline's expansion, free-fare weekend

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

This popular East Oʻahu restaurant just launched a new breakfast menu.

 — which was founded in 2021 as a roadside pop-up tent in Waimānalo — is known for its local-style comfort food like garlic shrimp, guava barbecue fried chicken and roasted barbecue pork belly. The restaurant, which opened in Niu Valley in 2022, just debuted its new breakfast menu. Breakfast is served daily from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The breakfast menu includes a variety of choices, ranging from customer favorites like loco mocos and kalbi to omelets, eggs Benedicts and French toast — all with a creative twist.

If you’re craving something sweet, opt for Da Elvis ($19) or Cinnamon Toast Crunch French toast ($18). Da Elvis features three slices of Hawaiian sweet bread with a butter glaze, sliced bananas, peanut butter syrup, powdered sugar and crushed mac nuts. Meanwhile, the Cinnamon Toast Crunch French toast features three slices of Hawaiian sweet bread crusted with Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal and is topped with a cream cheese butter glaze.

The soft, pillowy toast contrasts nicely with the crunchy cereal crust.

Beastside Kitchen offers eggs Benedicts with several protein choices, including smoked salmon and garlic sauteed spinach; sliced turkey with grilled tomato and avocado; and kalbi marinated short ribs and chopped kimchi.

Da Bento eggs Benedict is a unique option, as it features two flavorful pork adobo hash patties.

If you want something hearty and savory, the Beastside Favorites — which include pork adobo and several loco mocos — come highly recommended.

The Big Pua‘a Moco ($21) features roasted pork belly served over white or brown rice, and is topped with house brown gravy, two island eggs, and crispy fried and green onions. The tender pork belly is a nice twist on the typical hamburger patty, and we couldn’t get enough of the flavorful brown gravy.

The restaurant’s kalbi plate, which is available during lunch, is one of the most popular options. The breakfast version includes two island eggs, along with a side dish (choice of white or brown rice, side salad, breakfast potatoes or toasted white or wheat Japanese bread).

Pro tip: Upgrade to the eatery’s fried rice ($2) to enhance your entrée’s savory flavor.

The eatery also offers bottomless mimosas for $25.

Beastside Kitchen Cinnamon Toast french toast 102025

<title>East Oʻahu has a new breakfast option</title>

Beastside Kitchen just launched its new breakfast menu, which is available daily. Feast on local-style dishes like Da Bento eggs Benedict — made with pork adobo hash patties — kalbi and eggs, roasted pork belly loco mocos and more.

East Oʻahu has a new breakfast option

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.

 is known for its all-you-can-eat wagyu hot pot dinner experience, but the eatery also offers meat-centric lunch specials.

olani Boulevard, features hot pot lunch specials from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays to Fridays.

The wagyu lover special ($32 per person) includes Australian chuck rib-eye (you can upgrade to A5 chuck rib-eye for $5 more), Australian brisket and shoulder, a vegetable platter, unlimited appetizers, and unlimited beverages, rice and ice cream from the restaurant’s self-serve bar.

Meanwhile, the Australian set with seafood ($39 per person) includes many of the same offerings, along with a seafood platter. The seafood platter is an individual portion and includes snow crab, scallop, abalone, oyster and shrimp.

’t as vast as what you would get in the AYCE dinner, but it’s still a good amount for lunch — and for less than $40.

Choose from a variety of soup broths to get your hot pot lunch started. Options include house broth, spicy miso, sukiyaki and tomato. Seasonal flavors might also be featured; a tom yum chicken broth is currently available.

Unlimited appetizers are included with the lunch special. Take your pick from hot and cold options, ranging from shrimp tempura, sweet potato fries and fried chicken bites to seaweed salad and spicy clam.

The vegetable platter that’s included with the lunch special is designed for one individual. It includes mushrooms, lettuce, carrots, tofu and more.

Be sure to check out the eatery’s self-serve bar, which includes a variety of sauces and condiments you can use to enhance your hot pot experience. Condiments range from ponzu and sesame sauces to green onions and garlic.

The self-serve bar also includes wagyu curry, which should not be overlooked, due to its umami flavor.

Lunch specials served 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays

Hawai'i Skies: Fire in the sky

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Authors

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