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Hawai'i Skies

Today's Hawai'i Skies was captured by Bonnie Oda in Punchbowl. "Double rainbow over Punchbowl, each arc a mahalo - one for our veterans who fought for our freedoms, and one for those who protect our peace

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25 11 5 Bonnie Oda

<title>Hawai'i Skies: No filter needed</title>

Today's Hawai'i Skies was captured by Bonnie Oda in Punchbowl.

Hawai'i Skies: No filter needed

Today's Hawai'i Skies was captured by Bonnie Oda in Punchbowl. "Double rainbow over Punchbowl, each arc a mahalo - one for our veterans who fought for our freedoms, and one for those who protect our peace" 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.

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

Business & Tourism

Flights to and from Honolulu could be reduced as the Federal Aviation Administration plans to reduce air traffic by 10%.

, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford announced Wednesday that the FAA will cut back on flights across 40 “high-volume” markets to pre-empt potential safety concerns as the federal government shutdown has left air traffic controllers without pay for more than a month.

The Associated Press reported that the month and increasingly short staff has put pressure on air traffic controllers, many of whom have called out of work, causing further staffing shortages. This has led to a range of major flight delays across several mainland airports, where the FAA warned flights could be delayed by up to seven hours from Wednesday into Thursday.

Hawaiian Airlines spokesman Alex Da Silva told Aloha State Daily last week that it had seen “no impacts to [their] operations” related to the ongoing shutdown.

The cuts will begin on Friday. The specific airports selected for the cuts have not yet been announced, and Bedford said a list of impacted airports will be released Thursday.  

, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport had the 22nd-most aircraft movements in the U.S. last year, with 334,695 aircraft flying in or out of the airport in 2024. It ranked 32nd in total commercial passengers — nearly 22 million last year — and 14th in cargo, with more than 600,000 metric tons of cargo moving through the airport in 2024.

Honolulu airport

<title>FAA warns of cuts to flights as shutdown continues</title>

Flights to and from 40 unspecified "high-volume" markets coming this Friday, warns the FAA.

FAA warns of cuts to flights as shutdown continues

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

 recently opened in Waikīkī Shopping Plaza. Located along Seaside Avenue, the new 100-seat, 3,500-square-foot eatery specializes in Italian fare with a hint of island- and Mediterranean-inspired flavors.

This restaurant is the latest concept from restaurant group Zetton Inc., the brand behind eateries like Aloha Steak House, Camado Ramen Tavern, Heavenly Island Lifestyle Waikīkī and ZIGU.

“We are creating a new concept restaurant that captures the soul of Italian cuisine, but imparts innovative infusions to differentiate ourselves from the other Italian restaurants in town,” states Makoko “MILD” Hasegawa, president and CEO of Zetton Inc. “Whether it be for a casual pau hana drink with pūpū or a festive dinner party with friends and family, we hope to serve as a comforting retreat from the hustle and bustle of Waikīkī.”

The restaurant’s executive chef Yuta Tamano is classically trained in French cuisine, but collaborates with chefs specializing in Italian fare. Tamano, trained in the culinary arts in Japan, refined his skills at acclaimed French restaurant Le Grand Table Kitamura and the two-Michelin-starred Narisawa. Tamano moved to Waikīkī in 2021 and served as sous chef at natuRe Waikīkī, and became executive chef at ZIGU last year.

At BOTANICO Waikīkī, diners can anticipate elevated Italian staples along with unique dishes.

Appetizers include a re-imagined moussaka with layers of braised beef, scalloped potatoes, roasted eggplant and sauce Mornay ($16); beet and cauliflower hummus ($14); a shareable charcuterie spread ($32); prosciutto zeppole ($16), or fluffy fried Italian dough bites topped with prosciutto; and local vegetable terrine in a dashi gelee ($18).

The charcuterie board ($32) comprises prosciutto, mortadella, salami, piccante, chicken liver mousse and brie cheese, served with housemade focaccia.

Entrees range from pastas to dishes starring meats and seafood. Signature pastas include house bolognese ($28), carbonara with housemade pancetta ($28), and spaghetti Pescatore ($35). The latter features a classic seafood spaghetti with clams, scallops and shrimp in a tomato anchovy fennel sauce.

You can look forward to entrées like the flavorful red wine-braised beef cheek ($48), pork Milanese with original katsu balsamic glaze ($39), ocean grill plate ($48) and chef's steak of the day (market price). The latter features a hand-selected cut, grilled asparagus, local oyster mushroom, Swiss chard and aligot potatoes with peppercorn sauce. 

Desserts include tiramisu ($12) and basque cheesecake ($10). The classic tiramisu features espresso-soaked ladyfingers with cocoa and mascarpone; meanwhile, the caramelized basque cheesecake is served with whipped cream and raspberry sauce. 

The restaurant’s beverage program features a diverse selection of wines, with a focus on Californian and Italian varietals. BOTANICO Waikīkī’s staff, trained by master sommelier Roberto Viernes, are able to help customers with recommendations and pairings to complement their meals.

[{"type":"text","text":"Customer parking is available at Waikīkī Shopping Plaza."}]

Open 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. (last order 10 p.m.) Sundays-Saturdays

BOTANICO Waikiki bolognese 110325

<title>Waikīkī’s newest Italian restaurant just opened</title>

Located in Waikīkī Shopping Plaza, BOTANICO Waikīkī features Italian fare with a touch of island- and Mediterranean-inspired flavors.

Waikīkī’s newest Italian restaurant just opened

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

The City and County of Honolulu is moving forward in its efforts bring more housing to O‘ahu, choosing nonprofit developer Pacific Housing Assistance Corp. as its “preferred negotiating partner” to build an affordable, disability-forward workforce housing community on city-owned land at 130 S. Beretania St.

The 30,376-square-foot Downtown Honolulu property is bordered by Pali Highway, South Beretania Street and Fort Street, the city said in an announcement Monday. It’s an open space with no standing structures, located across Pali Highway from Pacific Honda and behind the Central Fire Station.

“The site’s central location — close to jobs, transit and essential services — makes it especially well-suited for workforce housing,” Kevin Auger, director-designate of the city’s Department of Housing and Land Management, told Aloha State Daily via email.

The site also offers access to major bus routes and Skyline rail’s planned Downtown station, Kuloloia, the announcement noted.

 has developed, or is developing, 62 affordable housing communities across the Islands for families, seniors and people with disabilities since it was founded in 1980, and it currently manages 15 affordable developments in the state.

, an organization founded more than 85 years ago that aims to build independence and improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and seniors, will join as the co-developer, the announcement noted.

“Early concept studies suggest the property could support a mid-rise development, and Pacific Housing Assistance Corp. and Lanakila Pacific have proposed reserving a portion of the units for residents with disabilities,” Auger told ASD. “The final design, including unit count and configuration, will be shaped through the community engagement process. The city’s goal is to balance accessibility, livability and thoughtful urban design while contributing to the revitalization of Downtown Honolulu.”

According to the city, Pacific Housing and Lanakila Pacific hosted an initial community listening session that was attended by more than 50 people on Oct. 21. A second meeting will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Nov. 12 in the Von Holt room at The Cathedral of St. Andrew. The city says that input from these meetings, as well as a future public hearing before the Honolulu City Council, “will help shape the project’s final design and scope.”

“Residents with disabilities face some of the greatest barriers in Honolulu’s housing market — whether due to accessibility challenges, limited supportive services or a lack of affordable options that allow for independent living,” Auger says. “A disability-forward approach means designing inclusively from the beginning, rather than modifying later. It ensures that homes, amenities and shared spaces are accessible, and that residents can live, work and participate in the community with dignity.”

The selection of a “preferred negotiating partner” for this property comes about nine months after the city 

 for the redevelopment of four underutilized city-owned properties into affordable rental projects: 1615 Ala Wai Blvd., 436 Ena Road, 130 S. Beretania St.; and 1421 Pensacola St.

This summer, EAH Housing was chosen as the "preferred negotiating partner" for the 

 and Centre Urban Real Estate as the "preferred negotiating partner" for the redevelopment of 

The city, which acquired 1615 Ala Wai through condemnation in January 2024, 

the existing, dilapidated apartment building that once sat there.

Auger says that DHLM is in the final stages of review for the 1421 Pensacola site and the city expects to announce the selected partner for that redevelopment project before the end of the year.

Partnering with the development community to build housing on city-owned lands is one of the components of a strategic housing plan the city unveiled 

Auger says the city has issued RFQs for a total of eight properties so far this year and may issue one or two more before year-end, “consistent with the strategic housing priorities outlined in January.”

As for what lies ahead in 2026, Auger says that next year, “DHLM will focus on completing development agreements and ground leases for these sites and exploring financing structures beyond traditional Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to accelerate delivery.”

(And ICYMI: Pacific Housing is also the developer of Nā Hale Makoa in Hawai‘i Island’s Waikoloa Village. Waitlist applications for that project are being accepted through Nov. 17. Read 

130 s beretania 110525

<title>Honolulu continues affordable housing efforts</title>

The city has selected a “preferred negotiating partner” to build an affordable, disability-forward workforce housing community on city-owned property at 130 S. Beretania St.

Honolulu continues affordable housing efforts

Lopaka and Tanya Kapanui

Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya Kapanui

Hawaii History

Columnists

Located about two miles from Downtown Honolulu, the neighborhood of Mo‘ili‘ili was once primarily agricultural. Rice paddies and lo‘i kalo occupied most of the land, with houses and small businesses scattered about. By the 1960s, apartment buildings, grocery stores, and small shopping centers attracted more people seeking a quieter life while still wanting to remain close to Honolulu. The Mo‘ili‘ili community was tightly knit and soon became known as the floral capital of Honolulu as demand for lei and daily flower bouquets grew.

One gathering place for the Mo‘ili‘ili community was the Kamo‘ili‘ili Church, whose congregation was predominantly Hawaiian. Construction for the simple stone church began in 1850 and was completed three years later. Although the building was restored around 1900 and renamed Rice Memorial Chapel, many in the community continued to call it Kamo‘ili‘ili Church.

In addition to Sunday services, the hallowed building saw weddings, funerals, celebrations, and community meetings throughout its life. For a time, it even served as a Masonic hall to the Cosmopolitan Lodge of the Prince Hall Lodge of African American Freemasons in Hawaii.

A woman I know recalls time spent there as a child, waiting for her parents. With no babysitter at the time, she would have to stay in a small room by herself, where she was left to play, color, or find something else to keep herself busy. In a separate room, her father and the rest of his Prince Hall brothers would have their lodge meetings. In another room was her mother, who would attend the meetings of the Order of the Eastern Star with the other wives of Masonic husbands.

One evening, as a girl, she noticed a Hawaiian man looking in the window from outside. He had dark hair and a beard, thick eyebrows and full lips, and he wasn’t wearing a shirt. The man’s intense gaze was frightening as he pointed to the screen covering the window, indicating that he wanted her to open it. Without speaking, she shook her head, “No.”

Despite her refusal to cooperate, the hook holding the screen popped off on its own, and the man pulled the screen back. My friend said she remembers hearing a blood-curdling scream before realizing it was coming from her. She ran into the men’s lodge meeting and found the masons in a state of upset and confusion. They had apparently seen a Hawaiian man peering in at them from a window high up on the far wall. No outsider could bear witness to a solemn masonic ceremony, so the men went outside to chase the stranger away. They never found anyone hanging around outside, but did note that the window he peered into was nine feet off the ground with no crate, stone, or foothold to climb on.

As time marched on, the church fell into disuse and then disrepair, and was condemned by the city. While the building sat empty, the graveyard, too, had gone untended. In 1968, plans for a new high-rise were announced, and the land beneath the century-old cemetery was chosen for development. Newspapers cited weeds covering gravestones, some of which were broken or leaning awkwardly. Trash had gathered near several plots, more than one tomb was cracked and crumbling, and several markers had already disappeared.

Although the last burial was in the 1950s, letters to newspapers expressed mourning for the loss of history and lament for the irreversible change. One writer posed a warning to other congregations that they may not be exempt from such bittersweet progress in the future.

Work to remove gravestones began in August 1968. Reverend Abraham Akaka of Kawaiaha‘o Church acknowledged the tension between history and progress. He reminded those gathered that every civilization advances by giving up some of its past, saying that growth often demands “selling something of the soul.”

Over the following weeks, workers uncovered the remains of 466 people. Of those remains, 206 were identified, while the rest will forever be unknown. Some graves held the bones of parents and children, while others contained only ashes. The remains were placed in small containers and reburied at Kawaiahaʻo Church in a shared resting place marked by a plaque listing the known names. Above the memorial hangs the bell that once rang from the steeple at Kamoʻiliʻili Church.

[{"type":"text","text":"But that wasn’t the end of it."}]

In November, Reverend Akaka returned to the site to perform special purification rites. The special blessing was requested because workers were reluctant to enter the area. Using an ‘umeke, a Hawaiian calabash, dating back to the days of Kamehameha I, the Reverend sprinkled the ground with water from the well at Kawaiaha‘o Church while reciting his prayers. It is rumored that more bones were found during construction, including one skeleton measuring nearly nine feet long, near what is now the pool area.

Completed in 1971, the Contessa condominium stands on the old church and cemetery grounds. It boasts 37 floors, 144 units, a sauna, and a swimming pool in the vibrant Mo‘ili‘ili neighborhood. Almost from the beginning, tenants complained of hauntings in the building. One woman enlisted the help of Kahuna nui Emma de Fries to bless her apartment and the entire building after constant construction noise bothered her, even when no one else could hear it. 

More than two decades later, my mentor, Glen Grant, shared another story about the Contessa. A plumber was called to an apartment to fix a kitchen drain. The woman who lived there told him to put his ear to the sink. Although he was hesitant, he crouched and listened and heard voices speaking Hawaiian.

“They’re asking what will be done with their bones,” he said, backing away.

He hurried to the elevator and watched in shock as the doors opened before he touched the button. He stepped in and, as the doors began to close, a hand covered with red mud slid between them, opening them again automatically. Standing there was a tall woman, her body caked in red clay. She smiled and waved as the doors shut once more.

Without warning, the elevator dropped several floors before coming to a sudden stop. Shaken, the plumber took the stairs and never returned to the building.

For more than 50 years, people have passed through the Contessa’s lobby unaware of the hundreds of people that were once buried beneath their feet, and what may still be waiting below the surface.

Before the gates to Kawaiahaʻo Church’s graveyard were locked to the public, I used to stop there during my Ghosts of Old Honolulu tour. One night, as our group stood before the Kamoʻiliʻili Church memorial, an older man asked if he could speak. He said he had worked on the construction crew that built the Contessa.

“I was one of the men digging the foundation for the pool,” he said. “We uncovered a skeleton, about nine feet long. Even I knew we shouldn’t have disturbed it. Reverend Akaka came, blessed the burial, and blessed us. We covered the bones right where they were. They’re still there.”

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Contessa condominium

<title>The bones beneath the Contessa</title>

The Contessa condominium in Mo‘ili‘ili stands where Kamo‘ili‘ili Church and its mainly Hawaiian graveyard had served the community since 1850. The remains of nearly 500 people were moved for the condo, but workers and residents over the years have reported chilling tales of the spirits that remain.

The bones beneath the Contessa

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.

Hawai'i Skies: No filter needed

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Hawai'i Skies: No filter needed

Authors

ASD Staff

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