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Hawai'i Skies

Today's Hawai'i Skies was captured by Cindy Evans in South Kohala, Hawai’i Island. "

Magical Moment. I felt blessed to witness a gift from the sky."

To submit your Hawai'i Skies photo, visit us 

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

25 11 6 Cindy Evans

<title>Hawai'i Skies: A gift from the sky</title>

Today's Hawai'i Skies was captured by Cindy Evans in South Kohala, Hawai’i Island.

Hawai'i Skies: A gift from the sky

Today&#039;s Hawai&#039;i Skies was captured by Cindy Evans in South Kohala, Hawai’i Island. &quot;Magical Moment. I felt blessed to witness a gift from the sky.&quot; To submit your Hawai&#039;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.

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Carol Sears in Mililani Mauka. "

We get stunning rainbows because of the frequent rains and sunshine at the same time. Especially during the winter months."

Carol Sears 26 1 29 3

<title>Hawai‘i Skies: Stunning rainbows</title>

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Carol Sears in Mililani Mauka.

Hawai‘i Skies: Stunning rainbows

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

Aloha Spirit

We’re in the midst of humpback whale season, the time of year — typically November through May 

i’s warm waters to mate, give birth and raise their young.

Since the Pacific Whale Foundation began working in Maui County waters nearly 45 years ago, the subpopulation of humpbacks in the North Pacific has grown from about 1,000 to somewhere between 25,000 and 30,000, Morgan Wittmer, EcoTours Manager with PWF’s PacWhale Eco-Adventures told Aloha State Daily. Of those, about 12,000 are expected to come to the Islands this season.

That “massive change” is attributed to the attention given to these animals and protecting the mammals and their habitat, she says.

Aloha State Daily spoke with Wittmer to learn more about whales in Hawai

i, the work the Pacific Whale Foundation does and more. Here’s what we learned.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Pacific whale foundation humpback whale 020926

Lisa Eller

Viewpoints

Traditionally, koholā (humpback whales) are acknowledged as ancient beings and considered to be a kinolau (manifestation) of Kanaloa, the god of the ocean – which is why they may be referred to as “Kanaloa” by cultural practitioners.

Kohola Whales KWO

Community Voices: Kuleana to care for whales as living ancestors

<title>Pacific Whale Foundation on its work, humpback whale season, more</title>

Founded by Greg Kaufman in 1980 “to protect a declining humpback whale population from global threats,” the nonprofit owns PacWhale Eco-Adventures, whose profits support the Pacific Whale Foundation’s work.

Pacific Whale Foundation on its work, humpback whale season, more

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

Lunar New Year, also called Chinese New Year, starts Tuesday, Feb. 17. To mark the event, there are parades, parties and more. Kung Hei Fat Choi!

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 A new Sig Zane design called “Hoʻohei,” which means “to lasso,” or figuratively, “to fascinate,” according to the alohawear clothing brand, released in stores on Monday, Feb. 9. The design features two color schemes: one where the horse is orange and the other where it is black. The shirts will be available online starting Wednesday, Feb. 11.

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Chinatown 808’s Chinatown Festival and Parade, presented by American Savings Bank, returns for its 50th year. The all-day event runs from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. and takes place in ʻAʻala Park on N. Beretania Street, between Maunakea and ʻAʻala streets. The parade starts at 4:30 p.m. along Hotel Street and goes from the Hawaiʻi State Capitol through Chinatown. Look for lion and dragon dances, martial arts demonstrations, activities for keiki, live entertainment and vendors with crafts and food. There will also be a pony and donkey petting area. 

The District is hosting a Lunar New Year and Valentine’s Day party, which is located one block from Ala Moana Center. The event features DJs, two rooms of music and opportunities to get table service or private karaoke rooms. Enjoy a mix of hip-hop and top 40 hits, as well as dance music. The event runs from 9 p.m. until 4 a.m. Business casual or standard night club dress code applies. The cover charge is $20. 

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. This free yoga class is designed to help attendees start the Lunar New Year with a fresh start. Wear red, if possible. Bring a mat or towel. The class starts at 8 a.m. at the Lululemon store at Ala Moana Center. Water is provided. Afterward, shop the Lunar New Year collection. 

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This event will have attendees building a 2026 mini bingo card, which can be turned into a magnet or key chain. The goal is to get the group back on track with New Year’s resolutions for 2026. Attendees must be at least 18 years old. No artistic experience is needed. Craft as golden hour settles over the North Shore at LPN Farms. Tickets start at $55. 

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. From Chinese food to coffee and pastries, Food and Dining Reporter 

This challenge asks participants to join a virtual challenge and commit to 2.026 miles, 20.26 miles or 202.6 miles in the year of 2026. Registration for the virtual race costs $25. It includes a commemorative medal and bib, plus 15% of the registration fee goes to the nonprofit Soles4Soles, which takes donated used shoes and creates business opportunities for low-income families across the world. 

 Head to the Royal Hawaiian Center to catch a lion dance from the Lung Kong Physical Culture Club, which will visit The Royal Grove and participating stores. The event starts at 5 p.m. 

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Waikīkī Beach Walk Welcomes Lunar New Year. 

There will be a pole-jumping performance at 5 p.m. at Waikīkī Beach Walk Plaza. Lion dancers will visit retail stores and restaurants after that. 

 Watch an acrobatic lion dance from the Wah Ngai Lion Dance Association at The Royal Grove within the Royal Hawaiian Center. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. 

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 will share traditional Chinese folk dance at The Royal Grove within the Royal Hawaiian Center. The performance starts at 3:30 p.m. 

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This all-day event includes live entertainment, food and craft vendors, and a keiki zone. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Palama Settlement. Parking is available at Likelike Elementary School. Free. 

Chinese New Year with Mahjong Social Club. 

This monthly competitive mahjong community is meeting to celebrate Chinese New Year. The friendly competition is for experienced players only. The event includes a nightmarket with food and vendors. Dress your best. Arrive promptly at 4 p.m. to play. The winner takes home a grand prize. Mahjong costs $15 and includes a complimentary herbal mocktail. 

 Catch calligraphy with Ina Chang at The Royal Grove within the Royal Hawaiian Center. The event runs from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. 

Chinatown Festival and Parade

<title>What to do for Lunar New Year on Oʻahu: parades, lion dances, and more</title>

Across Oʻahu, residents are preparing to usher in the year of the fire horse, which starts Tuesday, Feb. 17. Events in the next few weeks include parades, lion dances and opportunities to set intentions for the new year.

What to do for Lunar New Year on Oʻahu: parades, lion dances, and more

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

[{"type":"text","text":"A new sandwich shop is opening tomorrow in Kapolei."}]

 — whose original location is in Kāhala — is opening its second location in Kapolei tomorrow, Feb. 10. The business is located next to Daiichi Ramen in the same plaza as Consolidated Theatres Kapolei. 

The menu at this location is the same as the business’s Kāhala store. Customers can choose from a variety of hot and cold sandwiches in mini, small, medium or large sizes. (During our media preview, menu prices were not yet available.) 

Popular hot sandwiches include The Hot Bobbie — the eatery’s signature dish, made with turkey, cranberry, stuffing and mayo — classic cheesesteak, and Capastrami. The latter is a combo of pastrami, Swiss, coleslaw and Russian dressing.

Meanwhile, popular cold subs include Cap’s BLT and American wagyu club. The latter features Snake River Farms wagyu, turkey, bacon, provolone, onions, lettuce, tomato and mayo.

Customers can also look forward to plant-based options; sides like loaded cheesesteak fries; and salads.

[{"type":"text","text":"The store will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m."}]

Capriottis Kapolei wagyu club 020926

<title>New sandwich shop opening in Kapolei</title>

Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop is opening its new Kapolei location on Tuesday, Feb. 10. The business is known for its loaded hot and cold subs; bestsellers include Cap’s BLT, classic cheesesteak and The Bobbie.

New sandwich shop opening in Kapolei

 A storm system bringing severe weather to the Islands has prompted a number of closures across the state.

In advance of the severe weather conditions, Gov. Josh Green issued an emergency proclamation effective through Feb. 11 unless extended “to mobilize state resources and support response efforts.”

“The safety of our residents and visitors is our top priority,” Green said in an announcement Sunday. “We know this storm system could bring conditions that make travel unsafe and threaten property. Please take this time to secure your home, check on loved ones and heed guidance from emergency officials. Hawaiʻi is strongest when we look out for one another – and that starts with being prepared.”

You can find preparation guidelines, as well as links to sign up for alerts from your own county’s emergency management agencies, on the 

Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency website

·      All state offices and the state Department of Education schools across all islands will be closed Monday, Feb. 9, the Governor’s Office notes. Affected state employees will receive administrative leave for the day, but essential personnel and emergency response workers should follow guidance from their supervisors.

·      All University of Hawaiʻi campuses will be closed Monday and all in-person and online classes are canceled. Employees critical to health, safety and recovery operations should check with their supervisors regarding reporting requirements, the university says.

·      The Hawaiʻi State Legislature will be closed Monday.

·      The Judiciary also will close all courthouses and operations on Monday. Filing deadlines have been extended to Tuesday and all hearings will be rescheduled, the governor’s office notes.

·      All Division I boys basketball regional first-round games originally scheduled for Monday have been postponed and will be held instead on Tuesday, Feb. 10, according to 

Hawaiʻi High School Athletic Association

 for more information and for specific site-by-site tip-off times and location updates. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"On Oʻahu:"}]

·      The City and County of Honolulu will close all non-essential offices and services through at least Monday. Non-essential personnel should not report to work, the city said in an announcement Sunday.

·      The Honolulu Zoo closed Sunday in an effort to protect visitors, staff and the animals. In an announcement, the city says it will monitor weather conditions and work with city emergency management officials to determine a reopening date. Updates will be posted to the zoo’s social media.

·      All Honolulu municipal golf courses are temporarily closed.

·      The city’s park facilities are closed for public use through Feb. 9, including athletic fields, pools, outdoor courts and other outdoor park facilities. According to the Department of Parks and Recreation, all  permitted activities and park classes are canceled. All Honolulu Botanical Gardens will also remain closed through Monday. The Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is regularly closed on Monday and Tuesday, DPR noted.

·      Overnight camping at all city campgrounds was suspended Saturday night, with the closure lasting through Wednesday, Feb. 11, the city says.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"On Neighbor Islands:"}]

  noted that its solid waste facilities and most county park facilities, including all beach parks, were closed. All non-essential county services will be closed Monday.

As of 3 p.m. Sunday, shelters have opened at Waimea Community Center, 65-1260 Kawaihae Road, Waimea; Ikuo Hisaoka Gymnasium, 54-382 Kamehameha Park Road, Kapaʻau; Honokaʻa Sports Complex Gym, 45-541 Lehua St. Honokaʻa; and Papāʻaloa Park Community Center, 35-1994 Government Main Road, Papāʻaloa.

Waipio Valley Road will be closed through 8 a.m. Tuesday, with access only for valley residents and farmers.

, Kauaʻi County Emergency Management Agency noted that emergency refuge areas were on standby and locations will be announced if needed and as they become available. Meanwhile, refuse transfer stations and the Kekaha Landfill may close with little or no advance notice because of weather conditions.

Kūhiō Highway near the Hanalei Bridge may also close with little or no advance notice, particularly if a flash flood warning is issued, the county notes.

·      On Maui, Hāna Highway via Haʻikū and Kaupō has been restricted to local access only due to safety concerns from fallen trees and landslides, the county said in an 

Those who are unsheltered and seeking dry shelter during the story can go to Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Center in Wailuku and must sign in at the operations desk for assistance.

Kepaniwai Heritage Park in ʻĪao Valley also was closed Sunday due to rising waters and rain safety concerns, the announcement noted.

, northeast winds from 25 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph are expected Sunday night, along with showers and isolated thunderstorms.

Monday is expected to be very windy with showers and isolated thunderstorms “windward and mountains.” Locally heavy rainfall is possible. East winds are expected to reach 25 to 40 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph.

As of Sunday afternoon, a high wind warning is in effect for all islands until 6 p.m. Monday and a high surf warning is in effect until 6 a.m. Tuesday for the east-facing shores of Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokai, Maui, Kahoʻolawe and Hawaiʻi Island.

 that a gale warning is in effect until 6 p.m. Monday for all Hawaiian coastal waters, and a flood watch in in effect for all islands through 6 p.m. Monday.

And on the Big Island, a winter storm warning is in effect for  summits above 11,000 feet in elevation through 6 p.m. Monday, with snow accumulations of 10 to 16 inches expected on the summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":" "}]

Storm damage Feb 2026

<title>Storm closures across the Islands</title>

High winds Sunday have led to a range of closures Monday, from schools to the Legislature.

Storm closures across the Islands

Scan 20241017 2

Corey Idleburg

Government & Politics

Malia, a single mother of two, works full-time as a medical assistant in Honolulu, earning about $47,000 a year. Malia spends 60% of her paycheck on rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Kalihi, and most weeks, she runs out of money for groceries, so she relies on local food banks until her next paycheck. When her daughter needed urgent care last month, Malia delayed the visit for three days because she was between insurance coverage. Her 15-year-old car broke down, and without $1,200 for repairs, she now spends 3 hours a day on TheBus getting to work and to her kids' school.

By the government's measure, Malia isn't poor because her income is well above the poverty threshold of $39,852 for a family of three, so she does not qualify for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance, or SNAP.

Malia's story reveals a critical gap in how we understand economic hardship in Hawai

i: the official poverty rate was 10.1% in 2023, suggesting nine out of 10 Hawai

i residents are doing fine. But that single number, based only on income, masks the reality that hundreds of thousands of families face compounding challenges that income alone can't measure.

[{"type":"text","text":"The measurement gap"}]

For more than 60 years, the United States has measured poverty the same way: calculate the minimum income needed to afford food, multiply by three, and adjust for family size. If your income falls below that threshold, you're officially poor. If it doesn't, you're not.

This approach made sense in 1963 when the poverty line was created, and families spent about one-third of their income on food. But it hasn't kept pace with how family budgets have changed, especially in Hawai

i, where housing, not food, has become the dominant expense.

The federal poverty threshold for a family of three is $24,860. Hawai

i's official threshold is about 15% higher, at roughly $28,000, to account for our elevated costs. But even this adjustment misses the mark. According to the latest data, the median rent for a two-bedroom apartment in urban Honolulu exceeds $2,200 per month, or $26,400 annually, which is more than the entire federal poverty threshold for a family of three.

Researchers have long known that income-based poverty measures miss critical dimensions of hardship. People need more than a minimum income; they need affordable housing, access to nutritious food, health care, education, and reliable transportation. When families lack these basics simultaneously, the impact compounds in ways that a simple income threshold can't capture.

Consider food security, or rather, the lack of it. While official poverty statistics counted 10.1% of Hawai

i's population as poor in 2023, a comprehensive study by Hawai

i Foodbank found that 32% of households experienced food insecurity in 2024. That's nearly one in three families who are uncertain about where their next meal will come from.

The numbers are even starker in specific communities. On Hawai

i Island, 40% of households faced food insecurity. Among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander families, the rate exceeded 40%. Six percent of children went entire days without eating.

These aren't people captured by the poverty line. Many are working full-time. They're making choices between paying rent and buying groceries, between electricity and fresh vegetables. The official poverty rate doesn't ask these questions.

The housing story is similarly obscured. Official poverty measures acknowledge housing exists, but they don't measure whether families can actually afford it. Separate data from Aloha United Way paints a different picture: 44% of households are "ALICE"— Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. These families earn above the poverty line but can't afford basic necessities including housing, childcare, food, transportation and health care.

This isn't about living comfortably. The ALICE threshold represents a bare-minimum budget: the cheapest housing available, the least expensive childcare, minimal food costs, basic transportation and catastrophic-only health insurance. Nearly half of Hawai

i families can't meet even this survival budget, despite working.

Health care access reveals another dimension. While the official poverty rate doesn't measure health insurance coverage, American Community Survey data shows that in 2023, approximately 12% of Hawai

i's working-age population lacked health insurance. Those without coverage face impossible choices when illness strikes — forgo care and risk worsening conditions, or seek treatment and face bills that can push families into debt.

The challenge extends beyond insurance. The federal government has designated large swaths of rural Hawai

i as Medically Underserved Areas, including all of Kauaʻi, Molokaʻi, most of Hawai

i Island, and parts of Maui and Oʻahu. Families in these areas face long drives to reach basic medical care, a burden that compounds when transportation is already a struggle.

[{"type":"text","text":"How hardships intersect"}]

Understanding poverty requires seeing how these challenges interlock. A family paying 60% of income for rent has little left for food, leading to food insecurity. Food insecurity affects children's ability to concentrate in school, impacting educational outcomes. Poor educational outcomes limit future employment opportunities. Lack of reliable transportation makes it harder to access better-paying jobs, quality health care, or affordable grocery stores. Each deprivation reinforces the others.

This is what researchers call "multidimensional poverty": the experience of simultaneous deprivations across multiple areas of life. While national researchers have developed frameworks to measure this, Hawai

i lacks a comprehensive local measure that accounts for our unique circumstances.

i's veterans, a population where we actually have good data tracking multiple dimensions. According to federal housing data, approximately 20,270 Hawai

i veterans, 36% of veteran homeowners, face housing affordability challenges, living in homes with quality problems, overcrowding, or severe cost burdens. Federal estimates suggest 283 veterans experience homelessness. These housing challenges often intersect with health care needs, employment barriers and food insecurity.

i has also shown what targeted, multidimensional intervention can achieve with this population. Between 2015 and 2022, the state reduced veteran homelessness by 51%, far exceeding the national average. This success came from programs that addressed not just housing but also health care, employment support and case management. It demonstrates both the importance of measuring multiple dimensions and the potential for coordinated solutions.

[{"type":"text","text":"The full picture"}]

When we look across multiple measures, a more complete picture emerges. The official poverty rate captures 10.1% of the population. But:

These aren't separate groups of people. There's substantial overlap. A single working mother might be above the poverty line (not counted as poor), but experience food insecurity (counted in the 32%), qualify as ALICE (counted in the 44%), live in a medically underserved area, and spend 65% of her income on rent. Each challenge makes the others harder to overcome.

The demographics reveal additional layers. Native Hawai

an and Pacific Islander families experience food insecurity at rates exceeding 40%. Hawai

i Island shows both the highest food insecurity (40%) and significant challenges with health care access. Families with children face particularly acute pressures, with 34% of households with children reporting that one or more keiki is food insecure.

[{"type":"text","text":"Why measurement matters"}]

Why does measurement matter? Because how we count determines what we see, and what we see shapes how we respond.

When we measure only income-based poverty, we miss the working families who are one car repair away from crisis. We overlook the trade-offs families make between food and rent, between health care and electricity. We fail to see how geographic isolation compounds economic challenges in rural areas. We don't capture the full scope of need in our communities.

Better measurement doesn't automatically create solutions, but it enables smarter responses. The success in reducing veteran homelessness came from recognizing that housing alone wasn't enough. Veterans needed coordinated support across multiple dimensions. Food banks can target resources more effectively when they understand which communities face the highest rates of food insecurity. Policymakers can design programs that address the interactions between housing costs and food security rather than treating them as separate issues.

More comprehensive measurement also reveals what's working. If Hawai

i implements programs to reduce housing cost burdens, we can track whether food insecurity also decreases. When we improve transportation access, we can measure impacts on health care utilization and employment. Understanding how challenges intersect allows us to identify interventions that create positive ripple effects across multiple areas.

[{"type":"text","text":"Moving toward understanding"}]

i faces unique economic challenges that national poverty measures weren't designed to capture. Our housing costs rank among the nation's highest. Our island geography creates barriers to accessing services that mainlanders take for granted. Our diverse population experiences hardship differently across communities. Our dependence on shipping makes us vulnerable to supply chain disruptions that affect food security.

Developing a more comprehensive understanding of economic hardship in Hawai

i would help us see these intersections clearly. Several states and regions have created multidimensional poverty measures tailored to their specific contexts. Hawai

i could do the same, incorporating our existing data on food security, housing affordability, health care access, and geographic challenges into a framework that shows how these factors combine.

The goal isn't to prove that more people are struggling, though the data suggests current measures significantly undercount hardship. Rather, it's to understand the nature of that struggle more completely. Only by seeing the full picture can communities, organizations and policymakers develop responses that address the actual challenges Hawai

i families face, not just the ones that fit neatly into a single income threshold created more than 60 years ago.

Reprinted with permission from Corey Idleburg, executive director of 

The Learning Observatory, a Hawaiʻi nonprofit focused on research translation and public learning. Learn more at 

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