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ASD Staff

Hawai'i Skies

Today's Hawai'i Skies was captured by Wendy Roberts on Waimānalo Beach. "This was the third rainbow we saw this day but this one stood out!  Truly a magical sight."

To submit your Hawai'i Skies photo, visit us 

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25 11 18 Steven Roberts

<title>Hawai'i Skies: A magical sight</title>

Today's Hawai'i Skies was captured by Wendy Roberts on Waimānalo Beach.

Hawai'i Skies: A magical sight

Today&#039;s Hawai&#039;i Skies was captured by Wendy Roberts on Waimānalo Beach. &quot;This was the third rainbow we saw this day but this one stood out!  Truly a magical sight.&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.

Daily Smile

[{"type":"text","text":"Puppy slide..."}]

Smile 26 4 5

<title>Daily Smile: Sunday, April 5, 2026</title>

Puppy slide...

Daily Smile: Sunday, April 5, 2026

[{"type":"text","text":"Now give him a treat..."}]

Smile 26 4 4

<title>Daily Smile: Saturday, April 4, 2026</title>

Now give him a treat...

Daily Smile: Saturday, April 4, 2026

Higa headshot white shirt square

Sterling Higa

Columnists

Stand-up comedian Tumua is doing crowd work somewhere on the Mainland, and 

 from the audience. The guy is from Kauaʻi, not born and raised, but “flown there, grown there.” He hasn’t lived there in nine years. While Tumua works the crowd, the guy shouts “chee hoo.” Tumua says, “That’s a solid chee hoo, man.” He does it again. Tumua has to shush him.

It’s a small moment, and Tumua plays it off with dry affection. The guy is playing out what he remembers of a place he left nine years ago. Much of the crowd never lived there at all.

Frank De Lima didn’t have that problem performing locally. Most of his audience hadn’t left. They were in the room — sharing the same plate lunch memories, cringing at the same accents, laughing because every joke was an inside joke. This wasn’t an introduction to local culture. It was a reminder, a celebration, even a reinforcement.

The plantation village was a truly different kind of place — shared land, shared labor, ethnic groups pressed close together with no way out. Filipinos, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, and Hawaiians were all crowded into the same neighborhoods and schools. What came out of it — the food, the humor, the pidgin — came from people who couldn’t opt out of each other.

Even as that world was dissolving, people reached back for its symbols. By 1978, a political movement called Palaka Power had taken the plantation worker’s cloth as its name — a clear link to the past. The Palaka Power 

 said so plainly. The writers also noted, in the same breath: the ILWU was declining, sugar and pine would soon be gone, the Democrats of the ‘54 Revolution had mostly left the arena. They chose the symbol precisely because the reality was already receding. The myth was always partly constructed. But it was backed, then, by people who had actually 

The built world that replaced the plantation village included public housing, suburbs, and apartments. The Mainland has all of those. And then came radio, television, the internet, smartphones, and eventually TikTok.

Stand in the Sandy Beach parking lot on a Saturday. A kid near the lifeguard stand is hitting a vape and dancing to a song trending in Atlanta. The shaka sticker on the bumper is working harder than it used to. But social media didn’t cause any of this. It arrived to find the flattening of culture mostly finished and has been tracking it ever since.

The audience for local content skews diaspora: Aunties in Vallejo, Kalihi kids now in Las Vegas, people holding onto something they can’t quite name.

Nostalgia is real. But it runs in one direction. You can package a memory and ship it to Fresno. What you can’t do is put it back. A friend put it plainly: are we our own cover band?

Distinct cultures are not accidents. They grow from particular people living side by side. The plantation village wasn’t a brand. It was a neighborhood. The shaka sticker can travel, but the neighborhood can’t. Something real is lost when a place becomes content.

. He’s reaching for something he actually had, once. What is it, exactly? The memory of a place, a people. The kind of memory that swells within and erupts in shouts — or tears. It’s the memory that many hold of Hawai‘i, even those who visited only for a week.

Nostalgia can become sinful when we deceive ourselves. It’s easy to romanticize farm labor from the comfort of air-conditioned offices, but the plantations were not a paradise. And neither is Hawai‘i. The past is worth a visit, but no place to make a home. 

That’s a solid chee hoo, man — but once is enough. Shush.

Pineapple Plantation housing 16x9 Large

<title>What's in a chee hoo?</title>

Generations removed from the plantation era that forged it, local culture is in danger of becoming a nostalgia-fueled performance of itself, writes ASD columnist Sterling Higa.

What's in a chee hoo?

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

, located at Kapiʻolani Boulevard and Kalākaua Avenue on Oʻahu, opens April 2. 

This location is unique in that there is no drive-thru and is a dine-in location only. The restaurant can seat about 260 individuals, and Kurt Milne, owner/operator of Chick-fil-A Kapiʻolani & Kalākaua, is excited for customers to see the new space.

“I’m excited to invite people back in,” he says. “As you know, we have a drive-thru on Beretania Street; there’s a Chick-fil-A in Ala Moana Center. This will be the very first dining room in the greater Honolulu area.”

Milne is also the current owner-operator of Chick-fil-A Ala Moana Center. He says his experience at that store helped him to prepare for the Kapiʻolani & Kalākaua store’s opening.

“We were the first to open on Oʻahu in October 2022,” he says. “It wasn’t until eight months later that the Makiki store opened. We’re used to busy crowds; we’ve gotten good at our speed of service, making sure that people get in line fast and get out of line fast. We’re going to do the same here, but we can add a little extra touch, now that there’s a dining room, and provide some good service.”

Customers can stand in line to order; can order via the Chick-fil-A mobile app; or they can scan the QR code located on their table to order. Their orders will be brought to their tables when this “mobile dine-in” experience is used, according to Milne.

“We encourage guests to download the Chick-fil-A app; they can place their orders ahead of time,” Milne says. “Local owners and operators send out free items via the app often; usually once a week, I’ll send out a free item. So, if you have the app, you’re going to get a free item, earn points and you can order ahead.”

Free items can range from a free lemonade to a free sandwich or kid’s meal, according to Milne.

The designated event space — which can seat around 60 people — can be used for birthdays, business meetings and celebrations. It features a flexible layout, audio and visual equipment, and free wi-fi. Customers interested in reserving this space can call 808-909-3908 or ask a team member about it; there’s also a QR code they can scan for more information inside the restaurant.

The Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich is the most popular item, but other customer favorites include waffle potato fries and the spicy chicken sandwich.

Customers can enter the restaurant’s parking lot from Kalākaua Avenue or Kapiʻolani Boulevard, but we’re told Kapiʻolani Boulevard is the preferred route.

There is also a designated area in the restaurant for delivery drivers to pick up their orders.

Open from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays; closed on Sundays

Chick fil A owner 040126

<title>Inside look at the largest Chick-fil-A in Hawai‘i</title>

The restaurant — located at Kapiʻolani Boulevard and Kalākaua Avenue — opens on April 2, with set hours from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays. Aloha State Daily got a preview of the new space at a media event, where we spoke with owner/operator Kurt Milne.

Inside look at the largest Chick-fil-A in Hawai‘i

Kam Napier Headshot

A. Kam Napier

Arts & Entertainment

Onlookers were stunned on Sunday, March 29, when the famous Scottish lake monster, affectionately known as Nessie, broached the waters of the equally famous Ala Wai Canal.

[{"type":"text","text":"ASD was first on the scene, bringing you these exclusive photos."}]

We were soon joined by noted Isle cryptozoologist Sigmund Zack, who said he was alerted by postings on the private social media channel of a secretive monster hunter society.

“I never thought I’d see the day!” said Zack. “I had been saving up all my Atmos Rewards miles for a trip to Scotland and now this happens — amazing!”

The creature kept perfectly still, head in the air, as if embarrassed to be caught in the open in broad daylight.

[{"type":"text","text":"Isn’t Nessie a little far from home? we asked."}]

“It’s 42 degrees in Loch Ness,” says noted Isle cryptozoologist Sigmund Zack. “That’s Fahrenheit, it’s sounds even worse in Centigrade, just 5 or 6 degrees! So the question isn’t, ‘Why would Nessie swim 7,000 miles to vacation in Waikīkī?” it’s ‘Why wouldn’t he?”

Zack speculated on the beast’s route across the Atlantic, down the Eastern Seaboard, through the Panama Canal, past Easter Island, finally arriving in the Islands with uncanny navigational skill. Was Waikīkī its final destination?

He shrugged. “There’s just so much we don’t know about Nessie. Its mating habits, its taste in streaming content, its connection, if any, to Big Foot. So many blanks to fill!”

Could Nessie pose a threat? If, as theories suggest, the lake monster is a Plesiosaurus, a living fossil from the Jurassic period, it’s likely to be carnivorous.

At that, Zack narrowed his eyes and dashed off a quick text message to unknown parties.

“I want to assure people,” he said to ASD, “that Nessie would never use its long neck, jagged teeth, lightning reflexes and propulsive swimming ability to pluck people from the sidewalk in a flash and drag them down into the Ala Wai as a snack. Not joggers, not kids, definitely not pets. And definitely not at night, when no one would notice. Nope. Definitely not.”

A crowd had gathered. Someone noted that the long neck and apparent humps of the sinewy serpent looked suspiciously like a log carried into the canal by the recent Kona Low deluge. 

[{"type":"text","text":"Zack threw up his hands."}]

 you to think!” he exclaimed. “Listen, people, and look at these photos,” he said, taking ASD’s iPhone and rummaging through the photos without so much as a thank you.

“The first photo is from 2:48 p.m. and the creature is clearly facing makai, looking into the feeding grounds — I mean, excuse me, the 

 — of Waikīkī. Then, just 12 minutes later, he is photographed again — by a journalist, mind you — this time facing mauka, possibly toward the ball field for leaner prey, I mean, where people play.

“Now, you tell me, what kind of log can change direction on its own, huh? Only flippers can do that!”

As he wrapped up on that conclusive, scientific point, Zack handed back ASD’s phone, took one last look at the bleached, scaly, possibly bark-like hide of the beast and walked off in a hurry.

[{"type":"text","text":"Happy April Fools’ Day, everyone!"}]

Nessie 29 March 2 48 pm 16x9

<title>Loch Ness monster spotted in Ala Wai Canal</title>

“It’s 42 degrees in Loch Ness,” says noted Isle cryptozoologist Sigmund Zack. “The question isn’t, ‘Why would Nessie swim 7,000 miles to vacation in Waikīkī?” it’s ‘Why wouldn’t he?”

Loch Ness monster spotted in Ala Wai Canal

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines are approaching the next major step in their combination — the rollout of a shared passenger service system on April 22 — but ahead of that milestone, passengers should take note of a few other changes underway now.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Tag your bag"}]

New self-service bag-tag software on kiosks in Hawaiian’s airport lobbies will enable guests to use kiosks to print and attach baggage destination tags, or bag tags, before proceeding to the bag drop areas, a recent 

. Meanwhile, the airline will shift to mobile and web check-in as the main way for guests to get their boarding passes.

“The upgrade is designed to reduce lobby wait times and congestion, making it easier for all guests to get to their departure gate, as well as reduce waste by discontinuing printed boarding passes,” the post states.

Airline spokesperson Tara Shimooka told Aloha State Daily on Friday that Hawaiian was already making the transition at its Mainland stations, with plans to start at Hawai‘i airports this week and into early April. The kiosks will be solely for printing bag tags, she says.

[{"type":"text","text":"This move aligns Hawaiian with Alaska’s check-in process."}]

“Whether you’re flying Alaska or Hawaiian, the check-in process is the same,” says Shimooka. She did, however, add that guests who may not be tech savvy or aren’t ready to make that change, can still check in with an agent to receive their boarding pass.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"One app to rule them all"}]

Starting Monday, you’ll find a single unified Alaska Hawaiian mobile app in your app store.

, the airline noted that as part of the transition to a single mobile platform, the current Alaska Airlines app will update automatically for most guests starting Monday, March 30. Meanwhile, the legacy Hawaiian Airlines app will remain available through April 21.

Anyone who’s booked on a Hawaiian Airlines flight through that date should continue to use the legacy Hawaiian mobile app for check-in and day-of travel updates, the airline says.

Shimooka told ASD that the full functionality of the single app won’t kick in for Hawaiian app users until the PSS rolls out April 22.

According to the blog, beginning on April 22, Hawaiian app users will be able to change or cancel flights directly in the app, share boarding passes and book flights with more than 30 

, including oneworld alliance members, using cash or points. There also will be Apple Pay integration.

You’ll still be able to manage existing travel, and Atmos Rewards benefits, login and passwords will remain unchanged, the post notes.

And although the single app supports both airlines, users can choose between an Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines theme.

“The unified app is a key milestone in Alaska and Hawaiian's ongoing investments to deliver a seamless guest experience across its combined global network,” the airlines said. “Today, guests benefit from shared lobby spaces, reduced lobby lines with modern bag-tag stations and a best-in-class loyalty program.

“By bringing both airlines into one app and the same passenger service system on April 22, guests will enjoy simplified trip management and self-service features across Alaska and Hawaiian airlines, and consistent performance improvements to our technology.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Coming soon"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"What is a passenger service system?"}]

"It means that instead of having two separate systems where tickets are housed, [it's] all in one," Hawaiian Airlines CEO Diana Birkett Rakow told ASD following a pau hana hosted by Chamber of Commerce Hawai‘i earlier this month, where she shared updates about the company. "So one confirmation code, any employee can help you with your ticket, it just makes the travel experience more seamless across the brands."

Spokesperson Alex Da Silva says it’s usually referred to as the central nervous system of IT for an airline, with every piece of passenger information connected to the PSS — when you book, when you’re issued your record locator, day-of travel updates, post-trip emails and even the information on the baggage tag system, on the app and loyalty information.

“That’s why we launched things in sequence and in phases,” he explained. “The Atmos Rewards program came first, the baggage tag system came next, and now we’re rolling out the app right as we get ready to join PSS, so that by the time we all join, all of the systems [are] up and running, they’re online and it allows our employees … to service every guest, whether they’re flying Hawaiian or Alaska, which we know has been sort of a frustrating limitation of the combination so far. That’s why we’re super excited to be on the same PSS, because it’s going to make lives easier for our guests, but also our employees.”

Alaska Air Group Inc. and Hawaiian Holdings Inc. 

 that Alaska Airlines would acquire Hawaiian Airlines in a deal that was valued at approximately $1.9 billion, including $900 million of Hawaiian’s net debt, according to an announcement at that time. The acquisition was 

There were four major integration milestones, Da Silva said: the launch of a single loyalty program, 

 from the Federal Aviation Administration; the single passenger service system; and the joint collective bargaining agreements for the airlines’ various unions.

, the same day that Alaska Airlines received its 

Earlier this year, Hawaiian Airlines and state officials announced the 

, which includes investments of more than $600 million over the next five years “to modernize airport spaces, aircraft cabins and technology for both guests and employees, expanding loyalty benefits for Hawai‘i residents and continuing our deep investment in community and sustainability statewide,” Birkett Rakow said at that time.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Hawai'i Skies: A magical sight

ASD Staff

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Hawai'i Skies: A magical sight

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ASD Staff

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