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Hawai'i Skies

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Peter Caldwell near the top of ʻĀlewa Drive. "Fortunate to have lived near the top of ʻĀlewa Drive since 1973. Get to frequently enjoy this view from our second story lanai, as well as ānuenue over Nuʻuanu Valley with mauka showers on the other side. Sure reminds us every day how lucky we are that Hawai'i is our home."

To submit your Hawai'i Skies photo, visit us 

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25 12 8 Peter Caldwell 16x9

<title>Hawai‘i Skies: Hawai‘i is our home</title>

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Peter Caldwell near the top of ʻĀlewa Drive.

Hawai‘i Skies: Hawai‘i is our home

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Peter Caldwell near the top of ʻĀlewa Drive. "Fortunate to have lived near the top of ʻĀlewa Drive since 1973. Get to frequently enjoy this view from our second story lanai, as well as ānuenue over Nuʻuanu Valley with mauka showers on the other side. Sure reminds us every day how lucky we are that Hawai'i is our home." 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.

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Aloha Spirit

The Hawai‘i Wildlife Center on Friday said it has treated more than 1,000 native seabirds during the ongoing, and record, seabird fallout season.

Seabird fallout season typically spans roughly 

 each year. It’s the time of year when young seabirds — like fledging ‘ua‘u, or Hawaiian petrels, and ‘ua‘u kani, or wedge-tailed shearwaters — taking their first flights from their burrows to the ocean can become disoriented by artificial lights and fall to the ground, making them vulnerable to predators and cars.

HWC —  one of two organizations permitted by state and federal wildlife agencies to provide medical treatment and rehabilitation care to native winged wildlife, including native bird species and the Hawaiian hoary bat — often cares for these downed birds.

In an announcement Friday, the Hawai‘i Island-based nonprofit says more than 1,000 native seabirds were rescued between September and December and that the 1,441 patients so far this year have surpassed last year’s patient count of 1,028.

HWC Development Director Rae Okawa told Aloha State Daily in an email that the numbers fluctuate somewhat year-to-year.

“Even though we handle hundreds of birds each year, we were still surprised [by the uptick in patients this year],” she says, noting that the previous fallout season record was 712 birds in 2023.

Among the factors Okawa says could be contributing to that increase is a greater public awareness.

"We had a lot of people come to the drop-off tent or call our office expressing that they would see these downed seabirds every year, but didn't know what they were or that they needed help," she said. "The public played a huge role in the success of this year's response and we want to send our kudos and gratitude to everyone!"

Other factors that could contribute to the increase also include that ‘ua‘u kani populations are doing better because conservation efforts; and that the peak of fallout season aligned with the new moon, which is when the sky is at its darkest and there’s no moonlight to compete with urban lights, Okawa noted.

HWC says the surge this year was supported by a longstanding partnership with the Kailua-based Feather & Fur Animal Hospital, an intake location that receives downed seabirds around-the-clock. The organization's O‘ahu-based staff are set up there to assess incoming birds and administer care, the announcement noted.

“In November alone, during the height of fallout season, 983 ‘ua‘u kani (wedge-tailed shearwaters) were admitted, including 102 in a single day,” the announcement noted. “Quick action by the public, dedicated volunteers and close collaboration with Feather & Fur contributed to the successful release of nearly 800 seabirds to date, a number that is expected to grow as additional patients complete rehabilitation.”

Earlier in the season, HWC treated its 6,000th patient — an ‘ua‘u that was found on the water off Lāna‘i and ultimately released on Nov. 3, as ASD previously reported.

HWC said Friday that to recognize the milestone, Gov. Josh Green proclaimed Dec. 15 as “Bird and Bat Day in Hawai‘i.," and to mark the achievement, 

Tim Richards and state Rep. David Tarnas both visited the center's Big Island headquarters.

“This year’s record numbers remind us how vulnerable our seabirds are and how powerful our community can be in helping to ensure they receive appropriate care and rehabilitation,” Linda Elliott, president and founder of the Hawai‘i Wildlife Center, said in the announcement. “2025 has been a pivotal year for HWC, and the recognition from Governor Green affirms how important this work is for Hawai‘i’s native wildlife. We are deeply grateful to everyone who supported us this season.”

HWC’s main facility is located in Kapa‘au on Hawai‘i Island but it has satellite operations on O‘ahu and Lāna‘i and partner projects throughout the state, its 

. That includes a clinic at the Honolulu Zoo.

ASD previously spoke with Elliott about the HWC, its work and what you should do if you find a downed seabird. You can 

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Uau kani Wedge tailed Shearwaters1

<title>Seabird rescues reach record levels</title>

The Hawai‘i Wildlife Center says more than 1,000 native seabirds were rescued between September and December, which is seabird fallout season.

Seabird rescues reach record levels

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

Crime & Courts

The U.S. Department of Justice has sued the state of Hawai‘i for having failed to disclose voting records.

On Thursday, the Justice Department filed a 

 in U.S. District Court against Scott Nago, Hawai‘i's Chief Elections Officer, accusing him of violating the 1960 Civil Rights Act by refusing to provide state voter registration information when requested.

The lawsuit is one of 18 suits the DOJ has filed against other states over their voter files, and one of four filed on Thursday. The other three suits filed this week — against 

 — are substantially similar to the Hawai‘i suit.

All four of the Thursday suits argue that the 

 requires that all state election officers retain and preserve all records and papers pertaining to an election for at least 22 months. Any record preserved in this way must also be presented to the Attorney General for inspection upon request.

Throughout the year, the Justice Department has sent demands to 40 U.S. states for copies of their statewide voter registration files. Harmeet Dhillon, U.S. Assistant Attorney General sent such a demand to Hawai‘i’s Chief Elections Officer, Scott Nago, on Sept. 8.

That demand called for a copy of the state’s full voter registration list, including all registered voters’ full names, addresses, driver’s license numbers or the last four digits of their Social Security numbers.

Nago refused. On Sept. 22 — exactly on the day Dhillon’s 14-day deadline ended — Nago sent a response claiming that state law prevents him from complying with the DOJ’s request.

, which states that a voter’s full name, their district or precinct and their voter status can be publicly disclosed, but all other personal information shall remain confidential save as provided by rules created by the Chief Election Officer.

 by which a request for non-public voter registration information can be granted. That process requires a sworn certification describing the purpose for which the information is sought, affirming that the information will only be used for government purposes, and that the information will not be sold, released, distributed or used for commercial purposes.

While Dhillon’s letter included assurances that the data would be subject to federal privacy protections, those assurances were not sworn certifications.

Nago’s letter also challenged the idea that DOJ was authorized to request such data by federal law. Dhillon’s letter cited the 1993 

 and the 1960 Civil Rights Act as the basis for the Attorney General’s right to inspect voter registration records.

However, Nago disagreed in his letter, concluding that neither the NVRA nor HAVA have anything in their text requiring a state to turn over personal information about voters. Meanwhile, the Civil Rights Act, he wrote, still requires the Attorney General to explain the purpose for requesting such personal data; Dhillon’s letter only states that the DOJ seeks the data to evaluate the state’s compliance with the terms of the NVRA.

Nago’s letter concludes with concerns about the ultimate purpose of this data.

“It has been reported that the Department of Justice intends to send requests like the one received by Hawai‘i to all fifty states as part of an ‘effort to essentially establish a national voting database,’” Nago’s wrote in September, quoting a 

. “This raises additional privacy concerns and appears unrelated to the stated purpose of the request, which is to ensure Hawai‘i's compliance with the NVRA and HAVA.”

The Hawai‘i lawsuit urges the court to order Nago to comply with Dhillon’s September letter and provide the data requested.

“States have the statutory duty to preserve and protect their constituents from vote dilution,” Dhillon said in a 

 Friday. “At this Department of Justice, we will not permit states to jeopardize the integrity and effectiveness of elections by refusing to abide by our federal elections laws. If states will not fulfill their duty to protect the integrity of the ballot, we will.”

 among the 40 that have received such a DOJ request — Indiana and Wyoming — are known to have turned over their full voter registration lists.

Aloha State Daily reached out to the Hawai‘i Office of Elections for comment.

Courtfed

<title>DOJ sues Hawai‘i over voter registration data</title>

The U.S. Department of Justice requested voter registration data from 40 states, including Hawai‘i, earlier this year. Hawai‘i's Chief Elections Officer Scott Nago refused.

DOJ sues Hawai‘i over voter registration data

Real Estate

Situated above the Pacific Ocean along Hawai‘i Island’s Hāmākua Coast, the aptly named Hāmākua Hotel is for sale with a $10 million asking price.

 is located about 20 minutes north of Hilo on 3.4 fee simple acres at 28-3514 Hawai‘i Belt Road in Honomū. According to 

, it’s the only permitted hotel along the 55-mile Hāmākua coastline.

The hotel operated as a bed-and-breakfast called Palms Cliff House for 25 years, 

. It was acquired by Eric and Lori Lochtefeld during the Covid-19 pandemic and, for a few years, was used as their home and to host private retreats, the site states. But an anniversary trip to Italy in the summer of 2023 inspired the couple to transform the property into a luxury hotel “with a focus on great culinary and storytelling.”

The property underwent a $2.5 million renovation completed in 2024, which added an infinity-edge pool and spa barn, upgraded guest rooms and modernized infrastructure, the listing notes. Meanwhile, “an exclusive option to acquire 22 contiguous acres unlocks the ability to create a 25.5-acre oceanfront estate with nearly one mile of coastline.”

Kevin Aucello, principal with Powell & Aucello, a Honolulu-based hotel brokerage and consulting firm, has listed the property. In an email to Aloha State Daily, he says that now the hotel is operating smoothly, the owner “understands that new ownership and fresh ideas will help the property continue evolving while also giving him the flexibility to pursue other interests.”

It's not often that a property of this nature becomes available.

“Oceanfront, fee-simple hotels in Hawai‘i almost never come to market — especially those nestled on a bluff overlooking the Pacific, a setting that makes this offering even more exceptional,” Aucello says. “Being the only permitted hotel along this coastline further underscores its rarity.”

When asked about the visitor demand for hotels like this on Hawai‘i Island, Aucello answers the question with one of his own: “Who wouldn’t want to stay in a boutique hotel that feels like it belongs in ‘Architectural Digest’ — a place perched above the Pacific, where every meal feels intentional, personal and deeply connected to Hawai‘i?

“Travelers today aren’t just looking for a bed, they’re looking for moments,” he continued. “And when a hotel pairs incredible design with cuisine that honors local ingredients and the island’s food culture, it creates the kind of memories people come back for year after year.”

Aucello says that demand for boutique hotels that offer “this level of authenticity, setting and culinary craft,” has long outpaced the supply on the Big island.

“Guests are drawn to properties that feel rooted in place — where the views, the architecture and even the meals tell a story,” he says. “Those are the hotels that consistently outperform and build loyal followings.”

And from an investor’s perspective, Aucello says interest is just as strong.

“Boutique hotels are a rare niche with high barriers to entry and limited inventory,” he continued. “But what truly sets this segment apart is the type of buyer it attracts. These opportunities don’t typically draw private equity or institutional money — they resonate with hoteliers who have an entrepreneurial spirit, people who love the craft of hospitality and want to shape something unique and meaningful.”

According to Aucello, the property’s 2024 renovation and reopening as Hāmākua Hotel created a “turnkey opportunity with immediate operating momentum.”

“It’s an ideal investment for an individual, couple or entrepreneurial group looking to own a truly distinctive luxury boutique hotel — one that blends lifestyle appeal with strong guest demand,” he says. “It’s also a small enough operation that a new owner can immediately infuse their personality, creative ideas and vision into the guest experience, something rarely possible in larger hospitality assets.

“At the same time, the property is perfectly suited for a small luxury brand seeking to expand its presence in Hawai‘i, offering a rare combination of oceanfront positioning, thoughtful design and personalized hospitality that aligns with experiential luxury.”

Hamakua hotel1

<title>Hāmākua Hotel for sale</title>

The eight-room luxury boutique hotel is located about 20 minutes north of Hilo on 3.4 fee simple acres in Honomū.

Hāmākua Hotel for sale

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Sports

Food & Dining

[{"type":"text","text":"Honolulu Coffee Co.’s Tokyo Toe Blend launches on Thursday, Dec. 18."}]

The blend features the business’s exclusive collaboration with University of Hawai

. This special blend will be available in limited quantities at all Honolulu Coffee Co. locations in Hawaiʻi and online (

Kansei Matsuzawa grew up as a soccer player in Japan. In 2018, after he saw his first NFL game and fell in love with football, Matsuzawa taught himself how to kick via YouTube and trained tirelessly to achieve his goal of playing college football.

i football team’s kicker, Matsuzawa is known to his teammates and fans as “The Tokyo Toe.”

Customers who purchase the Tokyo Toe Blend between 12 and 2 p.m. on Dec. 18 will have the chance to meet Kansei Matsuzawa in person at 

Honolulu Coffee Co.’s Bakery on King location

 (2643 S. King St.). To celebrate the launch, the first 25 guests in line will receive a free special gift.

The blend features a smooth combination of coffees, including 10% Kona Coffee from Honolulu Coffee Co.

’s farm. Customers can look forward to notes of Brazil nut, brown sugar and dried apple.

“We’re honored to partner with Kansei on a blend that reflects both his story and our shared connections between Hawaii and Japan,” states Erica Mounsey, COO of Honolulu Coffee Co. “The Tokyo Toe Blend is a tribute to dedication, heart and the belief that craft matters — whether on the field on in the cup.”

Honolulu Coffee Co Kansei 121125

<title>Honolulu Coffee Co.’s Tokyo Toe Blend launches Dec. 18</title>

Customers who buy the exclusive collaboration blend between 12 and 2 p.m. on Dec. 18 at Honolulu Coffee Co.’s Bakery on King location will have the chance to meet football athlete Kansei “The Tokyo Toe” Matsuzawa in person.

Honolulu Coffee Co.’s Tokyo Toe Blend launches Dec. 18

Demolition is set to begin next week on property in Kalihi as the City and County of Honolulu continues efforts to bring more affordable housing to O‘ahu.

The Department of Housing and Land Management and the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation — the public transit authority responsible for planning and building the rail system for the city — will start “coordinated demolition work” on city-owned properties that include the old Dee Lite Bakery at 1930 Dillingham Blvd. and 1907 Eluwene St.

The first phase of work, which includes interior activity followed by the removal of the building slab, foundation and an underground grease interceptor, will begin Monday, Dec. 15, the city said in an announcement Thursday.

Work will take place between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. and is not expected to affect traffic on Dillingham, the city noted, adding that demolition is expected to take about two months.

According to the announcement, the site will remain secured with safety fencing and dust will be managed using water suppression. The city notes, too, that noise will be the most noticeable in the first month of work.

“DHLM and HART are aligning their demolition schedules at this location and the adjacent Mokauea (Kalihi) Skyline Station in order to reduce neighborhood disruptions and avoid multiple rounds of heavy-equipment mobilization,” the announcement reads. “HART will notify the surrounding residents and businesses to ensure the community is aware of the demolition schedule, anticipated impacts, and the coordination between the two agencies.”

The city acquired the 2.25-acre site for approximately $8.4 million in 2019 “as part of a long-term strategy to secure land for future affordable housing along the Dillingham corridor,” the announcement noted.

Its location across from the future Mokauea Skyline station positions the site “as one of the most strategically situated transit-oriented housing opportunities in the corridor,” the announcement continued. “Acquiring the properties ensured they would remain available for public-purpose redevelopment and supported the City’s long-term goals to increase housing opportunities in transit-rich, job-accessible neighborhoods.” 

 seeking a development partner to transform the Kalihi property into a"vibrant, transit-oriented affordable housing community,” it said at that time.

DHLM Director Kevin Auger told Aloha State Daily in August that proposals should emphasize affordability, transit integration and long-term stewardship of the property. 

The city says that preparing the property now allows DHLM and the selected partner "to accelerate community consultation, planning and design of the project."

This is just one of the city's current efforts to bring more affordable housing to the island. Partnering with the development community to build housing on city-owned lands is one of the components of a 

 the city unveiled earlier this year. You can 

, a privately owned and managed real estate development and investment firm focused solely on Hawai‘i, as its preferred negotiating partner for the redevelopment of nearly 14 city-owned acres in Kapolei into an affordable, transit-oriented rental community.

 across the Islands. Hawai‘i will need an estimated 64,490 additional housing units by 2027 to meet demand, according to the Hawai‘i Housing Finance and Development Corp.'s 2024 Hawai‘i Housing Planning study, which was 

Dee Lite Bakery kalihi

<title>Demolition of former Dee Lite Bakery to start Monday</title>

Honolulu's Department of Housing and Land Management and the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation will start “coordinated demolition work” on city-owned properties that include the old Dee Lite Bakery at 1930 Dillingham Blvd. and 1907 Eluwene St. to prepare the site for redevelopment.

Demolition of former Dee Lite Bakery to start Monday

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

It was a game created with the University of Hawai‘i football team in mind. 

In 2001, Hawai‘i went 9-3, ending its regular season with a resounding 72-45 victory over BYU at a sold-out Aloha Stadium. Yet when bowl season arrived, there was no slot available for UH. That led to the creation of the Hawai‘i Bowl, which debuted in 2002. 

Despite getting first dibs on the game every year since, there have been more Hawai‘i Bowls without Hawai‘i (12) than Hawai‘i Bowls that featured the Rainbow Warriors (9) prior to 2025. Some exceptions on UH's end include a Sugar Bowl bid after going 12-0 in 2007. Additionally, the Hawai‘i Bowl was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 'Bows were set to play Memphis in the 2021 Hawai‘i Bowl but withdrew a day before the game because of a COVID outbreak within the team. 

The significance of making a bowl game has not been lost among the 2025 Rainbow Warriors, who will 

 on Dec. 24 at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex at 3 p.m. 

Hawai‘i hasn't played in the Hawai‘i Bowl since 2019, back when it outlasted BYU 38-34 at Aloha Stadium. It would be the last game Nick Rolovich coached at UH before departing for Washington State. Rolovich will be on the opposite sideline on Dec. 24 as Cal's interim head coach. 

Because of the gap between Hawai‘i Bowl appearances, the game will be a brand new experience for members of the team. 

"It's a bowl game that I kind of expected to play in every year," safety 

 told Aloha State Daily. "But things just don't happen that way. Just grateful that we do get to play my senior year.

"This is super rewarding for us. This past week, just sitting back and getting some time to think about what the next steps are in my career and my future, I just couldn't get over the fact that I wanted to play one more game. And we're blessed to have the opportunity to be in Hawai‘i Bowl, staying home and playing one last game in front of our fans."

As a result of making the bowl game, the Rainbow Warriors are allotted an additional 15 practices. Come bowl week, some perks for the 'Bows will include a gift package and extra nights at the team hotel. 

Merely taking the field on Christmas Eve will illustrate another important step in the program's rebuild under head coach 

, who as a player for UH won two Hawai‘i Bowl MVPs. The Rainbow Warriors have improved their record each year under Chang, going from 3-10 to 2022 to staying in the Mountain West championship race until the final weekend of the regular season in 2025.

"It means a lot, being here for the past [five] years now and just seeing the program just really turn around, and what coach Chang and the rest of the coaches have brought to us players, it's been great. And to finish it off in this way, it's gonna be great," said senior receiver Karsyn Pupunu, a Lahaina native. "This has been a childhood dream of mine to play here for the home state, and just having a great leader like coach Chang to just turn around the whole culture of what we have here in Hawai‘i, and trying to bring it back to the good old days. We've tried to replicate that, and I feel like we're heading the right direction."

Pupunu is one of the few members of the team remaining from the 2021 squad. Back then, a turbulent offseason under head coach Todd Graham, who was picked by David Matlin to replace Rolovich, led to Graham's resignation in January 2022. Graham's departure led to a job search that called Chang home, though he was tasked with a roster rebuild that included bringing in over 50 newcomers in his first season. 

"That was a long season for sure," Pupunu says of the 2021 campaign. "I was on the development side. But this season has been a fun experience, and I'm glad that this team has worked for it, and we've earned it, and we just gotta go out there and play the right game."

Rolovich will patrol the Cal sidelines on Dec. 24 before handing off the reins to Tosh Lupoi, which the school chose as the permanent head coach earlier in the month. Additionally, the Bears are led by star freshman quarterback 

, a Campbell alumnus, who recently committed to returning to Berkeley for another year rather than test the waters in the transfer portal. 

"I haven't heard much about what people are talking about, but I'm pretty sure they would be talking about the offensive side of the ball. So, as a defense, we just got to do our job. We probably aren't going to be talked about unless we do good," says Manuma, a fellow Campbell alum. "It's going to be a great game. There's a great team in Cal that's coming in. Jaron is a great quarterback. Everybody knows it. We see it, and it's just all about us enjoying each other as a team one last time, enjoying each other's company, and during the last two and a half weeks that we have together more so than our opponents. 

"Although we are getting a great team in Cal, I think [motivation] will come from ourselves and the relationships that we continue to build on this team."

Hawai‘i Skies: Hawai‘i is our home

ASD Staff

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Authors

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