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Hawai'i Skies

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Kady Pascual on the H-1 Freeway. "While I was passenger princess on the H-1, the sky turned into an orange colored sea. It was a surreal experience."

To submit your Hawai'i Skies photo, visit us 

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

25 12 26 Kady Pascual

<title>Hawai‘i Skies: Cloud sea</title>

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Kady Pascual on the H-1 Freeway.

Hawai‘i Skies: Cloud sea

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Kady Pascual on the H-1 Freeway. "While I was passenger princess on the H-1, the sky turned into an orange colored sea. It was a surreal experience." 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

Crime & Courts

Hawai‘i will collect a small cut of a $150 million settlement with Mercedes-Benz after an emissions fraud lawsuit.

Forty-eight states, along with Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, jointly sued Mercedes-Benz USA LLC, alleging that the auto manufacturer had installed devices in more than 211,000 vehicles that allowed them to circumvent national emissions standards.

The suit alleged that, between 2008 and 2016, Mercedes-Benz equipped those vehicles with “defeat devices” intended to optimize vehicle emissions during testing, thereby allowing the vehicles to seemingly meet emissions standards. During everyday use, however, the vehicles exceeded those standards, despite the automaker marketing its vehicles as being environmentally friendly.

In particular, the suit alleges that the vehicles exceeded legal emission limits for nitrogen oxides, smog-forming compounds that can cause respiratory illness. The suit goes on to say that the automaker willingly concealed this from testers because it was unable to meet certain performance goals, such as improved fuel economy, while also meeting emissions standards.

Mercedes-Benz is one of several automakers implicated in emissions fraud schemes since 2015, when Volkswagen was cited by the Environmental Protection Agency for similarly circumventing emissions standards, kicking off an industry-wide scandal sometimes referred to as “Dieselgate.”

Last week, Mercedes-Benz and the plaintiff states reached a settlement, with the automaker agreeing to pay up to $149.6 million in total. Of that settlement, $120 million will be paid out to the states immediately.

Hawai‘i’s cut of this is relatively small: $263,356, as only 913 of the vehicles in question were sold or registered in the state. William Nhieu, spokesman for the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, told Aloha State Daily that those funds will be used “toward the investigation and prosecution of other cases involving known or suspected violations of consumer protection laws.”

“We must protect our environment for future generations and deliver certain consequences to those who break the law and pollute our air. Auto manufacturers have willfully been misleading the public about the level of harmful pollutants their vehicles were emitting,” said Mana Moriarty, Executive Director of the Office of Consumer Protection, in a statement.

The remaining $29 million will be suspended, pending the completion of a consumer relief program by the automaker, which will support the impacted vehicles still in use today — the DCCA estimates that number to be nearly 40,000 nationwide.

Mercedes-Benz will pay to install devices that will lower emissions on each affected vehicle and provide those vehicles’ owners an extended warranty and a $2,000 payout.

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<title>Hawai‘i gets $260,000 in Mercedes-Benz emissions fraud lawsuit</title>

Automaker settles with 48 states for $150 million.

Hawai‘i gets $260,000 in Mercedes-Benz emissions fraud lawsuit

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Aloha Spirit

Are you a home gardener with a green thumb, thinking about starting a garden or even a non-gardener?

The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience, or CTAHR, wants your insight.

 through the end of the year that aims to help researchers develop “essential support programs.”

According to UH, “Researchers are looking to document everything from the types of crops grown and water usage to educational resources and support for home gardeners.”

“This survey will help us develop residential landscaping designs for herbs and food crops,” CTAHR Associate Researcher Orville Baldos told Aloha State Daily in an emailed response to questions. “The designs will be tailored for home spaces like container gardening or planter beds, themes such as herb or vegetable garden, and other needs from the survey.”

Baldos says, too, that demonstration gardens will eventually be set up at the UH Urban Garden Center in Pearl City.

“These test sites will be for research and data collection to improve garden design and garden upkeep as well as for public outreach, like workshops on how to garden, how to design and maintain an edible landscape,” he continued. “Survey results will also help develop more programs to support home gardeners.”

According to Baldos, CTAHR has not done a statewide survey of this nature recently and there may be a follow-up survey, depending on the results. The survey is funded by a CARES Initiative Grant Program from CTAHR.

The anonymous survey, which takes about 20 minutes to complete, can be 

A CTAHR spokesperson says the college supports home gardeners with its three-part mission: teaching, evidence-based research and community outreach.

“A major part of our work is done through the 

, which trains volunteers in every county to help educate their neighbors to create and tend to home gardens,” the spokesperson noted. “Master gardeners also hold many gardening workshops and classes for the community that are free or have a small fee for materials.”

On O‘ahu, for example, a workshop on starting a garden with pots, baskets and other containers will be held on Jan. 26 at the 

). And On Kaua‘i, community members can “Ask a Plant Doctor” from the Master Gardener program on Saturday mornings at the Puhi Grove Farm Farmers Market, the spokesperson says. Meanwhile, master gardeners on the west side of Hawai‘i Island provide seedlings for school gardens, which support “youth education programs that teach children about seeding, transplanting and soil health.”

Additionally, the spokesperson says that the fruit and vegetables these Master Gardeners grow at CTAHR facilities also help those struggling with food insecurity. The Maui County team, for instance, has donated nearly 1,000 pounds of produce to the Maui Food Bank, they said.

Other programs that aim to support home gardeners includes CTAHR’s Seed to Harvest on Molokai, which the spokesperson says helps families lower grocery costs by teaching them how to grow fruits and veggies at home; the “Grow Smart” Seed Sharing Workshop, which distributed 1,000 packets of disease-resistant seeds on O‘ahu; and Plumeria Field Day in Waimānalo, which provided hands-on training in the care of plumeria trees as well as 1,000 cuttings to community members.

“Our goal is to teach home gardeners of all ages how to build a more resilient and self-sufficient future.”

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Gardening unsplash 122925

<title>Survey seeks insights from home gardeners</title>

The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience is conducting a home gardening survey that will help researchers develop “essential support programs.”

Survey seeks insights from home gardeners

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

ahu — a variety of local favorites and international chain eateries are expected to open in 2026.

[{"type":"text","text":"Here’s what’s on our radar:"}]

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Alan Wong’s"}]

 Alan Wong’s first opened its King Street location in 1995

 and the restaurant closed in November 2020, after 25 years of operation. The 

 will be opening in the former space of Hoku’s At The Kāhala and will highlight a curated selection of signature dishes from the King Street restaurant. 

 will be its sixth location. This store is unique in that it will offer cakes and an expanded drink menu. 

: Soft opening soon; grand opening in January 2026

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Chick-fil-A"}]

: Located near Hawaiʻi Convention Center, 

 will not include a drive-thru, but will still offer ample dining space. 

: The popular café will offer bagels, grab-and-go coffee and more. The 

second location will be on level 1 of Building A

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Jalapenos 808"}]

: Paina Lanai Food Court, Royal Hawaiian Center, 

 is known for its authentic Mexican food and offers burritos, tacos, quesadillas and more. 

: Liliha Bakery will open its sixth location in Waikīkī Beach Walk (former space of The Blue Fish Waikiki). The beloved Hawaii restaurant is known for its signature Coco Puffs and nostalgic charm. 

: Located on the ground floor of The Park on Ke

eaumoku, this food hall will include renowned vendors like FEAST by Jon Matsubara, Middle Eats, Soul Chicken, Serg’s Mexican Kitchen and more. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Molly Tea"}]

: Founded in China, Molly Tea offers a modern take on traditional tea culture. It’s recognized as the first freshly made tea brand dedicated to floral aromas. The Ala Moana Center store will be the brand’s first location in Hawaii. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Nori Bar"}]

: The hand roll bar’s original location is in Ward Village. Its sushi hand rolls are known for their crisp nori and Koshihikari rice. It will be opening on Kūhio Avenue in the former space of Ice Monster. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Paris Baguette"}]

: Paris Baguette, a popular café that originated in South Korea, will be opening its third O

parisbaguette.com/location-list/hi/Honolulu

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Pepper Lunch"}]

: The fast-casual eatery, known for its teppanyaki dishes, just opened its first Hawaiʻi location in Moanalua Shopping Center. The eatery will be opening locations in Kapahulu and Waikiki (at Hyatt Centric Waikīkī). 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Sip Café"}]

: 1199 Dillingham Blvd. No. C104, Honolulu 

: The café will offer coffee, banh mi and more. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Sonic Drive-In – Kapolei"}]

: Corner of Fort Barrette Road and Kapolei Parkway 

ahu Sonic Drive-In will feature the classic drive-in, roller skating servers, and Sonic’s iconic menu, including burgers, hot dogs and shakes.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Westman Café + Lounge"}]

: Known for its brunch — with dishes like souffle pancakes — Westman Café + Lounge closed its location at Waikīkī Beach Walk in early 2024 and will be opening its new location soon at Ward Village. 

Restaurants in 2026 Paris Baguette 122925

<title>New restaurants opening on Oʻahu in 2026</title>

From the return of Alan Wong’s to Liliha Bakery’s sixth location, here’s a look at O‘ahu’s dining scene in 2026.

New restaurants opening on Oʻahu in 2026

Daniel Farr Headshot

Daniel Farr

Government & Politics

The memory of a proposed mall for the North Shore apparently has legs. On a recent visit to the area, residents mentioned the impending mall development, but something completely different is in the works at Shark’s Cove.

City officials say a deal is now close that would put the 2.71-acre parcel across from Kapoʻo entirely in public hands for a North Shore first responder hub. The property sits mauka of the popular snorkeling and diving area, next to food trucks and a Foodland Super Market, and directly across from the Sunset Beach fire station.

The City and County of Honolulu is negotiating with Hanapohaku LLC. 

What people are remembering is a past plan by Hanapohaku, 

led by Andrew Yani and Cully Judd, for a commercial center for the site. The company has said in the past that it has completed an Environmental Impact Statement and Special Management Area Use Permit process and had worked with the community to develop 

 for a retail and restaurants center called McCully's Corner that would match the scale and character of the North Shore.

However, if the purchase goes through, city officials say the land would be used solely for a first responder facility. Negotiations, ongoing for about a year, are now focused on final pricing and conditions after appraisals and site inspections.

“The City is looking to acquire the property for a first responder hub,” Scott Humber, communications director for Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi told ASD. “As for the timeline, closing is expected in late 2026. If the City purchases the land, it will only be for a first responder facility. There are no plans for a mall at this location.”

Councilmember Matt Weyer, who represents the North Shore, said the community has been closely watching negotiations and is encouraged by progress.

“The community looks forward to the acquisition of the land across from Kapoʻo for the future first responder hub,” Weyer told ASD. “Sale discussions are nearing completion, and the purchase and sale agreement is expected soon.”

“This marks a key step toward improving emergency and ocean safety resources for both kamaʻāina and visitors,” he said. “The vision is a modern, centralized facility that supports our first responders, including Honolulu Ocean Safety Department and the Honolulu Emergency Services Department, so they have the tools and resources needed to keep everyone safe.”

Honolulu Emergency Services Department Director Jim Ireland said the facility would expand EMS coverage on the North Shore, currently served by units in Kahuku and Waialua.

“I can say we are excited about a future station there,” Ireland told ASD. “EMS plans to place a paramedic ambulance unit, ‘Pūpūkea,’ at that location. Right now, the North Shore is covered by our units at Kahuku and Waialua, so adding a third ambulance in the area will increase coverage and reduce response times.”

Ireland said the additional unit would also improve response during large-scale incidents.

“Furthermore, when an emergency happens with multiple patients, such as a traffic collision or ocean emergency, we will have the third ambulance in the region to help,” he said. “Lastly, I personally have really enjoyed working with the North Shore community to make this a reality. They have been helpful in so many ways, including information, guidance and advocacy.”

Funding for the acquisition has already been identified. Denise Antolini, a retired law professor and President of the Save Sharks Cove Alliance, told ASD Blangiardi redirected $26.1 million originally set aside for a different property.

“The mayor and his team reprogrammed that entire amount for this acquisition,” Antolini said.

ASD reached out to Hanapohaku LLC for comment but did not receive a response by publication time.

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<title>No mall at Shark’s Cove if city closes deal</title>

Aloha State Daily spent time on the North Shore recently and heard talk of a mall development coming to Shark's Cove. But something completely different is in the works.

No mall at Shark’s Cove if city closes deal

[{"type":"text","text":"There’s a new all-you-can-eat sushi spot in Honolulu."}]

Sumo AYCE Sushi recently opened in Azure Ala Moana. It’s located in the former space of Debu (the new restaurant sign isn't up yet). The all-you-can-eat experience costs $26.95 per person during lunch (Mondays to Thursdays) and $36.95 for the all-day menu.

The eatery is originally from Las Vegas; this is its first Hawai

i store. Since it’s in its soft opening, only walk-ins are accepted (no reservations).

The restaurant is currently open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. (last seating at 9 p.m.; last call for the kitchen is at 9:45 p.m.). There’s a 90-minute time limit for the all-you-can-eat experience. If customers leave leftover rice, they will be charged.

Customers also have the option to order a la carte, if they don’t feel like doing AYCE. All members of the same dining party must choose the same experience (either all-you-can-eat or a la carte). 

The menu features a variety of nigiri, appetizers, sushi rolls and all-day specials like salmon carpaccio, lobster garlic bread, poke nachos and more.

On the AYCE menu, certain dishes — like uni nigiri, ama ebi nigiri and salmon cut center steak — can only be ordered once.

Recommended appetizers include KFC — Korean fried chicken with Korean sweet and spicy sauce — chicken karaage and crispy rice. The latter features crispy rice topped with spicy tuna, jalapeno, garlic ponzu, spicy mayo and eel sauce.

Popular nigiri so far include seared salmon and yuzu yellowtail nigiri. Classic nigiri options include tuna, shrimp, yellowtail and more.

Choose from unique options like corn cheese garlic bread, bulgogi garlic bread and lobster garlic bread. The latter features soft garlic bread topped with crab, lobster, mozzarella cheese, eel sauce, spicy mayo and scallions.

While filling up on carbs is not usually recommended for AYCE experiences, these breads are trying at least once and are easy to share.

Customers can choose from a variety of four-piece and eight-piece sushi rolls; there are more than 40 options. Popular options include the Chanel roll (shrimp tempura, spicy crab and avocado topped with tuna and salmon); Lisa Lisa roll (shrimp tempura, avocado, crab and cream cheese topped with tempura crunch and eel sauce); and the lemon salmon roll (crab and avocado topped with salmon, lemon and ponzu).

End with desserts like honeydew or ube Melona bars, or vanilla mochi ice cream.

Customer parking is available at Azure Ala Moana; look for the designated retail parking stalls within the structure.

Open daily, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. (last seating at 9 p.m.)

Sumo AYCE Sushi dinner spread 122925

<title>New all-you-can-eat sushi spot opens in Honolulu</title>

Sumo AYCE Sushi just opened in Azure Ala Moana. The eatery — originally from Las Vegas — offers an extensive all-you-can-eat menu, along with an a la carte menu.

New all-you-can-eat sushi spot opens in Honolulu

 is opening soon in Kapolei Commons. Its soft opening is coming soon (no exact date given yet), while its grand opening will be in January 2026.

The bakery is located by Massage Envy and Verizon Wireless (in the former space of Teriyaki Madness) in the shopping center.

This is the Japanese-style bakery’s sixth location on O‘ahu, but this store is different because it’ll have a larger menu, according to business owner Alberto Fernandez.

“This is the sixth location, but it’s not easier than any of the other ones before,” says Fernandez, who co-owns BRUG Bakery with his wife, Miho Choi Fernandez. “Now, we have more experience; we hope to do better overall as a team, to be organized and deliver a beautiful, high-quality product from day one. It’s a lot of feelings and emotions — stress, happiness, and excitement — all at once.”

The bakery is known for its soft breads made with high-quality ingredients, including flour from Hokkaido, Japan. The bread doughs are made daily by hand. BRUG makes more than 70 pastries each day.

At the new location, customers can find signature pastries like beef curry pan, Kuma choco custard, melon pan, neko pan filled with original strawberry buttercream and more.

“We’ll have melon pan, custard pan, all the ones that made BRUG famous in Hawaiʻi, as well as our loaves of bread,” Fernandez confirms.

He says the bakery’s Arabiki sausage roll, monkey bread, custard pan, melon pan, bacon epi and curry pan are some of the best-selling pastries. Eventually, the Kapolei store will have location-exclusive pastries, too.

Speaking of exclusive products, the Kapolei store will be the only one (for now) to offer Kuma-inspired cakes.

“We are not going to make custom-order mini cakes,” Fernandez clarifies. “We just wanted to create a product that can become very BRUG, something that — the same way when you see the Kuma (bear) chocolate — people think more about BRUG. We are very Kuma-inspired.”

Cakes will be made daily at the Kapolei store. Customers can look forward to desserts like strawberry shortcake, strawberry mousse cake, chocolate mousse cake, cream cheese panna cotta, strawberry panna cotta, custard cream puffs and more. Prices for the cakes, panna cottas and cream puffs are not yet available.

The store will also feature an expanded drink line-up, according to Fernandez.

“This is the first location where we are doing a full coffee shop drink menu,” he says. “For the other stores, we added hot coffee, then we started adding cold brews, then we started to have matcha. We started espresso-based drinks at Pearlridge and Manoa (stores). This one (Kapolei) has the full barista menu with hot and cold drinks.”

Customers can look forward to Kapolei-exclusives frappes — in flavors like mango, Chai, matcha and strawberry banana — and specialty drinks like strawberry matcha and strawberry milk. Fernandez expects the latter two to be especially popular.

“The strawberry matcha uses the same strawberry milk that we do at (our sister business) Mana Sandwiches,” he says. “It’s made with real strawberry puree.”

Opening in West Oʻahu has been a longtime goal, according to Fernandez, who says he’s “really excited” for the soft opening.

“I like hanging around here, even though I live in town and enjoy town,” he says. “The vibe is just different. It’s a drive-to destination, so that’s why this location is bigger and has more options.

“To me, community building is so important; I have confidence that it’s going to be a good addition,” he adds.

Once the bakery launches, it will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

BRUG Bakery Kapolei Alberto 122625

<title>BRUG Bakery to open soon in Kapolei</title>

This is sixth location for BRUG Bakery, which is known for its soft breads and pastries made with high-quality flour from Hokkaido, Japan. The Kapolei location features exclusive cakes and an extended drink menu. The bakery’s soft opening will be soon; its grand opening will be in January 2026.

Hawai‘i Skies: Cloud sea

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