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Leaving my dogs alone with chicken nuggets...

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<title>Daily Smile: Friday, January 16, 2026</title>

Daily Smile: Friday, January 16, 2026

 Leaving my dogs alone with chicken nuggets...

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

State lawmakers are seeking more insight about a proposed partnership between two of Hawai‘i’s health care leaders.

Hawai‘i Medical Service Association, or HMSA, and Hawai‘i Pacific Health recently 

 for a new partnership the leaders of these organizations say will improve access to care and address health care affordability in Hawai‘i.

As part of the partnership, HPH and HMSA would create a new nonprofit parent organization called One Health Hawai‘i “to align strategy, strengthen collaboration and improve coordination statewide across Hawai‘i’s health care system,” a recent announcement noted. Find 

The state House Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce and Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection on Tuesday held a joint informational briefing to discuss the matter. Government officials, regulatory agencies and health care industry leaders joined the briefing, which ran more than two hours.

“It is certainly of concern for this committee and the Senate committee as well, if I can speak for them, that this may have profound consequences on the health care landscape for Hawai‘i, especially given the prominence of HMSA and HPH in our medical community,” state Rep. Scot Matayoshi, chair of the House committee, said at the start of the briefing. “Whether those effects are good for the consumer or bad for the consumer are kind of yet to be seen. We are still waiting for more details to come out on the proposed partnership, and I think that will impact how the community and these committees view such a partnership.”

Both Hawai‘i Pacific Health and HMSA would continue to operate independently under the newly formed parent company, One Health Hawai‘i, he explained. Each would have their own boards that would report to a newly formed parent board. Vara says HPH would continue to work with each payer in the community while HMSA would continue to work with all the respective providers in the community.

Other health care systems and insurers aren’t on board, though, and voiced concerns about the proposed partnership. The Queen’s Health Systems is among those opposed to the plan.

Established by social workers in 1938, HMSA is the largest health insurer in the Islands. HPH is a not-for-profit health care system with four medical centers — Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children and Straub Benioff Medical Center in Honolulu, Pali Momi Medical Center in ‘Aiea and Wilcox Health in Līhu‘e — and other clinics around the state.

, HPH’s revenues for the year ending June 30, 2024, totaled about $247.34 million while expenses totaled $229.54 million.

HMSA had a membership of 760,000 as of Dec. 31, 2024. According to its 

, HMSA’s member premiums totaled about $4.35 billion in 2024 while expenses totaled $4.47 billion, for a net operating loss of about $117.4 million.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

HPH HMSA 010726

<title>Lawmakers learn more about proposed HMSA, Hawai‘i Pacific Health partnership</title>

The state House Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce and Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection on Tuesday held a joint informational briefing to discuss the proposal.

Lawmakers learn more about proposed HMSA, Hawai‘i Pacific Health partnership

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

On Sunday, the University of Hawai‘i softball team is holding its first annual "Pre-Season Pa‘ina Fundraiser," at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. 

The fundraiser will begin at 3 p.m. Adult tickets are $50 and come with two drink tickets, while tickets for children aged 6 to 14 cost $25. Alumna of the UH softball program can attend for free. 

Attendees of the fundraiser will have the opportunity to meet the team, led by first-year head coach 

, who was hired following the retirement of former UH coach 

Among the activities during the fundraiser is a home run derby, which UH alumnae can participate in for free. Fans who wish to participate can do so for an additional $50 fee. 

Funds raised on Sunday will go toward benefitting the Rainbow Wahine softball program, including technology that will enhance the team's scouting and filming efforts, as well as food for the team's locker room. 

"Fundraising wise, getting out in the community again, everything's been so busy, but this was a way to kind of kick off our season, get the community involved, meet our players," Thanatharn said. "Our girls are going to do a quick intro, and then they'll go ahead and show off and hit a little bit."

Hawai‘i's 2026 season will begin by hosting the Bank of Hawai‘i Paradise Classic, starting with Seattle University on Feb. 5. The Rainbow Wahine began preseason practices earlier in the month, and Thanatharn has been encouraged by what she's seen so far. 

"We had a really good fall," Thanatharn said. "Everything we've thrown at them, they've been really taking it in really well. So, it's exciting.

"All the things we've done with them, it's been positive. For our coaching staff, just talking with some of our team leaders and girls, keeping an open door policy, just really getting to know them and for them to learn about us, too."

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Hawaii softball 011526

<title>Hawai‘i softball encourages fan participation in new fundraiser</title>

The Rainbow Wahine are trying something new under first-year head coach Panita Thanatharn.

Hawai‘i softball encourages fan participation in new fundraiser

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

As the future of U.S. Army leases of state land remains unclear, Hawai‘i's military affairs office warns that a reduction of military presence in the state could cost billions of dollars.

The Military and Community Relations Office — a state office that bridges the U.S. Department of Defense with Hawai‘i — released on Wednesday its inaugural 

, a document summarizing the military’s financial effects on the state.

The document includes the results of a survey of public sentiments surrounding the military — 62% of respondents “feel positively” about military presence in the state, according to the results and more detailed breakdowns of where military dollars are spent.

MACRO Executive Director Laurie Moore said nearly one out of 10 dollars circulating in Hawai‘i is tied to defense spending in some capacity. In total, she said about $17.4 billion is brought to the state annually either directly or through downstream impacts such as military employees spending their paychecks at local businesses.

Should military presence be downsized in the state, much of those funds would be lost. The Factbook projects a $1.7 billion hit to the state GDP if there was a 10% reduction to the military workforce; a 25% reduction would decrease the state GDP by $4.4 billion and eliminate 22,893 jobs.

“These figures aren’t meant to be alarming,” Moore said. “This is just meant to be informative, and any discussion around land use modernization or future planning really needs to be grounded in a clear understanding of scale.”

Other highlights of the Factbook indicate that payroll makes up more than 50% of all military spending in the state, about $5.9 billion. Various DOD contracts and subcontracts make up another $3.2 billion, and DOD grants another $1.1 billion.

In 2023, the single largest DOD contract in the state was the $464 million awarded to the dry dock construction at Pearl Harbor, a joint venture between contractors Flatiron Dragados, Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. and Orion Government Services.

The document also points out a $10 million grant to the state via DOD’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Challenge, a program that preserves lands as buffer zones around military facilities.

Moore conceded that the military has room to improve: the public sentiment survey indicated that only about one-third of state residents believe the military is doing a good job of protecting natural resources, something that has been a frequent criticism of military facilities on state land such as the Pōhakuloa Training Area on Hawai‘i Island.

Because of this, Moore said MACRO intends to increase public outreach. Throughout 2026, she said, there will be multiple community meetings beginning in March where residents will be able to provide feedback regarding military activities. Dates for those open house events have not yet been determined.

PMRF 16x9

<title>State military affairs office releases first annual factbook</title>

Hawai‘i's Military Affairs and Community Relations Office breaks down U.S. military spending in the state

State military affairs office releases first annual factbook

Daniel Farr 02

Daniel Farr

Hawai‘i County is set to acquire Honolulu Landing, a 364-acre coastal property in Puna, for $3.7 million. The purchase is in escrow and expected to close by March, county officials told ASD.

The Hawai‘i County Council unanimously approved the acquisition on Sept. 17 through Resolution No. 286-25, authorizing the Department of Finance to use funds from the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund. The measure also received support from Mayor Kimo Alameda.

The resolution calls for culturally informed stewardship of the land and collaboration with lineal descendants, cultural practitioners, scientists and conservation groups to protect its historical and environmental significance.

Eileen O‘Hara, who represented District 4 on the council from 2016 to 2018 and now serves as executive director of Mālama o Puna, called the acquisition a major win for the community.

“This ahupua‘a is an incredible asset for the people of Hawai‘i,” O‘Hara told ASD. “It preserves cultural and botanical features in perpetuity and offers some of the most awe-inspiring ocean vistas in Puna, where people have fished, gathered and recreated for generations.”

O‘Hara said the county requested a mini environmental assessment from the current owners, a streamlined review that identifies potential environmental impacts, key risks and compliance requirements without the extensive scope of a full Environmental Impact Statement. She credited lineal descendants and community advocates for pushing the purchase forward. Hundreds attended the County Council meeting where the resolution was discussed, and more than 1,000 people signed an online petition in support. After escrow closes, an archaeological study is expected to document historic village sites along the Puna coastline.

County officials confirmed the $3.7 million price. Tom Callis, spokesman for Alameda, told ASD the county is “hoping to close by March.”

Brent Wenner of KW Commercial (Keller Williams Big Island), based in Kona, who listed the property for $3.89 million last year, told ASD the sale remains in escrow due to deed issues but is moving toward closing. The property’s current owners live in North Carolina and have been in ongoing discussions with the county.

Nestled between Waiakahi‘ula and the Nānāwale Forest Reserve, Honolulu Landing stretches along 4,000 feet of untouched coastline. The vacant land is a living record of Puna’s past, with burial sites, village complexes, heiau, house platforms and traditional agricultural terraces first documented by the Bishop Museum in 1932. These features reflect centuries of human activity and make the property eligible for the Hawai‘i Register of Historic Places.

The property also provides critical habitat for endangered species, including the Hawaiian hawk (‘io), Hawaiian hoary bat (‘ōpe‘ape‘a) and Hawaiian owl (pueo), along with native plants such as hala, kukui, and hau, and freshwater springs.

Historically, Honolulu Landing served as a hub for interisland commerce. From the early 1900s through the 1940s, cattle were driven across the 1840 lava flow to the shoreline, where they were lifted onto vessels using onboard gear. Mike Hansen, president of the Hawai‘i Shippers’ Council, told ASD the vessels were self-propelled passenger-cargo steamships operated by Interisland Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. and Wilder Steamship Co. Ltd. Interisland acquired Wilder in 1905 and remained the sole interisland ocean carrier until Young Brothers Ltd. launched its barge service.

County officials and community advocates have also highlighted the acquisition as a step toward restoring public shoreline access in Puna, which became increasingly limited after the 2018 Lower East Rift Zone eruption of Kīlauea cut off many traditional makai access routes.

HNL Landing 16x9

<title>Hawai‘i County purchase of Honolulu Landing in Puna in escrow</title>

Purchase of the 364-acre coastal property will protect cultural sites, endangered species habitat and public shoreline access.

Hawai‘i County purchase of Honolulu Landing in Puna in escrow

While voters still wonder about the identity of a politician who accepted a $35,000 cash payment in 2022, answers are not forthcoming from the state’s federal delegation.

 released in the aftermath of an FBI investigation into bribery and corruption at the Hawai‘i Legislature inadvertently revealed details of the investigation that have yet to be explained.

During a 2022 meeting between former Hawai‘i Rep. Ty Cullen — who was secretly recording the interaction for the FBI — and an unidentified man, the man reportedly handed “an influential state legislator” about $35,000 “that were purportedly to be used in an existing campaign,” according to improperly redacted court filings.

Since then, the identity of the legislator or the man who paid them have not been revealed, while hundreds of residents have signed a petition demanding the public release of that information.

While state Attorney General Anne Lopez has said that she will not interfere with an active federal investigation, Aloha State Daily contacted all four members of the state’s federal delegation — Reps. Ed Case and Jill Tokuda and Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono — and asked whether they are able or willing to provide pressure at the federal level to hasten the release of the unknown legislator’s identity.

[{"type":"text","text":"As of Thursday, none of those lawmakers have made any response."}]

Lawmakers 16x9

<title>Federal delegation quiet on $35,000 bribe</title>

Hawai‘i's D.C. contingent have not commented on 2022 cash payment to unknown lawmaker

Federal delegation quiet on $35,000 bribe

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

Everyone’s looking to save money and get the most bang for their buck. This series will show you where you can save while still savoring a good meal.

’s happy hour is nothing new — it’s been around since the restaurant opened — but it continues to be a local favorite. 

All dishes on the happy hour menu are $9, with the exception of the mini French bread ($1.75 for one loaf, $3 for two loaves) and garlic mini French bread ($2.50 for one loaf).

Our server tells us the happy hour dishes were $7 when the eatery first opened, but have been $9 for the past seven years.

The sizzling omurice ($9) — fried rice topped with an omelet and demi-glaze sauce, served on a hot skillet — is one of the most popular dishes.

Other options include agedashi tofu, deep-fried rock shrimp, pork kakuni — sweet, shoyu-braised pork belly garnished with cucumbers and tomatoes — chicken Caesar salad, and yaki negitori don. The latter features rice topped with lightly broiled minced ‘ahi.

Heartier dishes include the pesto pasta, pasta alfredo and pasta pepperoncino. The latter comes with chili peppers and garlic.

The happy hour also features unbeatable drink specials, like $5 wines by the glass, $4 sake cocktails and $2.99 draft beers, not to mention the eatery’s housemade sangria ($4) and $2 sake shots.

Customers can still order from the eatery’s regular dinner menu during happy hour. Popular dishes include the uni pasta ($21), Hane cheese gyoza ($18), Kenzo steak ($21) and homemade menchi katsu ($20).

Even if you’re there for happy hour, the menchi katsu and Hane cheese gyoza are worth trying. The gyoza features spinach-wrapped pork dumplings layered with a gooey mozzarella cream crust.

Meanwhile, the menchi katsu features a deep-fried pork and beef patty that’s breaded in panko and smothered with a sweet-and-savory demi-glace sauce. The katsu’s crispy exterior contrasts nicely with the juicy, meaty interior, and you’ll want to use the mashed potatoes to mop up every ounce of that mouthwatering demi-glace.

The eatery provides validated customer parking; diners can scan the QR code inside Chez Kenzo Bar & Grill for parking validation.

Chez Kenzo happy hour spread 011426

<title>Budget Bites: Chez Kenzo Bar & Grill’s $9 happy hour</title>

The sizzling omurice — fried rice topped with an omelet and demi-glaze sauce, served on a hot skillet — is one of the most popular dishes. Happy hour runs daily from 5 to 7 p.m.

Daily Smile: Friday, January 16, 2026

ASD Staff

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Daily Smile: Friday, January 16, 2026

Authors

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