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Daily Smile

[{"type":"text","text":"Oh good, the waaaambulance is here....."}]

Smile 26 1 23

<title>Daily Smile: Friday, January 23, 2026</title>

Oh good, the waaaambulance is here...

Daily Smile: Friday, January 23, 2026

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

Architect Francis Oda, one of the founders of G70, died Feb. 14 surrounded by family, including wife Caroline and children Reid and Nalani. He was 84.

Francis was more than one of our founders — he was a mentor, spiritual father and source of inspiration for everyone who had the privilege of working with him,” G70 CEO Linda Miki said in an announcement of his passing on Wednesday. “His legacy lives on in our G70 ‘ohana, our projects and our commitment to serving Hawai‘i and beyond with integrity and car

[{"type":"text","text":"Oda led the firm, founded in 1971, for more than 50 years."}]

His work helped shape Hawai‘i’s built environment and reflected his deep respect for culture, community and place,” G70 says. “Over the course of his career, he mentored generations of professionals whose work continues to reflect his values of excellence, humility and service.”

Born and raised in Hawai‘i, Oda made his first trip to the Mainland in 1959 to study architecture at Cornell University, according to the university’s 

“At the time, no one in his family had ever visited the contiguous U.S. and jetliner travel wasn’t available,” the write-up notes. “It took Oda five days just to reach the Cornell campus.”

He received a Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell and a Doctor of Architecture from the University of Hawai‘i, where he was a “distinguished alumnus” and helped develop the Doctor of Architecture program, G70 noted.

Oda also was an adjunct associate professor at the UH School of Architecture.

According to G70, Oda received more than 50 design awards throughout his career, including the American Institute of Architects Honor Award for Our Divine Savior Church in Chico, California.

 His award-winning projects include the Four Seasons Lodge at Koele, the Four Seasons Mānele Bay Hotel, Hanauma Bay Nature Center and the Nanea Golf Clubhouse

He also helped envision master plans and design guidelines for the city of Kapolei, the UH Long Range Development Program, Kanu o ka ‘Āina and Kamehameha Schools Kaiaulu o Kaka’ako Masterplan

, and designed several international projects in French Polynesia, Mauritius and Canada, the firm noted.

Oda was a fellow of the American Institute of Architects, a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, designated a Mānoa Forum Fellow by UH, received the 

 and was inducted into the Hawai‘i Business Hall of Fame.

, the 2026 president of AIA Honolulu, the Honolulu chapter of the American Institute for Architects, and an associate principal at G70, told Aloha State Daily in an email that Hawai‘i has lost "one of its most influential voices in Francis Oda."

"I remember sitting with Francis a few years ago — he asked us what we were dreaming about. Not what we were working on. Not what our goals were. What we were dreaming. Then he asked about our reality. He understood that balance — between the possible and the present — and that is what stays with me," Hirai says.

"For Hawaiʻi's architectural community, he was one of a kind. He identified early on that our profession carries a unique responsibility — to place, to culture, to the people who experience what we design. You see it in the buildings he left behind across these Islands and beyond. You see it in the culture he built at G70. And you see it in the people he mentored — who are now doing the same for others.

"As AIA Honolulu president, that question still challenges me — what are we dreaming about? What could our profession look like if the next generation had people willing to push their thinking the way Francis pushed ours?"

 of what was then called The Hawai‘i Society, the American Institute of Architects. You can read a 1982 interview with Oda in 

Recently, though, the architect was featured in newest episode of AIA Honolulu’s Let’s Talk Story series, a video and podcast highlighting conversations between an emerging and experienced architect. You can watch the video and listen to the podcast, 

[{"type":"text","text":"Hirai encourages those who didn't know Oda personally to take a listen."}]

"I'll be honest — hearing his voice again is not easy," Hirai says. "But it's an incredible way to experience who he was, and to celebrate everything he gave this profession and the community he loved."

"The Hawaii Architectural Foundation mourns the passing of Francis Oda, FAIA, whose career reflected an exemplary commitment to architecture and a deep devotion to the community he served," HAF President Katherine MacNeil told ASD in an email. "A recipient of the Foundation’s Gordon W. Bradley Humanitarian Award, Francis was recognized for his far-reaching leadership and enduring contributions to Hawaiʻi’s civic and cultural life. Elevated to Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, he embodied professional excellence and principled leadership. Through award-winning architecture, visionary master planning, and dedication to architectural education, he strengthened Hawaiʻi’s built environment and the profession. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations."

In addition to his work, Oda was also a senior pastor and board chair of New Life Church Honolulu and served as global chair of Transform Our World.

A celebration of life service is set for Saturday, April 25, at First Assembly of God — Red Hill, Moanalua.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Francis Oda G70 03 A6249

<title>Architect Francis Oda, founder of G70, dies at 84</title>

Hawai‘i has lost "one of its most influential voices," Lance Hirai, the 2026 president of AIA Honolulu and an associate principal at G70, says.

Architect Francis Oda, founder of G70, dies at 84

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Crime & Courts

Another investigation into a fatal police shooting has cleared the officers of wrongdoing.

In 2024, four Honolulu Police officers shot 56-year-old Eric Walsh 15 times in a Waikīkī apartment building. On Wednesday, Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm announced that the officers’ use of lethal force was justified and that no charges will be filed against them.

While the incident that ended in Walsh’s death took place between July 18 and 19 in 2024, the events that led to it began weeks before. On July 3, a man matching Walsh’s description entered a bank in Kāne‘ohe and delivered a teller a handwritten note reading “This is a robbery. Do not move your hands or feet or say a word.”

[{"type":"text","text":"The teller complied and gave the robber $1,100 in cash before he left."}]

Five days later, another robbery took place at another bank in Kailua. The robber delivered a teller a similar handwritten note and walked away with about $5,200 in cash, though not before apologizing to the teller for the stressful situation.

By the time a third robbery took place at a Pearl City bank on July 16 — during which the robber made off with approximately $6,646 — HPD detectives had identified Walsh as the primary suspect. Walsh had 27 prior felony convictions, mostly for various forms of identity theft, and his probation officer identified Walsh in the banks' surveillance footage.

On July 18, officers learned that Walsh was staying with a girlfriend at an apartment building on Ala Wai Boulevard in Waikīkī. While the girlfriend initially told officers that she hadn’t seen Walsh, a neighbor later told officers that Walsh was in her apartment and that he was armed with a handgun.

This initiated a lengthy standoff, with two teams of officers stationed in the apartment hallway, counter-sniper teams across the street, and a police robot physically blocking the apartment door. Walsh repeatedly shouted that he wouldn’t comply and reportedly racked his firearm loudly and frequently.

At one point, Walsh shouted that he was high on meth and taunted officers, telling them to “come in here and get me.”

But in the early hours of July 19, Walsh — having endured multiple rounds of tear gassing — left the apartment. As he walked toward officers, raising his pistol, the four-officer team opened fire.

Alm said Wednesday that 15 shots struck Walsh, but added that more shots were likely fired that missed the target.

“It may seem like a lot, but each officer in that situation assumes they’re the one who has to shoot,” Alm said.

According to the prosecuting attorney’s report, Walsh seemingly shot two officers during the final gundown, but they were uninjured. Officers found Walsh was only armed with an air pistol, a replica Glock handgun only capable of firing BBs. No other weapon was found on Walsh’s body or in the apartment.

Alm said Wednesday that the pistol did not have the orange tip on the barrel that typically distinguishes air guns from real firearms, and looked like the genuine article from a distance.

“These realistic replicas have caused some real problems, here and on the mainland,” Alm said, adding that he is unaware of any legal regulations that apply to the sale of realistic replica guns.

 does require that all toy and imitation firearms transported or sold within the country have markings such as the orange tip, although there is no law against removing or painting over those markings.

 prohibit the public display of air guns or replica guns and require that any transaction involving an air gun take place between parties at least 18 years old, unless a child’s parent or guardian is involved in the transaction.

Walsh, declared dead shortly after the shooting, was found to have meth, cocaine and benzodiazepines, a category of depressant drugs.

Alm’s office has investigated in the past year

, Alm concluded that the incident was yet another case of “suicide by cop,” that Walsh clearly wanted to be killed and, by appearing to be a “violent and desperate” man, forced officers to oblige.

“I wish that folks who felt this depressed, who feel that living is too difficult, would get the help they need,” Alm said.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

PXL 20260218 210639371 16x9

<title>HPD justified in 2024 Waikīkī fatal shooting</title>

Eric Walsh was shot 15 times in Waikīkī following a string of bank robberies.

HPD justified in 2024 Waikīkī fatal shooting

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

Aloha Spirit

Services for the fifth-generation loea hula Nālani Kanakaʻole will be held on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium in Hilo. Kanakaʻole died Jan. 3 in Hilo. She was 79.

The services are open to the public. Floral arrangements, lei, and kinolau are welcome. The stadium, which is home to Merrie Monarch each year, is named after Nālani Kanakaʻole’s mother, who founded Hālau o Kekuhi.

Kanakaʻole co-led Hālau o Kekuhi with her sister, Pualani Kanakaʻole Kanahele, and later her niece, Huihui Kanahele-Mossman. She also co-founded Sig Zane Designs in 1985 with her husband, Sig Zane.

Nālani Kanakaʻole began rigorous training in hula when she was just 3 years old under her grandmother, Mary Kekuewa Kanaele Fujii, and later under her mother. By the time she was 14 years old, she was teaching. She spent nearly seven decades sharing cultural knowledge through mastery of mele oli, or chanted poetry, and vigorous ʻaihaʻa-style dance.

In 1993, Kanakaʻole and her sister were named National Heritage Fellows by the National Endowment of the Arts, in recognition of their lifelong commitment to preserving indigenous Hawaiian chant and dance.

 honored Kanakaʻole family’s contributions to Hawaiian music and culture. Nālani and her sister, Pualani, were among the honorees recognized with lifetime achievement awards for their 

dedication to preserving and advancing traditional Hawaiian chant, mele and performance

On Saturday, Feb. 21, a hoʻolewa ceremony to honor Kanaka‘ole and her legacy will be hosted by the Edith Kanaka‘ole Foundation. Kanaka‘ole and her siblings founded the nonprofit in 1990 to “elevate Hawaiian intelligence through cultural education founded on the teachings and traditional practices of Edith and Luka Kanakaʻole,” according to its website. ʻAha will begin at 10 a.m., followed by visitation.

Kanakaʻole is survived by her husband, Sig Zane; son, Kūhaʻoʻīmaikalani Zane (Shaelene Kamakaʻala); grandchildren, Loliʻi Kamakaʻala Barron and Nāholowaʻa Zane; sister, Pualani Kanakaʻole Kanahele; niece and co-kumu hula Huihui Kanahele-Mossman; and the extended Kanakaʻole, Kanahele and Zane ʻohana, along with the students who continue to carry on her teachings.

Inquiries about how to support or give donations may be directed to the foundation by calling 

Nālani Kanakaʻole

<title>Services for Hula Master Nālani Kanakaʻole</title>

The fifth-generation loea hula will be honored with services at Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium in Hilo this weekend. Nālani Kanakaʻole also co-founded Sig Zane Designs in 1985 with her husband, Sig Zane. Learn more about the services.

Services for Hula Master Nālani Kanakaʻole

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

WAIKĪKĪ — As he stood on the balcony of his penthouse suite overlooking Waikīkī Beach, Anthony "AC" Carter still finds it hard to believe at times that this is where life has taken him. 

Carter grew up in an unstable household, as his mother developed a drug habit and all seven of his uncles were incarcerated at some point in their lives. 

As a teenager in Atlanta, Carter dropped out of high school after his freshman year.

Basketball was Carter's refuge. He would interact with drug dealers, but only as a means to make money playing pickup ball. He eventually decided to pursue the sport on a more organized level, latching on at Saddleback Community College in California. From there, he earned a scholarship offer to play basketball for the University of Hawai‘i, where from 1996 to 1998, he became one of the most decorated players in program history. 

Despite playing just two seasons in Mānoa, Carter scored 1,070 career points, just one of 18 players in program history to surpass 1,000. His 6.9 assists per game remain a program record. One of his most memorable moments in a UH uniform was his 19 points and seven assists in a 76-65 win over No. 2 Kansas on Dec. 30, 1997. 

Although his individual honors included two All-Western Athletic Conference selections and two All-America honorable mentions, Carter was also remembered for being one half of a dynamic duo with backcourt mate Alika Smith. 

Following his collegiate career, Smith joined the Yakima SunKings of the Continental Basketball Association before embarking on 13 seasons in the NBA, where he played for six different franchises (Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors). 

Following his playing career, Carter went on to become a respected assistant coach in the league, where he was on the bench for the Spurs, Sacramento Kings, Heat, and most recently the Memphis Grizzlies in 2025.

Though Carter doesn't live in the Islands, he's currently back in his old stomping grounds. On Saturday, Carter will become just the second player in University of Hawai‘i men's basketball history to have his 

 when his No. 23 goes up in the rafters as part of AC Carter night. Not bad for a guy who only attended high school for one year. 

"It's been awesome to be back. I've seen a couple of familiar faces, and it's good to walk around and just bring back some memories," Carter said. "Being able to be back for this special moment is awesome and something that I never expected. Shout out to the coaching staff over there and some of the people that thought I was a good enough guy to get his jersey retired. It's been very special so far."

Normally during this time of year, Carter is stuck in grind of the NBA season. Though its been nearly three decades since he ascended way from the Islands to continue his basketball career, Carter has always been fond of his alma mater. In 2019, he donated $100,000 towards UH's scholarship fund. 

Carter's jersey retirement ceremony will be held during the University of Hawai‘i's game against UC Santa Barbara at 5 p.m. on Saturday. The game will also be televised nationally on ESPNU. 

"We're very fortunate here at UH to have some great former teams, former players, that put us in the position we are in today," Hawai‘i head coach Eran Ganot said. "He and his teams, incredible teams that sold out this arena more than any other team for any sport, and so I really hope we have a sellout for him and for our guys. There's a combination of things coming into this week, and we're honoring great players, great teams. ... We're going to do everything we can to continue to honor those."

As part of the week's festivities, Carter will also hold an autograph session following UH's 7 p.m. game against Cal Poly on Thursday. After Saturday, he will be just the second player in program history to have his jersey number retired, following Bob Nash. Carter will also visit the Rainbow Warriors during practice and offer his advice. Eager players are likely to ask him what it takes to make it to the NBA, and the answer he'll offer in that regard may surprise them.

"Never look at it as you're trying to make it to the NBA. That's the advice I will give players these days. Just go and play the game," Carter said. "Somebody's gonna find you, just like somebody found me and gave me a second chance to go to junior college. I just was playing the game. I wasn't expecting to be able to go back to school. Guys always say, 'I'm gonna make it to the NBA. I'm gonna do this,' it's a lot of pressure on different guys. 

"I didn't have pressure because I was a high school dropout and I got a second chance. I never thought of seeing myself making it to the NBA. It was all about just having fun and bringing joy to people in junior college and the University of Hawai‘i.

AC Carter 021826

<title>AC Carter returns to Hawai‘i ahead of jersey retirement</title>

UH will honor Carter and retire his No. 23 jersey during Saturday night's game against UC Santa Barbara.

AC Carter returns to Hawai‘i ahead of jersey retirement

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

[{"type":"text","text":"A new dumpling shop recently opened in Honolulu."}]

Located on the second floor of Discovery Bay Center, 

 just soft opened. The business is known for its Northern Chinese cuisine, including handcrafted dumplings and specialized noodle dishes.

The business’s dumplings are its signature dishes; most orders contain 20 bite-sized pieces ($15.99). Choose from popular flavors like pork and cabbage and pork and chives, along with specialty options like shrimp and corn (20 pieces for $18.99), and the signature flavor (20 pieces for $23.99), which is a mixture of abalone, sea cucumber and shrimp. All dumplings are made in house.

Other menu items include wontons in bone soup ($15.99) — which is expected to be a popular dish — pork knuckle with cucumber salad ($14.99) and beef shank ($19.99). New dishes not on the menu — but are coming soon — include shredded chicken ($9.99), pigs’ ears ($15.99) and braised pork ($18.99).

Customers can also use the business’s Korean ramen station. Choose your instant noodles ($5); toppings — including cheese, eggs and sausage — are available for an additional price ($2).

If you’re craving something refreshing, check out the business’s shave ice station. Each dessert includes two toppings ($9.99); customers can get five toppings for $15.99.

Toppings range from passion fruit jelly and mango jelly to strawberry boba, peach jam and mango boba.

Waikīkī Snack Store also offers frozen, heat-at-home dumplings ($15.99). To celebrate the business’s grand opening, customers can take advantage of a limited-time promotion: buy four sets of frozen dumplings and get one set free. The promotion is valid until March 1.

The store will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Customers can enjoy free parking for the first two hours at Discovery Bay Center.

Free customer parking at Discovery Bay Center for the first two hours

Waikiki Snack Store dumplings 021726

<title>New dumpling shop in Honolulu</title>

Located on the second floor of Discovery Bay Center, Waikīkī Snack Store recently opened. The shop — which specializes in Northern Chinese cuisine, including handcrafted dumplings and wontons in bone soup — also offers interactive ramen and shave ice stations.

New dumpling shop in Honolulu

A Pearl City woman was sentenced Wednesday to three years of supervised release after threatening to kill President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden.

In March 2024, during the Biden administration, Rebecca Ann Folley, then 47 years old and and posting under the name Becca Waters, posted on Facebook a picture containing the message “Going to kill the president,” followed by “INSPECTOR GENERAL, I NEED YOU ASAP.”

The picture appeared to be a screenshot of a comment field on the official White House website; the threat to kill the president had been written in the comment field, under the prompt “What would you like to say?” It is unclear whether Folley actually submitted the comment via the White House website or merely screenshotted a draft message without submitting it.

, the U.S. Secret Service became aware of Folley’s comment in December of 2024, after the election of President Donald Trump, but before his inauguration. A pair of Secret Service agents met Folley that month at her Pearl City residence.

During an interview with the agents, Folley reportedly told them she was a victim of trafficking but law enforcement would not respond to her reports. In order to provoke a response, she posted “bad trigger words” online as a “cry for help," according to the agents' report.

Folley told the agents she had sent hundreds of such messages since 2022, but received no response, even after posting the White House screenshot on the Facebook page of Gov. Josh Green.

“I started bragging, I was like, ‘I’ve got to be the only person in the United States’ history that’s ever been able to get away with 200 of these things on record,’” Folley reportedly told the agents.

The agents then told Folley to “please don’t do that anymore,” to which she agreed, adding that she was taking medication and receiving mental health treatment.

However, about a week later, Folley herself submitted a tip to the FBI linking to another of her own posted presidential death threats, a Facebook post identical to the previous one. She also posted a new message, warning that, in January 2025, she would “certified mail something VERY VERY VERY special to the field office in Honolulu, the secret service dudes, a enduring gift.”

This went on for months, with Folley sending substantially similar messages to various state agencies, the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, and the President’s official Facebook account. Her message to the president was direct: “I’M GOING TO KILL DONALD TRUMP.”

In other posts, Folley said she would blow up the White House, and on one occasion commented on a Facebook post by Hawai‘i Rep. Ed Case “Sir, would you mind if I killed you? Just spit balling.”

Secret Service agents once again interviewed Folley in March, whereupon she said she was no longer receiving mental health treatment and acknowledged that her repeated comments were federal crimes.

Court records also indicate that Folley had previously made threats to a family member in 2021, which prompted an FBI response, and was convicted of third-degree assault in Hawai‘i that year as well, for which she served five days in jail.

For her presidential threats, Folley was arrested in April, and she remained incarcerated for seven months. During this period, attorneys discussed Folley’s mental competence to stand trial, with a U.S. District Court Senior Judge Helen Gillmor finding it plausible that Folley was mentally unwell.

The details of a court-ordered mental competency evaluation are restricted from the public. However, the court found her mentally competent in October, and she shortly thereafter pled guilty to making threats against the president, a federal felony carrying a maximum possible sentence of five years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

However, Folley was sentenced only to seven months in jail — which she has already served — and three years of supervised release. As part of her supervised release terms, she is required to participate in substance abuse and mental health treatment programs, and will have her use of computers strictly monitored.

Daily Smile: Friday, January 23, 2026

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