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Daily Smile

Baby's reaction to seeing a puppy for the first time...

Smile 26 1 27

<title>Daily Smile: Tuesday, January 27, 2026</title>

Daily Smile: Tuesday, January 27, 2026

 Baby's reaction to seeing a puppy for the first time...

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

New Zealand actor Temuera Morrison has worked alongside 

, first as his father in “Aquaman” movies and later as King Kahekili, his rival, in the Apple TV+ mini-series “Chief of War.”

 when speaking with Aloha State Daily about 

 Now, the actors are starring together in “The Wrecking Crew,” where Morrison plays the governor of Hawai’i.

The fast-paced action comedy features estranged brothers Jonny (Momoa) and James (Dave Bautista), who reunite in Hawai’i to find out who murdered their father. The movie launched on Amazon Prime Video on Jan. 27. 

“Hey, if there's any chance to work in Hawai’i, that's the best place to work in the world,” Morrison told ASD. “Stay on Waikīkī. Go and do some filming. Come back to Waikīkī. Have a little swim. Go eat. Go to the mall — Royal Hawaiian [Center] — and watch a little hula. Go try some malasada donuts. Oh, my God.”

“The Wrecking Crew” included 12 days of filming in Hawaiʻi and 43 days in New Zealand, Angela Laprete, the Hawaiʻi producer for the movie told ASD. Laprete is a founder of the 

Hawai’i Film Alliance, which formed in July

 and is advocating for tax incentives that could bring more movies and television shows to Hawai’i.

Morrison first captured Momoa’s attention when he played Jake Heke, the violent and alcoholic father at the heart of “Once Were Warriors” (1994), 

one of the most successful movies in New Zealand film history

“I think he'd seen my movie ‘Once Were Warriors,’ which I was a big part of and it moved him in a way that actually put him into acting,” Morrison said. “So, when ‘Aquaman’ came along, I think he was a big mover in getting me to play his dad. He's just been a big fan of mine. He's like my son, really.”

Over the years, Morrison played Boba Fett in the “Star Wars” movies and the voice of Chief Tui in “Moana,” among other roles. Recently, Morrison and Momoa appeared in “Chief of War,” which was filmed mostly in ‘Olelo Hawai’i. “The Wrecking Crew” focuses on the Hawaiian side of where Momoa grew up, he added.

“He's worked hard,” Morrison said. “He's put himself in a nice, viable place now, where we can make these kind of movies.”

Morrison said with a laugh that he doesn’t look like the state’s current governor, Josh Green.

“Sometimes I ask myself, ‘What the hell am I doing in this film?’” he said. “But anyway, my buddy is asking, so I better just turn up and be the governor.’”

Morrison remembers the first time he met Bautista.

“I met Dave Bautista some time ago, too, when he first started out,” he said. “It was really nice to reconnect with Dave. In fact, when I saw Dave on set for the first time, he goes, ‘Do you remember me?’ I said, ʻOf course, I remember you!’”

They originally met while working together on one of the “Scorpion King” movies. Bautista was “still pretty new to the whole acting scene” and was trying to learn his lines, he added.  

“I was giving him some hints: ʻWell, this is how you learn your dialogue, Dave. You don't put any emphasis on it. You just learn it flat,’” he said. “Later on, when you start to work with the other actor, that’s when the color will come.”

Learning the lines without inflection allows for more authentic emotional responses to the other actors in a scene, he explained.

“But if you started to shape it in the rehearsal now — or while you're at home at night — it's hard to break those patterns because you'll just get into your rhythm,” he said. “It’s best not to have any rhythm, any pattern, any emphasis anywhere until you start working with the other actors.”

On set for "The Wrecking Crew," Bautista recounted that advice and presented Morrison with a pair of Louis Vuitton sunglasses as a thank you, Morrison added.

“So again, at all kinds of levels, we're having fun,” he said.

As viewers stream the movie, he wants them to also have fun.

“Where there's Polynesians, there's also a lot of comedy,” he said. “It's a great popcorn movie to sit down, take the family, have a good old laugh. It’s very colorful. There's a few surprises.”

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Temuera Morrison

<title>Temuera Morrison plays Hawaiʻi governor in new film</title>

“The Wrecking Crew,” a movie starring Jason Momoa, Dave Bautista and Temuera Morrison is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Temuera told Aloha State Daily about the acting advice he gave Bautista, when they first worked together years ago, which resulted in a gift of Louis Vuitton sunglasses on set.

Temuera Morrison plays Hawaiʻi governor in new film

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

A federal budget bill allocating billions of dollars to Immigration and Customs Enforcement remains deadlocked as another shutdown of the federal government looms.

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly voted to pass 

 for various federal agencies through the remainder of the fiscal year, which ends in September.

While the budget bill includes funds for departments such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency — which would receive more than $5 billion under the bill — it also includes funding for the Department of Homeland Security and ICE, which many Democrats have opposed.

In particular, the bill would allocate a little over $10 billion to ICE, including $11 million for “costs associated with the care, maintenance and repatriation of smuggled aliens unlawfully present in the United States.”

Should Congress not pass the bill by Friday, the federal government will once again shut down. On Wednesday, senators laid out their positions on the bill, but no vote on the measure took place.

Hawai‘i Sen. Brian Schatz spoke on the measure Wednesday and condemned the actions of immigration officers in Minneapolis. Schatz had previously said on Saturday that he will vote against any DHS funding unless “more controls are put in place to hold ICE accountable.”

When the House voted 220-207 to pass the measure last week, Hawai‘i Reps. Ed Case and Jill Tokuda also voted against the bill.

Meanwhile, another, far longer budget bill has also been held up in Congress despite being much less divisive in the House — the bill passed the House last week 341-88, with Case and Tokuda in support.

 includes $22.3 million for continued funding to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant Program, another $27 million for a Native Hawaiian housing loan program, $22 million for the East-West Center, and more.

While the Senate moved to end discussion of the bill on Tuesday and push it to a vote, discussion of the ICE budget bill prevented any vote from taking place.

, a bill that would require universities enrolled in federal student aid programs to inform students of available resources in case of pregnancy.

In particular, the university would need to inform students of available accommodations and other services to help carry a pregnancy to term and provide post-birth care. Students would also be provided with a procedure for filing a complaint if they feel they’ve been discriminated against for choosing to carry a pregnancy to term.

The House voted 217-211 to pass the bill last week, with Case and Tokuda voting against it. On Tuesday, Hawai‘i Sen. Mazie Hirono spoke against the bill, calling it “yet another step in a broader war on reproductive rights and reproductive freedoms.”

Hirono told the Senate the measure does little to actually help pregnant students while notably not including any information about abortion or contraception — which she called “government-mandated bias” — while threatening to further cut funds to universities.

Like the other two bills, the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act remains on the Senate floor with no vote scheduled.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Lawmakers 16x9

<title>CONGRESS WATCH: ICE funding bill in limbo as shutdown deadline looms</title>

Debate of ICE budget bill stalls action on other measures

CONGRESS WATCH: ICE funding bill in limbo as shutdown deadline looms

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

, recalls when he first got the idea to start a gourmet hot dog business.

“For almost two years, I worked security at a gay nightclub,” he recalls. “That’s where I got the idea of making a hot dog business with a catchy theme that was meant for fun, and not to be offensive. The idea (for) ‘Sausage Fest Hawai

Rutkowski started brainstorming potential business names, logos and custom hot dog creations, but his ideas were “put on the backburner” due to other priorities.

[{"type":"text","text":"“I had my second child in 2018 and got caught up with life,” he says."}]

“I joined the army at 18 (years old),” he adds. “I also was a bouncer for 15 years, until the Covid-19 pandemic. I worked at various locations over the years, and I would always see a hot dog vendor. The business is a low investment, and you could fill bellies and put smiles on faces.”

Fast-forward to 2020. During October of that year, Rutkowski had a spine injury that led to him being paralyzed from the waist down for two months. The following January, he started going to physical rehab to learn how to walk again.

“During those months was one of the darkest times of my life,” he recalls. “Coming from a background of being Army Infantry and deployed, and involved in martial arts … it was the most humbling experience in my life, from (being) physically active to partially paralyzed.”

During that time, Rutkowski learned a lot about himself and had “a different outlook on life.”

“While going to physical therapy, I enrolled in a massage school,” he says. “I’ve strengthened my core and legs from rehab and proper massage techniques. I would tell everyone that going through massage school was one of the most spiritual things I’ve ever done.”

Rutkowski graduated from massage school in March 2022 and was contemplating his next move. He came across a small, standard hot dog cart on Facebook Marketplace and took that as a sign.

“I was like, ‘Let’s do this!’” he says. “The next two months, I got everything finalized and printed, and by May, Sausage Fest Hawai

i’s menu is centered on gourmet 100% all-beef hot dogs ($8 each), which Rutkowski refers to as Glizzys.

[{"type":"text","text":"“Glizzys is a term used on the Mainland for hot dogs,” he explains."}]

The menu usually includes options like hot dogs topped with grilled Cola onions drizzled with Angel’s sauce; hot dogs wrapped in bacon and topped with ground beef and avocado, drizzled with barbecue sauce; and hot dogs topped with kalua pig and lomi lomi salmon, drizzled with Angel’s sauce.

“The most popular (order) are our combos, where they can choose from any of our five Glizzys and it will come with two birria tacos with consommé, onions and cilantro,” Rutkowski says.

From now until March, customers can find Sausage Fest Hawai

i at Mānoa’s men’s volleyball and basketball games at Stan Sheriff Center. The business is switching up its offerings at the games, though, and will be featuring a birria-centric menu, complete with birria tacos ($15), birria bowls ($18) — birria meat, corn, salsa, avocado, cheese, diced onions, cilantro and lime over white rice — birria sliders ($12) and birria grilled cheese sandwiches ($15).

i’s location and upcoming events, follow the biz on social media.

“Our long-term goal for Sausage Fest Hawai

i is to become a franchise and to have multiple hot dog carts and locations in different states, as well as countries,” Rutkowski says.

Sasauge Fest Hawaii owner 011526

<title>Sausage Fest Hawaiʻi offers gourmet Glizzys</title>

The food business — which can be found at events across Oʻahu — specializes in “Glizzys,” which is slang for hot dogs. These gourmet dogs feature toppings like bacon bits, kalua pig, lomi lomi salmon and more. Plus, the biz also now offers birria tacos.

Sausage Fest Hawaiʻi offers gourmet Glizzys

[{"type":"text","text":"\"This is the largest stick Daisy has ever selected to bring home...\""}]

Smile 26 1 28

<title>Daily Smile: Wednesday, January 28, 2026</title>

"This is the largest stick Daisy has ever selected to bring home..."

Daily Smile: Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Business & Tourism

A funeral is what pulls the family together in the first scene where we see Nani, played by the New Zealand-Samoan actress Frankie Adams, as she hugs her long lost cousin, Jonny Hale, played by 

The moment is one of many in “The Wrecking Crew,” a movie filmed partly in Hawai’i that is set to stream globally on Amazon Prime Video at 

. The fast-paced action comedy features the estranged brothers, Jonny (Momoa) and James (Dave Bautista), who reunite when their father dies. In trying to figure out what happened, the brothers discover a conspiracy that can tear their family apart.

“The Wrecking Crew,” is based in Hawai’i but shot mostly in New Zealand. Filming included 12 days in Hawaiʻi and 43 days in New Zealand, Angela Laprete, the Hawaiʻi producer for “The Wrecking Crew," told Aloha State Daily earlier this month. She is part of the newly formed Hawai’i Film Alliance, which launched in July and is 

 that could bring more movies and televisions shows to Hawai’i.

When asked what sets the movie apart from other action films, Adams shared location was part of the charm.

“I think the fact that it's based in Hawai’i, and it's not a touristy glimpse of the island, which I think is really important,” she said. “You see real people. You see real family dynamics, and you get to see a bit of the underground world there, which I think is unique to anything else that anyone's seen.”

Adams plays the strong and sassy cousin of the brothers.

“She is the younger cousin of Jonny and James, and she's just there to call them on their crap,” Adams said. “Nothing gets past her. And she's very honest. Very sassy and smart. All the things that I love in women, personally.”

Adams remembers her first meeting with Momoa.

“Gosh, he's so full of energy,” she said. “He's so fun. He came bounding in the room, came straight up to me and was like: ‘Hi, I’m Jason. You're playing Nani. I love the character.’ We got straight into it. It was so fun. He had his guitar on set.”

Temuera Morrison (“Chief of War,” “Moana 2,” “Aquaman,” “Star Wars,” “Once Were Warriors,” etc.) also had a guitar, she said.

“In between takes, we'd be listening to music and singing, and they'd be playing the instruments,” she said. “I love music. I think it really brought the energy up on set.”

While filming in Hawai’i, Adams also enjoyed the ABC Stores.

“I love that you can get anything — anything you want is in that store,” she said. “It's magic. And I wish it existed everywhere.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Adams also got poke at Foodland."}]

“I actually, perhaps overdid it,” she said. “I think I overdosed on poke. I was eating it for breakfast, lunch and dinner.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Adams laughed."}]

She will be back on screen in another production, Disney’s live action “Moana,” which was also 

“You must take tissues because the amount you cry — from joy and pride — is quite insane,” she said. “I really hope and I feel that people are going to feel really represented when they see that and feel a sense of home.”

“The Wrecking Crew” features Jacob Batalon, Miyavi, Stephen Root and Morena Baccarin, as well as Roimata Fox. It also features actors from 

Disney’s live action version of “Lilo & Stitch” (2025), including 

, who played Lilo in that film and is a daughter of one of the main characters in this one. 

 also appears in the movie. Watch the movie on 

. It is set to release at 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

"The Wrecking Crew"

<title>Actress Frankie Adams reflects on new movies</title>

She plays Nani, the "sassy and smart" cousin of Jonny Hale (Jason Momoa) and James Hale (Dave Bautista) in "The Wrecking Crew." In this exclusive interview with Aloha State Daily, the actress shares her favorite places to decompress after shooting scenes in Hawai’i. Catch her also in Disney’s live action “Moana.”

Actress Frankie Adams reflects on new movies

IMG 1445

Rick Hamada

Columnists

Protesters on O‘ahu rallied against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on this past Sunday over two shooting deaths in Minnesota that happened just weeks apart.

Organizers called the demonstration at the intersection of Atkinson Drive and Ala Moana Boulevard an “emergency protest,” and demanded justice for 

Alex Pretti, 37, a U.S. citizen who was shot and killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis

 agents tried to disarm him, and he resisted, and an officer fired defensive shots out of fear for his life and the safety of other agents.

It is the most incendiary news cycle since the nation was roused by the death George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement. With the passing of time and developments in this story, there was so much that emerged that revealed more truth. We are witnessing a variation on a theme in Minnesota but what is a common thread is the sweeping emotional narrative leading to a greater division in our country.

[{"type":"text","text":"First things first."}]

There is no joy surrounding the Pretti or Good stories. I lament the loss of life, the impact to their families and friends and the continuing divisions plaguing our country. We have been treated to personalized stories of each including backgrounds, families, occupations and more. 

I am not decrying the access to media those close to Pretti and Good have used to share their messages. As anyone of us who has experienced such grievous loss can attest that it is a painful and regretful experience. And to lose a loved one at the hands of law enforcement is not something I can relate to because that has never happened to me. But empathetically speaking, I can imagine their losses were exacerbated learning their deaths were at the hands of ICE agents.

[{"type":"text","text":"The as of now, unsolved questions are how and why. "}]

But there are so very many who have reached their own conclusions and this is on both sides. I am of the mind to opine on what we do know and hold accusations and assumptions until there is a verifiable explanation and conclusion by verifiable sources.

However I do maintain there is voluminous reporting and social media posts that present one side to the overall story of ICE. I hope to provide another side to what is for so many the accepted overall narrative regarding ICE, its operations and news coverage. 

[{"type":"text","text":"Some key points."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"\"ICE agents are untrained.\""}]

"The basic training for an ICE agent - ICE-D is a 13-week Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) integrated basic training program that consists of both FLETC and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) training. FLETC training includes three written examinations. You are required to obtain a 70% or better on all FLETC written examinations. ICE training includes four written examinations. You are required to obtain a 70% or better on all ICE written examinations," per the 

. There are requirements for speaking Spanish, physical conditioning and more. 

DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a written statement that ICE officer candidates receive extensive training over eight weeks in courses that include conflict management and de-escalation. She said many of the candidates are military veterans, and about 85% have previous law enforcement experience. “All ICE candidates are subject to months of rigorous training and selection at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, where they are trained in everything from de-escalation tactics to firearms to driving training. Homeland Security Investigations candidates receive more than 100 days of specialized training," she 

I understand there will be those who take exception to the aforementioned retort to ICE officers "are not trained." There are counter arguments from those in various spaces that will denounce the quality of training. As I mentioned before, I would rather base my opinion on what is verifiable. With the two pieces of official data from the DHS, the statements can be vetted for accuracy. I have not seen any discrediting of this training protocol except news reports citing politicians and academia for their opinions.  

[{"type":"text","text":"\"ICE should be eliminated.\""}]

More Americans now support abolishing ICE than keeping it.

found that 46% want to eliminate ICE, compared to 43% who support preserving it.

Polling data is some of the most easily manipulated information anywhere. It's the pool of those polled, it's the phrasing of the question, and both are areas where it's controllable to reach a specific conclusion. Case in point; political polling during an election year. Candidates will often cite their own "internal" polling for a specific result. It's literally a selfie in a snapshot of time where emotions will supersede a true preponderance of questions posed. As an example, where is the margin of error in the above cited poll numbers where there is only a 3% difference? Exactly.

 "ICE is targeting minorities and even children in separating families."

The mission of ICE is to protect America from cross-border crime and illegal immigration that threaten national security and public safety through 

criminal investigations and enforcing immigration laws, combating threats like terrorism, trafficking, and illicit movement of people and goods, and upholding immigration integrity.

ICE accomplishes this by enforcing over 400 federal statutes, with key functions including immigration enforcement, investigations and removals, focusing on criminals, national security threats and maintaining lawful immigration.

[{"type":"text","text":"\"ICE is too rough with enforcement.\""}]

I would counter that agitators among genuine protesters are too rough with ICE agents/officers.

Now, before you start rolling your eyes and yelling at your screen, simply consider the following.

I began this column referring to local protests being staged on Ala Moana Boulevard near the harbor. According to reports, hundreds attended, and you know what happened? 

No confrontations, no traffic snarling or blockages, no illegal and classless behavior to law enforcement.

[{"type":"text","text":"But you know what else happened? "}]

Those who have grievances regarding the Minnesota stories and who oppose ICE and DHS successfully protested. Their peaceful congregation, respect for motorists, bikers and pedestrians, and law enforcement countered the actions in other parts of the Mainland. And their message was delivered and received via local news coverage and more.

Side note: Kudos to Hawai‘i News Now's A‘ali‘i Dukolow for his well chronicled and well balanced story pertaining to a controversial and multi-layered story.

I know there are those that are saddened to being outraged at what is taking place in our country. You have every right to believe what you believe, to speak out on what you believe and even proselytize others to believe what you believe. But we don't have the right to escalate, to assault, to berate and spew hatred to ICE or any other law enforcement officers.

[{"type":"text","text":"Commit crimes, no."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Final thought regarding protesting and not inflaming."}]

When you are taking to the streets either here or there ask yourself one question.

[{"type":"text","text":"Am I making my kids proud? "}]

[{"type":"text","text":"This is a rule of thumb all sides should embrace."}]

Daily Smile: Tuesday, January 27, 2026

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Daily Smile: Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Authors

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