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<title>Daily Smile: Friday, February 6, 2026</title>

Rage baiting is a universal concept for fun...

Daily Smile: Friday, February 6, 2026

 Rage baiting is a universal concept for fun...

Daniel Farr 02

Daniel Farr

Government & Politics

Honolulu transit riders will pay more starting July 1 after the City Council on Wednesday approved a major overhaul of fares for TheBus, TheHandi-Van and Skyline.

The changes are expected to generate about $4 million in additional revenue for Oʻahu’s public transit system, which faces rising operating costs that could push its 

 toward $470 million over the next two years.

The Council voted 6–3 to adopt Bill 54, legislation introduced by Council Chair Tommy Waters by request, updating the city’s public transit fare schedule under Chapter 15B of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu. Councilmembers Radiant Cordero, Matt Weyer and Tyler Dos Santos-Tam voted against the measure.

Under the new rates, adult riders paying cash will see the single-ride fare rise from $3 to $3.25. Riders using a city payment card will also pay $3.25, while the daily fare cap will remain $7.50. Monthly adult passes will increase from $80 to $90, and annual passes from $880 to $990, a 12.5% increase for both. Seven-day adult passes will rise from $35 to $45, a 28.5% increase.

Youth fares will also increase. Monthly youth passes will rise from $40 to $45, while annual youth passes will increase from $440 to $495.

Senior fares will also go up, with the annual pass increasing from $45 to $50, an 11% increase. Reduced fares will remain available to Hawaiʻi residents who are seniors, people with disabilities, Medicare cardholders, paratransit eligibility ID holders and individuals with extremely low incomes. Reduced fares include single-ride fares of $1.50 for cash payments and $1.25 for payment card users, a two-hour pass for $1.25, a 24-hour pass for $3, monthly passes for $20 and annual passes for $45.

Paratransit riders using TheHandi-Van will pay $2.50 for a one-way trip, up from $2.25.

The ordinance keeps the reduced‑fare program for people with extremely low incomes, but their fares will rise by 25 cents. 

Eligible riders will receive a city payment card programmed with discounted fares, with eligibility determined by the Department of Community Services under guidelines outlined in the legislation.

The bill allows the city’s transportation services director to set special fares for large events, including concerts, conventions and sporting events, when non-scheduled transit service is provided, as well as for travel to and from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.

Weyer, District 2 Councilman, representing Haleʻiwa, Wahiawā and other parts of North and Central Oʻahu, told Aloha State Daily he voted against the measure because fare increases place a financial burden on residents who rely on public transit for daily needs, noting that more than half of bus riders do not own a car. He also raised concerns about reduced ridership resulting from higher fares.

“Public transportation is not a luxury, it’s a necessity,” Weyer said.

Dos Santos-Tam, District 6 Councilman, representing Downtown Honolulu, Chinatown and other urban neighborhoods, told ASD the increase runs counter to the Council’s stated focus on affordability, particularly for residents with lower incomes. As a regular bus rider, he said he frequently hears from riders struggling with rising everyday costs.

“The City Council should be focused on bringing down the cost of living, not making daily life more expensive for residents,” Dos Santos-Tam said.

Dos Santos-Tam cited data showing ASD that about 70% of Honolulu bus riders live in households earning under $60,000 annually, with roughly 20% earning less than $21,000. Even modest fare increases, he said, can force families to cut back on essentials such as food, rent or medical care.

Dos Santos-Tam said he introduced a floor draft to block the fare increase, but it failed to gain enough support from the Council. Weyer said he plans to continue working with the Department of Transportation Services to explore expanded reduced-fare or zero-fare programs.

The Department of Transportation Services said the fare increases are necessary to maintain service amid rising costs. Operating expenses are expected to increase by about $11 million this year and another $11 million next year, pushing the transit budget toward $470 million, while total revenues are projected at about $44 million. The $4 million expected from the fare changes would help offset the gap (read ASD’s deep dive comparing Honolulu’s transit operating costs with those of Mainland systems 

Council staff said Bill 54 will now be transmitted to Mayor Rick Blangiardi for his signature. Scott Humber, the mayor’s communications director, told ASD the measure is expected to be in the mayor’s office by Wednesday. Once received, the mayor will have until Feb. 12 to sign.

Bill 54 was introduced July 22, 2025. All approved fare changes take effect later this year.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Untitled design

<title>Honolulu Bus, Handi-Van and Skyline fares set to increase</title>

City Council approves fare overhaul expected to generate $4 million for Oʻahu’s public transit system amid rising costs, despite opposition citing affordability concerns.

Honolulu Bus, Handi-Van and Skyline fares set to increase

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

 and Dave Bautista will soon star in a new movie, “The Wrecking Crew,” which was filmed in 

. It will start streaming globally on Prime Video on Jan. 27.

Momoa, known for his roles as Aquaman in “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” the warlord Khal Drogo in “Game of Thrones,” and — most recently  — Kaʻiana in “Chief of War,” plays one of the estranged half brothers. Bautista, known for his roles as Drax in “Guardians of the Galaxy,” and Sapper Morton in “Blade Runner,” plays the other one. 

The action comedy features the estranged brothers, Jonny (Momoa) and James (Bautista) who must reunite when their father dies mysteriously. The brothers discover a conspiracy with the power to tear their family apart. The movie is set in Hawaiʻi. 

It was directed by Ángel Manuel Soto (“Blue Beetle” in 2023) and written by Jonathan Tropper.

It stars Claes Bang, Jacob Batalon, Miyavi, Stephen Root and Morena Baccarin and actors who appear in “Chief of War” including 

, who plays King Kahekili in the series, and 

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

, who was appears in the movie with shave ice, and died a few weeks after its release in theaters. 

, who plays Sina, Moana’s mother, in Disney’s live action movie “Moana,” which is set to release later this year, is also in “The Wrecking Crew.”

"The Wrecking Crew"

<title>What to know about 'The Wrecking Crew' starring Jason Momoa</title>

The new movie launches this month, featuring Momoa and Dave Bautista, who play estranged brothers brought together by the death of their father. The story is set in the Islands.

Daily Smile: Friday, February 6, 2026

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Daily Smile: Friday, February 6, 2026

Authors

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