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[{"type":"text","text":"Just like a cartoon..."}]

Smile 26 2 5

<title>Daily Smile: Thursday, February 5, 2026</title>

Just like a cartoon...

Daily Smile: Thursday, February 5, 2026

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

The latest round of storms bringing heavy rain to the Islands has so far had little impact on local airline operations.

"Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines are closely monitoring and assessing weather conditions," a spokesperson for the airlines told Aloha State Daily in an email. "As of 2 p.m., we have canceled six roundtrip Neighbor Island flights and remain focused on supporting our employees who live in the affected areas.

"We are continuing to evaluate our schedule and will notify guests of any changes to their flight," the spokesperson continued. "We encourage guests to regularly check their flight status and to check in online before arriving at the airport to save time. Guests should also monitor app push notifications for real-time updates."

In an announcement Friday, the Hawai`i Visitors & Convention Bureau offered this guidance to travelers currently in the state:

And for those with upcoming trips, HVCB says there's no reason to cancel or postpone travel.

"The state remains safe and welcoming, and conditions are expected to improve early next week," the announcement notes.

Travelers, though, should ensure their airline has a current mobile number on file and enable app and SMS notifications, as well as confirm flight statuses directly with the airline before departing for the airport.

Unrelated to the stormy weather, the state Department of Transportation on Friday confirmed that all airports in Hawai‘i are being staffed and will remain open and operational, despite some national reports that small airports nationwide may close or pause operations due to the partial shutdown of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and funding of the Transportation Security Administration, or TSA.

“All of our airports, including our smaller airports on the Neighbor Islands, are vital transportation links for our residents and visitors and they will remain open to serve the traveling public,” said DOT Director Ed Sniffen in a statement. “HDOT is in close communication with our federal partners impacted by the partial shutdown and we want to thank them for keeping our airports staffed and ensuring they remain operational, while minimizing disruptions to travelers. We appreciate the commitment of our dedicated federal workers and their families, who are again facing uncertainty due to the partial shutdown. We will continue to support these individuals who we work closely with on a daily basis, so they can continue to provide critical service to air travelers.”

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Daniel k inouye international airport hnl 100925

<title>How the storm is affecting airlines and travel</title>

Hawaiian Airlines has canceled just a few flights due to the current storms as of this afternoon, and the Hawai`i Visitors & Convention Bureau has offered guidance to travelers.

How the storm is affecting airlines and travel

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

 — located in the former space of The Lei Stand in Chinatown — looks like an antique shop, filled with vintage Hawaiian décor. But, as soon as you go the “portal” of aloha shirts, you’ll be transported to a modern lounge space.

“We did want to keep an element of a speakeasy feel for the space,” says business owner Peter Hessler, of PEWA by Pono Potions’ location. “It does look like a very small space from the street, and then it opens up to a big, expansive bar and this awesome courtyard.

“We wanted it to be a bit of a surprise,” he adds. “My partner Michael (Cabagbag) is a big collector of vintage Hawaiian antiques and is passionate about vintage clothes and art. That’s (the entrance) really his space — we’re calling it his antique shop — and it’s going to get more stuffed with antiques as we go. It’s going to feel like a really unique, hole-in-the-wall, Chinatown antique shop.”

This cocktail lounge concept has been in the works for some time for Hessler and Cabagbag, owners of artisan syrup company Pono Potions.

“Michael and I had always talked about wanting to open a cocktail lounge, just because our syrups really lend themselves to making cocktails,” Hessler says. “We always tell people they can make cocktails with them; we haven’t really had a home base for that.

“We’re really excited,” he adds. “This is a really big endeavor for us, from growing the syrup business and the café (

), which is still fairly small and only open during the day. This is twice as big as the café, twice as many hours and multiple food menus, cocktails plus coffee and matcha in the morning. It is a lot for us, and we’re so excited to share everything with the people around us.”

He explains the business’s name stems from a traditional Hawaiian word portrayed in the lounge’s logo.

“It’s the traditional Hawaiian word for this shape — this fishtail-kind of shape — in the ‘P’ (of PEWA),” Hessler says. “It was traditionally used for woodworking and mending two pieces of wood together. We were inspired by that because we wanted to bring our community together. With this being our first night and cocktail concept, we have much more space to invite the community into events and host workshops.

“It’s everything we have been doing for 

(by Pono Potions) for years, just in a different setting,” he adds.

PEWA by Pono Potions features an espresso bar in the morning from 9 to 11 a.m., then offers different menus for lunch (served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and pau hana (4 to 9 p.m.). The espresso bar is different from the specialty beverages customers can get at sister business 

by Pono Potions, which is also located in Chinatown.

is still our flagship store for our Pono Potions syrups for our coffee and matcha drinks,” Hessler explains. “There are about 30-plus specialty drink options and combinations and cold foams at Pō'ai. For this space, we wanted to keep it very simple. It’s more of a purist European-style espresso bar — there are classic drinks, cortados, lattes, flat whites, things like that.”

Customers who visit PEWA by Pono Potions in the morning can enjoy a rotating selection of baked goods from Ulu and Kalo Bakery and Aloha German Bakery, according to Hessler.

“Ulu and Kalo Bakery — which we use at Pō'ai

by Pono Potions — has all vegan and gluten-free baked goods that are amazing,” he says. “We also started working with Aloha German Bakery; they are more classic European-style baked goods.”

PEWA’s lunch and pau hana menus have given Hessler the chance to get back into the kitchen and exercise his culinary creativity.

“I grew up in Portland in the back of the house as a cook and banquet chef in hotels and restaurants,” he says. “I haven’t really gotten into much (of that) here in Hawai‘i; I haven’t worked in a kitchen in more than 13 years. It was really daunting, having this much space with a full kitchen and just thinking about how I was going to manage that.”

Hessler says he created all the recipes for the dishes on the lunch and pau hana menus, with some help from his cousin, Arden Waikīkī chef Jasmyne Wood.

“It’s been a really fun process to meld all of those things together,” he says.

PEWA’s lunch menu includes pūpū like yuzu citrus glaze chicken wings ($18) and fritto misto ($18); salads like Caesar ($15) and burrata Caprese ($18); and entrees like grilled chicken club ($18) and a rib-eye sando ($24).

“Working in Chinatown for so long, I’m always in search for a filling, healthy, good sandwich,” Hessler says. “I really like our chicken club with avocado and bacon — it’s super simple, but really good.”

[{"type":"text","text":"Meanwhile, the pau hana menu includes more shareable dishes."}]

“We didn’t want it to be a place where you felt you were going out for a three-course meal; it’s not a sit-down dinner service sort of place,” he says. “It’s a space to enjoy a cocktail and share different things with your friends.

Customers can opt for dishes like grilled boneless rib-eye ($48), herb-grilled prawns ($32), hot sausage vodka rigatoni ($24) and spaghetti aglio e olio ($20).

“The grilled prawns are served with a housemade grilled baba ganoush; that’s a really fun thing to share,” Hessler says. “We have a pūpū rib-eye steak with a chimichurri sauce and it’s lightly marinated with red wine and some balsamic vinegar; it’s really, really good. The chicken wings are a crowd favorite already; they’re super crispy with a yuzu citrus glaze.”

The pau hana menu also offers a variety of shareable boards that are designed to split among three to four people, according to Hessler. Choose from smoked salmon with whipped herb goat cheese and house pickles ($23); Mediterranean with grilled baba ganoush, hummus and crudite ($20); and charcuterie and cheese ($25).

“We have a lot of boards; I’ve been pretty infamous for charcuterie boards," he says. "We would host so many events at 

, and I would make huge, elaborate boards all the time. I wanted to bring that here as well.”

PEWA boasts an extensive drink menu; customers can choose from handcrafted cocktails ($18), espresso martinis ($14-$18), beers ($8-$10) and classic Pono spritzes ($14), along with wines by the glass and bottle.

So far, customer favorites include the Crown Flower ($18) — milk-washed gin, pikake and lychee-accented cocktail — and Red Palaka ($18). The latter pays homage to the Year of the Fire Horse, and features a tequila and mezcal sour paired with olena pineapple and pink lucky candy.

“The Red Palaka is one of my favorites,” Hessler says. “I (also) really like the Mana Mai’a ($16), which uses our new banana bread Pono Potions syrup, fresh lemon juice, vodka, and freshly grated cinnamon on top.”

Any of the classic Pono spritzes ($14 each) can be made into non-alcoholic versions, according to Hessler. These drinks usually feature a base spirit, house soda, and Pono Potions syrups. If you want something refreshing, go for the non-alcoholic version of the hibiscus mojito, which is a blend of hibiscus syrup, lime and soda. 

On Sundays, the space is open for brunch from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (last call for the kitchen is at 2 p.m.). Dishes range from shakshuka and avocado toast to rib-eye steak and eggs and a sweetbread French toast skillet.

“We want this space to be like the destination for a fun Sunday boozy brunch with good food and good drinks on the patio,” Hessler says.

He says that, since opening, the space has already been busy on Friday and Saturday nights.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of life we bring into this space,” Hessler says. “We want to make this space accessible to everyone — we want to make it a destination for people to come to have one drink or one coffee, or just to relax all night and eat some good food as well. The most important thing is the camaraderie with the community.”

Open 9 to 11 a.m. (espresso bar), 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (lunch), and 4 to 9 p.m. (pau hana) Wednesdays to Saturdays; open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays; closed Mondays and Tuesdays

PEWA owner 031926

<title>PEWA by Pono Potions is Chinatown’s newest cocktail lounge</title>

Pono Potions’ new cocktail lounge features creative libations, along with lunch, pau hana and brunch menus.

PEWA by Pono Potions is Chinatown’s newest cocktail lounge

Government & Politics

After a weekend of severe and stormy weather, more rain could be on the way, according to meteorologists with the National Weather Service.

Patrick Blood, a meteorologist with NWS in Honolulu, however, says, “We are likely not going to experience what we just went through.”

Thursday and Friday will be days “where we could pick up more rain,” he told Aloha State Daily Monday, but “we’re not looking at any wind right now.”

A Kona Low — a powerful seasonal cyclone — moved through the Islands last week, bringing with it heavy rains, high winds, flooding, 

According to Blood, Maui and Hawai‘i Island bore the brunt of that storm

The state received “anywhere from 10 to 20-plus inches statewide,” he told ASD.

“Higher amounts fell over the south-, southwest-facing portions of the Islands,” he says. “Areas that don’t typically get that much rain received copious amounts of rain, which led to flooding. The hardest-hit areas were the island of Maui and Big Island, as far as the impacts.”

Flooding, he says, was the worst around Kīhei and the leeward side of Maui, on the west-facing slopes of Haleakalā, and south of Kailua-Kona on the Big Island, heading toward Captain Cook.

Blood says the weather event spanned Tuesday to Sunday, but 80% of the rainfall occurred from Friday into Saturday morning.

Most saw rainfall of 6 or 7 inches to around 12 inches over that period, he told ASD.

The island of Maui, though, picked up anywhere from 15 to 20-plus inches of rain, with some areas in up country receiving more than 30 inches, he noted. And one gage even reported more than 46 inches, he told ASD.

On the Big Island, Blood says the “dry side of that island got the most rain,” but some areas in the southeast side of the island also picked up 25 to 27 inches.

“probably escaped the worst of it,” Blood says, but the island still received 6 to 9 inches on its south side, he noted.

[{"type":"text","text":"High winds also caused damage at during last week’s storm."}]

The highest wind gust of 135 mph was measured at 4:20 a.m. on Saturday at Kaiāulu Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a on Hawai‘i Island, at an elevation of around 4,000 feet, Blood says.

[{"type":"text","text":"On O‘ahu, a wind gust of 81 mph was measured at Makapu‘u Beach."}]

Kula, on Maui, also saw a wind gust of 108 mph at an elevation of nearly 10,000 feet.

Blood says 1980 was “the last time we had this kind of rain statewide.”

“But Kona Lows come nearly every year, pretty much. It’s just they all come in different flavors, different sizes, different strengths. Some are slower moving than others. A storm of this magnitude is definitely a generational storm. You only see this storm once every 20, 30 years.”

Storm

<title>A 'generational storm'</title>

Aloha State Daily spoke with National Weather Service meteorologist Patrick Blood about last week's severe storms and what's next for Hawai‘i's weather.

A 'generational storm'

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Aloha Spirit

i Health Systems Corp., will use a $6 million grant from 

The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust

 to continue providing essential services for the North Shore and Ko‘olauloa communities on O

A joint announcement Tuesday said that the grant will help “expand the hospital’s emergency department and upgrade its electronic health record system.” The grant will also fund new monitors, carts, furniture, and ultrasound and X-ray machines.

“This expansion will help Kahuku Medical Center provide its timely, high-quality emergency care in an upgraded environment on par with any urban setting,” said Walter Panzirer, a trustee of the Helmsley Charitable Trust. “Helmsley is proud to help KMC expand its services to better serve residents of O

The project will more than double KMC’s emergency department to 4,000 square feet, which includes eight to 10 treatment bays and a Level-5 trauma bay, aimed to improve patient flow, reduce wait times and allow clinicians to better stabilize patients in trauma, per the announcement.

a told Aloha State Daily in response to emailed questions that there will be no jobs added with the footprint growth.

“KMC does not expect this expansion to create additional permanent positions,” she said, adding, "

We do not anticipate any reductions in staffing or services before, during, or after construction. ... 

As patient volumes grow, we will continue to evaluate staffing needs accordingly.

To minimize disruption to patients and hospital operations, she says the new emergency department will be constructed in an unused space adjacent to the existing one.

“For the construction phase, we will partner with local construction firms to employ local tradesmen," Napaʻa told ASD.

KMC has selected an architect and engineering firm to lead the project. Following the design phase, 

construction will begin in the first quarter of 2027 and is expected to be completed by December 2028.

Of the $6 million Helmsley grant, $5 million is dedicated to expanding the emergency department, while the remainder will support the installation and implementation of KMC’s new electronic health record (EHR) system, she added.

“Combined with state funding, this investment allowed us to launch the project and successfully go live with EPIC on March 1,” Napa

a said. “The new EHR will streamline care by improving workflow efficiency, making it easier for providers to access clinical notes, and enabling care coordination across most of Hawai‘i’s major health systems. These improvements will enhance quality of care while helping to reduce costs. For our North Shore and Ko‘olauloa communities, this level of connectivity is a significant advantage.”

KMC CEO Steve Nawahine said in the announcement that the renovations will expand capacity, modernize the environment, and ensure that every patient who comes through its doors receives dignified, compassionate care.

“We offer our deepest mahalo to The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust for its confidence in our mission and its commitment to advancing the health of the North Shore and Ko

olauloa regions,” Nawahine said. “Its support represents a truly transformative investment in our hospital and the community we serve. This partnership enhances our ability to deliver high

quality emergency care close to home — care that is essential for rural families who rely on us in life’s most critical moments.”

KMC employs more than 200 workers and specializes in family and internal medicine, pediatrics, dental health, physical and occupational rehabilitation, mental health, preventive care, and more.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Kahuku Medical Center

<title>Kahuku Medical Center awarded $6M from Helmsley Charitable Trust</title>

The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust has granted $6 million to Kahuku Medical Center to upgrade its emergency department and electronic health record system. Kori Napaʻa, chief strategy officer of the hospital, shares how the funding will be allocated and what this means for staff and patients in the North Shore community.

Kahuku Medical Center awarded $6M from Helmsley Charitable Trust

[{"type":"text","text":"A new Indian restaurant just opened in Windward Oʻahu."}]

 recently opened its third location (hence, the “3” in the restaurant name) in Kailua Shopping Center; the eatery is in the former space of 

. The business specializes in authentic Indian cuisine, featuring dishes made from traditional, homemade recipes.

The eatery offers limited indoor and outdoor seating; takeout is also available. The menu at this location is similar to the ones offered at the business’s other two stores in downtown Honolulu and Kapahulu.

Start with popular appetizers like veg samosas ($7.95). Each order consists of two crisp pastries filled with a savory combination of peas, potatoes, herbs and spices. They’re served with mint and tamarind sauces for dipping.

The eatery offers a variety of chicken, lamb and seafood entrees, as well as vegetarian- and vegan-friendly options. Butter chicken ($19.45) and chicken tikka masala ($19.45) are especially popular. The butter chicken entree features barbecued pieces of chicken cooked in the business’s special makhani (rich butter sauce); all dishes are served with rice.

The eatery’s chicken tandoori ($19.45) features chicken marinated overnight in yogurt, lemon juice and fresh spices; it’s then barbecued over a tandoori oven. The pieces are meaty, juicy and tender. This dish can easily be shared, as the serving size is generous.

Palak paneer ($18.95) — a blend of homemade cottage cheese and creamy spinach — is a customer favorite, and it’s one of the most popular vegetarian-friendly options. Other vegetarian dishes include sweet potato masala ($18.95), paneer butter masala ($18.95) and daal makhni ($17.95). The latter features lentils that are cooked overnight, flavored with spices and herbs and finished with butter. 

Although entrees come with rice, New Kamana Kitchen’s variety of naan breads — ranging from butter ($3.95) and garlic ($4.45) to cheese ($5.95) — are a popular side dish.

The eatery’s mango lassi ($6.45) — a sweet, mango-flavored yogurt drink — is a refreshing option to pair with the savory dishes. New Kamana Kitchen 3 also offers desserts like gulab jamun ($4.45) — cheese balls dipped and served in syrup — rice pudding ($3.45) and mango ice cream ($3.95).

Open daily, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. for lunch, 4 to 9 p.m. for dinner

New Kamana Kitchen 3 lunch spread 022326

<title>New Kamana Kitchen 3 opens in Kailua</title>

The eatery — which has locations in downtown Honolulu and Kapahulu — recently opened in Kailua Shopping Center. The biz prides itself on serving authentic Indian cuisine using traditional recipes. Customer favorites range from butter chicken and mango lassi to tandoori chicken.

New Kamana Kitchen 3 opens in Kailua

The bakery is located on Keeaumoku Street, in the former Ross space. It will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; hours are subject to change.

The business — which has other stores in California, New York and Texas — is popular for its French- and Korean-inspired baked goods.

The shop offers freshly baked artisan pastries, cakes and beverages. The business prides itself on baking its pastries fresh every day, according to store manager Yuri Woo.

“We’re baking fresh bread every morning,” she says. “That’s the most important thing for our bakery.”

Popular items include salt and butter rolls, garlic cream cheese bread ($7.65), sesame and sweet rice donuts ($3.20 each) and egg custard pastries ($4.70).

Woo notes that most pastries are French-inspired, but some are influenced by Korean flavors.

“The salt and butter (rolls), red bean donuts and custard buns are Korean-inspired,” she says. “The garlic cream cheese bread is popular. It’s bread with garlic cream inside; it’s cheesy and savory.” 

The bakery is especially known for its Cloud cakes, which are available by the slice or as whole cakes.

“The Cloud cakes are the most popular — we have fresh Cloud cream, strawberry, green tea mango and blueberry,” Woo says.

Customers can also opt for a variety of other cakes — ranging from flavors like strawberry tiramisu and classic mocha to tiramisu and seasonal options — macarons and cheesecakes.

TOUS les JOURS also offers a variety of coffees and teas. Popular options include tiramisu lattes ($5.85-$6.85), ube lattes ($5.25-$6.25) and honey lavender macchiatos ($5.85-$6.85).

“We have good coffee selections, but the most popular one — our signature one — is the tiramisu latte,” Woo says. “It’s basically the vanilla latte with cream cheese foam and cocoa powder on top. The cream cheese foam is made with a special recipe.”

Customers can also enjoy limited-time holiday offerings like candy cane hot cocoa ($5.75-$6.25), gingerbread matcha latte ($5.75-$6.75) and gingerbread lattes ($5.75-$6.75).

TOUS les JOURS is celebrating its grand opening with a variety of giveaways from Dec. 28 to 30. The first 100 guests who spend $30 or more will get a free TOUS les JOURS umbrella (Dec. 28); a free TOUS les JOURS mug (Dec. 29); and a free TOUS les JOURS insulated tote (Dec. 30).

[{"type":"text","text":"The bakery will eventually offer validated parking."}]

TOUS les JOURS sign 122725

<title>TOUS les JOURS opens first Hawaiʻi location</title>

The bakery soft opened today and is celebrating its grand opening on Dec. 28 to 30 with a variety of giveaways. The business — which has other stores in California, New York and Texas — is popular for its French- and Korean-inspired baked goods.

Daily Smile: Thursday, February 5, 2026

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Daily Smile: Thursday, February 5, 2026

Authors

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