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ASD Staff

Daily Smile

[{"type":"text","text":"Give it to me, I'll take it from here..."}]

Smile 26 2 11

<title>Daily Smile: Wednesday, February 11, 2026</title>

Give it to me, I'll take it from here...

Daily Smile: Wednesday, February 11, 2026

 Give it to me, I&#039;ll take it from here...

Government & Politics

 on the number of sharks attacks in the United States by state in 2025. Using data compiled by the media outlet as well as by 

, there were at least 28 reported shark attacks nationwide last year.

In the top spot was Florida, with 15 attacks by such species as bull sharks and lemon sharks, in incidents where the shark was  identified.

Next came California with 4 attacks, all attributed to great white sharks.

Hawai‘i had the third largest number of attacks with three, no fatalities. The attacks were attributed to a blacktop reef shark, a tiger shark and one unknown species.

There followed South Carolina with two, Texas with two, North Carolina with two, then Massachusetts and New York with one attack each.

The 28 reported attacks marked a decline from 36 in 2024.

"The odds of being killed by a shark in the United States are more than 4 million to 1, according to 

" reported USA Today. "Researchers say people are more likely to die by lighting strike (1 in nearly 80,000), accidental poisoning (1 in 193), or a hospital infection (1 in 38)."

[{"type":"text","text":"Globally, there were 11 fatalities among 68 reported attacks."}]

Know your shark! Hawai‘i's Department of Land and Natural Resources has an online identification guide for the roughly 40 species of shark seen in Hawai‘i's waters, click 

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Shark warning i Stock 1161806839 16x9

<title>Where Hawai‘i ranked for shark attacks in 2025</title>

Shark attacks were recorded in eight states last year.

Where Hawai‘i ranked for shark attacks in 2025

Lopaka and Tanya Kapanui

Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya Kapanui

Hawaii History

Columnists

Not far beneath the paved roads, apartment buildings, and high-rises, a hidden system of underground caverns and spring-fed ponds once nourished wetlands, lo

i kalo, and freshwater ponds across the M

ili district. This karst, the underground cave system, was formed by eons of erosion of the coral limestone base that consists of beach sediments, marine organisms, and fragments of shells and water-worn coral. The M

ili Karst is thought to be part of the original channel of Mānoa Stream, and contained fish that lived so long in the darkness that they were blind.

It is said that when someone asked an old fisherman in the area where he was going, he

m going holoholo,” out for a walk. For if he announced he was going fishing, the fish that lived underground would hear his plans and spread the word, and the fisherman would have no luck that day.

The water in the underground streams rose to the surface in sacred ponds. Among these, one of the most important was Kapa

akea, also remembered as Kumulae and then later called Hausten Pond. Like nearby Kānewai, Kapa

akea was believed to possess healing qualities and was associated with restoration.

The pond was a favored retreat of Princess Victoria Kamāmalu, who inherited the land from her mother, Kina

ahumanu. Kamāmalu died in 1866 with no heirs, and Kapa

akea eventually came under the ownership of Princess Pauahi and the Bishop Trust. In the 1920s, it was purchased by John McGuire, whose wife, Emma Kaleimoku Ai, established a sanctuary for her family. The property overflowed with a wide variety of tropical flowers, plumeria, ulu, and kukui trees, as well as Hawaiian medicinal plants and herbs, and, of course, Emma

s graceful willow trees that would eventually give the place a new name. The family even had a diving board over the freshwater pond to entertain the children and visitors. The pond was stocked with koi that were said to have interbred with the fish inhabiting the underground streams.

s passing, Emma remarried Henry T. Hausten. The family began hosting political dinners and occasional lu

au for important guests. With the help of Emma

s daughters, her sister, and her brother, things quickly evolved into a full-time business and eventually into The Willows.

Since their official opening in 1944, The Willows welcomed everyone with beautiful settings, warm hospitality, and delicious food. On almost any given day, one would see average working families having a quiet meal alongside the rich and famous. The Willows catered to everybody, perhaps even the otherworldly.

One afternoon, while I was still teaching at a Hawaiian immersion school, a parent asked if she could share her story with me.

She said she used to work as a cashier at The Willows restaurant. At night, she counted the money from the day

the cage,” while a security guard kept watch. One night, out of the blue, they heard Hawaiian music coming from the main part of the restaurant. They could hear lively conversations and the sound of cutlery on plates. But the restaurant had been closed for hours.

After locking the cage door, she and the guard went to check, but the place was empty and completely quiet. The silence was unnerving, but the two were not going to wait for the proverbial shoe to drop. They decided she would quickly finish counting the cash, and then they would leave as soon as she was done. But as she neared the end of her count, they heard splashing in the pond and the sounds of laughter and fun.

Once she finished her work, she and the security guard braced themselves to leave, trying to ignore anything else they might see or hear.

The laughter and splashing kept going until we left the restaurant,” she said, 

When we got to the parking lot, we heard the Hawaiian music again. The security guard quit the next day, and later that week, I started working at the airlines.”

I shared a bit of the pond's sacred history, and she looked as if she had just remembered something important.

She added that sometimes, while counting money in the cage, they would finish and look up to see tiny footprints all over the ceiling and walls, as if children had been stomping around, though they never heard any footsteps. A staff member once told them there was supposed to be a menehune path through The Willows, but no one knew exactly where it was.

Of course, not everyone who worked at the Willows had a supernatural experience, but based on her stories, there was enough happening that it was hard to keep security guards on staff.

Sadly, The Willows closed in 2018 after serving the public for nearly 70 years. I wonder if the neighbors still hear the music, laughter, and celebrations.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":" "}]

The old Willows Restaurant Large

<title>Echoes of The Willows</title>

Generations of kama‘āina have warm memories of The Willows restaurant in Mō‘ili‘ili. Here's the real history of the location, and the reasons why people who worked there heard singing when no one was present and saw the footprints of ghostly children.

Echoes of The Willows

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

Winter break is ending soon. In a few days, Sean Yamaguchi is flying back to frigid Reno, where the star University of Nevada sophomore will continue his collegiate baseball career. Other college students Yamaguchi's age spending the holidays at home are likely to be enjoying an afternoon of frivolity at the beach or a related activity, basking in the relative warmth of the Islands. But on this day, Yamaguchi is partaking in a sacred family tradition. 

Mike Yamaguchi, his wife Leina and their two sons, Michael and Sean, have spent countless hours over the years at a park near the family's ‘Aiea home, where the sessions double as hitting training and family time. Michael and Sean take turns swinging, then the entire family would pick up baseballs in the outfield. Sometimes, the family dog would come. When others came to join, Leina would bring snacks. 

Each park session brought Michael and Sean closer to their baseball dreams. Michael went on to play collegiately at Saint Martin's University, a Division II school in Washington, from 2021 to 2023. Sean Yamaguchi's baseball story is still being written, though his resume boasts Little League World Series star, state Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior at Saint Louis in 2024 and Mountain West Freshman of the Year in 2025. 

Add legitimate MLB Draft prospect twice to the list, where Yamaguchi turned down interest after high school in order to go to college. In 2026, he'll be a draft-eligible sophomore. Yamaguchi is a prime candidate to hear his name called somewhere in July's 20 rounds, where he could then sign with the team that picks him and officially start his professional career. 

There's a lot for Yamaguchi to consider as he embarks on the most important year of his baseball career to date, which is why days at the park are vital. The weather is picture perfect on this day. Nobody else is waiting around the baseball diamond, a rarity at this park, where the only noise disturbing the peace is the sound emanating from Yamaguchi's metal bat, with big brother throwing the pitches. 

"It is exciting," Yamaguchi told Aloha State Daily of the potential start to his pro career. "Once the summer hits, it's going to start to feel a lot more real. But right now, I can only focus on just getting better every day. I honestly believe hard work pays off, and I think if you just keep doing that and keep stacking the good days and treat every day like day one, I think I'll be in a good spot."

[{"type":"text","text":"Built in the backyard"}]

Sean Yamaguchi's rise to baseball prominence didn't begin at the Little League World Series. It began in the backyard, where his tools were discovered and harnessed. 

To an outsider, the most distinct part of the Yamaguchi home, which looks more like a compound, is the outdoor batting cage. Built by Leina's father, the cage is where Michael and Sean spent hours on end perfecting their swings. With built-in lights, the boys could be in there well into the night.

"They would be there every night, as long as they did their homework. Sean would lie," said Mike Yamaguchi with a chuckle. Mike also recalled how neighbors could certainly hear the echoes but would hardly complain. 

Before Sean Yamaguchi looked up to the pros, he looked up to Michael. He'd sit in the stands, cheering big brother on, hoping to hit home runs in the same leagues one day. With Michael showing Sean the way, little brother excelled in the sport. It wasn't long until Sean was playing above his age group and playing on the same teams as Michael. 

Hitting dingers was fun, and there were a lot of them, but Mike Yamaguchi says his boys also spent a large portion of time working on fielding in the cage at home. Hitting at the park also became routine, because the boys also had to learn how to hit in all areas of the field and weren't able to see the ball travel as well in the cage. 

[{"type":"text","text":"Little League dreams "}]

 hadn't met Sean Yamaguchi yet, but he had certainly heard of his 10U team's prowess. In addition to Yamaguchi, his team featured players such as future Little League World Series standouts Jace Souza, Mana Lau Kong, Aukai Kea, and even current Oregon quarterback Dylan Raiola. The following year, when Yamaguchi was playing in a tournament with ‘Iolani's 11U team, Oda was impressed by a pair of extra base hits he belted to right center — kids that age tend to pull the ball. 

"He wasn't the fastest guy, he obviously wasn't the biggest guy, but he just had a good nose to the ball and he could hit," Oda recalled. 

Yamaguchi and Oda still had't met until Yamaguchi introduced himself unprompted after the game. 

"This kid gets it. He's only 11 years old, but what impressed me the most, the fact that he went out of his way to talk to me," Oda said. "That tells you what kind of kid this kid is, and of course, the parents. It very, very rarely happens where a kid will just walk up to me and just shake my hand. That's not normal for a kid that young to do that. And then we had an opportunity to pick him up later on."

Yamaguchi was perhaps the face of a Honolulu Little League team that went all the way to the 2018 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. and won. His charisma was displayed during off the field moments on ESPN, endearing the team to the world and providing hope for a state that was preparing for a potentially catastrophic hurricane. He also happened to be one of the star players, batting .400 with a grand slam while serving as the team's 3-hole hitter. He even pitched, refusing to give up a run in his two relief appearances. 

While the Little League World Series gains massive popularity in Hawai‘i when a team from the Islands makes it to Williamsport, the event is not without its detractors. For decades, the argument has been made against having 11- and 12-year-old kids play in a 

 in front of a network that televises it to millions of viewers worldwide. All the while, since the event runs in late August, the kids are missing school. 

"Once in a while, you look up and you see all those people, and you're like, 'Dude, this is kind of crazy.' And then you look back down at your shoes and at the dirt, and it's just baseball," Yamaguchi said. "We're just gonna go out there and have fun. And that's the best advice I ever got from Coach Gerald and them, is go out there, take a deep breath, look around and just feel like this is why you play baseball. You didn't play baseball for the cameras, for the fans, you came here to play baseball because you love the game.

"I was just living in the moment. I had a blast. I didn't go out there trying to be the funny guy or anything, that's just me. I showed me, and I just had a lot of fun doing it."

Added Oda: "What you saw on TV, for sure that's Seanie in real life. I think what makes Seanie very special was you see the good players, but the great players make everyone else around them better. And that's what Seanie did."

[{"type":"text","text":"Just the beginning"}]

Prior to the Little League World Series, Sean Yamaguchi startled his parents by telling them he wanted to transfer from ‘Iolani to Saint Louis. 

"He told me and my wife that he wanted to go to Saint Louis, and we had a long discussion, and I explained to him that Saint Louis is a boys' school," Mike Yamaguchi said. "It's a tough school, it's a very competitive school, and he said that's why he wants to go there."

Since Michael still attended ‘Iolani, the commute for the Yamaguchi boys was about to get extended by a few miles. Sean Yamaguchi knew leaving the nurturing nature of ‘Iolani in favor of the Saint Louis slopes was a sacrifice worth making. 

Sean Yamaguchi began to get recognized in public after returning home from Williamsport, but he'd be damned if that's where the list of his baseball accolades came to an end. 

"He knows he's blessed with a skill," Mike Yamaguchi said. "He's a very hard worker."

He returned motivated to ascend even further in the sport and created a plan for himself. Sessions in the cage and at the park would be supplemented by rigorous weight room sessions and disciplined eating. He quickly made friends with his Saint Louis teammates, inviting them over for some extra work. Names such as Aiva Arquette, the seventh overall selection of the 2025 MLB Draft, as well as Caleb Lomavita, the 39th overall pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, were some of the names that came through. 

"It got me mentally tough. It's a tough school. It's an all-boys school," Yamaguchi said. "If you're not ready to compete at anything you do, in the classroom, on the field, then Saint Louis is not the school for you."

During his senior year at Saint Louis, Yamaguchi hit .403 while manning shortstop for the Crusaders, winning ILH and Hawai‘i Gatorade Player of the Year honors. Saint Louis was eliminated in the HHSAA semifinals, leaving Yamaguchi without a state title. It's the rare goal that has eluded him. 

While racking up the individual honors, Yamaguchi spent much of his senior year filling out questionnaires for MLB scouts. More than a dozen teams inquired, wanting to learn what it would take to get him to skip his commitment to the University of Nevada and turn pro immediately. Yamaguchi ultimately decided college was the best route for his development. 

[{"type":"text","text":"Standing out of the pack"}]

One of the first things asked of Yamaguchi upon arriving to Reno was to put on the catcher's gear. Sure, he was a middle infielder his whole childhood, but Nevada's coaches were skeptical he could stick at an infield position at this level. Yamaguchi was told he'd start off as the bullpen catcher, and after that, maybe he could work his way up to backup catcher. 

"I said, OK, yes, coach, I'm going to go out there and prove to you guys that I'm going to do anything for this team, and I'm going to do anything to win," Yamaguchi recalled. In his heart, he knew he belonged at one of the other infield positions. And in his belly, a fire burned. Each morning, he'd wake up early to lift weights. He'd also show up early to practice to get extra swings in. With a strong showing in the fall, highlighted by a towering home run in a scrimmage against Vanderbilt, he knew his coaches couldn't deny him a spot in the starting nine. 

Yamaguchi won the starting third base job by opening day and never relinquished it, committing just four errors all year at the hot corner. At the plate, he hit 13 home runs while maintaining a .324 batting average, driving in 50 runs. He was named the Mountain West Conference's Freshman of the Year. The Wolf Pack went 34-23, winning the Mountain West regular season title before falling short of an NCAA Regional appearance by getting eliminated in the conference tournament. 

When a freshman like Yamaguchi puts up the numbers that he did, other schools notice. After Nevada's season ended, Yamaguchi became an attractive commodity, even though he did not announce plans to enter the transfer portal. 

Left and right, power conference schools were approaching Yamaguchi. One particular school, a College World Series regular, had hundreds of thousands of dollars at the ready for one season of Yamaguchi's services. All he had to do was enter the portal and it was his.

"As a 20-year-old, that's very intriguing. That kind of money that they were throwing out is like, wow," Yamaguchi said. "But the biggest thing for me is Jake (McKinley) gave me that opportunity. Nevada gave me that opportunity. So, I wanted to stay as loyal as I can. ... I think that offseason last year, it was pretty crazy. But I wanted to show my loyalty to Nevada and what they did for me."

Nevada's 2026 season, which starts on Friday with a three-game series at Ole Miss, is packed with promise. High expectations are placed towards the Wolf Pack despite losing McKinley to a coaching role with the Seattle Mariners in December. Under new head coach Jordan Getzelman, the Pack were picked to finish first in the preseason Mountain West poll, voted on by the conference's coaches. Yamaguchi was also five Nevada players on the preseason All-Conference team. Additionally, D1Baseball recently named Yamaguchi its preseason Mountain West Player of the Year. 

"Nevada's in the right spot," Yamaguchi said. "We're returning eight of our nine starters from last year. We're going to be really good. ... It was the best decision I made. Even looking back at high school, like trying to go out of high school to the draft, I think college was the best decision I've ever made, and hopefully it all works out."

[{"type":"text","text":"A big league future? "}]

A standout flag football quarterback and receiver, Yamaguchi made the conscious decision to focus on baseball around the time he became a Little League star. He's honed in on a singular goal since then: A long career in the Major Leagues. 

"I finally realized, bad days in baseball and good days, I still love the sport. I can have a terrible day, go 0-for-4, and I would still look forward to the next practice," he said. "You got to love the sport, and you got to make sure that you dedicate everything to the sport. I've sacrificed a lot, not going to the beach every day and stuff. It's just the sacrifices that I really put into this game and just making sure that I dedicate my craft to it. And I think that's when it really started to pick up. Like, I got a real shot at this sport, so might as well live it out, go all out for it and try to make it to the show."

Bring Yamaguchi's name up in front of pro scouts, and they say a variation of the same thing: The kid can 

. He's produced, on offense and defense, at every level he's been a part of. 

Because he will be 21 by the time the 2026 MLB Draft arrives in July, Yamaguchi will be eligible to get selected. Other players at four-year schools have to wait until their junior year. Yamaguchi can either start his professional career this summer or play another season of college baseball, where as a junior in 2027, he’ll still have the leverage to command a sizable pro payday.

The higher Yamaguchi climbs in the sport, the more responsible he feels for representing where he comes from. During his free time back home over winter break, he volunteered at a youth camp, offering pointers to those who aim to follow in his footsteps. 

"Something I can take on throughout my whole journey is to always represent Hawai‘i and always be humble," Yamaguchi says. "They love the local boys. They love the local sports. They love to back kids up. So, the biggest thing for me is understanding that if I do well and I put Hawai‘i on the map, Hawai‘i got my back. And I would never do anything to give Hawai‘i a bad rep. I would love to go out there with the aloha spirit and make sure that I put Hawai‘i on the map."

Yamaguchi has already played in games in front of thousands that were repurposed for millions to see. He's hoping he gets to do that more consistently and for a living within a couple of years. His childhood passion has turned into a business in real time, and he has the numbers to prove it. One of the few constants left in the mad dash to his dreams is his support system, especially those precious days at the park. They remind him he may be away, but he's not alone. 

"All I want to do is make them proud," Yamaguchi says of his family. "I can hang up the cleats right now, and I know they'll be proud of me. That kind of stuff will stick with me. Not all the achievements, it will be those moments where I'm hitting at the field with my brother and my dad and my mom coming out to the games, and them flying up to Reno and my grandma coming out. They've been supportive since day one. 

"If I can keep going and accomplish that goal of getting drafted and make it to the show one day, all the credit will go to them. They know how hard I work, and they know what I've sacrificed. But at the end of the day, they've sacrificed way more. I just want to give back to them and give back to the state and give back to everybody that's helped me out."

Both of Mike Yamaguchi’s sons are grown now, and days at the park are few and far between. When Michael was away at college, Mike says Sean would always say he wishes he was there. Now that Michael's playing career is over, he's the one throwing to Sean during batting practice. 

As the boys patrol the outfield to recollect the balls Sean just swatted all over the yard, Mike gets emotional when he explains how much he treasures times like this. On days he comes to the park with his boys, it's like they're his keiki all over again. 

"All the memories, it don't beat this," Mike Yamaguchi says as he wipes his tears away. "My boys are my life. This is the kind of stuff I remember the most. Just us coming out here and having fun."

Sean Yamaguchi 021026

<title>Sean Yamaguchi isn't done living out his baseball dreams</title>

Yamaguchi, the former Honolulu Little League star, is on the verge of starting his professional career, where he hopes to live out a goal of making the Major Leagues.

Sean Yamaguchi isn't done living out his baseball dreams

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

Last October, The Kāhala Hotel & Resort announced that 

Alan Wong’s would be replacing Hoku’s as its signature restaurant

The resort announced today that, after 30 years of service, Hoku’s at The Kāhala will conclude its last dinner service on Feb. 20. The restaurant’s closure will lead to the opening of Alan Wong’s Kāhala Hotel & Resort, scheduled to debut on March 25.

Hoku’s last Sunday brunch service will be Feb. 15. On Feb. 23, restaurant reservations for Alan Wong’s Kāhala Hotel & Resort will be available via OpenTable for dining on and after April 8.

The Veranda — known for its afternoon tea — will temporarily close during the transition and reopen with regular service upon the opening of Alan Wong’s. Customers can also look forward to the return of the resort’s popular Sunday brunch on March 29 with no changes to the current menu selection.

Guests who want an earlier dining experience at Alan Wong’s can book The Kāhala Hotel & Resort’s 

. The package includes a dining credit, exclusive restaurant reservations during its first two weeks of operation, daily breakfast buffet at Plumeria Beach House and spa credit. The eatery will open to the general public on April 8.

These milestones are part of The Kāhala’s “Legacy of Aloha” celebration, which honors the resort’s rich history. As part of the celebration, the resort has undergone an extensive refresh of its suites and guest rooms; upgrades include new flooring and local collaborations.

“The Legacy of Aloha represents everything The Kāhala stands for — genuine hospitality, deep respect for place, and meaningful guest experiences,” states Joe Ibarra, general manager of The Kāhala Hotel & Resort. “As we bid farewell to Hoku’s and prepare to welcome Alan Wong’s, we are entering an exciting new chapter that further elevates The Kāhala as a destination for exceptional dining and refined luxury.”

For more information, visit The Kāhala Hotel & Resort’s 

Alan Wongs at The Kahala staff photo 020526

<title>Alan Wong’s Kāhala restaurant is opening March 25</title>

Hoku’s at The Kāhala’s last dinner service is Feb. 20. Alan Wong’s Kāhala Hotel & Resort will open to the general public on April 8; guests who book The Kāhala Hotel & Resort’s Legacy of Aloha package can secure early access to experience the new restaurant.

Alan Wong’s Kāhala restaurant is opening March 25

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Business & Tourism

Hawai‘i’s economy is one of the weakest in the nation after decades of stagnation, claims a new report from the University of Hawai‘i.

UH’s Economic Research Organization published on Sunday a report — “

” — breaking down the economic pressures facing the state.

Steven Bond-Smith, UH professor and lead author of the report, told reporters Monday that the report was an investigation into what has motivated people to leave the Islands in droves over the last two decades. Bond-Smith said that, for 23 of the last 25 years, more residents have moved away than new arrivals have moved in, with the leavers commonly citing a high cost-of-living as their reason for moving elsewhere.

However, that high cost-of-living isn’t the whole picture, Bond-Smith said, explaining that the state’s economic growth hasn’t been able to keep up with the rest of the nation.

Beginning in the late 80s, Bond Smith said the state’s compound annual growth rate — which had previously been consistent with the national average — slowed, leading to a widening gap between Hawai‘i and the rest of the country. The result, he said, has been wage stagnation, and a reduction in labor opportunities.

Adjusting for inflation and the higher cost of goods in Hawai‘i, Bond-Smith said the state’s economic growth is more reminiscent of a decaying post-coal Rust Belt town.

“Hawai‘i is expensive, but once we adjust for that, it’s clear that Hawai‘i is also being left behind, comparable to some of the most economically distressed places in the country,” Bond-Smith said.

Bond-Smith said communities in Appalachia that were once economically reliant on the coal industry began stagnating as the demand for coal dropped because those communities didn’t have diverse enough economies to cover the shortfall.

In the same way, Hawai‘i's tourist-centric economy doesn’t have other sectors robust enough to make up for weaknesses in the tourism industry, he said: the state simply lacks a major export industry to attract dollars from out-of-state.

The report notes that other areas with high costs of living such as San Francisco or Los Angeles are still able to maintain populations through the prospect of high wages. Hawai‘i, however, has the worst of both worlds: high costs and low incomes, leading to more people leaving the state.

The report concludes with only a few solutions. On one hand, the report acknowledges that tourism will remain the backbone of the state’s economy for decades, and Bond-Smith said that the tourism industry will likely provide the greatest opportunities for economic growth.

Bond-Smith said boosting value within tourism, such as through sports or event tourism, could help stimulate growth in an industry that has otherwise plateaued.

Meanwhile, UHERO Executive Director Carl Bonham said that identifying and removing barriers preventing new industries from taking root in Hawai‘i will be essential to diversify the economy. However, the report states that such new industries will likely grow out of the existing activities and industries within the state — that is, from tourism.

"It means investing in infrastructure that supports economic activity, increasing skills that allow workers to move into higher-value jobs and creating the right conditions for new tradable industries," Bond-Smith said.

A view of Honolulu

<title>UHERO report: Hawai‘i's economy one of nation's weakest</title>

UHERO study of the state's economy highlights high cost of living, low income growth

UHERO report: Hawai‘i's economy one of nation's weakest

Kam Napier Headshot

A. Kam Napier

 Gov. Josh Green’s press conference on Tuesday, held at the Hawai‘i State Capitol, in which he and other lawmakers and community leaders called for anti-ICE legislation here in the Islands. The event was hosted by the ACLU of Hawai‘i, the Legal Clinic of Hawai‘i and the Hawai‘i Coalition for Immigrant Rights, attended by Green, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, House Speaker Nadine Nakamura and other lawmakers. It was held as a vigil for Alex Pretti, who had been shot and killed by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis Saturday.

This is Official Hawai‘i — state government policy leaders — and it’s very upset about Minneapolis, where now two activists have been killed while interfering with federal law enforcement. In their telling, it’s ICE that is out of control, and Hawai‘i has to do something to keep things like that from happening here.

Except the laws they’re proposing would recreate the very conditions that fostered a battleground in Minneapolis. If passed, they would increase, not decrease, the likelihood of danger for everyone involved — arrestees, protestors, ICE agents, bystanders. Everyone.

Let’s back up a second. If you’re upset about Minneapolis, do you ever wonder why you aren’t upset about cities in Texas, Florida, or Tennessee, where ICE is also detaining, arresting and deporting illegal immigrants?

[{"type":"text","text":"What made Minneapolis different?"}]

Specific decisions by Minnesota politicians and lawmakers to withhold local law enforcement support. This forced ICE to conduct its arrests in public, while these same politicians gave fiery speeches denouncing ICE as unbridled fascists. Officials there even withheld the local police support that would’ve kept order as the fired-up activists took the most confrontational approach possible short of open insurrection.

[{"type":"text","text":"If you don’t believe me, maybe you’ll believe the cops there:"}]

Minnesota cops beg Walz, pols to let them work with ICE, say they could have prevented shootings

In cities where local authorities help, there is no mayhem in the streets.

So what is Hawai‘i doing? Holding press conferences decrying ICE while proposing the same kind of adversarial legislation.

 article, so to keep it brief, a package of House and Senate Bills would do such things as prohibit local law enforcement agencies from entering into an agreement with ICE to carry out immigration enforcement on ICE’s behalf; prohibit ICE from interviewing people while in local custody (even though this is the safest place to do it); prohibit local cops from inquiring about a person’s immigration status; limit information sharing between state and county agencies and ICE; and more.

Green has promised to fast-track this legislation. Maybe, instead, legislators should be thoughtful and deliberate. I’d prefer they legislate about reality not distortions.

What distortions? Take a look at our photo, above, of Gov. Green and his supporters from Tuesday’s press conference. What do you see? Earnest, sincere, worried faces, to be sure.

[{"type":"text","text":"One also sees claims and assertions on signs."}]

“PEOPLE MURDERED BY ICE … AND PEOPLE KILLED BY TRUMP’S IMMIGRATION AND DEPORTATION PRISONS:”

There follows a list of at least 30 visible names, which I started looking up, at random. And first of all, I should say, this sign is not an expose of secret knowledge. You can find the notices of “

” at ICE’s own website, as required by Congress. Here’s what I found:

 Duarte illegally entered the U.S. the first time 1976 in Arizona. He was charged with such crimes as burglary, theft and drug possession between 1984 and 2000. He was convicted in 2005 of sex crimes against children and sentenced by the Superior Court of Arizona 20 years in prison. That’s where ICE found him in January 2025, in an Arizona prison, before moving him to an ICE detention center in preparation for deportation. There his poor health was observed, and he was sent, not to any prison, but to Phoenix Specialty Hospital — a real hospital — where he was treated for six months before dying of natural causes.

 Assuming he is the same man is Roberto Carlos Montoya Valdez, he never made it to an ICE facility nor was he murdered. When ICE raided an LA Home Depot, he 

, unpursued, straight into the 210 Freeway in Monrovia, where he was hit by a car.

 A citizen of Vietnam, he was originally granted lawful permanent resident status in the U.S. in 1999, lost that status following a drug crime conviction. Last June, he was detained at Immigration Processing Center in Texas. An LPN there noted his multiple medical conditions, told him to take his insulin every day for diabetes. Phan would not take his insulin. Health care workers there also noted his high cholesterol and prescribed a medication for that, too. He wouldn’t take it. He was found having a seizure and transferred to a hospital where his own next of kin signed a do-not-resuscitate order for him, opting for hospice care instead. Phan died in the hospital when staff withdrew life support for that transfer.

. Vietnamese citizen, originally granted Legal Permanent Resident status in the U.S. in 1983. Convicted of murder in Orange County, Calif., in 1991. By the time he was detained at the El Paso Processing Center last February, he had a host of health problems and he was quickly transferred to the University Medical Center for evaluation, then the Long-Term Acute Care Hospital — a physician-owned hospital — where he stayed for many months, being treated for dementia until he died in the hospital of this condition.

I’m four names in and I’m not finding “PEOPLE KILLED BY TRUMP’S IMMIGRATION AND DEPORTATION PRISONS.” I’m finding people who ICE treated promptly and moved to real hospitals when their health conditions were serious. The records don’t say who paid for their care. I’m assuming that once the federal government assumed responsibility for them, taxpayers paid for everything.

The first three names on the sign have red asterisks, so I assume these are the ones that — iron-clad, all-caps, unequivocally — fall under the “PEOPLE MURDERED BY ICE” heading. Renee Good. Keith Porter. Geraldo Campos. The sign must’ve been made before Alex Pretti’s shooting. Renee Good’s case is familiar to all, and everyone has made up their mind as to murder vs. justifiable homicide vs manslaughter. The other two?

 Killed by an off-duty ICE agent on New Year’s Eve in Carson, Calif., when the agent investigated sounds of gunfire near his apartment and found Porter holding a rifle and shot him. Doesn’t seem related to any question of Porter’s citizenship, or any ICE operation. And as for the circumstances, I’ll just share some California reporting from 

Advocates say Porter had been firing the gun into the air as a way of observing the holiday 

 a practice routinely condemned by law enforcement officials.

"Yes, it was illegal, but at the end of the day, it's an American tradition," said organizer Najee Ali, the director of Project Islamic Hope.

[{"type":"text","text":"I can’t even. Really?"}]

 Cuban, here illegally since 1996, with past convictions in the U.S. for weapons charges, sexual abuse of a child; petit larceny; DUI and drug crimes. Died Jan. 3 in the Camp East Montana ICE facility following some kind of altercation with guards. His death has been 

, it’s unclear where things stand with an investigation to determine if it was murder. Department of Homeland Security says Campos was belligerent and attempting suicide and needed to be restrained, his death accidental. Other detainees claim he was suffocated by guards in the encounter.

And if that’s true, and they were in the wrong, throw the book at them. Just like we would any guard at any Hawai‘i prison that did such a thing. But I wouldn’t take this sign’s word for it, it so far proving to be less than fair and honest.

Green and Hawai‘i lawmakers are not responsible for every word of every sign that might appear in their vicinity. But no sign at this particular event was there by accident. This was a stage-managed event, designed for publicity. In the largest sense, Green, the Hawai‘i lawmakers, and the nonprofits leading the Make Hawai‘i Minneapolis campaign are standing up for these claims as if they were incontrovertible facts. They are just so certain 

 and they’re intent on rushing legislation with fierce urgency. They're doing so with what looks a fairly obvious mix of good, if poorly thought-out, intentions and cynical, politicized grandstanding.

On Tuesday, Gov. Green and Hawai‘i lawmakers stood in front of some wild allegations about ICE, and they're about to rush legislation as if every horror story on display were true.

Daily Smile: Wednesday, February 11, 2026

ASD Staff

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Daily Smile: Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Authors

ASD Staff

More in Daily Smile

Daily Smile: Tuesday, February 10, 2026

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