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<title>Daily Smile: Friday, February 27, 2026</title>

If my dogs had a cellphone...

Daily Smile: Friday, February 27, 2026

AKINA portrait 2

Keliʻi Akina

Government & Politics

Viewpoints

Like many local business owners, Hawai‘i’s farmers and ranchers have to deal with rules and regulations that often make it harder to run a successful enterprise.

They also share the same concerns about the high cost of housing and how it affects their ability to attract and retain employees.

This year, with encouragement from my colleagues at the Grassroot Institute of Hawai‘i, the state Legislature took steps in the right direction to help.

With the dust from the latest legislative session now settled, we know for sure that two measures proposed by Grassroot to advance agricultural development in Hawai‘i have become law.

, was really about fairness. It improved on a 

 passed in 2024 that made it easier for Hawai‘i residents to sell certain foods made in their home kitchens — also known as cottage foods.

But that law did not explicitly mention food products made in kitchens on agricultural land. SB3302 addressed that omission, so now local farmers and ranchers will also be able to sell homemade food that otherwise complies with the law.  

, will make it easier for farm and ranch owners to build small accessory dwelling units on their land for employees.

Earlier this year, Grassroot published a policy brief, “

How to facilitate more housing for Hawai‘i farm and ranch workers,

” that discussed the lack of a statewide standard for the construction of employee housing on Hawaii’s farms and ranches, and how that served as a significant barrier to expanding agricultural production in the state.

Without available housing on their properties, Hawai‘i’s farm and ranch owners cannot attract enough workers to grow crops or raise livestock. This has affected their ability to succeed financially or help reduce Hawaii’s dependence on imported foods.

Our state legislators and the governor deserve praise for supporting these bills. Farmers and ranchers should be able to easily sell cottage foods and build ADUs — just like anyone else in Hawai‘i.

I’m glad to see that local policymakers are recognizing the benefits of making it easier for Hawai‘i’s farmers and ranchers to thrive and prosper.

Reprinted with permission from the July 11, 2026 "Presidentʻs Corner" of 

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Maui farms

<title>Community Voices: Planting the seeds for progress</title>

Two laws supported by Grassroot Institute of Hawai‘i have passed, allowing farmers to run home kitchen operations on their properties and build on-site housing for much-needed workers.

Community Voices: Planting the seeds for progress

Philamer Felicitas

Aloha Spirit

Nearly every weekend, Jay-R Kaawa boards a flight between Maui and Molokai. The trips are not usually for work; they are for family.

Kaawa, head of Summer and Extended Learning at Kamehameha Schools Maui, regularly travels home to Molokai to care for her father, who is living with dementia. At least once a month, she and her siblings help fly him to Maui or Oʻahu for appointments and support. Other times, she makes the trip to check on him, spend time with him and help manage his care. For Kaawa, transportation is not a convenience. “It is a necessity. We need reliable air transportation. Bottom line,” she said.

Her story is one shared by families across Maui Nui who routinely travel between Molokai, Lānaʻi, Maui and Oʻahu for health care, work and time with loved ones. That reality is why many residents are paying close attention to Lānaʻi Air’s plans to expand service to Molokai.

The airline, which began as a charter service connecting Honolulu and Lānaʻi, has evolved over the past several years. Originally created to transport visitors to Lānaʻi, the company expanded public ticket sales in 2024 and now markets itself as another option for island residents. Earlier this year, Lānaʻi Air announced plans to begin service to Molokai, adding a second commercial air carrier to an island that has spent years with limited transportation options.

The expansion marks the latest step in the company’s growth. The airline intends to operate four daily roundtrip flights between Molokai and Honolulu using their 19-seat Cessna SkyCourier aircraft. They have been promoting the aircraft’s larger cabin and accessibility features while emphasizing its goal of improving transportation options for residents traveling for healthcare, education, work and family obligations.

Kaawa flies home nearly every weekend and estimates she spends at least $220 on airfare each trip. Sometimes, she said, a one-way ticket can cost more than $200. “Just from an economic standpoint, having a competitor will hopefully bring down fares,” she said. While she considers herself fortunate to be able to afford those trips, she worries about residents who cannot.

“If one plane is out of commission, the whole schedule is messed up,” she said. Despite those challenges, Molokai residents continue to find ways to get where they need to go.

“We’re resourceful in that way, we always find ways to make things work,” Kaawa said. Some residents catch rides on boats operated by friends or family members. Others coordinate travel with fishermen making trips between islands. For many, finding transportation is simply part of daily life. “We’re going to make do with what we have, but that doesn’t mean it’s right,” she said.

Accessibility is another concern. Because of his dementia, Kaawa’s father often struggles boarding smaller commuter aircraft. While he remains physically capable, navigating the tight spaces of a small plane can be difficult. “I literally have to hold his head down and crawl him into the plane,” she said.

At least once a month, Kaawa and her siblings fly their father to Maui or Oʻahu so he can spend time with family and receive additional support. While neighbors and family friends often help transport him when needed, she worries about the burden placed on others.

“I would feel much better knowing it’s a plane that doesn’t seem so cramped,” she said. For families caring for kūpuna and loved ones with medical conditions, the size of the aircraft matters. Many residents travel with walkers, wheelchairs, oxygen equipment or other medical devices. Others simply find boarding small commuter planes difficult. Kaawa believes a larger aircraft could make a meaningful difference for those families.

Maui lifeguard Kaipo Garcia has seen firsthand how important reliable transportation can be during some of life’s most difficult moments. Inter-island travel is part of his family’s routine. His sister lives on Lānaʻi and regularly travels because her daughter is undergoing cancer treatment.

“She flies every week because my niece has cancer,” Garcia said. Like many families living on smaller islands, they rely on flights to access specialized healthcare services unavailable at home.

Garcia has also heard stories from residents whose travel plans were disrupted by delays and cancellations. “They were missing their appointments,” he said. “They’d make their doctor appointments based on the [flight’s] arrival time and then delays would happen.”

The importance of reliable transportation became personal earlier this year when Garcia’s father passed away on Lānaʻi.

Living on Maui, he immediately searched for a flight home. His father died shortly before 8:00 p.m. Garcia was able to book a last-minute flight and arrive in time to be with his family. “I made reservations last minute,” he said. “At least I got there.” The flight allowed him to help carry his father from his bed to the hearse.

For Garcia, that experience reinforced something many Molokai and Lānaʻi families already understand. Transportation is about much more than getting from one island to another. It is about being present when family needs you most.

Community members have also pointed to another reason they are optimistic about Lānaʻi Air’s expansion: familiar faces. During community outreach events, residents met airline employees who previously worked for Island Air, a carrier that served neighbor island communities for decades.

Many Molokai residents already knew them. That familiarity, Kaawa said, helped build trust. “It’s local folks that we know and have seen frequently while traveling,” she said.

Some residents also see the airline’s hiring of former Island Air employees as a sign that local knowledge and experience remain part of the company’s approach. While questions remain about how the expansion will ultimately affect the community, many residents say they are hopeful.

No airline is immune from weather disruptions, maintenance issues or operational challenges. But for residents accustomed to limited options, another carrier represents something many have wanted for years: a choice.

“We’re grateful for what we have,” Kaawa said. “But we’re ready for another option.”

This article is reprinted with permission from 

OHA's Ka Wai Ola newspaper: "Molokaʻi is Ready For Another Option" by 

, in its July 2026 issue, Vol. 43 No. 7. Read more at 

Lanai Air Sky Courier

<title>Community Voices: Molokai is ready for another option</title>

Lānaʻi Air will begin flying between Oʻahu and Molokai in September.

Community Voices: Molokai is ready for another option

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

There are multiple theater productions on stage across Oʻahu this summer and fall. Here are some of the ones currently in session or coming up soon.

Hawaiʻi Shakespeare Festival (July and August).

 Ready to hear some Shakespeare? Works of William Shakespeare will take stages across Oʻahu as part of the Hawaiʻi Shakespeare Festival, which will consist of two productions: “The Winter’s Tale,” directed by Brando Cutts, which runs July 17 through 26, at Kumu Kahua Theatre, and “Julius Caesar,” directed by Alex Munro, which runs July 31 through Aug. 9, at Mānoa Valley Theatre. General admission is $25 for most shows. “Julius Caesar” will offer $15 tickets for shows on Wednesday and Thursday. 

This show tells the story of a truck stop sandwich stop which offers its formerly incarcerated staff a shot at redemption. The play was written by Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage and has been nominated for four Tony Awards. The production will be on stage at Mānoa Valley Theatre. Tickets start at $25. Other productions heading for Mānoa Valley Theatre include “Jagged Little Pill,” which opens Sept. 10, “Peter Pan Goes Wrong,” which opens Nov. 12, “Purpose,” which opens Jan. 21, “The Producers,” which opens March 18, “Folks You Meet in Longs,” which opens May 13, “Shakespeare in Love, The Play,” which opens July 15, 2027, and “Once Upon One Kapakahi Time,” which opens June 24, 2027. 

 is coming to the stage, and attendees of day three of the Native Hawaiian Convention can get an inside look at the production from 

“Les Misérables” (July 24- Aug. 23). 

This classic musical, based on Victor Hugo’s novel, tells the story of Jean Valjean

, who agrees to care for a factory worker’s daughter. The musical is heading to the stage at Diamond Head Theatre. Many performances are already soldout, but new shows have been added on Aug. 22 and Aug. 23. Limited tickets are available. Diamond Head Theatre's upcoming season includes: “Fiddler on the Roof,” which opens Sept. 25, “Dr. Suess’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical,” which opens  Nov. 20, “Into the Woods,” which opens Jan. 22, “Suffs,” which opens March 12, “Pirates! The Penzance Musical,” which opens May 21, and “Hairspray, The Broadway Musical,” which opens July 23, 2026. 

“The Queen’s Will” (Aug. 20 – Sept. 20).

 In the early days of the Territory of Hawai‘i, Princess Theresa Owana Ka‘ōhelelani La‘anui Wilcox Belliveau was accused of conspiracy to commit forgery of the last will and testament of Queen Lili‘uokalani. In this story, she fights for her freedom and identity. “The Queen’s Will” runs Aug. 20 through Sept. 20 at Kumu Kahua Theatre. This is the first show in Kumu Kahua Theater's 56th season. Other productions in this season include “Kupua,” which opens Oct. 29, “All Buss Up in a HI State: A Trilogy of Hawai‘i Plays,” which opens Jan. 21, “Murder Finds a Medium,” which opens March 25, and “Grumpy Old Futz,” which opens May 27. 

Tickets for “The Queen’s Will” are $28

 for general admission, with discounts for students, kūpuna, and large group orders. 

 The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's Theatre for Young Audiences program

 will hold productions of “The Hobbit,” which tells the story of Bilbo Baggins. 

Greg Banks’ stage adaptation of “The Hobbit or There and Back Again,” which was written by J.R.R. Tolkien, is the prelude to the beloved “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. The story is brought to life by five actors and includes dragons, dwarves, goblins and epic landscapes. This limited-run production will be presented in the Earle Ernst Lab Theatre at the Kennedy Theatre from Aug. 21 through Sept. 6. This year marks the 55th year of Theatre for Young Audiences and in honor of the milestone, all proceeds from the show will go toward a newly established University of Hawaiʻi Foundation account that is dedicated to sustaining the program for future generations. Tickets are $15. 

“Book Two Trains Running” (Aut. 21 – Sept. 6). 

This story takes place in the ’60s, during a decade of assassinations and Black Power. It explores Memphis Lee’s coffee shop in Pittsburgh’s Hill District and all the people who hang out there. “Book Two Trains Running” was written by August Wilson and will be directed by Marc Cooper at The Actors’ Group at The Brad Powell Theatre. It is the first of six shows in the 2026-2027 season for 

The Actors’ Group. The upcoming season for this group includes 

the Hawaiʻi premiere of “Eureka Day,” which opens Oct. 23, “Anatomy of a Murder,” which opens Jan. 8, and “Tiger Style,” which opens March 5. “Jitney,” which opens May 7, and “Neil Simon’s Rumors,” which opens July 9, 2027, are also in this season of shows. General admission is about $33, with discounts for kūpuna and students. 

 This original Hawaiʻi musical premieres Oct. 16 at the Royal Hawaiian Theater in Waikīkī. The story follows a present day Marine who goes back in time to 1898, as a sovereign kingdom fights for survival. This fictional story rooted in history is set to premiere on Oct. 16, the birthdate of Princess Kaʻiulani, whose legacy inspired the musical. Shows are at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, or 7:30 p.m. on Monday. Regular admission is $95 for adults and $75 for keiki. Kamaʻāina tickets are $65. 

, is returning to Honolulu after more than a decade-long break from the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall. 

 will be on stage from Wednesday, Nov. 25 through Sunday, Dec. 6. The musical follows the adventures of mismatched missionaries who are sent halfway across the world to spread the word of God. The musical is one of two Broadway in Hawaiʻi productions set to have performances soon at the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall. Season tickets for the shows start at $137. 

Do you know of an upcoming production not on this list? Email 

"Clyde’s"

<title>Your guide to upcoming theater on Oʻahu</title>

Ready to see a production on stage? From Hawaiʻi premieres to Shakespearean classics, there are lots of shows to catch in Honolulu, Waikīkī, and more this summer and fall.

Your guide to upcoming theater on Oʻahu

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

National Ice Cream Day is this Sunday, July 19 — and 

From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday only, customers can enjoy $2 single scoops (limit two) and $1 ice cream flight cones (flight of six cones for $6) at the Hawai

One flight cone usually costs $3, so customers are getting one third of the normal cost, according to business owner Trang Hammond.

Current featured flavors include cookies and cream, Biscoff, strawberry cream, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, caramel mac nut, tiramisu, lilikoʻi cream and more.

The biz will also make exclusive flavors just for that day. Specialty flavors include li hing mango, strawberry shortcake crumbles, lemon bar, red velvet cake, and Road to Hana, which is made with macadamia nuts instead of almonds.

Several of the specialty flavors are inspired by summer, according to Hammond.

“Strawberry shortcake crumbles is like a strawberry shortcake popsicle, but deconstructed into ice cream,” she says. “It tastes like a strawberry popsicle that you get at the ice cream truck. For our Road to Hana (flavor), there’s macadamia nuts, chocolate swirls and chocolate chips. We bring our lemon bar and red velvet cake — which are really popular — out on special occasions.

[{"type":"text","text":"“Our Road to Hana is more decadent,” she adds."}]

There will also be “surprise” specialty flavors made by business owner Ryan Hammond. Vegan-friendly flavors like oatmilk Biscoff and oatmilk pandan will also be available.

“Ryan still has a day to make ice cream before that day (National Ice Cream Day); he always surprises us,” Hammond says.

Customers will get the chance to participate in a raffle. One winner will get ice cream for a year; another winner will get to work with Hammond to create an ice cream flavor named after them.

“It’s just fun to get everybody here and enjoy a day out,” Hammond says.

7192 Kalanianaʻole Hwy. Ste. D103, Honolulu

National Ice Cream Day deals will be from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on July 19 

Hammonds Gourmet Ice Cream owner 071326

<title>ice cream flight cones at Hammond’s Gourmet Ice Cream</title>

The Hawaiʻi Kai biz is offering limited-time specials for National Ice Cream Day this Sunday, July 19. Customers can enjoy $2 ice cream scoops, $1 flight cones and specialty flavors.

$1 ice cream flight cones at Hammond’s Gourmet Ice Cream

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

 concluded with rounds 5-20 on Sunday, with five players with Hawai‘i ties getting selected. 

Up first was Arizona State senior and Saint Louis alumnus Nu‘u Contrades, who was taken in the sixth round with the 186th overall pick by the San Diego Padres. 

A pair of Baldwin alums were taken a round apart from each other in University of Hawai‘i senior standout Ben Zeigler-Namoa, who was taken in the 10th round by the Atlanta Braves. Arkansas junior Kuhio Aloy followed in the 11th round when he was selected by the New York Mets with the 330th overall selection.

Additionally, Seattle University pitcher and Maui High School alumnus Luke Alwood was taken in the 10th round by the Chicago Cubs with the 307th overall selection.

Rounding out the Island ties was former University of Hawai‘i outfielder Jack Salmon, who transferred to UNLV prior to the 2026 season and was selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the 19th round. 

Zeigler-Namoa woke up at 4 a.m. to keep track of the draft online, then received a call from his agent telling him the Braves were preparing to take him in between rounds 8-10. 

"It was obviously shock," Zeigler-Namoa told Aloha State Daily of his reaction. "Didn't expect that to happen. I was just grateful to have my mom right next to me."

Zeigler-Namoa came to UH as a pro prospect out of Yavapai College in Arizona. He remained on the radar of scouts in each of his four years as a Rainbow Warrior. Though getting selected as a fifth-year senior was a relief, he also acknowledged he was picked as a senior sign, meaning he'll earn significantly less than the 

With the Braves organization, Zeigler-Namoa says he was told he'd be playing a lot of first base. At Hawai‘i, he played all three outfield positions in addition to first base. He even pitched during his first season with UH in 2023. 

 at the Big West Conference tournament, Zeigler-Namoa says he was able to stay sharp by working the program's keiki camps during the summer. 

"The kids have been keeping me in shape, making me run around and yell and do things like I'm playing baseball. And then I've been training on my own after, which has been really nice, and I've had the honor of having the coaching staff around to help me out, too," Zeigler-Namoa said. "It's been great."

One of the first calls Zeigler-Namoa made after getting drafted was to former UH teammate Austin Machado, who signed with Atlanta as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 season as a junior. Machado is currently with the 

Augusta GreenJackets, the Single-A affiliate of the Braves.

In the days ahead, Zeigler-Namoa is expected to sign, then receive his minor league assignment. Starting his journey in pro ball has been a long time coming, but the wait is finally over. 

"I'm grateful for everyone I've met throughout the journey so far, and I hope to continue to represent Hawai‘i in the best way possible," he said.

Additionally, UH pitcher John Alikre II signed with the Cubs as an undrafted free agent on Sunday. On Monday morning, former Hawai‘i ace pitcher 

 signed a free agent deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. 

Ben Zeigler-Namoa 071226

<title>Five players with Hawai‘i ties selected in final day of 2026 MLB Draft</title>

The 2026 MLB Draft concluded with three selections with Island ties on Sunday.

Five players with Hawai‘i ties selected in final day of 2026 MLB Draft

This is George. He just tried freshly grated pecorino romano for the first time. Will not be accepting anything less from here on out...

Daily Smile: Friday, February 27, 2026

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Daily Smile: Friday, February 27, 2026

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