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Daily Smile

[{"type":"text","text":"Reading fake email to my dog with his favorite words in it..."}]

Smile 26 2 28

<title>Daily Smile: Saturday, February 28, 2026</title>

Reading fake email to my dog with his favorite words in it...

Daily Smile: Saturday, February 28, 2026

 Reading fake email to my dog with his favorite words in it...

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

MĀNOA — The No. 3 University of Hawai‘i men's volleyball team closed out its first home series in over a month in style on Friday night, sweeping No. 6 BYU 25-18, 25-21, 25-16 on Friday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. 

Following the cancellation of an NIL tournament set to feature Hawai‘i, UCLA, Long Beach State and USC in Anaheim, Calif., UH pivoted quickly, 

, one of the school's historic rivals. The Rainbow Warriors originally weren't going to play any home matches in February but instead scheduled a pair of matches for the UH-BYU Rivalry Series, presented by OUTRIGGER, on Wednesday and Friday. 

In lieu of the lost proceeds from the NIL tournament, a portion of UH's ticket sales on Wednesday and Friday will go toward the program's NIL fund. The Rainbow Warriors sold 5,568 tickers for Wednesday's match, a four-set victory over the Cougars. Meanwhile, a season-high crowd of 6,493 entered the turnstiles on Friday after 6,989 tickets were sold for the finale.

Hawai‘i rewarded its fans with a dominant victory over the Cougars, hitting an efficient .446. Louis Sakanoko had a match-high 15 kills for the Rainbow Warriors, wile Adrien Roure added 11. Defensively, the 'Bows had zero service reception errors, not allowing the Cougars to serve a single ace. 

"We're really humbled again. Night after night, people come out here. We keep trying to put a good show on. And I think we're a pretty good return on investment," Hawai‘i head coach Charlie Wade said following Friday's match. "We just keep trying to put on a good show, and having people keep coming out and supporting. It's awesome. It's what these guys look for. It's why they come here. It's why they train hard on a daily basis, train hard in the offseason. 

"Having 7,000 people show up doesn't help you block any balls, but man, it gives you the motivation to keep going in and working and getting better. So, you come out here every night and make sure they're getting their money's worth."

Another financial incentive for the team on Friday night was the debut of its floral jerseys, which went up for auction following the match. 

 is set to end at 6 p.m. on Sunday. UH says that in past game-worn jersey auctions, tens of thousands of dollars have been raised toward the program. 

On Friday, the majority of the 6,493 fans were dressed in red to commemorate Lunar New Year. "That was a little different, but just glad to see red more than green chairs for sure," Wade said.

Hawai‘i's series against BYU was the start of nine consecutive weeks of multiple matches for the Rainbow Warriors. BYU, which entered the series winners of nine straight, leave town with a mark of 13-4. Meanwhile, the Rainbow Warriors exit the weekend 14-1 and winners of 11 straight matches ahead of a home series next Wednesday and Friday against No. 7 Pepperdine.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Hawaii MVB 022726

<title>Hawai‘i men's volleyball gives fans a show with sweep over BYU</title>

The Rainbow Warriors had no trouble closing out the Cougars on Friday night, taking the series finale in straight sets.

Hawai‘i men's volleyball gives fans a show with sweep over BYU

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

Aloha Spirit

Fish, it’s what’s for lunch. Or at least that will be the case for community members attending the final hours of the Eat the Invaders Fishing Tournament, presented by the nonprofit Mālama Maunalua in collaboration with 

, at Kuliʻouʻou Beach Park on Sunday, March 1.

The tournament brings fishers to Maunalua Bay to 

see which team can collect the most fish between Friday, Feb. 27, and Sunday, March 1. In this case, the targeted fish for the tournament are three invasive species: taʻape, toʻau, and roi.

On the final day of the contest, fishers will present their catches between 10 a.m. and noon for weigh in. Then, between noon and 2 p.m., chefs from Local Iʻa and Chef Hui will serve up food using the fish caught during the contest. The event is free and open to the public.  

“That's the important part of this is that chefs can then connect that invasive species to being a form of sustainable seafood through their creations,” said Kawai Hong, 

the Fisheries Management Area coordinator for Mālama Maunalua. “We're going to have Ashley Watts from Local Iʻa, that's a fish market in Kaimukī ... and so she's in there frying fish plates for the community. Then Chef Hui has brought Chef Eric Oto, and he is going to be making a Peruvian style ceviche. And we're also going to be having smoked taʻape dip for people to try.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"The event is free and open to the public."}]

This is the first time the Eat the Invaders tournament is coming to Maunalua Bay, he added. The 

 Eat the Invaders tournament was held at Heʻeia Pier in July of 2025.

“Part of the reason why we wanted to have this tournament is to utilize it as an outreach tool to bring fishers to Maunalua Bay — fishers from all over the island,” he said.

Almost 200 fishers are participating in the upcoming tournament, Hong said.

Last year, Maunalua Bay was designated as a new Fisheries Management Area by the Board of Land and Natural Resources and this event helps share the new rules for fishing in Maunalua Bay, which include no nighttime spearfishing and no taking of five species: ʻalakuma (7-11 crab), horned helmet, Triton’s trumpet, ula (spiny lobster) and ula pāpapa (slipper lobster)

“The Fisheries Management Area – what's so unique about that is it was actually proposed by fishermen over a decade ago,” Hong said. “And within the last eight years, there's been hundreds of meetings to establish this Fisheries Management Area.”

The weigh-in and fish fry event on Sunday, March 1, will also include informational booths.

“There's 18 different outreach partners that will be there that are doing restoration and really good work in the Maunalua region, as well as a Gyotaku fish printing station, which is what I personally am really excited about, because one of my good friends, Naoki — he's well known within the community as a Gyotaku artist — he's going to help us along with tournament staff to Gyotaku fish print some shirts for the community.”

Community members are asked to bring blank T-shirts that are white or grey so they can make 

. There will be a limited supply of materials for keiki.

“They can bring a shirt,” Hong said. “They can bring a pillow case. They can bring a tote bag — anything that they're interested in printing.”

Community members can also earn prizes just for showing up.

“Anyone who's interested can come by and check it out,” Hong said. “Everyone who attends will get a giveaway ticket just for attending, and there's gonna be a lot of really great prizes for community. And then on top of that, we're gonna have the fisher prizes for all of the fishers in the tournament.”

Prizes for the fishers include spear guns, new rods and reels, coolers, custom dive knifes and more, he said.

“We got a lot of really cool stuff,” he said.

Eat the Invaders Fishing Tournament

<title>Invasive species on the menu!</title>

Almost 200 fishers are participating in the Eat the Invaders Fishing Tournament to collect invasive species in Hawai‘i's waters, which chefs will cook for the community to eat this weekend. Learn more about what’s on the menu and how this event, which is free to the public, helps Maunalua Bay.

Invasive species on the menu!

Business & Tourism

Tripadvisor named its top 10 beaches across the nation in its 

2026 Travelers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best Beaches

 list, and four are located in Hawaiʻi. Other states with beaches that made the list include California and Florida.

The travel guidance platform compiles the list using reviews from the Tripadvisor community over a 12-month period. Out of 8 million listings, less than 1% are recognized on Tripadvisor’s lists. Descriptions of beaches were based on reviews and summarized by artificial intelligence, according to Tripadvisor’s website.

Poʻipū Beach Park on Kauaʻi was the first location in the state to make the nationwide 

 Beach Park,” shares Tripadvisor’s website. “Strap on a snorkel and check out the lava rocks and their colorful fish inhabitants. Or, stick to the shore to catch Hawaiian monk seals lazily lounging by day and sea turtles making their way onto the beach by sunset.”

Next on the list is Waikīkī Beach on Oʻahu, which takes the No. 4 spot.

“Waikīkī Beach is known for its lively atmosphere, beautiful sunsets and stunning views,” shares the Tripadvisor website. “It's clear waters are perfect for swimming, surfing and water sports.”

With its aqua waters and silky sand, Lanikai Beach took the No. 5 spot on the list.

“Lanikai Beach is a calm and relaxing spot that rarely gets too crowded,” shared the Tripadvisor website. “It's clear waters are perfect for swimming, snorkeling and kayaking. It's easy to spend the entire day there, and you'll definitely want to get there early — the sunrise views are next level.”

The final Hawaiʻi-based beach on the list, which took the No. 7 spot, was Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach on Hawaiʻi Island. 

"With its volcanic sand and coconut palm-lined shores, Punalu'u Black Sand Beach is all about postcard-worthy views," shared Tripadvisor.

. One beach also made Tripadvisor’s worldwide 

 list. Poʻipū Beach Park on Kauaʻi took the No. 21 spot on that list. 

Lanikai Beach

<title>Four Hawaiʻi beaches make Tripadvisor’s best U.S. beaches list for 2026</title>

Tripadvisor’s list of best beaches in the nation includes one location on Kauaʻi, another on Hawaiʻi Island and two on Oʻahu. Make your guesses for which beaches made the list ... 

Four Hawaiʻi beaches make Tripadvisor’s best U.S. beaches list for 2026

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

Girls’ Day, or Hinamatsuri, is coming up Tuesday, March 3.

Whether you’re looking for mochi or other limited-time treats, the following are sure to please the girls in your life:

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"A Cake Life"}]

: These Sakura sugar cookies ($7) are available for a limited time. 

: Available for purchase and pick-up until March 3

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Choco le‘a"}]

: This dessert shop’s March specials include:

: Available for pre-order; treats will be in store starting Feb. 27 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Fujiya Hawaiʻi"}]

: Fujiya Hawaiʻi is offering a variety of treats for Girls’ Day. Choose from:

: Pick-ups and walk-ins available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 2; 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 3

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Hokulani Bake Shop"}]

: The dessert shop will offer Sakura-shaped cookie and a four-pack of cupcakes ($23). Cupcake flavors include red velvet, vanilla buttercream, guava and chocolate buttercream; no substitutions on flavors are accepted.  

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

: Eaton Square, 438 Hobron Lane Ste. 102, Honolulu

: This Girls’ Day strawberry shortcake ($44.50) is designed to serve four to six people. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"La Palme D’or"}]

: Ala Moana Center, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu

: The dessert shop is offering specialty cakes with seasonal decorations for Girl’s Day. Choose from strawberry shortcake (6-inch cake $58, 7-inch cake $70, 8-inch cake $90) and raspberry mousse cakes (7-inch cake $65). 

: This online business is offering a three-pack strawberry set ($8), Sakura sweet box ($15) and assorted sweet set ($3). All treats are available in dark or white chocolate or matcha flavors. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Yohei Sushi"}]

: 1111 Dillingham Blvd. No. 101, Honolulu

: The eatery is featuring a Girl’s Day special ($65). The special menu highlights sushi — featuring 12 pieces of seasonal fish — along with dishes inspired by pearls, peach blossoms and Nobori lanterns. 

Girls Day roundup Fujiya Hawaii 022426

<title>Where to find treats for Girls’ Day 2026</title>

Whether you’re looking for mochi or specialty desserts, we’ve got you covered.

Where to find treats for Girls’ Day 2026

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

A state proposal to limit the governor’s emergency powers has been lambasted as government overreach.

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, then-Gov. David Ige made more than 20 consecutive emergency proclamations that suspended various state statutes without oversight from other branches of government.

 is a measure drafted partially in response to those proclamations, attempting to define what the governor or any county mayor can and cannot do through an emergency declaration.

But the bill has drawn controversy from individuals who believe the bill signifies an attempt to codify extrajudicial authorities for the executive branch.

 submitted in advance of a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday excoriated the bill, with dozens calling it governmental overreach empowering the governor to activate sweeping powers on a whim.

“[SB 2151 hands] one person — the governor — near-unchecked power to declare emergencies, suspend our rights, enter our property without permission, lock us down, seize assets, or disarm us, all with too-little real accountability from the Legislature or courts,” read one letter by resident Dawn O’Brien, which echoed sentiments repeated through much of the testimony at Tuesday’s hearing.

However, this is not what the bill does. Karl Rhoads, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the bill’s primary introducer, told the committee 

 that he intended the measure to restrict the governor’s powers, and that much of the opposition facing the bill appears to be misdirected.

“There’s been a lot of testimony opposed to it seemingly thinking that this bill was expanding the governor’s power and it is certainly not,” Rhoads said.

As currently written, the bill prohibits any emergency declaration from overriding the state’s requirement to respond to public records requests in a timely manner.

Ige’s early Covid proclamations suspended the Uniform Information Practices Act, which requires public agencies’ records to be open to public inspection and review. They also included a partial suspension of the Sunshine Law — which requires state and county boards to hold meetings open to the public — to allow for meetings to be held entirely remotely.

, in Feb. 2021, the UIPA was only suspended insofar as agencies did not have to adhere to deadlines. However, the partial Sunshine Law suspension continued.

SB 2151 specifically prohibits a governor or mayor from suspending deadlines to respond to UIPA requests, or deadlines for the Department of Health to provide various patient vital records. However, the bill allows for a “reasonable delay” for the DOH to provide the latter during extenuating circumstances.

For those laws that can still be suspended through an emergency proclamation, another section of the bill specifically details how those suspensions can be carried out. As stated in the bill, any suspension of law cannot last any longer “than the governor deems necessary for the execution of emergency management functions.”

The same applies for county laws and emergency proclamations issued by mayors.

For every law suspended, the bill specifies that any emergency proclamation must identify the specific statutes affected and explain why the suspension is necessary for emergency management.

Furthermore, the bill introduced by Rhoads would amend the emergency powers law to allow the state Legislature to terminate a gubernatorial state of emergency by a two-thirds majority vote. The same goes for county councils, which could vote to end a county state of emergency by a two-thirds majority.

The latest version of the bill also amends the statutory definition of “emergency” to specify that it must be an imminent threat of a disaster that could cause “catastrophic harm and immediate danger” and that could be averted or minimized through timely action. Rhoads said Tuesday that this precludes the possibility of the governor issuing emergency proclamations regarding homelessness, which Rhoads noted “has been with us for many years.”

This isn’t the first time Rhoads has attempted to pass a similar bill. Last year, 

 — which proposed much the same changes as SB 2151, with much less public opposition — came very close to passing, but failed in April over disagreements between the House and Senate regarding various amendments made to the measure.

But while the bill may not be an expansion of the governor’s powers, it has attracted criticism from other directions. Several testifiers argued that the bill still allows the governor or mayor to be the sole judge of whether something is an emergency, and to continually re-issue consecutive proclamations despite an existing statute that automatically terminates a state of emergency after 60 days.

Nor does the bill remove existing statutes allowing the governor to enforce quarantines against people believed to be infected with a deadly contagion, or to seize and destroy property, or to authorize unpermitted entry onto private property, or seize firearms, all of which dozens of testifiers have demanded to be changed.

On the other hand, several groups voiced support for the bill, including the Grassroot Institute of Hawai‘i, which lauded the measure’s ability to both preserve the intent of emergency statutes while also checking the executive branch’s power.

The state Office of Information Practices, which responds to UIPA requests, took no stance on the measure, stating that the matter “is a policy decision for the Legislature to determine.” However, OIP confirmed that the suspensions of the UIPA during the pandemic “had a significant effect on requesters, agencies and OIP’s own operations,” with people experiencing long delays before receiving official responses to record requests.

The Senate Judiciary Committee took no action on the measure on Tuesday, with Rhoads deferring any decision on the matter until March 5. A corresponding bill, House Bill 2236, passed second reading in the House on Feb. 18, but has not yet been scheduled in that chamber’s own judiciary committee.

 For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Capitol Jan 2026

<title>Emergency proclamation bill stirs controversy</title>

A measure intended to limit the governor's ability to declare a state of emergency has citizens warning that it does the opposite. But does it?

Emergency proclamation bill stirs controversy

[{"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.

Daily Smile: Saturday, February 28, 2026

ASD Staff

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Daily Smile: Saturday, February 28, 2026

Authors

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