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Daily Smile

[{"type":"text","text":"The real reason we have security cams..."}]

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<title>Daily Smile: Wednesday, March 4, 2026</title>

The real reason we have security cams...

Daily Smile: Wednesday, March 4, 2026

 The real reason we have security cams...

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Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

Kailua-Kona residents and business owners are urging Hawai‘i County to intervene amid exorbitant parking costs.

, West Hawaiʻi residents have complained that locals and visitors alike aren’t spending as much time or money in Kailua Village as they used to. Their diagnosis: paid parking providers.

, a group of citizens attempting to raise awareness of the issue, have pointed to private parking lot owners charging high and variable prices to park in town. Companies such as 

 — a Honolulu business that has bought up several Kona lots — have adopted surge pricing, whereby the cost of parking can change wildly throughout the day, with drivers often not knowing how much they’ll be charged until they arrive.

On the afternoon of March 3, for example, ParkLinq lots around Ali‘i Drive cost around $35 dollars for all-day parking, although some lots offered complimentary parking for stops below two hours or other discounts.

A bill under discussion by the Hawai‘i County Council might fix this, the committee hopes. Several residents testified Tuesday at a meeting of the Council Committee on Public Works and Mass Transit to urge the passage of Bill 132, which would allow the county Public Works Director to set mandatory parking regulations for all parking spaces within Kailua Village.

“This only impacts the community negatively,” said Noelle Lindenmann, who added that parking has become so expensive and unpredictable that people are choosing to not visit Kona or patronize Kailua Village businesses.

Chris Freed told the Council Committee Tuesday that he has been forced to close a shop he operated with his wife within Kailua Village after customers slowed to a mere trickle.

“We held on for 15 months, as long as we could,” Freed said. “For us it’s too late. You failed us already … we have a five-week-old son and I don’t know how we are going to manage these coming years. But there’s still an opportunity for you guys to do right by Kona people who are still hanging on.”

Bill 132 would prohibit hourly parking charges from accruing for the first three hours, and for the first 24 hours that a vehicle is parked at a paid parking facility, charges could not exceed $2 per hour. If a car is parked at a paid parking facility for more than 24 hours, the driver would be charged a flat daily fee of $30.

Other provisions of the bill include a prohibition on charging higher rates for parking stalls meant for people with disabilities, and a clause allowing parking fees to be waived if a driver is unable to reach a pay station due to a disability. Parking lot operators would also be required to post signs displaying their rates, hours of operation, towing charges and more.

A lot operator that fails to comply with the bill would be liability for civil fines between $1,000 and $5,000.

While the proposed bill was popular among most attendees, it did receive some pushback. One testifier warned that the measure imposes price controls on lawful enterprise, which could open the county to costly legal challenges.

Another testifier, Leilani Akona, wrote that smaller locally owned lots could be severely impacted by the regulations, while larger entities like ParkLinq could more easily absorb the costs. Meanwhile, hotels and resorts — which are explicitly not included among the bill’s regulations — would be unaffected entirely, which Akona argued raises questions about whether the bill could be considered equitable at all.

Those questions were enough to drive the Council Committee into a private executive session on Tuesday to consult with county attorneys. Ultimately, the Committee moved to make no action on the measure Tuesday, instead deferring the matter to a future meeting while the County Corporation Council continues to review its implications.

 For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

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<title>Kona residents urge action over parking woes</title>

County Council bill would limit parking charges in Kailua Village

Kona residents urge action over parking woes

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

Aloha Spirit

Already thinking about the weekend? Aloha State Daily is here to help you make plans for the entire ʻohana. From live music at First Friday at Capitol Modern on Friday, March 6, to free admission to ʻIolani Palace for kamaʻāina on Sunday, March 8, there are lots of events on Oʻahu this weekend.

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 has open a new spot in Downtown Honolulu. The new location at 700 Bishop Street — next to Komala Curry and in the same building at Bar Leather Apron — offers bentos and musubi, as well as chicken katsu. 

Watch the Ballet Hawaiʻi Performing Ensemble. 

The Ballet Hawaiʻi Performing Ensemble will share classical and contemporary ballet in these performances, which run Friday through Sunday, at the Ballet Hawaiʻi Honolulu Studio. Tickets are $24. 

Listen to music at First Friday at Capitol Modern. 

Enjoy live music from Keahi Delovio and Aolani and browse art galleries at Capitol Modern, the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum. This family-friendly event starts at 5 p.m. and runs until 9 p.m. Performances start at 6 p.m. There will also be opportunities to purchase food. Free. 

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Back by popular demand, this all-women captain and crew will set off on a two-hour whale watching cruise. Complimentary Irish coffee or mimosas, as well as non-alcoholic refreshments, are available. The whale watching trip is a collaboration between Honolulu Snorkel Co. and Oʻahu Boat Cruises. The boat departs at 7:45 a.m. from Kewalo Basin Harbor. Tickets cost $45 plus fees and taxes. 

Paddle at Kualoa/Hakipuʻu Canoe Festival. 

The event is organized by the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Parks and Recreation along with a number of nonprofits including the 

Polynesian Voyaging Society, which operates Hōkūleʻa

. The festival starts at 10 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m. at Kualoa Regional Park. There will be lots of hands-on activities, including a chance to jump in and paddle. 

, the education director for the PVS, shared some of the activities that ocean-goers of all ages can participate in at the one-day festival. 

This Vinyasa yoga session is donation-based or free. All levels are welcome. Bring a mat and towel to the Kakaʻako Waterfront Park. 

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Mele Haliʻa: Maelia Carter & Ka Pā Hula O Ka Ua Noe O Waʻahila

. Kumu Hula Maelia Carter brings her award-winning hālau, Ka Pā Hula O Ka Ua Noe O Waʻahila, to the Waikiki Beach Walk stage. Watch the performance at 5 p.m. Free. 

 Kamaʻāina are invited to take a free tour of ʻIolani Palace, available in English or ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi.  Enjoy hands-on activities such as lauhala weaving with Keoua Nelsen and Kōnane lessons. There are also opportunities to make a floral kūpeʻe with Maxeen Shea and more. Naomi Nascimento will offer lauhala earring workshops at 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Sign-ups for those workshops start at 8:30 a.m. at the Kīnaʻu Gate on Richards Street. There will also be performances from Hālau O Nā Pua Kukui with Kumu Hula Ed Collier, Ke Kula Kaiaupuni ʻo Ka Waihona o ka Naʻauao and ʻOhana Krug

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

First Friday at Capitol Modern.

<title>Live music, whales and yoga: Your guide to this weekend</title>

Wondering what to do on Oʻahu this Friday, Saturday and Sunday? Aloha State Daily did the research, so you can plan weekend adventures. Ready for live music? Head to Capitol Modern. Want to get out on the water? Try whale watching or canoe paddling.

Live music, whales and yoga: Your guide to this weekend

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Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

A 33-year-old Hawai‘i man died last week following an "incident" at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

National Park Service personnel responded to an"incident" in a closed area on the east side of Kīlauea caldera on Feb. 26, the NPS said in an announcement Tuesday.

"Search and rescue personnel conducted operations overnight in steep and hazardous terrain," the announcement noted. Responders located the individual the next day.

According to the NPS, the man was airlifted from the area and transported to Hilo Benioff Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

The park has notified the family and is withholding the name of the individual "pending privacy considerations," the announcement noted. 

More information was not immediately available and the type of "incident" that occurred was not disclosed. An HVNP spokesperson told Aloha State Daily that no additional details are available at this time.

NPS, however, noted in the news release that Kīlauea volcano — which 

has been erupting intermittently since Dec. 23, 2024, largely from two vents in Halema‘uma‘u crater within the summit caldera

 — was not erupting at the time of the "incident."

 of the ongoing eruption — which saw lava fountain heights reaching around 1,300 feet — ended on Feb. 15. Visitation to the park "skyrockets" during eruptions, the park has 

"Kīlauea caldera contains hazardous terrain, including unstable cliff edges and volcanic features," NPS said in Tuesday's announcement. "Visitors are reminded to remain in designated open areas and comply with all closures."

Last June, a 30-year-old Boston man trying to get a closer glimpse of the eruption was rescued by first responders after 

 from a steep cliff within the park. At that time, 

 that a tree broke the man's fall and kept him from plummeting another 100 feet or so to the caldera floor.

[{"type":"text","text":"Last week's incident remains under investigation."}]

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

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<title>Hawai‘i man dies after 'incident' in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park</title>

National Park Service personnel responded to an"incident" in a closed area on the east side of Kīlauea caldera on Feb. 26.

Hawai‘i man dies after 'incident' in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park

Get your fix of locally made goods this summer when the Hawaiian Airlines presents the 32nd Annual Made in Hawai‘i Festival returns to Honolulu.

Shoppers should note, though, that the days and times of the festival have changed from previous years.

The event will be held Aug. 20 to 23 at the Hawai‘i Convention Center, 1801 Kalākaua Ave.:

“Due to active and ongoing construction at the Hawai‘i Convention Center, vendors and guests will not have access onsite until after 5:30 p.m. on weekdays,” MIHF spokesperson Olena Heu told Aloha State Daily in an email. “So, we opted to provide shopping options for Thursday and Friday night. With that, we expanded our dates of the festival to include Thursday for the buyers’ hours, sponsors and etc.”

Traditionally, that Friday is a state holiday — Statehood Day is 

 this year — and the festival would be open all day, she noted. But since access isn’t available until 5:30 p.m., “we decided to open at 6:30 p.m. and expanded the end time to 10 p.m.”

As for other changes to note this year, Heu says there will be special signage and designation for Native Hawaiian- and wahine-owned businesses and for those who manufacture their products within the Islands.

“The special distinction allows for clarity when it comes to comparing designed in Hawai‘i with manufactured in Hawai‘i; and we also want to provide additional transparency for our guests to learn more about who the vendors are and what their ownership and focus look like,” she says.

MIHF is produced by the Hawai‘i Food Industry Association, or HFIA.

“For more than 30 years, the Made in Hawaiʻi Festival has served as the state’s premier showcase for locally made products, connecting thousands of residents and visitors with Hawaiʻi’s most innovative producers, artisans, and food and beverage companies,” the 

 notes. “What began as a platform to support local businesses has evolved into one of Hawaiʻi’s most anticipated annual events and a critical economic driver for hundreds of companies statewide.

A record-breaking MIHF drew approximately 70,000 attendees and generated approximately $10 million in sales in 2024. About 70,000 visitors over three days 

 and vendors reported sales just under $10 million, Heu says.

The HFIA and Servco Foundation, along with MIHF ticket purchasers, donated a total of $30,000 to the Hawai‘i Foodbank and The Food Basket DA BUX program last year, she noted, adding that the festival will partner with Hawai‘i Food Bank and The Food Basket again this year.

Tickets for this year’s festival go on sale Aug. 1, with vendor highlights, special announcements, new features and on-stage performances to be announced on social media in July.

For tickets, event schedule and updates, visit 

(ICYMI: Aloha State Daily spoke with several vendors during last year’s event. You can 

MIHF 081525 entrance

<title>Made in Hawai‘i Festival to return in August</title>

The popular event will be held Aug. 20 to 23 at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. Read on to learn more about some of the changes to this year's festival.

Made in Hawai‘i Festival to return in August

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

 has a new malasada mobile location in Honolulu.

The business recently opened a new malasada mobile on Lagoon Drive, near the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. This location is open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Leonard’s Bakery was founded in 1952 and is known for its fresh malasadas. The malasadas are baked fresh at the truck, according to Tommy Lam, manager of the business’s airport location.

“They usually deliver fresh dough every day, that we store inside here,” he says, gesturing to a trailer by the malasada mobile. “Original sugar and custard (for the filled ones) are the most popular.”

This location’s menu is the same as those for the other malasada mobiles. Customers can choose from boxes of six ($13.20), 12 ($26.40), 18 ($39.60) or 24 ($52.80) pieces; filled malasadas cost $2.70 each.

Choose from original, cinnamon or li hing sugar, as well as custard, dobash (chocolate) and haupia (coconut) filling.

This location is designed to be convenient for those coming to or from the airport, according to Lam, who explains that boxes of malasadas can be “travel packed.”

“It’s usually a box (of malasadas) and we put the sugar on the side,” he says. “We have reheating instructions for how to reheat it.”

Leonard’s Bakery Malasada Mobile – Airport

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<title>Leonard’s Bakery has a new malasada mobile location</title>

The newest malasada mobile location is on Lagoon Drive, near Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. It’s open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and customers can get “travel packs” of malasadas right before catching their next flight.

Leonard’s Bakery has a new malasada mobile location

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Sterling Higa

Columnists

 wants to tax property to fund Hawai‘i’s public schools. Not just any property — “residential investment properties” worth $3 million or more would face a new state tax. The money, legislators promise, will rescue our long-neglected schools.

The Department of Education already operates on roughly 

 per year — money drawn from a General Fund that collects income taxes, corporate taxes, and the general excise tax. That’s money from every working person’s paycheck and grocery run.

This new property tax wouldn’t replace any of that. It would stack on top of it. A second layer of taxation for a system that can’t account for the first. The move to amend the constitution should trouble every taxpayer. Hawai‘i’s own state constitution reserves property taxation exclusively to the counties. HB2147 doesn’t just ask for more money. It asks the state to reach into the one tax domain the constitution kept local.

Here’s what they’re not telling you: Hawai‘i’s Department of Education doesn’t have a funding problem. It has an accountability problem. And no amount of money fixes a system built to ignore parents.

Look at the track record. We spend nearly 

 of students are proficient in math. Only 

 are proficient in language arts. Nearly 

 don’t show up regularly. The Heritage Foundation 

 dead last in education choice and freedom. These aren’t funding problems.

 know something is broken — the single-district system, crumbling buildings, teacher salaries lagging behind comparable professionals. But here’s what they miss: the structure is the failure.

A statewide Department of Education means parents in Hilo have exactly the same say in what schools teach as parents in Honolulu. Which is to say, almost none. Board of Education members are appointed by the governor, not elected.

When families can’t get answers, they leave. More than 15% of Hawai‘i students attend private school, that’s more than 50% above the national average. Another 4% are 

. Charter enrollment has jumped 10% since 2019 while traditional public school enrollment 

 So why does the state keep making it harder?

The progressive position contradicts itself. They champion democracy and local control for everything except schools. They correctly note that Hawai‘i’s school system is bizarre. But their solution makes it worse.

The correct answer? Break up the statewide Department of Education. Maui, Hawai‘i, and Kaua‘i counties are much wealthier than in 1959. County governments already run police departments, parks, and water systems. They can run schools. Most states already do it this way, and most outperform Hawai‘i.

And here’s what no one in the Legislature wants to talk about: next to Medicaid, education is the single largest line item in Hawai‘i’s state budget, funded through a General Fund that runs on income taxes and the general excise tax. Moving schools to the counties doesn’t just change governance. It changes the tax structure. The state constitution already assigns property taxation exclusively to the counties. If counties fund their own schools the way most of America does — through local property taxes and elected boards — the state no longer needs the massive income tax bite it currently takes to run a centralized system. That means real tax relief for every working family in Hawai‘i. The progressive establishment won’t tell you this because they don’t want you doing the math.

When school board members are your neighbors, you can vote them out. When your property taxes fix the leaky roof at your kids’ school instead of vanishing into state bureaucracy, you see results. Local control isn’t magic, and county officials get captured by special interests, too. The difference is you’d have somewhere to show up and do something about it.

The teachers’ union loves this statewide system. One governor’s race every four years beats dealing with actual parents at four different school board meetings. Much easier to lobby Honolulu than face a room full of angry moms in Hilo.

“More money will fix the schools” has become an article of faith in Honolulu — recited every session, never questioned, never fulfilled. What we need isn’t a new tax on property owners. We need a system that recognizes what every parent already knows: nobody cares more about your children’s education than you do. This isn't just common sense — it's how God designed it. Parents are the ones He charges with raising their children, not bureaucrats in Honolulu. Local control is closer to that design. It's still not the thing itself.

Instead of handing the state new taxing power, call a constitutional convention. Dismantle the statewide monopoly. Return education decisions to parents, and, at minimum, to local communities with elected boards who answer to them.

HB2147 should be rejected, not because education doesn’t need investment, but because this bill invests in the wrong thing. It feeds a centralized monopoly that has already proven it can’t deliver results at $24,000 per student. Why would $25,000 be different?

Every dollar poured into this system isn’t reform. It’s ransom. Paid to a bureaucracy that holds families hostage because they have nowhere else to go.

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<title>More money won’t fix what’s broken in Hawai‘i’s schools</title>

A bill before the Legislature would give the state powers it has never had to tax property, arguing it would give to money to education. The state wants us to forget that Hawai‘i's public schools already have enormous tax funding available to no other state — direct access to our income taxes and the GET we pay on every purchase we make. ASD columnist Sterling Higa has a counter proposal.

Daily Smile: Wednesday, March 4, 2026

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Daily Smile: Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Authors

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