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Hawai'i Skies

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros at Waimea Canyon, Kauaʻi. "

This canyon is always breathtaking, but when you spot a rainbow after getting poured on with friends, it’s even more amazing!"

To submit your Hawai'i Skies photo, visit us 

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Waimea Canyon

<title>Hawaiʻi Skies: A rainbow after getting poured on</title>

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros at Waimea Canyon, Kauaʻi.

Hawaiʻi Skies: A rainbow after getting poured on

Today&#039;s Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros at Waimea Canyon, Kauaʻi. &quot;This canyon is always breathtaking, but when you spot a rainbow after getting poured on with friends, it’s even more amazing!&quot; To submit your Hawai&#039;i Skies photo, visit us online or email: general@alohastatedaily.com For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up here for our free Daily Edition newsletter. 

IMG 1445

Rick Hamada

Government & Politics

Columnists

When you go into a 7-Eleven and you want to buy some smokes what do you have to do?

[{"type":"text","text":"Show an ID for proof of age."}]

When you apply for a loan at a financial institution what do you have to do?

[{"type":"text","text":"Show an ID for proof that it's you."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"When you make a purchase with a check what do you have to do?"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Show your acceptable ID."}]

These are just a few of the scenarios where a legal form of identification is required to perform certain transactions or comply with  directives.

[{"type":"text","text":"In virtually all cases that's the law."}]

In order to purchase alcohol, the legal age limit is 21. IDs are required to prove the buyer is 21 or over in order for the vendor to legally sell the booze. This goes especially for cocktails is bars and restaurants.

If you don't have ID as proof that you're of legal age then you don't drink.

[{"type":"text","text":"I don't think I'm hearing any protests."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"If you don't have proof of US citizenship then you don't vote."}]

So why do some of you literally lose your stuff when the same common sense logic is applied to voting?

[{"type":"text","text":"Oh, that's not you?"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Well, how about your congressional delegation?"}]

Representative Jill Tokuda and Senators Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono adamantly voted last month 

 the SAVE Act representing our state and any semblance of commonsense and logic.

[{"type":"text","text":"I hope you noticed that I did not mention Representative Ed Case."}]

Because he represented our state with commonsense 

 logic reaffirming the legal definition that one must be a citizen of the United States in order to legally vote. He was one of only four democrats in the House that defied party politics and used his office to declare you must show proof of citizenship to vote.

[{"type":"text","text":"Thank you, Rep. Case, for your statesmanship and not partisanship."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"What is the SAVE Act?"}]

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, or "SAVE America Act," is a U.S. House-passed bill (H.R. 8281/H.R. 7296) that mandates proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. It amends the 1993 

 to require documentary evidence, such as a passport or birth certificate, and compels states to remove noncitizens from voter rolls.

[{"type":"text","text":"A clarification of perspective."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"The law is quite clear:"}]

unlawful for a noncitizen to vote in federal elections

So if common sense, logic and federal law stipulates a non-citizen voting in federal elections is illegal then why the crying from detractors?

[{"type":"text","text":"The objections, in summary:"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Wait a second..."}]

The SAVE Act makes it "harder," voters "burdened," "difficulties accessing"?

[{"type":"text","text":"Where is our great reputation of resolve in our people?"}]

The vote of an American citizen should be exactly that — a vote of an American citizen.

If you can produce ID to buy booze, write a check or get a loan you can definitely get documents to give you a powerful voice in our elections process.

Just get a bloody birth certificate. It takes an online application, a phone call or go to the state agency in the state where you were born and just get it. Put it on your to-do list and get it done. 

If you're in America and you're not a citizen, then you are a visitor. If you are here illegally, you are a criminal.

The power of the vote is the most influential right we have in our representative democracy. Why do you suppose there is such passionate debate to ensure its sanctity, its accuracy? Because it's what stands in the way of America devolving into nations and governments from where others are fleeing.

[{"type":"text","text":"You still don't like the SAVE Act?"}]

Then blame those that allowed millions and millions of illegals to pour through our borders.

[{"type":"text","text":"You know who they are."}]

That's what is compelling this administration to not only secure the borders but ensure the legal right — no, the legal duty — of true Americans to vote.

[{"type":"text","text":"Still not convinced?"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Then just sit on your hands a let the adults get the job done."}]

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

I Stock 2173907423

<title>Hamada: The SAVE America Act is important, and sensible</title>

ASD columnist Rick Hamada finds Rep. Ed Case to be the only voice of reason among Hawai‘i's congressional delegation in voting in favor of the SAVE America act requiring that voters show ID to prove their eligibility to vote.

Hamada: The SAVE America Act is important, and sensible

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Aloha Spirit

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

The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Kahuku Medical Center

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

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

Kahuku Medical Center awarded $6M from Helmsley Charitable Trust

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

Episode 43 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption ended at 6:21 p.m. on March 10, according to 

has led to the temporary closure of the volcano's summit in HVNP and parts of Highway 11 today.

Episode 43 of the ongoing eruption began at 9:17 a.m. Tuesday with more than a quarter-inch of accumulated tephra and ash, according to the 

 from U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, published just after noon.

According to HVO, the lava fountains have hit heights of more than 1,300 feet. In an update this afternoon, HVNP said tephra was still falling at 2 p.m.

"Park rangers are evacuating visitors from the summit area of the park," HVNP says. "Overnight guests of Kilauea Military Camp and Volcano House with reservations and identification will be allowed to enter the park but must shelter in place. All trails and outdoor overlooks in the vicinity of the summit are closed."

HVNP will reopen after the eruption ends and the park staff can clear roadways, the update noted, adding that tephra fallout covers road markings and can cause vehicles to skid and slide.  

In a message around 3 p.m. Hawai‘i County Civil Defense said that tephra continues to fall in HVNP and the Volcano community, although it has "diminished from earlier levels." According to Civil Defense, Pele's Hair and fine ash are being reported in Hāmākua, Hilo and Puna.

Highway 11 is closed on either side of the park at mile markers 24 and 40.

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

An ashfall warning remains in effect for HVNP and areas southeast and southwest of the park until 5 p.m. Tuesday, the National Weather Service in Honolulu said in 

Hawai‘i County has opened a shelter at the 

Kaʻū District Gym, located at 96-1219 Kamani St. in Pāhala, for residents and visitors impacted by the road closure or falling tephra.

, which ended Jan. 24 after a little more than 8 hours of continuous lava fountaining, also blanketed HVNP and some surrounding Hawai

‘i Island communities with tephra and ash. (ICYMI: An estimated 14 million cubic yards of lava erupted during that episode. Here's 

 of the ongoing eruption ended on Feb. 15. 

" in a closed area on the east side of Kīlauea caldera,

 but the volcano was not erupting at that time. However, the National Park Service said in an announcement then that, the caldera

 contains "hazardous terrain, including unstable cliff edges and volcanic features. 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.

May be an image of crater

<title>Kīlauea erupts again, bringing more tephra, ash fall to Hawai‘i Island</title>

Tephra and ash fall from the latest eruptive episode of Kīlauea volcano, which began and ended on Tuesday, March 10, has led to the temporary closure of its summit in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and parts of Highway 11.

Kīlauea erupts again, bringing more tephra, ash fall to Hawai‘i Island

Higa headshot white shirt square

Sterling Higa

, two of our state representatives gave the people of Hawai‘i a masterclass in how not to legislate.

 would expand legal protections for what the State of Hawai‘i defines as “gender-affirming health care.” Representative Elijah Pierick warned that the bill would let a 14-year-old get sex-change surgery without parental knowledge, then fly home to Tennessee. He described the procedures in language better suited to a middle school cafeteria than the House floor. House Majority Leader Sean Quinlan fired back. He called Pierick “the representative from Bethlehem” — a shot at his colleague’s Christian faith. He then offered a substantive rebuttal: the bill says nothing about minors.

Oscar Wilde once said a gentleman never insults anyone unintentionally. So take Quinlan at his word. He meant it. Now let’s talk about what it means.

Quinlan had the stronger hand and still chose to mock. His factual correction was legitimate. He could have stopped there and won the exchange cleanly. Instead he opened with a religious insult. When you’ve already won the point, the only reason to add the jab is to perform for your side.

And consider the hypocrisy. Would Quinlan refer to a Jewish colleague as “the representative from Jerusalem?” Would he call a Muslim lawmaker “the senator from Mecca?” He wouldn’t dare — and rightly so. It would be condemned as bigotry. So why does mocking Christianity get a free pass? Either religious mockery is acceptable in our legislature or it isn’t.

Quinlan might also consider who he represents. His District 47 covers Waialua, Hale‘iwa, Sunset Beach, Kahuku, Lā‘ie, Hau‘ula, and Punalu‘u. These are not progressive enclaves. These communities are deeply rooted in faith. When the House Majority Leader ridicules a colleague’s Christianity on the floor, he should think about how that lands back home. Representing a district doesn’t mean agreeing with every constituent. But it probably means not publicly mocking their deepest convictions.

But Quinlan wasn’t the only one who failed that day. Pierick’s description of surgery — crude, graphic, designed to shock — wasn’t an argument. It was a performance. Instead of engaging the actual text of the legislation, he handed his opponents a clip they can use to paint every critic of the bill as unserious. You don’t win policy debates by grossing people out.

And the bill deserved better discourse than either man gave it. HB 1875 expands protections originally created for reproductive health care (like birth control and abortion) to cover gender-affirming care. It shields providers and patients from out-of-state legal action, restricts disclosure of patient records, and prohibits insurers from penalizing providers. The definition of gender-affirming care covers everything from puberty blockers to surgery.

Quinlan said there’s nothing in this bill about minors. That’s technically true yet still misleading. Hawai‘i 

 permits gender-affirming care for minors — puberty blockers, hormones, and surgery with parental consent. The new bill shields all of it from out-of-state legal action, subpoenas, and records disclosure. A parent in a custody dispute could bring a child to Hawai‘i for surgery over the other parent’s objection, and this bill would block the objecting parent’s home state from doing much about it. Pierick saw that. His description of the procedures was crude and his specifics were wrong — no 14-year-old is getting surgery without a parent’s involvement. But the core concern about parental rights and interstate conflict was real, and Quinlan waved it away with a joke about Bethlehem.

We’ve watched national politics descend into a name-calling contest. Hawai‘i doesn’t have to follow that playbook. But we will if we shrug off exchanges like this one as just how politics works now. Every person in that chamber carries a dignity that wasn’t given by voters and can’t be taken by mockery. Every word spoken on that floor goes into the public record. Constituents read it. Someday a student doing a civics project will find it. Words spoken from positions of power reveal character. And character, once revealed, is hard to unsee.

There’s a word for someone who belittles people instead of debating them. The word is bully. We expect this from teenagers jockeying for status in a high school cafeteria, not from the House Majority Leader. At some point, Mr. Majority Leader, it’s time to grow up.

Since Quinlan brought up Bethlehem, maybe he should listen to its most famous resident. The man from Bethlehem once said that the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored in his heart, and an evil man brings evil out of the evil stored in his.

The insult isn’t really the problem. It’s a symptom. Mockery, contempt, the instinct to belittle — these come from the heart. And the speech won’t change until the heart does.

The man from Bethlehem knew something about that kind of change too. And His door is still open — even for politicians.

Quinlan and Pierick

<title>"The Rep from Bethlehem"</title>

ASD columnist Sterling Higa explores how a recent exchange on the floor of the House of Representatives between House Majority Leader Sean Quinlan and Rep. Elijah Pierick went so wrong.

"The Rep from Bethlehem"

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

The Honolulu Festival with its parade, cultural events and fireworks show, returns to Waikīkī and nearby neighborhoods from Friday, March 13, through Sunday, March 15. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the festival with activities at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center, Ala Moana Center’s Centerstage, Waikīkī Beach Walk and International Market Place.

The event is presented by the nonprofit Honolulu Festival Foundation and a number of sponsors, including Outrigger Resorts & Hotels.

“The Honolulu Festival is celebrating 30 years of cultural celebrations here in Hawaiʻi,” Sean Dee, executive vice president and chief commercial officer of Outrigger Hospitality Group told Aloha State Daily. “It's one of my favorite festivals of the year for a lot of reasons. And every year they bring some new things to the event and bring more participants and obviously more opportunities for not only our visitors, but our local community to enjoy this festival.”

The festival opens Friday, March 13, with invitation-only programs and events. Ticketed admission to festival events at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center’s Exhibition Hall on Saturday, March 14, and Sunday, March 15, includes access to live stage performances, a craft fair, the Sake & Food Fest, and Bon Dances, among other events. Performers come from various regions of the Pacific Rim, including Japan, Australia and the U.S. Mainland. Free events include a Japanese Film Festival, performances at Ala Moana Center’s Centerstage and Waikīkī Beach Walk, the Nagaoka Fireworks show and the Grand Parade.

“It's typically anchored with the Grand Parade, which is on Sunday,” Dee said. “The Grand Parade has been a highlight for many years, so the Grand Parade is back again.”

The parade is expected to have 1,500 marchers, 10 floats, 20 vehicles and three bands, according to 

 with the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Transportation Services. 

Lanes will be closed started at 2 p.m. and the parade starts at 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 15. It starts at Kalakaua Ave. and Saratoga Rd. and runs down Kalakaua Ave. to Monsarrat Ave., where it ends at the parking lot for the 

The festival closes with the Nagaoka Fireworks show, 

, which runs for about 20-minutes and starts at 8:30 p.m. at Waikīkī Beach, he said.

“It’s probably one of the biggest and best fireworks shows in all of Waikīkī — and frankly in the entire state of Hawaiʻi — hosted by the festival every year,” Dee said.

The event activates Waikīkī and brings in Japanese visitors, which are still down compared to pre-Covid 19 levels, he said.

“All of these events and activities again target not only the Japanese market, but also the local community,” Dee said. “They're good for Waikīkī. They're good for the visitor industry overall.”

Some of the events that are new this year include an ahi-cutting demonstration and a sushi-making workshop, he said.

“People always ask, ʻWhy do you sponsor these events?’” Dee said. “And my perspective is we believe that Waikīkī and Hawaiʻi — we are a world-class destination. But to be a world class destination, you have to have world-class events. You have to have world-class entertainment to offer not only visitors but the local community. We're proud to be a part of bringing 

 is part of the offering we have at Outrigger Waikīkī. We have live music every night in all of our properties, not just here in Waikīkī, but throughout the state. 

"And we're a proud sponsor of many festivals and events, from the Honolulu Festival to the Honolulu Marathon, which anchors the December calendar for us," he added. "So again, for us, we like to support these events. We like to see these events attract visitors. And again, world-class events demonstrate Waikīkī’s ability to compete on a global level with the best world-class entertainment destinations in the world. We have to support these events and help them grow, and it's great to see this event celebrating its 30th anniversary.”

Tickets for Honolulu Festival events at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center are $8 for general admission and $6 for kūpuna. Admission can be purchased on-site, but prices increase by $2 per ticket. Admission is free for guests who are 18 years old or younger. 

Honolulu Festival

<title>Honolulu Festival returns with parade, fireworks</title>

Live stage performances, the Sake & Food Fest, Bon Dances, and a craft fair are just some of the events on the agenda for the upcoming Honolulu Festival, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. There will also be a number of free events, including the Japanese Film Festival, the Nagaoka Fireworks show, and the Grand Parade.

Honolulu Festival returns with parade, fireworks

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Gov. Josh Green has issued an emergency proclamation in advance of a severe storm expected to strike the state this week.

The National Weather Service has warned of a Kona low — a powerful seasonal cyclone — that is expected to impact the western end of the state by Tuesday, and will spread eastward across the island chain throughout the week. Consequently, NWS has issued a flood watch for Ni‘ihau and Kaua‘i to begin Tuesday, and another flood watch for O‘ahu to begin Tuesday evening.

“Confidence is increasing that strong to severe thunderstorms may develop Wednesday into the weekend,” reads a 

 NWS issued Monday morning. “Damaging winds will likely be the primary hazard with these storms, though large hail cannot be ruled out.”

In response to this, Green has declared a 

, authorizing the mobilization of the Hawai‘i National Guard as needed, and suspending a range of laws — such as state procurement laws, public employee collective bargaining statutes and other environmental control measures — in order to allocate resources more efficiently.

“By issuing this emergency proclamation now, we are ensuring that state and county agencies have the resources and flexibility needed to respond quickly to flooding, severe weather and any impacts this storm may bring,” Green said in a statement.

The City and County of Honolulu is advising residents to prepare for the storm by securing outdoor loose items and avoiding driving through standing water or flooded streets. Residents and visitors are also advised to check with lifeguards before entering the ocean.

“Kona storms can intensify quickly and bring dangerous conditions, including heavy rain, flash flooding, damaging winds, and even the possibility of isolated tornadoes,” said Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “Our city teams are closely monitoring the situation and preparing for potential impacts, and we urge residents to do the same.”

The emergency relief period will extend until Wednesday, March 18, unless Green terminates it earlier.

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Hawaiʻi Skies: A rainbow after getting poured on

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