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Daily Smile

[{"type":"text","text":"Nothing is slipping by this dog..."}]

Smile 26 3 16

<title>Daily Smile: Monday, March 16, 2026</title>

Nothing is slipping by this dog...

Daily Smile: Monday, March 16, 2026

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

For the first time in 10 years, the University of Hawai‘i men's basketball team is NCAA Tournament bound. 

During Sunday's NCAA selection show, it was revealed that the Rainbow Warriors will be the 13 seed in the 16-team West Region. The 'Bows will face SEC champion Arkansas on Thursday in Portland. Tipoff time is set for 10:25 a.m. HST on TBS.

Hawai‘i clinched its NCAA Tournament ticket with a thrilling 71-64 victory over UC Irvine in the Big West tournament championship game on Saturday night in Henderson, Nev., punctuated by a two-handed Dre Bullock windmill dunk in the closing seconds. 

Just a week prior, Hawai‘i had a chance to clinch the share of the Big West regular season title in its home finale against Long Beach State, which finished ninth in the conference standings at 6-14. The Rainbow Warriors squandered that opportunity with a 

. UH finished second in the conference standings, allowing UC Irvine to win the regular season title outright. 

The Rainbow Warriors entered conference tournament week with full knowledge that winning it would provide the ultimate prize — the program's first NCAA Tournament bid since 2016. 

With a double bye straight to the conference semifinals, Hawai‘i clinched its spot in the championship game by handling Cal State Fullerton 78-63 on Friday. 

On championship Saturday, the 'Bows leaned on their experience to get their most consequential win in a decade. UH features six seniors in its eight-man rotation, which was reduced to such after season-ending injuries to points guards Tanner Cuff and Aaron Hunkin-Claytor, as well as a midseason departure from forward Jalen Myers. Harry Rouhliadeff, the team captain and lone player on the roster who spent his entire career with the Rainbow Warriors, had a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Meanwhile, 

 was named the tournament MVP after posting 22 points and seven rebounds. Bullock added 15 points, seven rebounds and four steals. 

As three Hawai‘i seniors in Rouhliadeff, Johnson and Bullock sat on the press conference podium following their championship victory over UC Irvine, they all acknowledged how the disappointing Long Beach loss allowed them to refocus. They lost a championship that night, but wouldn't have won this one without it. 

"If not getting a ring that night meant getting a ring tonight, I'll take it 100 times out of 100," Johnson said on Saturday. "We use that as fuel, and then we locked in this week. I think during practices, we got a little bit of our swag back. We joked around and we're happy, and got the mood back up, but we were locked in, which I think was the most important part. ... I think that game exposed us a little bit and showed us what we needed to fix."

Added Rouhliadeff: "That was probably was the best thing that could have happened to us. Just probably kept us grounded. Going into this tournament, we knew it was going to be hard. There's no doubt about that. This is such a competitive league, and I'm just so proud of the guys right now. I'm really lost for words at the moment, but I'm just so proud of our effort and our defensive toughness."

Said Bullock: "Probably the best thing that happened for us. We were kind of feeling ourselves a little bit during that run, but we learned from it. Watch film, grow from it. We brought our energy to Vegas and shifted gears quickly."

While the 2025-2026 Rainbow Warriors showed how much can change in a week, head coach Eran Ganot proved how much can change in a year. In the 2024-2025 season, the 'Bows went 15-16 overall and 7-13 in Big West play, missing the conference tournament entirely. Interim athletics director Lois Manin announced she would let 

 coach out the final year of his contract without an extension. In turn, Ganot retooled his roster. Of the eight players who saw the floor on Saturday, only two were returnees from the previous season in Rouhliadeff and 

Per Ganot's contract, he would have earned a $25,000 bonus had the team clinched a share of the conference regular season title. As costly as the Long Beach State loss proved to be, the conference tournament win netted him a $15,000 bonus. 

It was Ganot's first season at the helm in 2015-2016 that the Rainbow Warriors last went to the NCAA Tournament and earned the program's first-ever win at The Big Dance, a 77-66 upset victory over California. The 2025-2026 Rainbow Warriors face a steep challenge in Arkansas, led by talented freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr., who is averaging 22.7 points and 6.4 assists per game. 

Ganot, who displayed a stoic demeanor in the final seconds of Saturday's Big West championship victory, was all smiles when the dust settled. 

"Just wow. A lot of emotions go through you," Ganot said following the game. "I tell our guys all the time, the journey is all that floods through your mind, what these guys have been through this year and over the years. 

"Knew it was going to be a battle. Could have gone either way. It's very humbling, but it's also a special moment when you do what you do with this group of kids, and do it against that type of competition. ... There's nothing like sitting on the bench or taking it all in watching these kids smile. That's undefeated. Nothing can ever pass that."

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Hawaii basketball 031526

<title>Hawai‘i men's basketball punches ticket to NCAA Tournament for first time since 2016</title>

In their final Big West game, the Rainbow Warriors defeated UC Irvine in the conference tournament on Saturday night in Henderson, Nev.

Hawai‘i men's basketball punches ticket to NCAA Tournament for first time since 2016

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Government & Politics

Real Estate

The City and County of Honolulu has taken another step towards creating affordable housing along the Skyline rail route, choosing EAH Housing as its "preferred negotiating partner" for the redevelopment of the former Dee Lite Bakery site in Kalihi.

Located across from the future Mokauea Skyline station, the city acquired the property at 1930 Dillingham Blvd. and 1907 Eluwene St. for about $8.4 million in 2019 "as part of a long-term effort to secure land for affordable housing near transit," a recent announcement noted.

Kevin Auger, director of the city's Department of Housing and Land Management, told Aloha State Daily in an emailed response to questions that the city and EAH, a nonprofit affordable housing development and management organization, will begin negotiating a development agreement and ground lease for the site.

It's during these discussions that the city and the developer will agree on project specifics, such as the total number of units; level of affordability; the target demographic, or area median income levels; unit sizes and bedroom counts; project amenities and more, which will then be presented to the Honolulu City Council for approval, he says.

The city noted in the announcement, though, that preliminary analysis shows that the site could support more than 150 affordable rental units.

"The developer will also prepare for the city's review an overall project schedule including community engagement, entitlements, environmental review, State Historic Preservation [Division] review, construction drawing and specifications, permitting, financial closing, groundbreaking, construction, lease-up and grand opening," Auger says. "All of this will be determined during negotiations, but it is too early in the process to provide details."

According to the announcement, the redevelopment site spans approximately 23,600 square feet and is located less than two miles from Downtown Honolulu, within walking distance of schools, Honolulu Community College and neighborhood businesses. It's designated a "priority location" under the 

Iwilei–Kapālama Transit-Oriented Development Plan, the city says.

"Kalihi is the kind of neighborhood where affordable housing is especially important because it sits within Honolulu’s urban core, where the city’s long-range plans direct a substantial share of future growth to established urban areas rather than outward expansion," Auger told ASD. "As housing costs rise, it becomes increasingly important to ensure established urban neighborhoods continue to have room for local working families."

Partnering with the development community to build housing on city-owned lands is one of the components of a 

Auger says that using city-owned land and long-term ground leases addresses one of the city's biggest housing challenges: the scarcity and cost of developable land.

"By using land the city already controls, the city can lower a major barrier to development and retain a long-term public stake in the property to ensure affordability over time rather than giving up the land through a one-time sale," he says. "It also removes land cost from the development capital stack which significantly reduces overall project cost."

Ten solicitations have been issued for development and redevelopment of city-owned properties.

According to Auger, negotiations are underway with the selected preferred negotiating partners for six parcels:

, Kobayashi Group; and Dee Lite Bakery, EAH.

Additionally, the announcements ofpreferred negotiating partners for properties in 

"We expect to begin submitting resolutions to City Council seeking approval of these transactions in late April," Auger says.

 Also in the pipeline, three projects are under development on city-owned land: Kihapai Place, with development partner Tradewind Capital; Varona Village, a public-private partnership between the city, Savio Group and Hawai

Habitat for Humanity; and Kaleimaʻo Village, which is being developed by Stanford Carr Development.

Find more information about the city's housing efforts 

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Dee Lite Bakery kalihi

<title>Honolulu chooses development partner for affordable housing project in Kalihi</title>

The city acquired the former Dee Lite Bakery site in 2019 as part of a long-term effort to secure land for affordable housing near transit.

Honolulu chooses development partner for affordable housing project in Kalihi

Square Kady Pascual Headshot RGZ5762

Kady Pascual

Food & Dining

Arts & Entertainment

[{"type":"text","text":"Get ready for grind."}]

 will be at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 29. More than 200 vendors — including 100 food vendors — will be featured. Plus, all food vendors will have $7 mini plates.

Tickets will be sold day-of at the box office. General admission is $6.50; kūpuna and military are $4.50; and keiki under age 12 are free with a paying adult.

Aloha State Daily is the event’s stage sponsor, and our staff will be there over the weekend handing out exclusive ASD merch like notebooks, hand fans, our plushie mascot and more. We will also have a giveaway for all event attendees.

Enter for a chance to win a one-night stay at White Sands Hotel in Waikīkī and a Wai Kai Ultimate experience for four by subscribing to our 

“A retro oasis in the heart of Waikiki, 

 blends vintage island vibes with modern comfort. Think private lanais, lush gardens, and a laid-back pool scene — just steps from Waikīkī Beach,” its website notes.

White Sands Hotel has two food and drink options: 

 which serves tropical cocktails and Island-inspired dishes, and the 

, located in ʻEwa Beach is home to the world’s largest standing surf wave and the Wai Kai AquaVenture — an inflatable obstacle course.

[{"type":"text","text":"At Wai Kai, you and three friends will enjoy:"}]

26 3 13 Foodiecon 16x9

<title>Stop by and say aloha to Aloha State Daily at Hawaiʻi FoodieCon & Spring Expo</title>

Explore more than 200 vendors — including 100 food vendors — from March 28-29 at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall. Plus, enter for a chance to win prizes from ASD like a staycation at White Sands Hotel in Waikīkī and a Wai Kai Ultimate experience for four, and more.

Stop by and say aloha to Aloha State Daily at Hawaiʻi FoodieCon & Spring Expo

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Hawai‘i Senator Mazie Hirono has co-sponsored a bill that attempts to defuse a $10 billion lawsuit by President Donald Trump against the federal government.

, which Hirono introduced Friday alongside Illinois senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin, and California Senator Adam Schiff, would create a legal mechanism to reclaim government funds paid to a U.S. president unduly.

The measure is explicitly in response to multiple claims Trump has filed against the federal government, seeking billions of dollars in damages over government searches into his financial affairs. In 2024 and 2025, Trump filed 

 against the Department of Justice for $230 million over the FBI’s 2016 investigation into Russian ties to his administration and the 2022 FBI search into his Mar-A-Lago residence.

 the IRS and the Department of the Treasury for $10 billion over a leak of his tax information in 2019.

The bill allows the U.S. Attorney General to sue in federal claims court to recover funds paid to a sitting president by the government if the court determines that those payments “would not have been paid but for the individual holding the status, authority or duties associated with their position as President.”

The court’s evaluation would consider whether the presidential payouts were larger than typical settlements for similar claims by private citizens and whether they bypassed standard legal measures such as statutes of limitations.

The bill also requires that, whenever the government pays out more than $1 million to the president, the U.S. Comptroller General must present a report to Congress evaluating whether that payment was made unduly.

Hirono said in a statement that “the Trump regime’s corruption is rampant and starts at the top” and that the President “plots to steal billions in taxpayer dollars.”

[{"type":"text","text":"The bill has yet to be voted on by either chamber."}]

Meanwhile, the U.S. House and Senate have voted on a handful of bills this week, including:

Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act

, a bill providing funding for DHS, which has been partially shut down since February after a congressional standoff over funding for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.

The measure would provide $10 billion to ICE, albeit with some minor caveats: none of those funds could be used to contract out detention services if a contracted detention facility is deemed inadequate by performance evaluations, for example, and the ICE director would be required to provide monthly briefings breaking down the division’s expenses.

While the House narrowly voted in support of the measure last week — it passed 221-209, with Hawai‘i reps Jill Tokuda and Ed Case voting against it — a Senate vote Thursday failed to reach the 60 votes in favor needed to pass. Hawai‘i senators Hirono and Brian Schatz voted against the bill, with the final vote 51-46.

, which increases financing available for federal affordable housing programs, passed the Senate 89-10, although Hawai‘i's senators were divided, with Hirono in support and Schatz the only Democrat in opposition.

 that a provision of the bill intended to prevent hedge funds from monopolizing single-family homes requires anyone who owns and rents out more than 350 housing units must sell those units after seven years, which will have spillover effects on developers of low-income housing, among many others.

“It was trying to capture the hedge fund problem, but they wrote it wrong,” Schatz said, adding that the bill is “positively Soviet.”  

• The Senate voted unanimously Tuesday to pass the 

Hindering Oppressive Nations from Obtaining Revenue Act

, a measure that denies any foreign tax credit to be claimed by the Russian Federation.

Hironohirez 16x9

<title>CONGRESS WATCH: Trump lawsuits, ICE and "Soviet" housing</title>

Hawai‘i Senator unveils anti-Trump-corruption bill.

CONGRESS WATCH: Trump lawsuits, ICE and "Soviet" housing

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

 relocated its eatery, but it’s just steps away from its former space on Kapiʻolani Boulevard.

The eatery is now located at 747 Amana Street; it’s in the former spot of a yakiniku restaurant. The eatery was temporarily closed; we got a preview of the new space during the eatery’s friends and family event, prior to its re-opening to the public on March 8.

The restaurant’s menu is the same; customers can enjoy a mix of dim sum along with the regular menu that comprises appetizers, soups, barbecue dishes, seafood, noodles, meats and veggies.

The dim sum selection includes bestsellers like shrimp dumplings ($7.50), pork hash with seafood ($7.50), baked barbecue pork buns ($7.85) and egg custard tarts ($7.50).

The regular menu features an extensive selection; signature dishes include roast duck and barbecue pork ($36.50), peking duck ($42 half, $68 whole), honey walnut shrimp ($25.50) and house special chow mein ($22.50).

There’s limited customer parking in the underground parking lot adjacent to the restaurant. Street parking is also available.

Kapiolani Seafood Restaurant dim sum 031126

<title>Kapiʻolani Seafood Restaurant moves to new location</title>

The eatery’s new location on Amana Street is just steps away from its former spot on Kapiʻolani Boulevard. The restaurant’s menu is the same, so customers can look forward to signature dim sum staples and shareable dishes like peking duck, honey walnut shrimp, Hong Kong style wonton noodles and more.

Kapiʻolani Seafood Restaurant moves to new location

MĀNOA — If hugs were a form of currency, Milan Zarkovic would've been the richest man in Hawai‘i on Thursday. 

The revered former University of Hawai‘i men's volleyball associate head coach, now in the same role with UCLA, returned to the Islands with his new team for the first time as part of the OUTRIGGER Invitational. 

Prior to the beginning of the tournament's first match, a 4 p.m. contest between the No. 1 Bruins and No. 14 Lewis, Zarkovic was the most active individual on the floor. Multiple fans walked down to say hi. There didn't seem to be a person in sight Zarkovic didn't recognize and vice versa, from Stan Sheriff Center employees to officials at the scorers table. 

"Hawai‘i is a big part of my heart," Zarkovic told Aloha State Daily following the match, a UCLA sweep as the Bruins improved to 17-0. "That's why I stayed so many years. These nice, wonderful players, the players that they have before, the friends. That is something that makes me feel special here."

Despite trading his aloha shirt for a UCLA polo, there was no love lost between Zarkovic and the place he had called home for a dozen years. 

"All I knew since I've been here was a volleyball program with Milan as the assistant coach," said Spectrum Sports analyst and local club volleyball coach James Anastassiades, who played for the 'Bows from 2016 to 2020, then served as a graduate assistant in 2021. "My favorite memory is just his personality. He's so unique in a coach's aspect that he really cares, and the chemistry he builds with everyone on the roster is huge. Just coming into practice every day, he's always cracking jokes, always making you feel good, and then obviously, the volleyball aspect, he's just so knowledgeable.

 has done a terrific job. I've got a lot of really good feedback from the guys. They say it's been terrific. But Milan, I'm happy for him. I think he's doing a great job at UCLA. Obviously, their record's really good, and I think he adds a lot of value to them. And he seems happy. So, it's a bittersweet feeling."

's staff in the fall of 2013, following his son, Sinisa, to the Islands. Sinisa Zarkovic was a standout outside hitter from 2013 to 2016, earning second team All-AVCA honors as a senior. 

Milan Zarkovic, a native of Serbia, also obtained American citizenship in August 2023. He was named the AVCA Assistant Coach of the Year that same year, which followed consecutive national championships in 2021 and 2022. Throughout his time in Mānoa, he endeared himself to the team, adding to the program's international flavor. He still doesn't understate how difficult it was to leave. 

"That was the one of the hardest moment in my life, because my family is here, my best friends are here. My son is married here," Zarkovic said. "It was a really hard decision."

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"No. 3 Hawai‘i 3, Mount Olive 0"}]

In Thursday's nightcap, host No. 3 Hawai‘i swept Mount Olive 25-18, 25-19, 25-17 behind a match-high 10 kills from 

. The Bulgaria native missed the previous 11 matches. 

"It feels nice to be back there in front of the fans," said Titriyski, who entered to a loud ovation in the beginning of the second set. "It makes me really happy and i'm thankful for that."

, UH Mānoa's campus will be closed. That also led to all athletic events scheduled to take place on Friday being called off on Thursday, which includes the second day of the OUTRIGGER Invitational. Hawai‘i will no longer play Lewis, while UCLA will not take on Mount Olive. 

Saturday's 7 p.m. showdown between No. 1 UCLA and No. 3 Hawai‘i, which was already determined a sellout over a week in advance, is still on, weather permitting. 

While UCLA and Mount Olive are set to leave following Saturday's action, there remains a possibility Lewis extends its trip in the Islands in order to play against Hawai‘i on Sunday. 

With campus closed, the Rainbow Warriors have been told they are not allowed to practice or receive treatment in the training room on Friday. The plan, as of Thursday night, is for the 'Bows to reconvene on Saturday ahead of their biggest match of the season thus far. 

"We don't get (Friday) to prepare," Wade said. "We show up on Saturday and do serve and pass to play the game like it was a regular kind of game day. It's kind of a forced complete day off."

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Saturday showdown"}]

UCLA will put its perfect season on the line when it enters a packed and spirited Stan Sheriff Center on Saturday night. It'll certainly be a familiar atmosphere to Zarkovic, who believes the matchup features the best the country has to offer. 

"That will be the two best teams in America by my criterions. That will be the battle here in front of these wonderful people," said Zarkovic, who acknowledged that playing in front of 10,000 fans will be new to most of UCLA's players. "They will have that opportunity, and I think that we will be also inspired. The spectators will not inspire only Hawai‘i. They will inspire both teams."

Daily Smile: Monday, March 16, 2026

ASD Staff

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Daily Smile: Monday, March 16, 2026

Authors

ASD Staff

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