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ASD Staff

Hawai'i Skies

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Chris Mueller in Kailua. "

My wife and I stayed at a friend’s house in Kailua, and was presented with this God-created ski from their backyard; after a WOW and AHHHH of appreciation, I was thankful for another glorious Kailua evening."

To submit your Hawai'i Skies photo, visit us 

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Normal Kailua sky sml

<title>Hawaiʻi Skies: "Wow" and "ahhhh"</title>

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Chris Mueller in Kailua.

Hawaiʻi Skies: "Wow" and "ahhhh"

Today&#039;s Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Chris Mueller in Kailua. &quot;My wife and I stayed at a friend’s house in Kailua, and was presented with this God-created ski from their backyard; after a WOW and AHHHH of appreciation, I was thankful for another glorious Kailua evening.&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.

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Government & Politics

Real Estate

A new affordable housing project in Makiki is set to welcome its first residents.

A crowd gathered Saturday for the grand opening of the Makiki Banyan, located at 1568 Pensacola St.

It brings 80 one-bedroom and 10 two-bedroom units to the neighborhood, available to households earning up to 80% of the area median income. While income limits depend on household sizes, 80% AMI for a one-person household is $86,240 and for a family of two is $98,560, according to 

[{"type":"text","text":"Construction began in March 2025 and was completed in 13.5 months."}]

, itself led by Paul Lam, and co-developers Geena Thielen and Evan Amakata, under the City and County of Honolulu's 

Bill 7 was adopted by the Honolulu City Council in 2019; these projects are also referred to as ROH Chapter 32 projects. According to the city's 

, ROH Chapter 32 relaxes development standards and offers financial incentives for affordable rental projects in certain zoning districts and on lots no larger than 20,000 square feet as long as 80% of the units are rented to those earning no more than 100% of Honolulu's AMI for at least 15 years.

Makiki Banyan is the fifth affordable and workforce housing project that Lam Capital has so far developed under Bill 7. According to

 a recent announcement from the developer, previous projects include developments on Ernest, Kīna‘u and Algaroba streets and University Avenue.

The company has another 750 units in the pipeline across 12 projects in various stages of development, the announcement noted.

"We acquired the first parcel four years ago and we acquired the second parcel three years ago, so it's been a four-year project. We're just absolutely thrilled," Lam told Aloha State Daily on Saturday, when asked how it felt to see the project finished. "Rental housing is what we need as a community. So many people can't afford to buy."

Lam says he would "absolutely not" be able to do this kind of development without Bill 7.

"This is the piece of legislation that ... can help to solve infill urban housing needs."

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi told ASD Saturday that Makiki Banyan was the "execution of a concept done very, very well."

"The thing about a Bill 7 project like this is not only does it allow 90 families eventually to move in here at really good rates, it's where it's located and all the things that come with it," he says. "... The compounded value beyond the low rent is this location. [To] be able to live in an urban area with bus stops, walking distance to schools, to shopping centers, all those conveniences that just add to the quality of life. Not the least of which is they built a beautiful building where people could feel proud about living in a place that has great street appeal."

Davis Pitner, spokesperson for the city's Department of Planning and Permitting, told ASD in an email that eight Bill 7 projects have so far been completed, with certificates of occupancy issued. These projects have added 250 affordable housing units to O‘ahu's housing stock.

Meanwhile another 52 Bill 7 projects are in the pipeline, which Pitner says could create about 1,540 affordable housing units.

Currently, 31 of those projects are under review with the applicant; five are under review with the city and DPP, one project has been approved; and 15 are under construction with building permits issued, he told ASD.

For rental information or questions about leasing, contact 

Makiki banyan 051626

<title>Affordable housing development opens in Makiki</title>

Makiki Banyan is the fifth project from Lam Capital developed under the City and County of Honolulu's Bill 7 program.

Affordable housing development opens in Makiki

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

MILILANI — The state's most dominant girls flag football program now has an HHSAA championship to show for it. 

Since the inception of girls flag football as an 

 in the Islands in 2025, Moanalua has been the 

. Na Menehune breezed through a perfect regular season in 2025 before getting shocked in the quarterfinals of the state tournament to 

In 2026, Monalaua had another perfect regular season before losing to 

Waiʻanae in the OIA championship game. Na Menehune entered the 12-team bracket needing to win four games. Using lessons from their recent setbacks, Na Menehune triumphed with a 13-6 win at Mililani on Saturday.

"Coming out of OIA was kind of like a disappointment," Moanalua head coach Ladd Mokiao said. "We had the lead and we didn't take care of business. ... Coaching is always meant for something, right? That means the team wasn't strong at certain things, so we went back in the lab, regrouped and did the things that we was weak at, so we could come out in states and have this."

Trailing host Mililani 6-0 entering the fourth quarter of Saturday's championship game, it appeared Na Menehune were headed for another disappointing loss. A 3-yard touchdown reception from Quigstinn Rose Yoshihara tied the game with 8:37 left. Then with 38 seconds left, star receiver Jodie Keo broke the tie with a sensational 25-yard catch. 

"I saw sit in the air, I was like, 'OK, I gotta lock in, and then boom,'" Keo recalled of her catch. 

Added Mokiao: "When we called the play, I told (quarterback) Breidi (Higa), I said, 'You know your reads off of this.' Now, let's get that 'wow' play. If that ball got thrown to Jodie in any area, she's gonna pull it down 99.9% of the time."

Keo, a sophomore selected to compete with the United States under-17 team this summer, remembers the feeling of not winning the state title in 2025. Keo and her teammates turned that disappointment into fuel. 

"We kept the drive that we had last year, and we just kept the losses with us too, because we won't let it define us, but we'll learn from it, and that's how we are here now," she said. 

In the Division II championship game, Kapolei made it a mission to score as many points as possible, routing Maryknoll 77-19. 

Moanalua girls flag football 051726

<title>Moanalua wins 2026 HHSAA Division I girls flag football championship</title>

Na Menehune staged a late, dramatic comeback to win its first state title in girls flag football.

Moanalua wins 2026 HHSAA Division I girls flag football championship

LĀ‘IE — For the Le Jardin boys volleyball team, destiny was decided by a vote. 

With O‘ahu battered by heavy rain, flooding and lightning strikes on Friday, the possibility of postponing the HHSAA Division II championship match between Le Jardin and Pearl City at BYU-Hawai‘i's Cannon Activities Center to a later date was floated to both teams. 

Back in Kailua, Le Jardin already loaded its team bus on campus. Head coach Makana Wade told his team they didn't have to play on Friday if they didn't want to, that tournament organizers could move some things around to get the match played later in the weekend. Wade asked his players to raise their hands if they wanted to play on Friday.

"Everybody's hand went straight up," setter Brennan Nakayama said. "We just knew we were ready for this, and we knew what we needed to do."

Following a commute to the North Shore that lasted three hours due to traffic brought on by the weather, the Bulldogs arrived prepared to do something the school had never done before. With a 25-18, 25-9, 25-21 sweep over Pearl City, Le Jardin won its first HHSAA boys volleyball championship in school history. 

"Just a real surreal feeling," Wade told Aloha State Daily following the match. "When I took this job, this is the last thing I could ever dream of, was being here. I'm just so happy for Le Jardin and everybody there for believing in me and giving me this job. And so blessed to be able to coach these amazing players."

When he saw the look of determination in his team, Wade knew they were destined to take the title home. 

"I wish everybody could have seen inside our bus for three hours. You would have thought we were gonna play UH or something," Wade said. "The guys were so locked in, having fun. I kept getting calls from our AD, my dad asking, 'Sure you wanna play tonight, coach?' I'm asking the guys, 'Are you sure?' And they're yelling at me, like, yes, of course. There's no way we weren't going to play this match tonight. I think we really took what was ours tonight."

The notion of playing against UH is something Wade would have deep knowledge of. The son of Hawai‘i head coach 

, Makana Wade was a UH men's volleyball assistant coach for multiple seasons. He departed the program in January in order to take the position of Le Jardin head coach, as NCAA rules prohibit one from coaching high school and collegiate teams of the same gender and sport in the same season.

leading Hawai‘i to a national title on Monday

 since arriving back to Honolulu on Tuesday. After taking care of business on Monday, Charlie Wade made it clear where his priorities were during the program's celebration event on Wednesday. Ahead of a scheduled autograph session, Wade told the thousands of fans gathered at the Stan Sheriff Center that he'd have to leave early in order to watch his son coach. 

On Friday, Charlie Wade sat courtside across from the Le Jardin bench, locked in on the match. When the Bulldogs secured the victory, father and son shared multiple long embraces following the match, the look of pride in Charlie Wade's eyes undeniable. 

"Very cool," he told ASD. "He's been coaching with me at the club level, and obviously the last couple years at the collegiate level. He's always kind of had that analytical brain that it takes to be a good coach, and he and I have spent uncountable hours out walking the dogs at night and talking about coaching. He's asked me about a lot of different stuff over the years, and it's great to see him take on that role as a head coach and have to deal with playing time and all that other stuff that is not coaching that's a part of it, but not the X's and O's part. He's doing a great job and has a lot of passion for it, so fun to see him have some success."

"I don't think we have enough time to talk about what I've learned, but I think the basic is just be a guy that people can lean on and trust," Makana Wade said when asked what he learned from his father. "My dad has taught me countless things, and I'm just so happy to be able to learn from him every day, really. I wouldn't be here without him."

For the 2026 season in particular, Makana Wade worked closely with UH associate head coach Kupono Fey on analytics and strategy. He suddenly received the opportunity to run his own program at just 21 years old. 

"It was really hard to leave," Makana Wade said. "I love those guys to death. It was only gonna be a special job like this, a place like this, where there's amazing people, amazing kids. ... It was pretty crazy. I got hired, couple weeks later, we had tryouts, and then next week we're playing our tournament, then we're playing ILH. It's been a pretty hectic couple months, but it's all worth it in the end."

Makana Wade, a UH-Mānoa junior, also had a French final exam he had to take on Friday morning. "It's been a crazy day, but it's been awesome," he said. 

On Friday night, the Bulldogs were in control for the entirety of the match. Nakayama paced the offense with 39 assists, while La‘akea Kamahale had 20 kills on 31 swings. Following a commanding win in Set 2, Le Jardin took a comfortable 24-19 lead in Set 3. After consecutive Pearl City points to cut the lead to 24-21, a calm Makana Wade called timeout to make sure his team was composed. The Bulldogs finished their 2026 campaign 16-1 and state champions for the first time in school history.

"Our whole team can't thank him enough for how lucky we are to have him," Nakayama said of Makana Wade. "The knowledge and experience is super cool. The scouting reports, and how tight he keeps the team and everything, all the way to the bus rides, everything you want. I think we started a legacy."

For the Wade family, the week started with Charlie and Kainoa Wade winning an NCAA championship. On Friday, Makana Wade coached his own team to a championship, capping an unforgettable week for a family that has no plans to stop chasing greatness in the sport for the foreseeable future. 

"Monday seems like a long time ago," Charlie Wade said. "It doesn't seem like it's the same week, but obviously very cool, a lot of positive stuff."

Added Makana Wade: "I'm just so happy for my dad, and they worked really hard this season. To be able to do this too is just a surreal feeling."

Makana Wade 051626

<title>Makana Wade coaches Le Jardin to first state title in boys volleyball</title>

Makana Wade, the son of UH men's volleyball head coach Charlie Wade, led the Bulldogs to the HHSAA title in his first season at the helm.

Makana Wade coaches Le Jardin to first state title in boys volleyball

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

 is returning in June. The festival features a selection of authentic Italian and Italian-American restaurants and chefs from both Italy and Hawaiʻi.

The festival spans two days. The Passaporto Italiano VIP food and wine experience is 

on Friday, June 5, at Velocity Honolulu. Meanwhile, the 2026 street festival will be 

 Saturday, June 6, at Mother Waldron Park in Kakaʻako.

The Passaporto Italiano VIP experience is a ticketed event for individuals ages 21 years and older. It includes food and dessert dishes from Hawaiʻi’s top-tier Italian chefs and restaurants; attendees can also enjoy unlimited Italian wines, beers and craft Italian cocktails. VIP guests can sip on the curated selection of beverages while enjoying the beauty of Italian exotic vehicles from Maserati, Ferrari and Lamborghini.  

Featured restaurants — and dishes — at the Passaporto Italiano VIP experience include:

: Seared ‘ahi with Mediterranean essence

: Panna cotta with berry gelato and Amalfi lemon sorbetto

: Mountain View Farms pork stew; affogato

: Handmade potato gnocchi ai quattro formaggi with honey and Hawaiian macadamia nuts 

Tickets for the Passaporto Italiano VIP experience are available in tiers:

The street festival on June 6 is free to the public. Attendees will be able to walk around the Kakaʻako district and enjoy a variety of food vendors and live entertainment. Individuals can look forward to a wine and beer garden, offering a selection of Italian beers, wines and traditional spirits for purchase; street performers of European and Italian variety; an Italian-inspired film showcase hosted by the Hawaiʻi International Film Festival, and a special Galileo-themed stargazing experience with Stargazers of Hawaiʻi. Two large telescopes will be available for safe solar viewing during daylight and night-sky viewing once it’s dark.

 is a brand-new experience this year. Street festival VIP tickets cost $40 each, and include an aperol spritz, slice of specialty Festa Italiana pizza by Mad Pie, one cannoli from Mad Pie, access to ample seating in an exclusive area, and special bar offerings. 

Street festival attendees can also enjoy performances by Ballet Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi Opera Theatre, Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony, The Royal Hawaiian Band and more. The performances will celebrate both, Italian and local culture.

Featured street festival vendors include Allegrini Mozzarella, Aloha Pizzeria, 

, Arancino Ristorante Italiano, Aroma Italia, Bambino’s, Cialoha Italian Sodas, Diamond Head Drip, Fig & Ginger Honolulu, Forno Romano, Il Gelato Hawaiʻi,

 Roti-si, Sage Creamery, Zucchi Pizza and more.

There will be a dedicated keiki area within Mother Waldron Park, offering a welcoming space for families to gather and enjoy the festival together. The zone will feature kid-friendly activities and games. The festival will provide a free keiki food dish from The Old Spaghetti Factory for the first 200 children (ages 10 years and under). Hawaiʻi Literacy Bookmobile will also be at this year’s street festival; families are encouraged to enjoy literacy-related activities and explore books.

Parking with validation ($6) will be available at Waterfront Plaza; attendees must stop by the Festa Italiana info booth for a validation sticker.  

Festa Italiana Arancino VIP 051426

<title>Festa Italiana 2026 is coming this June</title>

The ticketed Passaporto Italiano VIP experience is June 5, while the street festival — which is free to attend — is June 6. The festival highlights a selection of authentic Italian and Italian-American restaurants and chefs from both Italy and Hawaiʻi.

Festa Italiana 2026 is coming this June

Whether you’re celebrating St. Patrick’s Day by indulging in corned beef or simply want to toast with green beer, scroll below for fun ways to enjoy March 17.

59th annual Waikīkī St. Patrick’s Day parade

 will start at noon on March 17. The parade route includes Saratoga Avenue, Kalākaua Avenue and continues to the Honolulu Zoo.

There will also be a St. Patrick’s Day celebration (free admission) from 4 to 10 p.m. on March 17 between King and Hotel streets. Attendees are encouraged to wear their greenest gear, and can look forward to live performances and Celtic pipes and drums.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Aloha Beer Co."}]

: Customers can make any pint a green beer ($1 more) on St. Patrick's Day.

[{"type":"text","text":"Menu specials include:"}]

: Aloha Beer Co.’s St. Patrick's Day beer garden party is from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, March 13 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Big City Diner"}]

Family meal deal packs to-go are designed to serve four to five people and are available with a 24-hour notice. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Black Shamrock Tavern"}]

: The eatery will offer corned beef and cabbage sandwiches; cheese and pepperoni pizza slices; fish ‘n chips and cups ‘o fries. It will also have a corned beef and cabbage pizza, which features Guinness braised corned beef with housemade cabbage slaw and a drizzle of tangy Guinness mustard sauce. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Da Burger Wing Hub"}]

: This Wahiawa restaurant’s St. Patrick's-themed monthly specials include shepherd’s pie ($30); fish ‘n chips ($30); reuben sandwich ($22); corned beef, cabbage and potatoes ($35); and matcha float. 

: The bakery’s Irish soda bread ($10.25) will be baked every Tuesday and Saturday during March. It’s made with whole wheat and white flour, along with raisins, honey and buttermilk. 

: Irish soda bread will also be available on March 16 and 17

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Kona Brewing Co."}]

: The pub’s locations in both Kona and Hawaiʻi Kai will celebrate with food and drink specials. Guests wearing Kona Brewing Co. merch will enjoy happy hour pricing all day.

At the Kona Brewers Festival on March 14 at the Kona pub, the biz will be offering a special pairing menu to celebrate the limited release of Miss Bee-Havin’, a honey hefeweizen brewed with local honey in support of Pink Boots Society

. The nonprofit organization empowers women and non-binary professionals in the beef industry through education and scholarships. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Murphy’s Bar & Grill"}]

Takeout will not be available on St. Patrick’s Day. 

: Bar/restaurant is open from 11 a.m. on March 17

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

: The online business is offering a St. Patrick's Day sweets box ($15) and assorted sweet set ($3), which includes any two dipped pretzels, Oreos or Rice Krispies. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Piko (Hawai‘i Island)"}]

: This special Irish-themed prix fixe menu ($60 per person) includes a hearty Guinness stew in a bread bowl with beef tip, bacon and seasonal root vegetables; corned beef and cabbage with roasted cabbage, mashed potatoes, roasted brussels sprouts, fried leeks and a Guinness-mustard sauce; and Grandma’s Irish soda bread with POG butter and lilikoʻi coulis. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Plumeria Beach House"}]

kahalaresort.com/dining/plumeria-beach-house/

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Sippin’ Pretty"}]

: The matcha and coffee pop-up business’s March specials ($12 each) are St. Patrick’s Day themed. Enjoy the End of the Rainbow (iced matcha latte with organic mango puree, coconut cream top and rainbow sourbelt), Charmed & Lucky (iced cereal milk latte with toasted marshmallow cream top and Lucky Charms marshmallows) and double matcha (iced matcha latte with matcha cream top). 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Sweet Revenge Honolulu"}]

: Customers can enjoy festive specials like:

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"The Boardroom Kailua"}]

: On St. Patrick’s Day, The Boardroom Kailua will feature green beers, Irish Car bombs, Jameson Irish whiskey specials, live music, and Irish food specials and flatbread pizzas.

During the week of St. Patrick’s Day, guests can look forward to signature green cocktails (emerald sour and shamrock martini),

For all of March, the eatery will feature Irish whiskey flights (Proper No. 12 Irish whiskey, The Whistler PX I Love You, and Boann Marsala Cask), fresh green cocktails and mocktails, and Guinness Stout and cold pints. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"The Pig & The Lady"}]

: Enjoy specials like corned beef pho, charred cabbage with egg nuoc chan and pickled mustard seeds; and an exclusive St. Patrick’s Day cocktail. The cocktail will feature Viet-Irish coffee, robusta beans, Jameson and pandan whipped cream. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Zippy’s Restaurants"}]

: Zippy’s is bringing back its corned beef cabbage plate ($20.95 in Honolulu), which includes cabbage, hearty pieces of corned beef, two scoops of rice and mac salad. Other festive specials include the Pot o’ Gold soup ($5.50 in Honolulu) — a creamy soup with chopped cabbage, heavy cream and bits of cooked corn beef with onions and potatoes — and a decorated St. Patrick’s Day donut ($2.99 in Honolulu). 

: March 17 starting at 10:30 a.m., while supplies last

Hawaiʻi Skies: "Wow" and "ahhhh"

ASD Staff

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Hawaiʻi Skies: "Wow" and "ahhhh"

Authors

ASD Staff

More in Hawai'i Skies

Hawaiʻi Skies: An absolute

Hawaiʻi Skies: Morning sail

Hawaiʻi Skies: Reminiscing

Hawaiʻi Skies: Unique quality

Most read