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[{"type":"text","text":"What a drama king..."}]

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<title>Daily Smile: Sunday, April 26, 2026</title>

What a drama king...

Daily Smile: Sunday, April 26, 2026

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

Crime & Courts

Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen’s former chief of staff has sued the county over alleged corruption claims that implicate the mayor himself.

According to a lawsuit filed Friday in Maui’s Second Circuit Court, Leo Caires — Bissen’s chief of staff between 2022 and 2024 — has accused the county of forcing him out of his job in December 2024 because he had discovered fraudulent activity within the county Office of Economic Development.

While the suit does not name Bissen as a defendant — the defendants include the county and several unspecified “John Doe” individuals and organizations — the text of the suit suggests that Bissen had attempted to halt investigations by Caires into cases of fraud by county staff, and had Caires fired when that failed.

The suit claims that, beginning in March 2024, Caires was informed by the county’s Corporation Counsel of a series of suspicious transactions connected to a grant awarded by the OED. Within those transactions, Caires found an invoice for more than $45,000 from a company called “RTFEX Depot,” along with a series of unverifiable transactions between Bissen’s executive assistant.

The suit identifies that assistant only through the initials MA and the nickname “Pono.” In 2024, a Pono Asano was Bissen’s executive assistant.

According to the suit, Caires could find no evidence that RTFEX Depot was a real company, and, despite the business supposedly being based in Scottsdale, Arizona, the Arizona Corporation Commission told him no such business was registered in that state.

Consequently, Caires concluded that the assistant “Pono” and the recipient of the grant — identified in the suit only as “AVS” — submitted false cashiers’ checks made out to a false company to defraud the OED.

But when Caires reported the incident to Bissen, the plot thickened. After Caires issued a notice to Bissen on March 19, 2024, that he wished to interview “Pono” for an internal investigation, the lawsuit claims that Bissen “indicated that he did not want anything to do with the Notice and appeared agitated by it.”

A month later, Caires — now strongly suspicious that “Pono” and other staff in the Mayor’s Office had conspired to embezzle more than $45,000 from the county — reiterated to Bissen that an investigation should be made.

According to the suit, “Mayor Bissen got upset at Mr. Caires and ordered him to stop the investigation.”

Bissen allegedly did not fire “Pono” but reassigned him to a position in the OED, which “baffled” Caires. Only after Caires raised objections did “Pono” resign from the county.

During this time, Caires claims his duties as chief of staff were being reduced: he claims he was removed from major meetings and events, and his communications with Bissen dwindled from daily conversations to “infrequent check-ins.”

In May, Bissen told Caires the chief of staff position would be eliminated altogether for budgetary reasons, and Caires would be reassigned as the county’s Energy Commissioner, the suit states. However, the suit also claims that, after Caires was demoted to Energy Commissioner in October, Bissen then promoted “CL” to take his place, having evidently not eliminated the chief of staff position after all.

But during the “Pono” investigation, Caires also grew suspicious of the OED’s director at the time — Luana Mahi, although the lawsuit only identifies her with the initials “LM.”

Caires believed Mahi was using her position to award grants to family members, after reportedly finding a grant awarded to a business with clear ties to her husband, son and her own prior employment history.

But despite again raising these concerns with Bissen, the mayor did not share his concerns, and eventually directed Caires to sign off on the suspicious grant. The suit claims that Caires “felt intimidated” by this, and that Bissen responded, “There is nothing wrong with this.”

The county Board of Ethics later found a conflict of interest between Mahi and at least one OED grant, leading her to be placed on paid leave in August 2024.

Caires’ own county career ended shortly afterward. In September 2024, Caires’ began taking intermittent medical leave “due to conditions he developed stemming from the retaliatory acts from the County and Mayor Bissen,” the suit claims.

Upon returning from leave around Dec. 23, 2024, Caires found a termination letter from Bissen on his desk, dated Dec. 18, 2024. The letter allegedly read, in part, “You have served as Energy Commissioner since May 2024, but I have not observed the level of expertise, management skills, attention to detail, or enthusiasm for energy efficiency required to ensure the success of these initiatives."

Consequently, the suit accuses Bissen’s office of violating the Hawai‘i Whistleblowers’ Protection Act and of wrongful termination. The suit seeks unspecified compensatory, punitive and other damages.

Caires’ attorney Joe Rosenbaum said the suit has not yet been served to the county and other defendants. However, last year the Maui County Council approved 

 — the firm Marr Jones and Wang LLLP — for pre-litigation responses to Caires' claims, to the tune of $350,000.

“I think [the suit] proves there are employees within county governments who are willing to stand up to corruption even if it costs them their jobs,” Rosenbaum told Aloha State Daily.

[{"type":"text","text":"A statement from Bissen's office called Caires' allegations inaccurate."}]

The concerns he raises were identified by others at the time, and we reject any attempt to revise history," the statement read. 

“I made significant efforts to support his success, including mentorship, training, and an opportunity to continue serving as Energy Commissioner based on his prior experience,” read Bissen's statement. “Lahaina’s recovery placed extraordinary demands on everyone in public service. Ultimately, it came down to an inability to meet the expectations required. As Mayor, I have a fiduciary responsibility to ensure our team delivers for the people of Maui County. That responsibility requires making difficult decisions. I stand firmly behind the decision that was made, and I am confident it was the right one for our community. I am disappointed it has come to this.”

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Mayor Bissen Getty Images 1595220331 16x9

<title>Former Maui chief of staff sues county over alleged corruption</title>

Leo Caires, Mayor Richard Bissen's former chief of staff, has accused the county of firing him unjustly after investigating multiple fraud cases within the county government.

Former Maui chief of staff sues county over alleged corruption

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

 just opened in a bigger space. The Honolulu eatery — which used to be on the second floor of the Hee Hing Plaza — just opened in the first floor of the same plaza (in the former space of Growlers USA).

 that it would be relocating to the new space. 

The bigger space now has around 75 seats; we’re told this is 1.5 times the amount of seating the eatery’s former upstairs restaurant had.

It now also features both counter and table seating. Walk-ins only are currently accepted for April; when you get to the restaurant, sign in to join the waitlist.

Each table is given eggplant, pickled daikon and gobo. Customers can also choose a rice — seasoned mixed rice, shiso seaweed rice or Hokkaido brand Nanatsuboshi — and miso soup (red miso soup with either clam and green onions or tofu and seaweed; or white miso soup with clam and green onions or tofu and seaweed).

The menu is the same as before. Sets include premium Japanese rice, miso soup, cabbage and pickles. Signature options include the Jyukusei (aged) pork loin katsu sets ($32.50 to $38) and Jyukusei pork tenderloin katsu sets ($32.50 to $35).

The combo sets — ranging from shrimp and pork tenderloin katsu ($35) and shrimp and chicken katsu ($35) to mix katsu set ($36) — are also customer favorites.

Takeout orders are also available. Customer parking is available at Hee Hing Plaza.

Open 4 to 9:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays to Fridays; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 5 to 9:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays

Tonkatsu Tamafuji shrimp and tenderloin katsu 041626

<title>Tonkatsu Tamafuji is now open in an expanded space</title>

The popular tonkatsu spot just opened on the first floor of Hee Hing Plaza (downstairs from its former location). The new space features 1.5 times the amount of seating, with both counter and table seating available. Tonkatsu Tamafuji is only accepting walk-ins for the month of April.

Tonkatsu Tamafuji is now open in an expanded space

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

When the University of Hawai‘i football program's coaches decided to shelf returning starting quarterback Micah Alejado for the vast majority of the team's 

, that meant the signal-callers behind him were about to receive a windfall of live reps during practice sessions. 

Following the departures of Luke Weaver and Dermaricus Davis via the 

 following the 2025 season, only two quarterbacks other than Alejado were on the UH roster this spring following movement in the transfer portal, and both were new to campus in January. Bjorn Jurgensen joined the Rainbow Warriors after redshirting at the University of Virginia in the fall, while O‘ahu native 

 enrolled early after graduating from Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas. 

In his first year as UH's quarterbacks coach, Chad Kapanui built a room full of rapport, where the four players in the position group became close friends and spent ample time with each other off the field. With Alejado the lone returner in the group, the spring semester figured to be a time where Jurgensen and Eugenio would compete with each other on the field while building a bond off it. 

Though they're both freshmen competing for the same spot, both Eugenio and Jurgensen spoke respectfully of each other throughout the spring and offered each other pointers on the field. It turns out the two go back a much longer way than converging on the UH-Mānoa campus in January. 

"It's funny. We've known each other for a while and it's just a pretty cool, full circle moment, just to be here with him and compete with him," Jurgensen told Aloha State Daily of Eugenio. "We're both getting each other better, and it's been really fun."

Says Eugenio of Jurgensen: "We actually met each other in the sixth grade at a competition. I love seeing him out here. He's a good dude. Love competing with him, love throwing with him, love doing drills with him. It's just great. We both get each other better every day, and I'm just blessed."

In the summer of 2018, the Jurgensen and Eugenio families were among the many across the country to make the trip to Fayetteville, Ga. for The Duel, a national competition put on by NFA Quarterback Academy, which attracts the nation's best QBs across a bevy of age groups. 

The two-day competition was measured by an intricate point system that was out of 100. A 10-year-old Eugenio wowed onlookers with 50-yard throws and won the sixth grade division with 94 points. He was the event's highest finisher, surpassing the point totals of all the high schoolers at the event. Not far behind was Jurgensen, the runner-up in the division. The top three finishers posed for a photo afterwards. 

Eight years later, the paths of Eugenio and Jurgensen brought each of them to UH, where they'll both vie to be Alejado's backup for the 2026 season. That competition has carried over from spring ball to 

The Rainbow Warriors are unlikely to release a depth chart until the week of their 2026 opener at Stanford on Aug. 29, but Kapanui says each present plenty to like. 

"When you're looking for a quarterback in the recruiting process, you got to look for someone that has everything from a high IQ, could throw the ball well and the ball jumps out of their hands. Both of those guys are guys that can throw it and sling it," Kapanui says of Eugenio and Jurgensen. 

"Those guys want to learn. When you recruit a quarterback and they're willing to learn, to come into the meeting room and always want to sit down and ask questions, that's so important for this offense. They're doing a great job, they're coming in trying to learn the offense, and it's been good the whole time working with them."

Maika Eugenio Bjorn Jurgensen 041526

<title>Former competitors Maika Eugenio and Bjorn Jurgensen now Hawai‘i teammates</title>

After meeting at a youth camp in Georgia in 2018, the two freshmen quarterbacks have reunited as Rainbow Warriors.

Former competitors Maika Eugenio and Bjorn Jurgensen now Hawai‘i teammates

, which closed its Waikīkī location on Beach Walk in January 2024, just opened at Kōʻula in Ward Village.

The cafe is currently open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. for breakfast and brunch. It’s only accepting reservations for dine-in (takeout beverages allowed) via OpenTable for the time being.

“The excitement has been very real, which is nice,” says Ryan Ko, vice president and COO for Westman Corp. “We’ll probably allow for limited walk-ins throughout the week, as the team gets accustomed to everything. We want to make sure we deliver something good.”

Customers who remember the cafe’s former Waikīkī store will notice similar décor in the Kakaʻako space.

“A lot of it (the aesthetic) comes from the old location, but we refreshed it to make it look modern,” Ko says. “A little bit of lighting makes it really pop.”

The food menu features some of the cafe’s dishes that were popular in Waikīkī — like its signature souffle pancakes — along with more savory options.

“There’s a lot of inspiration from it (our Waikīkī location),” Ko says. “We copied over a lot of things, we updated some and added stuff like shakshuka — things that are more modern in the U.S. and Japan.”

The eatery’s souffle pancakes ($22) feature two fluffy pancakes served with banana, cheese cream, maple syrup and a choice of sauce (lemon, mixed berry or tropical). The tropical sauce features pineapple puree with mango chunks; mixed berry is a combo of blueberries and raspberries.

“The lemon (sauce) for sure has been a home run for everybody,” Ko says.

Customers can also choose from a variety of toasts — avocado ($17), salmon gravlax ($18), beets ($16), falafel ($17) and breakfast ($16) — along with “wellness” options like acai bowls ($18) and yogurt bowls ($15).

Acai bowls feature a refreshing acai blend topped with bananas, strawberries, blueberries, granola, honey and cacao nibs.

The avocado toast ($17) features sourdough bread topped with avocado, a poached egg, feta, dukkah, herb oil and micro herbs.

[{"type":"text","text":"WESTMAN CAFE features local artisan breads from Bread Shop in Kaimukī."}]

Customers that dine between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. can enjoy Island-inspired fare like the washugyu loco moco ($22) — comprising a washugyu beef patty, white rice, hayashi gravy, Brussels sprouts, egg, carrot marinade and red cabbage slaw — and mahi mahi loco moco ($22). The latter features mahi mahi with white rice, avocado, edamame, radish, carrot marinade, red cabbage slaw, an egg and garlic cream sauce.

Brunch beverages range from house coffee ($5) and lattes ($6) to a variety of teas ($5-$7.50), cocktails ($12-$17) and smoothies ($8.50). Zero-proof options ($5-$8) are also available.

“Our house coffee is really good, too; we’re blending that ourselves,” Ko says.

While the cafe is currently open for breakfast and brunch/lunch, it will eventually be open for dinner.

“Once we can get the team built and put everything together, we’ll have dinner service,” Ko says. “Then, we’ll be off and running.”

Westman Cafe sign 032026

<title>WESTMAN CAFE is open for brunch in Kakaʻako</title>

The eatery, which closed its Waikīkī location in 2024, just soft opened in Ward Village. The cafe is currently open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. for breakfast and brunch. Feast on dishes like avocado toast, mahi mahi loco moco, and the restaurant’s signature souffle pancakes.

WESTMAN CAFE is open for brunch in Kakaʻako

 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.

Daily Smile: Sunday, April 26, 2026

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