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Dog loves playing with his ball by the sea and catching because he thinks the sea will steal the ball from him...

Smile 26 5 2

<title>Daily Smile: Saturday, May 2, 2026</title>

Daily Smile: Saturday, May 2, 2026

 Dog loves playing with his ball by the sea and catching because he thinks the sea will steal the ball from him...

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Aloha Spirit

Real Estate

It was a warm Saturday in Waimānalo with blue skies hung above the rich green Koʻolau mountain range. The whirring sounds of machinery and clanging of tools filled the air around the subdivision off Kakaʻina Street, where homes awarded to beneficiaries of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) are still being built.

The Ho Family has walked through the process of homeownership with nonprofit affiliate 

. The multi-generational home with two bedrooms, one bath, will soon be move-in ready, according to the project’s independent contractor, Mike.

He adds that while the severe storms in March set them back, they are close to finishing.

 were on site that day focused on exterior painting and interior finishes. Each home build requires about 250 volunteers overall, with the timeline spanning between three to six months.

Vernon Akina, a carpenter who helps oversee Honolulu Habitat’s critical home repair program and volunteers on home builds, underwent the same process on his family’s home just down the road. He and his mom, who is the DHHL lessee, moved into a four-bedroom house in August of 2024 with mortgage assistance from Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Akina said. The build was completed within three months.

“It’s too expensive to buy a house in Hawai’i,” he told Aloha State Daily. “When we went to Hawaiian Homes in 2019, I had always wanted a house in Waimānalo. And when we got it, I thought we struck gold.”

Originally from Hālawa Valley on Molokaʻi, Vernon says he volunteers because “I’m retired and need something to do.”

He adds: “Through my own house build, the challenging part was not to work too quickly. I met good people. Honolulu Habitat really helped with the paperwork, funding, permits and inspection.”

Neighbors Mokihana and Ben supplied lunch to the crew.

Former director of operations Nerine Asbel was also on-site volunteering.

“It feels good to give back to where I served before,” she said. “I still believe in the mission. … Not everybody has the time, tools or resources to build and own a home in Hawaiʻi, but this program provides guidance and gives first-time homebuyers a safe place to call home.”

Executive Director Melissa Bruhl started in the role on Feb. 11.

Born in Rhode Island, Bruhl and her husband moved to Oʻahu in 2003 and live in Kailua.  She earned her bachelor's degree in finance from Boston College and spent more than two decades in global infrastructure and telecommunications. Prior to joining Honolulu Habitat, she served as chief commercial officer of RTI Cables responsible for the company’s strategic growth and partnerships.

“I love the intimacy of the nonprofit sector,” said Bruhl, who was first introduced to Honolulu Habitat as a volunteer. “I think everyone’s really invested versus just coming to work. The team [of four office employees in total] is fantastic, and I’m getting to know them, see their strengths and see them shine. We’re small but we’re mighty.”

Bruhl noted that amid the transition, she’s been “doing a lot of listening.”

“I really want to learn and observe. I told the team I’m not coming in to make a bunch of changes, but what I do hope to bring is more efficiency and effectiveness. As a leader, I want to help them do their jobs better, and I want them to feel valued.”

When asked what the nonprofit’s biggest needs are right now, she said, financial and in-kind donations in addition to volunteers both for workdays and its board of directors.

“We’re looking for key volunteer board members with legal backgrounds and/or fundraising, grant writing and development skills,” she said. “On the home build side, we’re also looking to hire specialized trades workers and supervisors to complete more projects in a year.”

Funds donated to Honolulu Habitat will contribute to more affordable housing projects on Oʻahu, apart from the area served by 

. There are other Habitat for Humanity affiliates that serve on 

Honolulu Habitat said DHHL’s federal NAHASDA funds — specifically the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant — helped aid the two ongoing builds in Waimānalo. It reported 

$7.52 million in total assets for fiscal year 2024, 

Since 1988, Honolulu Habitat has served more than 450 individuals across Oʻahu through new home construction and critical home repairs.

In FY2025, more than 20 million people "gained the potential to improve their housing conditions" via Habitat for Humanity International Inc.," 

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Honolulu Habitat Melissa Bruhl

Work is underway at the Keliinui ‘ohana's future home, where the multi-generational family will get to move into by the end of August. Aloha State Daily lent a hand over the weekend with Honolulu Habitat for Humanity. We share more about the nonprofit's mission for more affordable housing, as well as the many hands involved to pull this off.

Honolulu Habitat 001

Volunteers add final touches to family home in Waimānalo

<title>Honolulu Habitat for Humanity builds affordable homes in Waimānalo</title>

Meet the nonprofit affiliate’s new Executive Director Melissa Bruhl, who has lived on Oʻahu for more than two decades holding various leadership roles in the private sector, along with her team comprised of staff, contractors and volunteers.

Honolulu Habitat for Humanity builds affordable homes in Waimānalo

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

A state regulation against transporting certain materials to Moloka‘i to prevent the spread of the coconut rhinoceros beetle will be relaxed for a single ship this year.

Last year, the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity 

 a temporary rule preventing the transport of certain gardening materials — such as soil, compost, tree chips and gravel — to Moloka‘i, the last inhabited Hawaiian island to remain mostly free of the invasive coconut rhinoceros beetle, a devastating pest that has plagued coconut trees on O‘ahu for more than a decade.

But this temporary rule has inadvertently left the Kalaupapa National Historical Park on the north side of the island high and dry.

The park, which preserves Hawai‘i’s historic leper colony, can only receive shipments of essential supplies infrequently: the National Park Service, which manages the park, 

 the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity in February that a single barge delivery in the summer carries supplies for an entire year.

[{"type":"text","text":"That shipment can only arrive in July or August, NPS claims."}]

“This timing is not arbitrary,” NPS’ request read. “Due to the unique geographical characteristics of the Kalaupapa Harbor, this narrow and shallow harbor requires precise tide conditions for the barge to safely dock and unload its cargo … If the barge is unable to dock during these critical months, the settlement risks missing an entire year’s worth of supplies.”

Baron Chan, chief of the Hawai‘i Department of Health’s Hansen’s Disease Branch, told the board on Tuesday that the roads surrounding the Kalaupapa settlement are unpaved gravel roads. Therefore, particularly after the severe Kona low storms in March, those roads are susceptible to erosion, endangering the scant population of the area.

According to 2024 census data, 67 people live in Kalaupapa, and the Department of the Interior reports there are three patients who live there full-time, while two others live on O‘ahu and return there frequently.

Chan said the primary evacuation route in the event of a tsunami is in danger of becoming impassible.

“There’s also a patient that is in her late 80s that travels the road almost every day, and without that road, she won’t be able to travel,” Chan said. “There’s a lot of other natural and cultural resources that won’t be accessed.”

According to the Department of the Interior, other options to deliver the gravel from a quarry on Moloka‘i are infeasible. Air transport via helicopter would require more than 100 loads to bring all 200 tons of gravel, a dedicated barge between Kaunakakai Harbor on Moloka‘i and Kalaupapa would not be markedly cheaper, and there is no direct roadway connection to Kalaupapa.

Crushing stone into gravel within Kalaupapa would also run afoul of historical preservation guidelines: “We’ve been told it would be very difficult to determine that any specific rock on the surface is not or had not been part of a culturally constructed feature in the past,” reads a DOI report.

Consequently, a barge between O‘ahu and Kalaupapa remains the most effective means for supplies to reach the park.

In February, NPS sent a request to the state Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity to be permitted to send about 200 tons of gravel to Kalaupapa in order to keep the roads usable. To do this, NPS requested that the interim rule be altered to permit gravel to be transported to Moloka‘i so long as it has been fumigated with a certain pesticide — under the brand name ProFume — for at least 20 hours.

But although the Kalaupapa population was nearly unanimously in support of the proposal, according to a Department of the Interior survey, the prospect of relaxing the CRB quarantine generated much skepticism among residents statewide, who testified in droves on Tuesday, urging the board to reject NPS’ request.

In particular, residents took issue that the Department of the Interior only consulted with the Kalaupapa community and not the greater Moloka‘i population.

At the same time, many suggested that relaxing anti-CRB restrictions now, 

 after two beetles were detected on the island, is foolhardy.

"Beyond the need to actually consult with the larger community, including and particularly the advocates for last year’s importation ban, this petition should also be rejected as particularly untimely," read a form letter submitted by dozens of residents from across the islands. "With multiple recent detections of CRB on Molokaʻi for the first time ever, now is not the time to relax protections against the further introduction of CRB to the island, nor is it the time to distract from or disrupt the active rapid response efforts being undertaken by the Molokaʻi community to detect and eradicate any potential CRB infestations as soon as possible."

Ultimately, however, the board voted unanimously to allow gravel to be transported to Moloka‘i on a case-by-case basis at the board’s approval. For the time being, the Kalaupapa gravel shipment is the only one that will be allowed to reach the island.

Crb response pic 1 16x9 2

<title>Gravel shipment to Moloka‘i OK'd despite anti-beetle restrictions</title>

A barge carrying supplies to Kalaupapa will be permitted in the summer, despite a rule preventing the transport of potential coconut rhinoceros beetle host material.

Gravel shipment to Moloka‘i OK'd despite anti-beetle restrictions

Kam Napier Headshot

A. Kam Napier

Columnists

The state Legislature’s attempt to overturn Citizens United, as it applies to Hawai‘i, keeps advancing. The latest step will be a hearing Wednesday, April 29, at 2:40 p.m., deferred from Monday and again from Tuesday as lawmakers tweak the wording of 

, “Relating to the powers of artificial persons.”

, the bill is an attempt to create a backdoor to the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which held that it is unconstitutional to prohibit political spending by corporations. Doing so violates their First Amendment right to free speech.

That backdoor is being built on the fact that the states grant corporations the powers they have under law, so Hawai‘i, and about a dozen other states this year introduced nearly identical legislation — total coincidence, I’m sure! — to change those laws. Hawai‘i law, for example currently 

“[E]very corporation has … the same powers as an individual to do all things necessary or convenient to carry out its business and affairs…”

It then goes on to specify such powers as “to sue and be sued,” to own land, make contracts, lend money, “make donations for the public welfare or for charitable, scientific, or educational purposes,” and more.

SB 2471 would add language stating that corporations can keep on acting in every way like an individual with one new exception — no spending on political speech. From the bill’s latest version:

“[A]rtificial persons created under state law possess only those powers that are necessary or convenient to carry out lawful business and organizational purposes, and that those powers do not include the power to spend money or contribute anything of value to influence elections or ballot measures.”

[{"type":"text","text":"Why? Why is this even necessary?"}]

Well, for all the furor over this bill, the bill itself doesn’t really say.

Its defenders do say why they think it’s necessary in testimony and editorials, but their arguments are heavy on vague threats, light on evidence.

“Dark money is poisoning our democracy,” wrote state Rep. Della Au Belatti (D), District 26, and state Rep. Kanani Souza (R), District 43, 

The two make much of the fact that one of them is a Democrat, the other a Republican. They go on about the genius of this “genuinely historic” approach to “stop giving the corporations that operate on our Islands the power to spend in our politics.”

Please do read the whole thing and look not only at what they say, but what they don’t say.

They don’t name a single example of a specific corporation whose spending affected any election or ballot measure in Hawai‘i. Not one.

Perhaps in the House? Au Belatti spoke about the bill in an April 14 floor session (

, at 4:41:00). We’ve always had this power to redefine corporations, she said, and we must do so to “rein in undue influence of monies flowing from unlimited corporate treasuries that undermine our political process and has fueled voters’ distrust and disenchantment with government.”

She says that in Hawai‘i’s 2024 election, three PACs spent $13 million, whereas the candidates themselves spent only $10 million they raised directly from donors.

That $13 million, she said, “is the dark money that SB 2417 is striking at.”

But which PACs spent the money? On which candidates or issues? What did their spending achieve and how was Hawai‘i harmed? 

She didn't say. She won’t name the threat but does emphasize the “we’ve always had this power” argument, urging, “We need to be brave and take up this mantle and let this legislation move forward.”

OK. Citizens United was decided in 2010. Did Hawai‘i lawmakers have amnesia about their powers for the past 16 years? Or is it more accurate to say they’ve spent 16 years with their lawyers digging through the lawbooks looking for some way to try to outsmart the Supreme Court? Something tells me, if this was the obvious slam-dunk they’re making it out to be, state legislatures would’ve done this long ago, and Hawai‘i's current legislators wouldn't still be fussing with the draft. 

Since lawmakers won’t identify a single clear instance of “dark money” yielding a specific bad result for Hawai‘i, we have to guess at their target. Who is this bill trying to silence that the U.S. Supreme Court otherwise gave a voice to?

A little history lesson, because you might not remember who Citizens United was or what it wanted to do.

, a conservative 501(C)4 public policy nonprofit, founded in 1988. In 2007, the group wanted to take out advertisements telling people to watch a documentary it made, “

,” critical of Clinton as a presidential candidate. It challenged Federal Election Commission rules that would’ve prevented it from doing so.

The U.S. Supreme Court said it could go forward and Democrats, in particular, have hated this decision ever since.

The U.S. Supreme Court decision led to the creation of political action committees, PACs and Super PACs, which can spend money they raise on candidates and issues. These entities are not bound by the campaign donation limits set when one gives directly to a specific candidate. If you want to read a better criticism of “dark money” then than the one being made locally, check out 

this piece on Citizens United from the Brennan Center for Justice

There’s a lot going on here, a lot of complicated motivations and I don’t trust the people who won’t tell us who took the $35,000, and who won’t let us have real elections, when they say we need to take on the U.S. Supreme Court to protect democracy.

Maybe they don’t like seeing all that money spent independently, rather than getting donated to them.

[{"type":"text","text":"Maybe they don’t like that conservatives had a win."}]

Maybe they’re sacrificing the “dark money” they’ve benefitted from — there are plenty of progressive Super PACs that support Democrats, after all — because they are certain they have other kinds of corporations on their side.

Namely, the media. Search SB 2471 for “news” and it shows up 20 times. Example: “‘Election activity’ does not include any bona fide news story, commentary, or editorial distributed through the facilities of a broadcasting station or of any print, online, or digital newspaper, magazine, blog, or other periodical publication, unless the broadcasting, print, online, or digital facility is owned or controlled by a candidate, political committee, or political party.”

No one has said so, to my knowledge, but this may be the biggest vulnerability of SB 2471.

[{"type":"text","text":"Here’s the First Amendment:"}]

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

States, in turn, are bound by this as well. They also shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.

Remember, Citizens United made a documentary. From its preview, it’s a mix of clips from Clinton’s own speeches (reporting), close-ups of news headlines critical of Clinton (second-hand reporting) and commentary from political observers, including one Barack Obama.

In other words, it’s a “60 Minutes” segment, only one “60 Minutes” would never do.

If SB 2471 becomes law, I’d expect a PAC to take Hawai‘i to court demanding a clear explanation of why its reporting and editorializing in a documentary, an advertisement or a direct mail piece is any different than what I do here at Aloha State Daily in my column, or what Civil Beat does when it hosts an essay from the defenders of SB 2471, or what the Star-Advertiser does when it endorses candidates.

, for example, endorsed Kamala Harris for president, among other candidates in other races, and told voters how they ought to vote on State Constitution and City Charter amendments.

In the latest version of the bill, our lawmakers are arguing that this is OK, but identical speech from other groups structured as corporations is not.

Then there’s the convoluted language of “artificial persons,” and, again, I think our lawmakers are being too cute for their own good. They are arguing in the bill and in their testimony that they are not silencing the natural rights of individuals to speak, only that of “artificial persons.”

But they know perfectly well that corporate structures don’t just spring from the ground of their own accord, staffed by no one. They’re made of people, who have rights. Do those rights vanish because those people found it beneficial to incorporate? If so, then, again, one would have to wonder why a newspaper that makes endorsements, or a cable news network that blasts President Donald Trump all day, can benefit from being a corporation, but other people with a political message can’t.

Hawai‘i might expensively push this all the way back to the U.S. Supreme Court only to find that the definition of “the press” gets put on trial, in which case, I’d say, journalism as we know it has no special privilege. Freedom of the press is the freedom to publish, no more, no less. 

Well, look, I’m not an attorney. On SB 2471, all I know is, my alarm bells are going off.

When lawmakers tell me we need to act now in the face of a dire threat, but the threat is unnamed, the harm ill-defined, I get suspicious.

When lawmakers say somebody needs to shut up, but they won't say who or why, I wonder what sneaky stuff they're up to.

And when lawmakers tell us we need to be brave and charge ahead, regardless of obvious risks, I have to point out: It’s easy to be brave with other people’s money, isn’t it?

Remember, this is a Legislature insisting that Hawai‘i is so broke, it can’t afford to let taxpayers keep the tax cuts we were promised. 

But to get cute with the U.S. Supreme Court? Suddenly, money is no object!

[{"type":"text","text":"I hope SB 2471’s supporters plan to chip in for the defense."}]

 again rolled a vote over to Thursday, video at the link, go to 2:40 p.m. to see the brief exchange. Both chambers still have legal review underway and it was noted that the House Finance Committee needs to sign off as well.

Pay particular attention to Rep. Scot Matayoshi's passing reference. "Our biggest fear is we don't want to make this situation worse," he said. "We don't want to pas a bill that puts us in a and especially Hawaii companies in a potentially worse position, uh, not companies but non-profits and [garbled] committees in a worse position than when we started."

Matayoshi has mentioned this before in hearings on the bill, his desire to carve out exceptions of some kind for nonprofit organizations and unions. We'll see what, if anything, gets added to the bill as a result. But every exception they add is another opportunity for someone to say, in a court, "Why does that group get to speak, but ours can't?"

The Senate and House Conference deferred again, to Friday. Skip to 1:26:00

 of the discussion between conference committee chairs Matayoshi, on behalf of the House, and State Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole, to hear them both boast and hedge on what they're doing behind the scenes. 

Hedge No. 1 is to get rid of reset language in the bill. As written, it strips all Hawai‘i corporations of their charters entirely, then reinstitutes them, minus the freedom to spend on political speech. Instead, says Keohokalole, they want to give the state Attorney General and/or the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs authority to dissolve a corporation that engages in electioneering.

Good luck with that. The AG's office has already opposed this bill as a reckless challenge to the U.S. Supreme Court, so I'd be shocked if it wants the job of corporation executioner. 

Then this bombshell from him, "We are trying to provide clarity for labor organizations because there are a number of structures that labor organizations take in Hawai‘i, and there's some ambiguity around that that we want to make clear for everyone." He's also looking at language about how Mainland-based outfits operate in Hawai‘i.

It might interest you to know that according to Federal Elections Commission data, some 

include the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Political Action Fund, Carpenters Legislative Improvement Committee United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and Mainland-based leftwing PAC ActBlue.

I guess there's some "dark money" Keohokalole likes after all. More and more this is looking like a bill to silence any political spending in Hawai‘i that isn't the faithful pillars of Democratic Party monopoly power.

Matayoshi, for his part, continues to express concern that this bill will get Hawai‘i into trouble, despite, in his view, the obvious need for its good intentions. He brings up an approach the House has been looking at, based on Mainland legislation, to simply cap the size of donations to Political Action Committees.

If the two Chambers can't agree on Friday to a version they can put forward for a final reading, it dies for this session.

passed the conference committee and goes before the Legislature for a vote on Wednesday. At a glance, it still makes an exception for corporate political speech in the form of news and commentary, applies penalties to foreign — meaning based outside of Hawai‘i — corporations conducting electioneering in Hawai‘i as if they were Hawai‘i-based, and does not seem to contain the labor union clarifications Keohokalole was looking for. 

The room greeted the passage with applause, including from the folks in 

 T-shirts seated near me when I attended the final vote. By the way, did you know that if you want to 

, the funds go to Mainland-based ActBlue Civics, 

 as a leftwing fundraising 501(c)(4) nonprofit?

One suspects they are confident their electioneering will remain unencumbered if this bill makes into law, despite all the rhetoric about keeping Mainland money from contaminating our local politics.

In any case, despite the bill's passage, Matayoshi and Keohokalole appeared glum as a result of whatever wrangling passed between them over the bill between its 3:30 p.m. hearing and its final vote. Judge for yourself 

 of the conference meeting, starting at 4:36:13.

A. Kam Napier is editor in chief of Aloha State Daily. His opinions in Pipikaula Corner are his own and not reflective of the ASD team.

I Stock 1149364911 16x9

<title>Pipikaula Corner: The bill that won't name its target</title>

UPDATED 5/2: The joint conference committee has passed a revised SB 2471 on to the full Legislature, seeking to nullify for the Islands the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United decision. As ASD Editor A. Kam Napier observes, lawmakers are offering more argument than evidence for the bill while being vague about whose speech they really mean to curtail — or protect.

Pipikaula Corner: The bill that won't name its target

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

Michelin-recognized Japanese ramen spot is opening its first Hawaiʻi location. 

 near Hampton Inn and Gen Korean BBQ, will hold 

its grand opening on Saturday, May 2, with a Hawaiian blessing at 5 p.m.

On grand opening day, the first 100 customers ages 18 years and older will receive a free MENSHO tote bag with ramen purchase.

The business was founded in 2005 by Tomoharu Shono; MENSHO now has locations in Japan, California, China, Australia, Singapore and more. The brand has also been recognized by the Michelin Guide and received numerous awards, including first place in the Shinjuku Ramen Grand Prix.

MENSHO is known for its farm-to-bowl philosophy of bringing farmers and customers together. In Hawaiʻi, the business is partnering with farms like Mari’s Gardens.

The eatery features housemade noodles and broths. Some of the broths take more than 72 hours to make, according to chef Tomoharu Shono. 

In addition to MENSHO’s grand menu, the Hawaiʻi location will feature several exclusive dishes that highlight locally sourced ingredients, including Kauaʻi shrimp.

The signature ramen is one of the eatery’s best-selling dishes. It features creamy chicken broth, A5 wagyu chashu, braised pork belly chashu, duck chashu, ajitama egg, roasted nori, blanched baby spinach, crispy burdock root, pea tendrils and fresh mochi noodles.

According to Shono, the noodles are made with a blend of local wheat and Japanese mochi flour, resulting in a distinctive chewy texture.

“We are making noodles every morning,” he says.

At the time of our preview, menu prices were not available. The eatery will open with its most popular dishes, and the full menu will be available in the upcoming months.

The wagyu truffle shoyu ramen is another dish that MENSHO is known for. It features bonito dashi broth with chicken, shellfish, shaved black truffles, A5 wagyu chashu, pea tendrils and fresh mochi noodles.

The eatery features wagyu from Japan’s Kagoshima prefecture. The shaved black truffles enhance the dish’s umami flavor.

Every MENSHO location features an exclusive dish, according to Shono. Hawaiʻi-exclusive ramens include the shrimp G.K.O. (garlic knockout) and clam butter shio ramen.

The shrimp G.K.O. consists of creamy chicken broth, garlic shrimp, baby spinach, red onions, garlic flakes, garlic chips, grilled garlic, chili powder, black garlic oil, chili oil and fresh mochi noodles. Garlic lovers will appreciate the robust garlic flavor, succulent shrimp and spice from the chili oil.

Meanwhile, the clam butter shio ramen features a bonito dashi broth, chicken, shellfish, Manila clams, braised pork belly chashu, red onions, whipped butter, black pepper, pea tendrils and fresh mochi noodles.

Other ramen options include duck matcha — creamy chicken broth, duck chashu, Tokyo negi, green onions, micro edible flowers, pea tendrils and fresh mochi noodles — and vegan-friendly dishes like yuzu garlic tomato and the V.G.K.O. (vegan garlic knockout). The latter includes porcini broth, shiitake, baby spinach, spicy burdock chips, red onions, garlic flakes, garlic chips, fresh and grilled garlic, black garlic oil, chili powder and fresh mochi noodles.

The eatery also offers sushi and appetizers. The A5 wagyu sushi with uni and ikura is a crowd favorite. The sushi rice is topped with A5 wagyu and Hokkaido uni and ikura; it’s served with pickled ginger and wasabi. The wagyu boasts a melt-in-your-mouth texture and is complemented nicely by the creamy uni and refreshing ikura.  

Other sushi options include hotate (scallop) ikura, hotate caviar, unagi (eel) negi, A5 wagyu kani (crab) ikura and more. MENSHO also features a variety of donburi (rice bowls).

Appetizers range from corn wings and karaage fried chicken with garlic chili sauce to enoki chips and teppan grilled garlic shrimps. The enoki chips are ultra-crispy and served with green onions and lemon. The teppan grilled garlic shrimps feature Kauaʻi shrimp coated in garlic and butter, and served on a sizzling skillet with Japanese white rice, green onions and toasted sesame.

The eatery’s matcha pudding is a light option after a refreshing meal. It’s topped with strawberry slices, red bean and fresh cream. The matcha flavor is subtle and the pudding features a jiggly, custard-like texture.

MENSHO’s Kapolei store can seat around 66 people. After its grand opening, it will be open daily from 5 to 9 p.m. No reservations are currently accepted; the eatery will be open for walk-ins only.  

Mensho Hawaii chef and owner 042726

<title>Michelin-recognized ramen spot is opening first Hawaiʻi location</title>

MENSHO, founded in 2005 in Japan, is opening in Kapolei’s Ka Makana Aliʻi on May 2 at 5 p.m. The business is famous for its farm-to-bowl philosophy, and will feature Hawaiʻi-exclusive bowls like butter clam and garlic shrimp ramen.

Michelin-recognized ramen spot is opening first Hawaiʻi location

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

The University of Hawai‘i football team's 2026 season doesn't officially begin until a road tilt at Stanford on Aug. 29, but the national buzz surrounding the Rainbow Warriors has already begun. 

 placed the 'Bows in next season's 12-team College Football Playoff as the Group of Five conference representative. The nod made the Rainbow Warriors a trending topic on X on Thursday, capturing the imagination of national pundits and fans alike. Hawai‘i has never reached the College Football Playoff. Its most prominent offseason appearance was a bid in the 2008 Sugar Bowl, back when UH was ranked 10th nationally in the now-defunct BCS rankings. 

All indications within the program suggest the Rainbow Warriors had a successful 

 Players had from Jan. 2-16 to officially enter the transfer portal, with the exception of players from Indiana and Miami, the two teams who competed in Monday's national championship game (Jan. 19-24). 

Fourteen members of UH's 2025 team entered the transfer portal. Departures included leading receiver 

, who landed at LSU on a lucrative NIL package, as well as starting punter 

, who will join national champion Indiana. Additionally, backup quarterback Luke Weaver, who threw the winning touchdown in the 

, signed with San Jose State, where he will compete for the starting job.

The Rainbow Warriors have added over a dozen players from the transfer portal. Highlights from the portal class include a handful of signees who prepped at Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas, the national prep powerhouse that already had a major presence on the Hawai‘i roster. In 2025, the Rainbow Warriors had six Bishop Gorman alums on the roster, led by star quarterback 

. Additionally, associate head coach Chris Brown and quarterbacks coach 

 previously coached at Gorman before joining 

Bishop Gorman alumni joining the Rainbow Warriors in 2026 include former Washington wide receiver Audric Harris, former Michigan State quarterback Jeremiah Hughes, former Oregon and UNLV safety Kodi DeCambra, former Kansas State running back DeVon Rice and former Washington State and Wake Forest cornerback Jaylon Edmond. DeCambra, like Alejado, is an O'ahu native, while Rice originally committed to UH out of high school before flipping to the Wildcats.

Daily Smile: Saturday, May 2, 2026

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