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Daily Smile

[{"type":"text","text":"May the fourth be with you..."}]

Smile 26 5 4

<title>Daily Smile: Monday, May 4, 2026</title>

May the fourth be with you...

Daily Smile: Monday, May 4, 2026

[{"type":"text","text":"When there’s no sheep to herd..."}]

Smile 26 5 3

<title>Daily Smile: Sunday, May 3, 2026</title>

When there’s no sheep to herd...

Daily Smile: Sunday, May 3, 2026

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

MĀNOA — The USC men's volleyball team made quick work of Belmont Abbey in a 25-18, 25-20, 25-21 sweep on Friday night at the Stan Sheriff Center, setting up a national semifinal showdown against the University of Hawai‘i. 

Friday's match between the Trojans and Crusaders was a standalone contest in an 

. Although the Rainbow Warriors did not compete on Friday night, a turnstile crowd of 2,903 still showed up to take in the first NCAA Tournament match to take place on O‘ahu since 2004. 

With the win, the Trojans are set to take on Hawai‘i on Saturday at 4 p.m., with the winner advancing to the Final Four on May 9-11 in Los Angeles. 

"I hadn't even considered (Saturday's) matchup, because we have to earn our way to get into there," USC men's head coach Jeff Nygaard said following the match. "It's a real good confidence builder going into the matchup. We should have played them earlier in the year, but now we get the opportunity to play against Hawai‘i, so we're looking forward to it."

As Nygaard alluded to, Hawai‘i and USC were part of a four-team NIL tournament in February that was 

. The Rainbow Warriors and Trojans last played each other on March 15, 2025, a 

four-set win for the Trojans in the championship match of the Outrigger Invitational

. In that match, USC outside hitter Dillon Klein punished the Rainbow Warriors for 21 kills. A year later, Klein, now a senior, remains the top offensive option for the Trojans. 

"That was last year. I'm looking forward to the (Saturday's) game, though," Klein said when asked about his performance agains the 'Bows in 2025. "It was loud. There was a lot of green everywhere. But other than that, I mean, it's a rectangle with a net and a ball. Looking forward to playing some more volleyball tomorrow.

"The fans here are obviously very electric, and the atmosphere is second to none. ... The fans can be nice, they can be brutal, so I guess we're just gonna have to see."

As of Friday night, 9,723 tickets were sold ahead of Saturday's showdown between the Rainbow Warriors and Trojans. The record for attendance in an NCAA men's tournament match is 9,822 in 1998, back when UCLA and Pepperdine competed against each other in the national championship at the Stan Sheriff Center. 

"It's always fun to play in front of our fans at home, especially a big game like this, hopefully 10,000 strong," said star Hawai‘i setter Tread Rosenthal, who was named the Big West Player of the Year on Monday. 

As the national No. 2 seed, the Rainbow Warriors (27-5) will be rested and have home court advantage against the Trojans (20-7). But in order to advance, the 'Bows know they'll have to contain Klein in order to do so. 

"They're a great team. Dillon Klein is one of the best outsides the country," Hawai‘i outside hitter Louis Sakanoko said. "We have all the pieces to beat them, and then we just need to show and prove that we're a good team."

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

UH men's volleyball 050126

<title>Hawai‘i men's volleyball to host USC in national quarterfinals</title>

The Rainbow Warriors will face the Trojans at 4 p.m. on Saturday with a spot in the Final Four up for grabs.

Hawai‘i men's volleyball to host USC in national quarterfinals

AKINA portrait 2

Keliʻi Akina

Viewpoints

Government & Politics

Most of the attention this year at the state Legislature has been focused on the status of our historic income tax cuts from 2024 — whether they are going to be modified or repealed, effectively resulting in a tax hike.

But there’s another tax-hike bill still alive that has been quietly making its way through the legislative process: 

This bill would increase the state conveyance tax on higher-value properties to funnel revenue into certain special funds. Supporters believe owners of multimillion-dollar properties can be targeted without affecting the economy or the housing market as a whole. Reality says otherwise.

Studies on the effect of real estate transfer taxes in general have 

 they are associated with reductions in investment, income, jobs and economic activity. 

Even when a conveyance tax is limited to higher-value properties, it is likely to have unintended consequences. For example, the so-called mansion tax that went into effect in Los Angeles in 2023 not only has had the 

 of reducing all housing sales, it has also impeded the sales of commercial, multifamily and industrial properties, threatening housing growth and the economic health of the region.

SB3028 seeks to target higher-value residential properties with a conveyance tax hike by switching from flat rates to marginal rates. Marginal rates alone are not concerning — but substantial rate increases are.

Currently, a property sold for $3.5 million to a buyer who is eligible for a county property tax home exemption would generate a conveyance tax bill of $17,500. If the most recent draft of SB3028 were to become law, the conveyance tax for that property would jump to $46,300.  

A tax hike of that magnitude is sure to reduce local property turnover, which would affect local businesses and overall housing growth. Reduced sales could also wind up decreasing tax revenue.

Historically, the conveyance tax was never intended to be a major source of revenue for the state. In fact, it started off as a simple administrative tax. It’s unfortunate that now some lawmakers see it as a piggy bank they can break open without consequences. 

It can be tempting to fund services at the expense of wealthy property owners, but taxes do not operate in a vacuum. At its core, this proposed hike on conveyance taxes is yet another example of a seemingly well-intentioned policy that is sure to do unintended economic harm.

No matter how a conveyance tax is designed to operate, it will have a ripple effect throughout the economy, and any increase is likely to make the state’s housing crisis worse.

[{"type":"text","text":"Hawaiʻi needs more housing, not less."}]

Reprinted with permission from the April 27, 2026, "President's Corner" of 

Shutterstock 1439717039 scaled

<title>Community Voices: The unintended consequences of transfer taxes</title>

Studies on the effect of real estate transfer taxes in general have found they are associated with reductions in investment, income, jobs and economic activity. It's also likely to make the state’s housing crisis worse, per Grassroot Institute of Hawai‘i.

Community Voices: The unintended consequences of transfer taxes

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

A new legislative session brings the possibility of new laws. Here are some that have been introduced this session and would impact the arts:

The legislation would appropriate funds to the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts for its Artists in the Schools Program, which brings artists into the classroom at public schools. 

Karen Ewald, executive director of SFCA, submitted testimony in favor of the legislation and shared there was an increase in demand for the program,

 which is out-pacing funds. Keith Hayashi, superintendent of the Hawaiʻi public school system, also submitted testimony in favor of the measure. There was no testimony against the legislation. 

: It passed second reading, as amended, and was referred to the committee on finance. 

Establishes arts integration coordinator for Department of Education, HB2436: 

This bill would establish funds for an arts integration coordinator or specialists to support arts education within the state Department of Education. It also appropriates $600,000 for this work in the fiscal year of 2026-2027 to fund four full-time equivalent arts integration coordinators or specialists, including salary, fringe benefits and operational expenses. The legislation requires one position be established on each of the following islands: Oʻahu, Maui, Kaua'i, and Hawaiʻi Island. Status: Referred to committees for culture and arts, education, and finance. Scheduled to be heard by the committee on education on Feb. 19. 

Increases tax credits for film productions that hire local, HB1939.

 Amends the motion picture, digital media and film production income tax credit by providing additional credits to productions with at least 80% local hires. 

: The committee on economic development and technology recommended passage on second reading. Referred to the committee on finance. 

Music accessibility pilot program for Hawaiʻi State Public Library System, HB1764. 

Establishes a pilot program where the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System would provide access to public concerts and musical education across the state, including the counties of Hawaiʻi, Kauaʻi, and Maui. The program would support local musicians and cultural collaboration and encourage the commission of new works that reflect the unique heritage of Hawaiʻi. The state public library system would collaborate with the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra and other groups. 

: The committee on education recommended that the measure be passed without amendments. It has been referred to the committee on finance. 

State of Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra, SB2603 (companion bill HB1860). 

 as the State of Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra, which would allow the group to “regularly obtain state funds to help cover its general operating costs in exchange for other services to the State, to be mutually negotiated,” according to the text of the proposed legislation. HSO was founded in 1900 as the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. The symphony has a 

history of financial instability, including filing for bankruptcy in 2009

. The bill highlights how the symphony provides a spotlight for local and international musicians and performing artists. It establishes $500,000 of funding for the fiscal year 2026-2027, which would include a stipulation of free admission for school faculty, staff and students who attend shows through the state Department of Education programs. 

: The committee on water, land, culture and the arts recommended passage on second reading, as amended. It was referred to the committee on ways and means. 

Surcharge for performing arts tickets, SB3330 (companion bill HB2604). 

The proposed legislation establishes a surcharge of $1 for the sale of performing arts tickets, with funds going to the performing arts grants special fund, which provides grants for the planning, promotion, marketing and execution of performing arts events. The surcharge is waived for any event with a ticket price of $35 or less. It will also be waived for ones run by Hawaiʻi-based nonprofits and performances by students enrolled in public schools or the University of Hawaiʻi system. The ticket provider will disclose the surcharge on a separate line item on tickets, receipts and invoices at the time of sale. 

: It has been referred to the committees for economic development and tourism; water, land, culture and the arts; commerce and consumer protection; and ways and means. 

Tax credits for film productions, SB3088 (companion bill HB2269). 

This bill would increase the qualified production tax credit in any county of the state with a population of more than 700,000 to 27%, an increase from the current 22%. For counties with smaller populations, such as Maui County, the production credit would change to 32%, up from 27%. The legislation also lifts the per-production cap of $17 million for productions with qualified expenditures of at least $60 million. The annual cap for tax credits for all productions would increase to $60 million, an increase from the current $50 million. 

Passed first reading.Referred to the committees for economic development and tourism; and ways and means. 

Works of Art Special Fund, SB1236 (companion bill HB1299):

 The proposed legislation amends existing law which established a works of art special fund that designates 1% of the construction costs of new state buildings go toward the acquisition of works of art. This bill would expand how that fund can be used and proposes it could also support new positions within SFCA as well as performing arts initiatives and programs at schools. 

: Carried over to the 2026 regular session and re-referred to the committees on ways and means; and water, land, culture and the arts. 

Here are some bills that have been deferred:

Artificial intelligence and music (HB2357). 

This bill would prohibit music streaming platforms from hosting, distributing or making available in the state of Hawaiʻi any music attributed to an artificial intelligence music artist. The department of the attorney general would have exclusive authority to enforce the law and violations of it would constitute an unfair method of competition and a deceptive act or practice. 

: It has been referred to the committees for economic development and technology; judiciary and Hawaiian affairs; and finance. On Feb. 18, the committee on 

 recommended that the measure be deferred. 

Increases the ceiling of the works of art special fund, HB2461.

 The bill would increase the ceiling of the works of art special fund, which is used to commission or purchase art. It also expands the uses of the fund, and would allow money to be used for the upkeep and preservation of the state’s public art collection, including the establishment of a collections manager position within SFCA. Status: Referred to committees for culture and arts; and finance. On Feb. 13, the committee on culture and arts recommended it be deferred. 

Are you following a bill that impacts arts and entertainment and should be on this list? Email: 

Hawaiʻi State Capitol

<title>AI music regulations, a state symphony, and more in these bills to watch</title>

Aloha State Daily rounded up some bills that lawmakers are considering this legislative session. Those measures include proposed laws that could bring musical performances to patrons of the public library system and students in public schools. There is also an initiative to designate the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra as the State of Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra.

Daily Smile: Monday, May 4, 2026

ASD Staff

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Daily Smile: Monday, May 4, 2026

Authors

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