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Smile 26 5 7

<title>Daily Smile: Thursday, May 7, 2026</title>

Siblings be like...

Daily Smile: Thursday, May 7, 2026

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Rick Hamada

Government & Politics

Columnists

As of this writing, the Hawai‘i State Legislative session is in the waning days of completion. When the gavel falls signaling "Sine die" or the adjournment of the session, my question is, "Does it matter to you?"

Each year the current office holding 51 state representatives and 25 state senators convene to do the people's business. At least that's the ideal. Each elected official espouses the narrative of wanting to help the people, be the best steward of state, be the voice of the citizen, and here's the umbrella under which all politicians reside, do what's best for the keiki.

And I want to make this clear from the get go. There are those who are serving in the Big Square Building who live to serve the people they represent and more. Their mission is to make a positive impact on the lives of many. They are accessible, day or night, and will under promise and over deliver when tasked with advocating for a citizen's needs. Interestingly, I don't need to name names because those who are served know who they are and those they serve with know who they are.  

[{"type":"text","text":"Now you know there's a butt bigger than mine on its way ..."}]

Our political composition in Hawai‘i and is rife with individuals who do not subscribe to these ideals of true public service. Again, I don't need to name names because those who are NOT served know who they are, and those with whom they serve definitely know who they are. Please fill in these blanks if you are so inclined.

[{"type":"text","text":"I asked if the end of this session matters to you."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Let me share why it should."}]

My mantra on the morning show has been from the first day, "Politics touches your life every day whether you like it or not."

The state legislature is the one touching you. The governor touches you too just as each county mayor and county council. That's a bunch of touching.

One would think with that much effect and influence in your present and future life that you'd care. Well, 

 do because you're still reading this column, but there are more of you who don't.

We invoke the emasculatingly low voter turnout like it's a reverse badge of honor. The numbers of citizens casting a vote is purely embarrassing.

The 2024 Hawai‘i primary election has been widely panned as unexciting due to a lack of marquee races and fewer candidates to choose from.

[{"type":"text","text":"Voters apparently agreed, if the turnout numbers are any indication."}]

Just 269,912 of the 839,618 people registered statewide filled out a ballot. That works out to 32.1%.

It’s a significant drop from the 39.8% turnout for the 2022 primary and an even more dramatic decline from the 51.2% in 2020. The latter election was the first for the state to use all mail-in balloting system, though voters can still cast ballots in person at select locations on each island.

According to final results released by the Hawai‘i Office of Elections, the 2024 primary numbers represent 

 in the history of Hawai‘i as a state.

Thirty years ago, the 1994 primary turnout was 

I am not being purposefully selective. This was, in fact, our last primary vote, and this was the turnout. Abysmal. And the general election numbers weren't that great either.

[{"type":"text","text":"If you weren't one of the 269,912 then who did vote in 2022?"}]

I submit to you the most active, aware, motivated and encouraged voting bloc in Hawaii is ... organized labor.

In 2025, union members accounted for an estimated 24.8 percent of wage and salary workers in Hawai‘i, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. 

) Regional Commissioner Chris Rosenlund noted that the estimated number of workers belonging to unions was 145,000.

Hold on. This is not union bashing. This is a fact. Unions are the greatest political force in Hawai‘i. Always has been, always will be. If this displeases you then embrace the notion that politics is nothing but a numbers game. It's the number of votes and dollars that's at the heart politics. Throw in charismatic candidates and convincing messages and, voila, you're in.

Once a politician succeeds in attaining his/her chosen office, they also attain power.

As of July 1, 2025, Hawaii's population is approximately 1,432,820, reflecting a slight decline of about 0.15% from 2024 due to high costs of living and residents moving to the Mainland. The state is the 11th least populous in the U.S. and has experienced population declines in five of the past six years.

Combining state and county government executive and legislative elected officials, the number of people reigning over you is 167.

That's the governor, lieutenant governor, state senate and house, mayors and four county councils. 

That's 167 individuals who exert power by the creating, passing and approving of laws that affect you every day whether you like it or not.  

In 2024, there are around 800,000 registered voters. I submit that labor comprised of 145,000 members had cast the majority of the 269,000 votes tabulated. That leaves nearly 500,000 whose voices were not heard, not considered, people who are now subjected to the decision of others who may not have their best interests at heart. And that's on you as a non-voter.

[{"type":"text","text":"It doesn't have to be this way."}]

Regardless, if you are on the left or on the right, GOP or Democrat, we must have full participation in this representative democratic process in order to achieve quality representation and deliver true accountability to those holding office. Voting is not just your right, but it's your duty. We must have our citizenry cast conscientious and informed votes, so we collectively install a government "for the people and by the people".

This session is just moments away from ending. If you discover there were laws passed with which you disagree, then now is the time to become activated. It's an election year. You have another opportunity to cast your best vote for your best candidate. If it's a win, great. If it's not, then you'll be able to look in the mirror knowing you were a vital part of this community and perhaps the next legislation session will matter even more.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

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Hawaii house of representatives 011525

<title>Hamada: Political influence in Hawai‘i by the numbers</title>

A shockingly low percentage of people vote in Hawai‘i, notes ASD opinion columnist Rick Hamada. Something to keep in mind as we see what the Hawai‘i State Legislature passes this week.

Hamada: Political influence in Hawai‘i by the numbers

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Aloha Spirit

Arts & Entertainment

 welcomed attendees Sunday morning to the inaugural 

, which ran over the weekend at SALT at Our Kakaʻako. He spun a colorful wheel and handed out free Pokémon card packs available in a variety of languages, including ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, to keiki who had formed a line outside The Barn venue space filled with more than 50 vendors.

Also featured at the event were balloon artists, Hawaiʻi musician 

, who launched new merchandise with help from 

"I couldn’t have imagined this kind of turnout for our first event at 

 for helping us make this a free event for the vendors and the public!"

Dias told Aloha State Daily on Wednesday, "I’m more about community than having a card show to make money. ... We're just a bunch of adults obsessed with 

Pokémon. We grew up with it in the 90s and early 2000s, it was something cool. Then years later they're coming back."

He explained that now new cards are being printed every month, so "you can hold onto them, keep them sealed, and when it goes up in value, you can sell them for a profit, or hang onto them."

Dias' most valuable card, he says, is shared with his girlfriend, Faith Rogers, from their first booster box: a special illustration Mega Charizard X EX, selling at around $800 and up.

[{"type":"text","text":"\"It's kind of like a work of art, you can admire it in your house.\" "}]

A couple days later, Dias took it to Instagram to announce that Keep it Aloha Events' card show would be back on Friday, June 5. “We have locked in dates [at SALT at Our Kakaʻako] for the rest of the year,” it was announced Tuesday.

This event, like the first, is hosted by Hawaiʻi Collectibles, which added on its website: "Our first show was a huge success with over 5,000 attendees and 70-plus vendors! Thank you for everyone who participated and we've just secured SALT for another show in June." Vendors can now enter the waitlist for upcoming card shows at 

The Keep it Aloha Card Show will run every first weekend of the month through 2026, he said, adding that days and times vary.

Sponsors for the inaugural Keep it Aloha Card Show included Waiakea, Aloha Card Shop, Kōkua Initiative, Pakele Entertainment and MerchLabs, per its flyer.

 with Kenji Lee and Taisei Lee for Oʻahu-based podcast 

. On his own podcast, he enjoyed the hobby during 

. Dias even created a separate Instagram account 

"At the end of every podcast episode this year, I rip a pack with our guest," he told ASD.

 whose mission is “to unite traditional and modern Hawaiʻi, leveraging contemporary tools and inherited wisdom from our kūpuna.” The means in which the nonprofit operates is through education, online media and specialized programs that preserve Hawaiian culture and strengthen community.

According to his bio, Dias is a Native Hawaiian from Hilo, who attended Hawaiian Language Immersion schools until his senior year when he moved to Oʻahu and graduated from Kaiser High School. He later graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and joined the Peace Corps to serve in Madagascar for three years. He returned home in 2019, co-founded 

, and through his growing platform, aims to give back to the local community.

"The essence of ʻKeeping it aloha,ʻ you know, it's not just word, it's not a phrase; it's a mindset and a lifestyle, he said. "People can 'Keep it aloha' in different ways in their life. So whether that's through cards, aloha ʻāina work, whatever you do, "Keep it aloha.'"

Looking ahead, Dias is excited to be traveling with the podcast, thanks to a partnership with Hawaiian Airlines, while working on his second book, and, of course, more card shows. 

I'm also taking care of my health, making sure I don't burnout by getting more active and back into surfing."

Pokemon Pack Event

<title>Keep it Aloha Events brings together Pokémon card collectors and community</title>

This past weekend, Kamaka Dias of Keep it Aloha convened Pokémon card traders and members of the community at its debut card show in Kakaʻako. For those who missed it, the free event with more than 50 vendors and live entertainment will return on June 5.

Keep it Aloha Events brings together Pokémon card collectors and community

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

The state Department of Accounting and General Services has awarded a contract to overhaul the state’s decades-old financial data system.

In March, DAGS published a request for proposals for bidders to develop a replacement for the current Financial Accounting and Management Information System (FAMIS), which is 55 years old.

 Keith Regan told Aloha State Daily that, 

, DAGS has awarded that contract, totaling $63.7 million, to Virginia-based management firm Guidehouse.

“Our … financial management system is written in a language that’s not even taught in college anymore,” Regan said. “It’s written in COBOL. It’s extremely ancient architecture, and it’s hard to find people that can even program in COBOL anymore these days, and if you can they’re very expensive.”

Regan said practically every state department needs to interact with FAMIS in some capacity. But because of the system’s age, departments have needed to develop additional  subsystems in order to properly access the system at all.

“We identified 242 systems that are secondary and tertiary systems that departments have created over the years,” Regan said. “Now imagine the money and the effort that’s going into that.”

Regan said only 53 of those 242 subsystems will be retained amid the system upgrade.

“We are going to not only be changing the technology, the actual software, … but also will be changing the way that we do business within the state of Hawai‘i,” Regan continued.

He explained that the state’s accounting system was codified in law more than a century ago, and that dismantling and replacing FAMIS will help expose superfluous rules that lost their relevance decades ago.

“There’s little snippets that are buried somewhere right within a workflow,” Regan said. “Some of these workflows involve 40 or 50 processes …. Maybe we don’t need to do this anymore. Maybe it was okay in 1925 but we don’t need to do it today in 2026.”  

This is DAGS’ third attempt at overhauling FAMIS, Regan said. The previous two were abandoned for being too “technically led,” he said; this attempt will be driven more by how users engage with the system.

Regan said he believes the new core systems can come online in two to three years, while other modules of the system will be completed within five or six years.

Once the project is completed, essential and historical data from FAMIS will be archived, Regan said. But the 55-year-old system itself will be, effectively, destroyed.

Regan said DAGS is planning to have a “retirement party” for FAMIS once its shutdown day arrives.

“The system itself, which is on a mainframe in the cloud, will be turned off, and it’ll be a sad day,” Regan said. “Or a happy day, for many of us.”

2024 FAMIS software on computer screen 2 Courtesy DAGS 16x9

<title>State awards $63 million contract to upgrade financial data system</title>

Hawai‘i's 55-year-old financial system will get a much-needed overhaul

State awards $63 million contract to upgrade financial data system

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

Mother’s Day is coming up Sunday, May 10. (ICYMI: 

Where to celebrate Mother’s Day-part 1.

If you’re still looking for the ideal dining option, check out the following:

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"100 Sails Restaurant & Bar"}]

: The Mother’s Day dinner buffet menu costs $109 per adult ($54.50 per child ages six to 10 years old). Buffet highlights include:

The eatery’s Mother’s Day brunch buffet costs $111 per adult ($55.50 per child ages six to 10 years old). It features many of the same offerings, but with brunch specialties like a waffle station with toppings and omelet station with toppings. 

: Dinner May 7 to 10, 5 to 9:30 p.m.; brunch May 10, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"53 By The Sea"}]

’s Day brunch costs $75 per person. It includes:

: This four-course meal ($79 per person, minimum of two guests) features an ‘ohana-style menu. It includes an individual lobster bisque with lemongrass, makrut and coconut; Arden Caesar with yuzu, miso and brown butter panko; steamed Kona kanpachi prepared Chinese-style with ginger, negi, soy and cilantro; sides of takikomi Gohan and charred bok choy; and chocolate lava cake with strawberry coulis, mac nut crumb

and Tahitian vanilla gelato for dessert. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Bali Oceanfront"}]

: This brunch ($125 per adult, $49 per child ages five to 12 years) features a limited-seating culinary experience instead of a typical brunch buffet. The menu will feature options like Kawamata tomato caprese with Waimanalo basil and Kona sea salt; ‘ahi poke with Kahuku ogo and Maui onion; a seafood display with chilled peel-and-eat shrimp and smoked salmon; seafood somen salad with baby shrimp, scallops and tako; and more. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Basalt Waikīkī"}]

: The eatery is featuring Mother’s Day specials during brunch and dinner.

[{"type":"text","text":"Brunch specials:"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Dinner specials:"}]

The specials will be available while supplies last. 

: May 10; brunch from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. 

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

: The eatery’s featured specials include:

 Limited quantities are available for takeout with at least at 48-hour notice. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Choco le‘a"}]

: Mother’s Day specials include a nine-piece high tea truffle box and Mother’s Day bundle, which will include the nine-piece high tea truffle box, chocolate covered animal crackers, classic Crunch a le‘a, dark chocolate dipped mango and solid dark chocolate bar. The Mother’s Day bundle will be packaged in a white and gold embossed bag with a Mother’s Day tag. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Coco Deck Lahaina (Maui)"}]

: This special brunch experience will feature dishes created by chef Alvin Savella. Customers can look forward to satisfying comfort dishes made with fresh ingredients, savory brunch favorites and sweet treats. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Empire Steak House"}]

: This Mother’s Day menu features a three-course dining experience ($139 per person) with a complimentary glass of Prosecco or a mimosa.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Halia by Side Street Inn"}]

: Wai Kai, 91-1621 Keoneula Blvd., Ewa Beach 

: This Mother’s Day brunch buffet costs $68 per adult ($32 for children ages five to 11 years). It will include:

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Koolau Ballrooms"}]

: This brunch buffet and a show costs $125 per adult ($80 for children ages five to 10 years old, children under 5 years have free admission); brunch only costs $99 per adult ($70 for children ages five to 10 years old).

[{"type":"text","text":"The buffet includes:"}]

A chilled juice bar and beverages (fruit punch, iced tea, coffee and hot tea) will also be available. Long-stemmed roses will be presented to moms while supplies last.

: May 10; 9 and 11:45 a.m.; brunch-only seating at 9:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Kulu Kulu Cake"}]

: The dessert shop is offering special cakes for Mother’s Day:

Pre-orders are accepted in-store and online. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"P.F. Chang’s"}]

: Royal Hawaiian Center, 2201 Kalākaua Ave., Honolulu 

: This Mother’s Day five-course dining experience costs $89.99 for two people. It includes:

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Quiora"}]

: The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikīkī Beach, 

: Quiora’s Mother’s Day brunch buffet costs $125 per adult ($75 per senior ages 65 years and older, $60 for children ages 6 to 12 years, children ages 5 years and under have free admission).

[{"type":"text","text":"Buffet highlights include:"}]

: May 10, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (last seating 1 p.m.) 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Stage Restaurant"}]

: This three-course Mother’s Day brunch costs $75 per person (keiki brunch for $25). 

: International Market Place, 2330 Kalākaua Ave. Ste. 330, Honolulu 

: StripSteak’s Mother’s Day brunch costs $96 per person. The three-course prix fixe brunch menu includes:

For dinner, the eatery’s signature a la carte menu will be featured. 

: May 10; brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., dinner 5 to 9 p.m. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"The Buffet at Hyatt"}]

: Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort and Spa, 

: This Mother’s Day brunch buffet costs $110 per person ($55 per child ages 6 to 12 years; $5.99 per child ages 5 years and under).

[{"type":"text","text":"The buffet will include:"}]

 discounts are not applicable for the Mother’s Day brunch; there will be a 90-minute dining time limit. 

: May 10; seatings at 9:30, 10 and 11:30 a.m.; 12 and 1:30 p.m. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"The Lookout Food & Drink"}]

: This Mother’s Day brunch buffet costs $85 per adult ($42 for keiki ages five to 12 years). The buffet will include crab legs, roast pork, prime rib, barbecue guava chicken, fish with lobster cream sauce, tofu poke, an omelet station and more.

The eatery will also feature Mother’s Day specials like a 12-ounce herb and garlic crusted prime rib, snow crab, seafood etouffee and baked stuffed salmon on May 9 and 10. 

: May 10, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Mother’s Day specials featured on May 9 (11 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and 10 (from 4 to 9 p.m.)

Mothers Day 2026 The Buffet at Hyatt 2 041526

<title>Where to celebrate Mother’s Day 2026 – part 2</title>

From prix fixe menus and specials to limited-time desserts, we’ve got your Mother’s Day plans covered.

Where to celebrate Mother’s Day 2026 – part 2

, 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.

Daily Smile: Thursday, May 7, 2026

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Daily Smile: Thursday, May 7, 2026

Authors

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