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Daily Smile

[{"type":"text","text":"These make us laugh every time..."}]

Smile 26 5 11 2

<title>Daily Smile: Tuesday, May 12, 2026</title>

These make us laugh every time...

Daily Smile: Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

[{"type":"text","text":"On top once again. "}]

The University of Hawai‘i men's volleyball team won its third national championship of the decade and first since 2022 with a 1

5-25, 25-18, 25-18, 25-20 victory over UC Irvine at the Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon. 

Hawai‘i finishes its season 30-5 overall, good for the first 30-win season in program history. Meanwhile, UC Irvine, which defeated No. 1 UCLA and No. 4 Ball State in order to reach Mondayʻs championship match, finishes its 2026 campaign 21-9. 

UH, which advanced to the national championship with a 

win over rival Long Beach State in Saturday's semifinals

, fell behind to the Anteaters early.  UC Irvine pounced on the Rainbow Warriors early, jumping out to a 16-5 lead in the first set en route to its 1-0 lead. 

From there, the Rainbow Warriors took control over the next three sets. Kristian Titriyski had a match-high 16 kills for the ʻBows, while Adrien Roure added 15 and tournament MVP Louis Sakanoko had 12 kills on 20 swings to go with his six digs, three blocks, three assists and three service aces. 

In reaching the 30-win mark, UH finished one win above their 29-3 record in 2023 in which it lost in the national championship match. 

In 2026, the ʻBows won the national title despite never ranked No. 1 in the AVCA poll. Heading into the tournament, they were the No. 2 seed nationally. 

"It wasn't a perfect year but it finished in a perfect way," head coach Charlie Wade said in his postmatch interview. 

On Wednesday, May 13, the University of Hawai‘i will hold a free national championship celebration at the Stan Sheriff Center. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., while the event begins at 6. Parking will cost $10 at the UH-Mānoa structure and concessions will not be open. 

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

HawaiiMVB 051126

<title>Hawai‘i men's volleyball wins national championship match over UC Irvine</title>

After a slow start, the Rainbow Warriors won their third national championship of the decade and first since 2022.

Hawai‘i men's volleyball wins national championship match over UC Irvine

Higa headshot white shirt square

Sterling Higa

Columnists

Kamohai and Tristyn Kalama owe the City and County of Honolulu 

 for two illegal short-term rentals. One is a waterfront property in Kāneʻohe, listed at $1,000 a night with a three-night minimum.

After Civil Beat called the property owner for comment, the listing was quietly changed to a 30-day minimum. The fines remain unpaid.

Readers new to the Kalamas may need a brief introduction. Alongside their rental properties, they run three businesses. The first is fixing and flipping: they buy old houses, renovate them, and sell them. The second is a television show on HGTV, "Renovation Aloha," which shows the work. The third is a learning group called Flip Tribe, where they teach their methods through workshops, mentorship, and conferences.

Kamohai handles the numbers — purchase analysis and contractor management. Tristyn handles the design. They are husband and wife, and their "Renovation Aloha" episodes make for compelling viewing.

The Kalamas say they create jobs for locals, support the skilled trades, and keep families housed. There is truth in this. Old houses need renovating. Their work creates real jobs for contractors and tradespeople. Most homeowners cannot manage routine upkeep on their own house. That is part of why these properties fall into disrepair. Renovating a home requires financing, contractor management, and a tolerance for risk. It is real work.

There is a difference between running a business and teaching others how to run one. Competence is enough for the first. The second asks for mastery, the kind that earns the right to teach.

The Le family bought one of the show’s first houses — a Kalihi home with a 

. The renovation, as televised, cost $425,000. It involved major structural work. One house was jacked up and joined to a second to create a single-level home. The permits filed with the city only covered some windows and a carport, with a value of $80,000.

After moving in, the Le family noticed mold in their son’s room. When they ripped off the drywall, they found cracks in the concrete siding wide enough for daylight to pass through.

Civil Beat reporter Christina Jedra found the same pattern on 

 in the show’s first season: Construction began before a permit was issued. The fines totaled about $20,000 across four projects. The show claimed $1.3 million in profits. Season 2 

Some business models start work before permits issue and treat the resulting fines as a budget line. The people running these businesses may not be ready to teach others. The fines, in that arrangement, are not overhead, they are the cost of not yet knowing the trade.

The Kalamas, in this, are part of something larger. A popular television show and a few hundred thousand Instagram followers do not, by themselves, demonstrate competence. They demonstrate celebrity. We have begun to confuse the two. A whole industry has grown up around the confusion. The Kalamas sell three-day workshops at 

. They also sell membership in a mentorship community, promising students their first flip in six months.

There used to be a clearer line between apprentice and master. You learned a trade by serving under someone who had practiced it. Mastery was slow and quiet, and it was the only kind of mastery there was. We have replaced it, in much of life, with a short course — three days, six months, your first flip. It promises the result without the formation.

The appetite is common to all of us. We prefer to be slightly more than we are, slightly sooner — and we prefer not to wait. The writer of Proverbs saw the pattern long ago: wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.

The Kalamas do not put their faith forward on air the way Chip and Joanna Gaines do. But they do mention it often on their social media. Their company is named Stand Firm Developments. The phrase is one of Paul’s recurring themes, a call to endure, to hold one’s ground.

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, the Proverbs say. The question is not whether renovating old homes has value. It does. The question is whether the people most visible doing the work are the right people to teach it — and what the rest of us are buying when we sign up for the course.

Tristyn and Kamohai Kalama HGT Vs Renovation Hawaii 1 lr 0

<title>Earning the right to teach</title>

Fame is not the same as mastery, says ASD opinion columnist Sterling Higa, as he contemplates the careers of Kamohai and Tristyn Kalama, stars of "Renovation Aloha." The duo was in trouble again recently, this time for having run two illegal short-term rentals.

Earning the right to teach

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

Honolulu Managing Director Michael Formby is stepping down later this month.

The City and County of Honolulu announced Monday that Formby, who became managing director in 2021, will leave his position on May 29, and will take up a new position as CEO of Pacific Marine and Supply Company, an 82-year-old conglomerate of various industrial maritime companies.

“Throughout our entire time at Honolulu Hale, Mike has led with professionalism, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to public service,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi in a statement Monday. “He brought experience, calm leadership, and a deep understanding of how government can and should work for the people of Honolulu.”

Blangiardi touted Formby’s guidance during the Covid-19 pandemic and other major infrastructure initiatives during his tenure.

Deputy Managing Director Krishna Jayaram will take over for Formby as Managing Director Designate following his departure. Further details about who will take over the position permanently have yet to be revealed, but the managing director role is appointed directly by the mayor, with confirmation by the Honolulu City Council.

“It has been a privilege to work alongside Mayor Blangiardi, our department directors, City employees, and community partners over the past five and a half years,” Formby said in a statement Monday. “Together, we faced historic challenges and made meaningful progress on behalf of the people of O

ahu. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve this community and look forward to continuing to contribute to Hawai

Steven Loui, chairman of Pacific Marine and Supply Company said in a statement that Formby’s role as CEO will “help position the company for continued growth while deepening Hawai‘i's role in the future of Pacific-region industry and innovation.”

Prior to becoming managing director, Formby was executive director of the Pacific Resource Partnership — an organization representing the Hawai‘i Regional Council of Carpenters, the largest construction union in the state — between 2019 and 2020. Before that, he was chief of staff for the late U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, acting executive director for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation and an attorney with various Honolulu firms.

 For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Formbyblangy 16x9

<title>Formby steps down as Honolulu managing director</title>

Mike Formby to step down from managing director position after five years.

Formby steps down as Honolulu managing director

Bill Brennan

Viewpoints

Aloha Spirit

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has launched the 

, an initiative providing direct, flexible financial support to Native Hawaiian farmers across Hawaiʻi to help offset rising operational costs and strengthen agricultural enterprises.

The program offers two tiers of funding to meet varying needs across the state’s farming community. Farmers impacted by the recent Kona Low weather events may be eligible for awards of up to $5,000, while other eligible farmers may receive awards of up to $3,000 to support ongoing operational costs.

This approach ensures that immediate recovery needs are addressed, while continuing to support the broader stability and sustainability of Native Hawaiian farming operations statewide.

“Supporting our mahiʻai is essential to the health of our lāhui and the future of Hawaiʻi,” said Kaialiʻi Kahele, OHA Board of Trustees chairperson. “This fund is an investment in our people and our ʻāina – ensuring that Native Hawaiian farmers have the resources they need to thrive while perpetuating the cultural practices that sustain us.”

 to support implementation of the program and administration of funds.

[{"type":"text","text":"To be considered, applicants must complete the following:"}]

Applicants who complete these steps will be referred to the Hawaiian Council for funding consideration.

Selected awardees will be contacted to submit required documentation prior to receiving funds. For more information or assistance, contact: 

This article is reprinted with permission from 

OHA's Ka Wai Ola newspaper: "Apply Now to OHA’s Mahiʻai Micro Fund Program" by Bill Brennan, in its May 2026 issue, Vol. 43 No. 5. Read more at 

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Waialua flooding 032126

<title>Community Voices: Last week to apply for OHA’s Mahiʻai Micro Fund Program</title>

Farmers impacted by the recent Kona Low storms may be eligible for awards of up to $5,000, while other eligible farmers may receive awards of up to $3,000 to support ongoing operational costs. The deadline to apply is Friday, May 15.

Community Voices: Last week to apply for OHA’s Mahiʻai Micro Fund Program

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

, known for its fine dining experience, recently appointed a new chef.

Internationally acclaimed chef Takayoshi Kawai is now the eatery’s master chef and executive director. Kawai is famous for his 1995 appearance on Fuji TV’s “Iron Chef.” He launched a new grand menu at the Kakaʻako restaurant in March.

Diners can currently choose from two tasting menus. The five-course Naupaka menu ($110 per person, optional $55 wine pairing) derives its name from the Native Hawaiian coastal flower; the six-course Kaui menu ($160 per person, optional $115 wine pairing), meaning “greatness” in Hawaiian, is the restaurant’s signature experience.

Both tasting menus highlight locally sourced ingredients, including ‘ulu (breadfruit), fresh seafood, and Molokai venison, to name a few.

During a recent media event, we had a preview of the recently launched Kaui menu.

The tasting menu starts with an amuse, which features a rotating bite-sized hors d’oeuvre.

It’s followed by a seafood salad, which features a medley of ‘ahi, abalone, shrimps, uni, fennel puree, champagne gelee, salmon tataki, tako and beet chips.

The next course features a seared scallop topped with a generous portion of foie gras. It’s garnished with toasted sesame and fried limu. Kawai pours a sweet potato soup into the dish as a finishing touch. He explains it’s like a vichyssoise — a puree usually made with potatoes, leeks, broth, onions and cream — but is hot instead of chilled.

The grilled fresh catch of the day is served in a Bouillabaisse sauce with charred leeks.

“There are grilled leeks underneath and fried leeks on top,” chef Takayoshi Kawai says.

For the meat entree, customers have a choice between grilled striploin and roasted rack of lamb. The grilled striploin comes with roasted root vegetables and is coated with a black pepper sauce. Meanwhile, the roasted rack of lamb is served with ratatouille, mint sauce and green beans.

The featured hand-cut noodles feature a Bolognese sauce with Parmigiano Reggiano. The meal concludes with an Olena-citrus tart with blueberry ganache and yuzu gelee.

In the upcoming months, the eatery plans to replace its Sunday brunch with a weekend lunch menu.

“My goal is to make this beautiful restaurant the most beloved restaurant in Hawaiʻi,” Kawai states. “Beyond culinary excellence, we aim to deliver the highest standards in service, ambiance and the overall guest experience.”

Open from 5 p.m. to closing Wednesdays to Sundays; brunch from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays; closed Mondays and Tuesdays

53 By the Sea new chef 050626

<title>53 By The Sea has a new chef and tasting menu</title>

Internationally acclaimed chef Takayoshi Kawai is now at the oceanfront restaurant; he is known for his 1995 appearance on Fuji TV’s “Iron Chef.” Diners can choose from five-course and six-course tasting menus. The eatery plans to replace its former Sunday brunch with weekend lunch service in the upcoming months.

Daily Smile: Tuesday, May 12, 2026

ASD Staff

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Daily Smile: Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Authors

ASD Staff

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