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Hawai'i Skies

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Jessica Doney at Mākaha Valley. "A low‑sitting rainbow stretching across the valley after the rain."

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IMG 1797 Afterlight

<title>Hawaiʻi Skies: Sitting low</title>

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Jessica Doney at Mākaha Valley.

Hawaiʻi Skies: Sitting low

Today&#039;s Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Jessica Doney at Mākaha Valley. &quot;A low‑sitting rainbow stretching across the valley after the rain.&quot; To submit your Hawai&#039;i Skies photo, visit us online or email: general@alohastatedaily.com For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up here for our free Daily Edition newsletter.

Kam Napier Headshot

A. Kam Napier

Government & Politics

Columnists

Even as lawmakers haggled and disagreed over the details of SB2471, there was one thing they agreed upon, and said aloud consistently: "This is going to get us sued."

Gov. Josh Green signed SB2471 into law as 

 on May 14. On Friday, Grassroot Institute of Hawai‘i filed a lawsuit, challenging it as unconstitutional. 

The leftwing, Mainland-based think tank, Center for American Progress, 

, guiding Hawai‘i lawmakers to be the first among more than a dozen states that would try to nullify Citizens United, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that upheld the freedom of people organized as corporations to engage in political speech. 

The state attorney general's office warned Legislators repeatedly that CAP's legal strategy was entirely too clever for its own good, nevertheless, the suit names Hawai‘i Attorney General Anne E. Lopez, as well as Nadine Ando, Director of the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, as defendants — in their official capacities — because they're the ones that Act 11 empowers to punish organizations for engaged in "electioneering" when the law takes effect next July.

Those punishments can be quite severe, including the total dissolution of any organization that runs afoul of Act 11.

 I had with Keli‘i Akina, president of GIH, last month, discussing the ways SB2471 might chill free speech in Hawaii‘i. At the time, the bill had passed but not yet been signed. We discussed how, while lawmakers talked about ending "dark money" and keeping unnamed, big-money corporate powers out of Hawai‘i politics, it seemed, in practice, more likely to hurt small, local organizations.

That is, in fact, the tact the lawsuit takes. “This law doesn’t affect just the Grassroot Institute,” said Akina, in statement Friday announcing the suit.  “It affects every Hawai‘i resident who wants to join with others to speak out on issues that impact their community. It doesn’t matter what the issue is or which side of it the organization is on. This law prevents citizens from organizing and pooling resources, time, and effort to speak on topics of public concern.”

GIH is represented by the Institute for Free Speech, see its case file on the lawsuit 

“Act 11 is one of the most sweeping attacks on political speech we’ve seen in years,” said Institute for Free Speech Senior Attorney Owen Yeates, the lead litigator on behalf of the Grassroot Institute, in a statement. “Americans have a constitutional right to join together through nonprofits and other associations to advocate for the causes that matter to them and their communities. Moreover, Americans have a right to decide for themselves which voices they want to hear. Act 11 strips those rights from the residents of Hawai‘i.”

The statement goes on to note that, "The lawsuit argues that Act 11 violates the First Amendment’s protections of free speech, freedom of association, freedom of the press, and freedom of petition and assembly. It further argues that key provisions of the law are unconstitutionally vague, leaving organizations unsure of where the line between lawful advocacy and prohibited activity lies."

"Act 11’s requirements and penalties present a substantial threat to the First Amendment rights of organizations such as the Grassroot Institute," said Institute for Free Speech. "Grassroot regularly publishes research, hosts events, and communicates with the public about legislation, ballot measures, tax policy, housing reforms, government accountability, and other issues vital to Hawai‘i residents.

"The organization’s speech often includes communications that identify elected officials’ policy positions. Under Act 11, this core advocacy could be treated as prohibited 'election activity,' placing the organization in jeopardy for speaking about the very issues it was founded to address. It does this by prohibiting any spending to 'directly or indirectly … support or oppose a candidate — terms so broad that even routine legislative education and advocacy mentioning elected officials could trigger enforcement.

"Those aren’t Act 11’s only defects. Even as the law imposes these severe and broad restrictions, it simultaneously carves out an exemption for certain corporations: namely, institutional press entities, such as newspapers, broadcasters, and periodicals. But the government cannot selectively determine which speakers enjoy First Amendment rights and which do not."

 with the lawmakers who created SB2471. Looks like the state will now have to defend their arguments in court.

The lawsuit "seeks declaratory and injunctive relief preventing the enforcement of Act 11." 

[{"type":"text","text":"ASD will have more on this suit in the days ahead."}]

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.

State capitol 022725

<title>Pipikaula Corner: Lawsuit filed against Act 11</title>

Lawmakers said the state would get sued, even as they pushed SB2471 into law as Act 11, seeking to nullify the U.S. Supreme Court decision known as Citizens United. Grassroot Institute of Hawai‘i filed its lawsuit Friday, challenging the law as unconstitutional.

Pipikaula Corner: Lawsuit filed against Act 11

Higa headshot white shirt square

Sterling Higa

Small waves lap at the sand. A 15-year-old boy lies face down, unconscious, and a group of young men take turns kicking him in the head. Then a shirtless man runs into the frame and punches one of the assailants in the side of the head.

The shirtless man is Kekoa Tamale, a 23-year-old lifeguard. By his account, he was 

 when he saw the beatdown, and he intervened to save the 15-year-old’s life, giving the boy a chance to escape. Then the group turned on him.

One clip shows Tamale seated, one hand pressed to his eye, while someone wrenches his head back by the hair. In another he is lifted off his feet and slammed into the shorebreak. A third, poorly lit, seems to show two men soccer-kicking him in the surf.

This all happened on the night of May 30 at Waialeʻe Beach on the North Shore of Oʻahu, at a spot locals call Dead Man’s Curve. By now, hundreds of thousands of people have viewed clips of the affair on social media.

Some facts are settled. Honolulu police have arrested five juveniles, and prosecutors have 

 each with attempted assault in the first degree. A 

 for the two victims has passed $100,000. But the kicks at the shoreline were not the night’s only footage.

 shows a different scene: a moonlit stretch of sand, Tamale and a young man trading blows with five other young men, one of them in a gray balaclava, the fight ending with no clear winner. Tamale himself 

 he had a run-in with this group earlier in the evening.

Look at the edges of the clips and you see a larger crowd. More than a dozen people follow the fight with their phones raised. Girls shriek obscenities in shock. One tells the boys to stop, but nobody moves to stop them.

Afterward, Tamale and his companion flex for the camera. A bystander celebrates their triumph against lopsided odds in language I won’t print. During that celebration, a girl holds out a sphere of alcohol, cap off — by appearance, the berry cherry limeade flavor of BuzzBallz Biggies, 15 percent alcohol by volume.

A photo said to be from that night has made the rounds since: a dozen girls posing on the sand. One sticks out her tongue and raises both middle fingers, with what appears to be a champagne bottle in one hand. Three more raise their middle fingers, each using a hand to shield their face from the lens. When the violent clips went viral, one of the girls took to Instagram to explain that they had only come to the beach for a birthday party, and that they were not present for the beating.

A second photo circulated, this one of the alleged suspects. Pages like 

crowdsourced their names. Sleuths posted their home addresses, then the names of their parents. The watching crowd at the beach never went home. It got bigger.

The comment sections offer two cures. Many say the boys need more lickins at home. Others say lock them up and lose the key. They’re right, up to a point.

Parents should parent. A 15-year-old has no business drinking on a beach after curfew. And punishing assault is the first and plainest duty of government — even those who want a small state would like it to enforce justice. In this case, prosecutions should be vigorous and penalties real.

The sword of the state is a terror to bad conduct, and the belt corrects behavior at home. But neither can supply what was missing on that beach. A young man who joins a mob to kick an unconscious boy in the head does not need adjustment. He needs regeneration.

That is the old Christian word for it. Scripture says we were dead in our “trespasses and sins,” following the course of this world, “by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” It is by God’s grace that we are saved through faith.

How does God change a heart? Not by handing down better rules. Through the prophet Ezekiel, He promises to take out “the heart of stone” and put in “a heart of flesh.” That is a transplant, not a tune-up. And His ordinary instrument for it is almost embarrassingly humble: people carrying His Word to other people, until the Spirit makes them live.

The boys who threw the kicks need Christ. So do the ones who filmed, laughed, or ran. So do the ones who shared, and sleuthed, and scrolled. Stricter parents and longer sentences can change what a man does, for a time. But they have never once changed what he loves.

Hawaiʻi has been here before. In the early 1820s the islands were ravaged by disease, drunkenness and dissolution. Out of that disorder, the Christian chiefess Kaʻahumanu, governing as kuhina nui, and the young king Kauikeaouli — Kamehameha III — advanced laws against drunkenness, gambling and violence.

Meanwhile, an awakening of Christian faith moved through the Islands. The laws did not produce the awakening. The awakening produced the laws.

I do not know how the courts will sort out the night of May 30, and neither does anyone posting about it. I do know what the beach is called. And apart from Christ, man is dead.

My prayer is that everyone on that sand — the beaten, the beaters and the watchers — would come to know Christ, and that His ambassadors on the North Shore would do what ambassadors do, and beg them to be reconciled to God.

Cross over beach Firefly Gemini Flash 843996

<title>No law can raise the dead</title>

Maybe police crackdowns or stricter parental discipline might've prevented the now infamous North Shore beatdowns, writes ASD opinion columnist Sterling Higa, but at heart, the cruelties of that night are evidence of a deeper spiritual crisis in Hawai‘i.

No law can raise the dead

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

Aloha Spirit

The keiki are home, and it is time to find family-friendly activities to keep the entire ʻohana entertained. Most students 

. Here are some of the free community events your ʻohana can enjoy in June or July: 

This year, readers can participate by reading 800 minutes or eight books.

 The theme of the reading challenge is “E Heluhelu Kākou: ‘Umeke Kā‘eo” and celebrates a calabash overflowing with knowledge and wisdom. The first 400 attendees who register for the challenge will receive a free frozen dessert from 

. Readers who log reading in June and July get a chance to unlock rewards and possibly win the grand prize of roundtrip tickets from Alaska Airlines / Hawaiian Airlines. 

On Saturday, June 6, stop by the Hawaiʻi State Library in Downtown Honolulu, near ʻIolani Palace, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., for activities, informational booths and prizes to kick off the challenge.

Admission to this museum is free. A special exhibit of 40 portraits from artists across five islands will be on display at Capitol Modern 

, which encouraged artists across the state to create portraits of people and their communities. Enjoy after-hours access to the museum through its First Friday series, which features live music and local vendors through Art + Flea. This summer, First Fridays will be on 

Live music will be provided by Paper Tiger Riot, Tuesdays in Bloom, Bombye, and JOBY! on June 5. Details for the First Friday in July are not yet listed online. 

Go to Kamaʻāina Sunday at ʻIolani Palace. 

Once a month, ʻIolani Palace welcomes kamaʻāina to explore the palace and participate in cultural activities plus enjoy live performances as part of its Kamaʻāina Sunday series. The free event takes place the second Sunday of each month. This summer those dates are: 

. Self-guided tours are available for the first 500 attendees. Entertainment and workshops are supported by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority through the Kūkulu Ola Program. 

The Bishop Museum is free for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Card members. Head to the museum to get tickets in person. 

The Honolulu Museum of Art offers free admission to military families of all ranks and services, including guard and reserve, from May 27

. HoMA is part of the Blue Star Museums initiative, which is a partnership between the National Endowment of the Arts, Blue Star Families and the Department of Defense plus more than 2,000 participating museums across the nation. The program allows for the free admission of 

military personnel and up to five family members

. Not part of the military? Admission is free for the entire community on the third Sunday of the month, which is 

this summer.  On July 19, there will also be a free screening of 

Jack Johnson’s new documentary “Surfilmusic.” 

These free concerts feature local musicians at the City and County of Honolulu’s botanical gardens. The musical line-up includes everything from bagpipes to jazz and island jams. The hourlong shows are family friendly. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own food, drinks and chairs or blankets. The series started June 4 with a performance by The Rackets at Foster Botanical Garden. Concerts at Foster Botanical Garden and Wahiawā Botanical garden start at 5 p.m., while those at Foster Botanical Garden start at 5:30 p.m., with the exception of the Midsummer Night’s Gleam event, which runs from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Foster Botanical Garden"}]

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Wahiawā Botanical Garden"}]

The free movie series Sunset on the Beach in Waikīkī has returned to Queen’s Beach on the Diamond Head side of Waikīkī. Seating is first-come, first-served, and families are encouraged to 

 with pathways and sidewalks that reach the beach and restrooms. The program is provided through a partnership between the City and County of Honolulu, the Waikīkī Improvement Association and Southwest Airlines. This list only features events through July, but the series goes through September. 

: “Wicked: For Good”: Festivities begin at 4:30 p.m. | Movie starts at 7:30 p.m.

: Festivities begin at 4:30 p.m. | Movie starts at 7:30 p.m.

Know of a free activity that did not make this list? Email us at 

. For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Concert

<title>26 free activities for keiki in summer 2026</title>

Wondering what to do on Oʻahu with the keiki this summer? Aloha State Daily pulled together this list of upcoming activities such as free movies at the beach, access to multiple museums and live music.

26 free activities for keiki in summer 2026

Arrasmith Portrait

Perry Arrasmith

Just when I thought the dust settled, another layer was added to the confusion. 

It’s nothing short of a crisis. On June 4, the Chair of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, Andrew Ferguson, made an announcement from Ohio that throws Hawai‘i’s Medicaid program in the middle of a growing national fight over fraud. 

As a result of Ferguson’s announcements, the state agency certified to investigate Medicaid fraud in Hawai‘i is now decertified and defunded. In the federal government’s eyes, it functions with no credibility. 

, “Hawai‘i’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit has received millions and millions of dollars to fight fraud and has consistently been one of the lowest-performing fraud units in the country.”

, a little-known agency nestled under the Hawai‘i Department of the Attorney General charged with investigating fraud. 

The crisis has unfolded gradually over the past 10 years and now finds itself at an unprecedented inflection point. 

“They have been the subject of continued demands to improve their performance since 2014 — dating back to the Obama Administration — and from 2021 to 2025, Hawai‘i’s Medicaid funding went up 27%. Their Medicaid enrollment went up 40%, and they did not produce a single conviction or obtain a single indictment of a fraudster from 2021 to 2025.” 

The Attorney General of the State of Hawai‘i, Anne Lopez, had previously clapped back at the Trump administration's accusations against Hawai‘i just a week earlier. On May 26, the California Department of Justice 

 a press conference with several Democratic Attorneys General to address a ‘last-minute’ invitation extended by Vice President Vance to join the White House’s Medicaid Fraud Task Force. Attorney General Lopez was flanked by her counterparts from Wisconsin, New York, New Jersey, and California.

 an Anti-Fraud Task Force on March 16 to be chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance. For politically disparate Hawai‘i, the gravity of the Task Force’s importance was brought to bear on May 13 at a 

 on Medicaid fraud hosted by Vice President Vance. 

“The Hawai‘i Medicaid program has received billions and billions of dollars from the federal taxpayers,” Vance observed at his May conference. “Hawai‘i taxpayers have paid in a lot of money into this program over the last years as well. Guess how many convictions or indictments Hawaii has had over the last few years in its Medicaid fraud program? The answer is zero.”

For those who don’t know, Medicaid is a joint federal-state program administered by the states. Each state has a designated Medicaid agency (

 in Hawai‘i’s case, which functions under the Hawai‘i Department of Human Services). Hawai‘i will then pay different providers and/or health plans to provide health care and report those expenditures to the federal government through the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Hawai‘i then seeks federal funds to match some of the costs borne by the State. 

, the U.S. federal government covered 71% of Hawai‘i’s Medicaid costs ($2.2 billion) in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, leaving the State of Hawai‘i to cover the remaining 29% ($890 million). It’s a lot of money, leaving fraud as a consistent possibility.  

Gov. Green brushed off Vance’s concerns on May 18. “He didn’t take the time to call me at all,” Green 

Gov. Green, for now, is committed to avoiding squabbles with the federal government. Where health care is concerned, he’s enjoyed a largely warm relationship with the Trump administration. 

To date, Governor Josh Green has expressed a ready willingness to engage with the Trump Administration on a select basis. 

This relationship has notably extended to the CMS headed by Dr. Mehmet Oz. CMS Administrator Oz has directly engaged with Governor Green on more than one occasion. On July 23, 2025, the Governor’s Office 

 that Green would facilitate a discussion with CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz (alongside Republican Vermont Governor Phil Scott). 

CMS, so far, has also shown a willingness to fund rural health efforts across the United States, including Hawai‘i. On December 29, 2025, it 

 that the State of Hawai‘i would receive nearly $189 million in funding to “expand access to care in rural communities, strengthen the rural health workforce, modernize rural facilities and technology, and support innovative models that bring high-quality, dependable care closer to home.”

 focuses on six specific areas: (1) a Rural Health Information Network; (2) the Pili Ola Telehealth Network; (3) a Rural Infrastructure for Care Access (RICA) network; (4) a Rural Healthcare Workforce Pipeline; (5) a Rural Respite Network of five separate sites designed to reduce hospital stays; and (6) a Rural Value-Based Innovation and AHEAD Readiness Fund to encourage “value-based care and population-health models.” 

Ties between Gov. Green and Dr. Oz, at least for now, appear to be warm. Oz even 

 Green for collaborating with him for National Walking Day on March 19, just a few days after the formation of Vice President Vance’s Task Force. 

Despite Vance’s attacks on Hawai‘i, Gov. Green pulled back the veil to explain that he still maintains good relationships with the Trump administration. As he explained in one May interview, “I actually spoke right after that interview with the head of CMS – that’s Dr. Oz – to share what we’re actually doing.”

 (MFCU), organized under the State of Hawai‘i’s Department of the Attorney General. To that end, criticism of our MFCU is not new. 

In fact, managing the MFCU is a wicked issue with a decade of history. During the Obama Administration, an October 2014 

 conducted by the HHS OIG found that “only two of the [MFCU]’s seven investigators were hired as long-term employees (as required), the Unit did not have an auditor, it did not have written policies and procedures for its operations, and it did not have a required training plan for its professional employees.” 

The same report found that the MFCU failed to “regularly communicate with Federal law enforcement agencies, it worked outside of its grant authority, and it did not exercise fiscal control of its resources.”

 found that the MFCU “experienced significant turnover of investigators and lacked sufficient Medicaid fraud cases to adequately train new and inexperienced investigators.” Furthermore, the MFCU appeared to receive “few fraud referrals from the Medicaid Program Integrity Unit and other stakeholders, which limited the number of cases available for the Unit to investigate and prosecute.”

Similarly, the Center for Program Integrity within the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services called for better cooperation in two reports issued in 

In April 2026, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) dispatched its Office of the Inspector General’s (OIG) MFCU Oversight Division to review the state’s work on Medicaid fraud. Per the Attorney General’s office, the review “identified a number of challenges that have impacted its ability to initiate criminal charges and obtain convictions.” 

To that end, the division has ample room for improvement. Efforts to streamline the MFCU’s work include “increased collaboration with the unit’s state and federal partners to detect and investigate Medicaid and Medicare Fraud in Hawai‘i, accelerated recruitment of new investigators, and developing tools for investigation.” 

 directly to Hawai‘i’s Attorney General. The Inspector General, T. March Bell, doubled down on the Vice President’s rhetoric and went a step further. Bell confirmed that he had directed his office “to engage in a robust review of [Hawai‘i’s] MFCU.” To that end, he further confirmed that he “will be reaching out to you personally to review the effectiveness of your MFCU, as well as its compliance with program requirements.” 

“Hawaiʻi has not ignored Medicaid fraud,” Attorney General Anne Lopez 

 on May 14. “Our Medicaid Fraud Control Unit has secured or helped secure more than $14 million in judgments, settlements, and recoveries since 2021, filed recent criminal charges, and is actively working with federal and state partners to strengthen investigations and prosecutions.”

It is still true that the State of Hawai‘i did not have any convictions resulting from the MFCU. This fact is confirmed by a 

 released by the HHS OIG. Small states like Montana, Vermont, North Dakota, New Hampshire, and Delaware had at least one conviction. The same sheet shows that Hawai‘i managed to engage in 388 fraud investigations, although not a single investigation resulted in a single indictment.  

Despite his methods, the vice president's press conference is shining attention on an inconvenient, long-term issue with serious consequences for Hawai‘i’s fiscal health. 

For now, Attorney General Anne Lopez’s decision to align with other Democratic Attorneys General may run out of step with Gov. Green’s conciliatory approach to folks like Dr. Oz and the Trump Administration’s increased focus on Hawai‘i. 

It’s a game of money overshadowed by the inclination of national officials to make an example of Hawai‘i. To weather this storm, Hawai‘i’s money — and Hawai‘i’s health — require more attention from Hawai‘i’s people.

Josh Green state of the state 012125

<title>Making Sense of Hawai‘i’s Medicaid Fraud Conundrum</title>

On Thursday, the federal government decertified and defunded Hawai‘i's Medicaid fraud unit in response to having spent millions on the unit for years while getting few results. ASD political historian Perry Arrasmith explains how we got here and what it means for Hawai‘i, where Gov. Josh Green had been on fairly good terms with the Trump administration on health matters.

Making Sense of Hawai‘i’s Medicaid Fraud Conundrum

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

 — centered on desserts highlighting fluffy cakes topped with colorful, round sprinkles — has taken social media by storm. The trend originated from a New York-based bakery, but business owner Ailene Lau is launching her own twist on the viral dessert this weekend. 

, an espresso and matcha bar at Bayview Golf Course in Kāneʻohe, is launching a dot cake-inspired latte ($9.50 with espresso, $11.50 with matcha), along with a dot cake dessert ($10) this weekend.

“We offer a rotating specialty latte; for this month, we will be offering the viral dot cake-inspired latte,” Lau says. “One of my favorite things is bringing fun food and drink trends to Hawaiʻi. Not everyone has the chance to try the viral trends they see online, so it’s always exciting to re-create them locally and share them with our community.”

The dot cake latte features your choice of milk and caffeine — espresso, hojicha (extra $1) or matcha (extra $2) — with birthday cake sauce, housemade cream topping, and thousands of dot sprinkles. Meanwhile, the business’s dot cake is made with Funfetti cake and vanilla ice cream, and is topped with dot sprinkles.

“The dot cake drink will be available until July, and if people really like it, I might keep it to the end of the summer,” Lau says.

Lau opened Bean on the Green at Bayview Golf Course in March. It’s currently open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays to Sundays, and it’s open to the public — not only to golfers.

“This space (for the coffee shop) has been empty for some time, and I wanted to utilize it to bring convenience not only to the golfers at Bayview, but also to the community,” Lau says. “Whether you’re charging your car at the (Tesla) Superchargers, playing mini putt, practicing at the driving range or just looking for a comforting place to have breakfast and coffee, we’ve been working to expand our menu to ensure there’s something for everyone.”

Bean on the Green offers classic coffees, blended drinks and caffeine-free options, but it’s most known for its specialty lattes. Specialty lattes come with the customer’s choice of espresso, hojicha or matcha; matcha lattes feature Ami Mei matcha and each drink includes 4 grams of matcha, according to Lau.

“I worked a few coffee shop jobs in the past; I started at Starbucks and then I worked at Aliʻi Coffee,” she says. “My menu is inspired by local flavors. For the specialty lattes, I make all the sauces myself.”

The Chantilly puff latte ($9.75) features housemade Chantilly sauce, dark chocolate sauce, a cream top, crushed roasted macadamia nuts and a dark chocolate drizzle. The Coco Puff latte ($9) is made with a dark chocolate sauce and a cream top, and is finished with Coco Puffs cereal and a dark chocolate drizzle.

“That one’s really fun because it’s inspired by the Coco Puff cold brew in Disneyland,” Lau says. “The Coco Puffs and Chantilly lattes match better with coffee; a lot of people like to get the banana bread latte with matcha.”

The banana bread latte has become a customer favorite. It includes banana puree, brown sugar cinnamon glaze, a cream top and crushed roasted macadamia nuts.

“All specialty lattes come with a cream top,” Lau says. “So far, our banana bread latte and Chantilly puff latte have been the most popular.”

Non-coffee options include Red Bull spritzers ($6.50) — which include Red Bull with Nerds Candy and a choice of Harder’s syrup — and blended drinks like frappes and frozen lemonades.

“Some flavors (for the Red Bull spritzers) include green river, melon and lychee,” Lau says. “It’s good with the Nerds candy added for a fun crunch.”

The business offers a limited food menu, which includes bagels with cream cheese ($5), breakfast bagels ($11), breakfast sandwiches ($11) and breakfast burritos ($15). The latter are stuffed with Spam or Portuguese sausage, scrambled eggs, jalapeno cheddar potatoes, cheese and aioli, and come with a side of salsa.

“Classic tots (instead of the jalapeno cheddar) are available as well,” Lau says. “It’s finished with a crispy cheese crust on the outside of the burrito, so there’s cheese on the inside and on the outside. The crispy cheese skirt is my favorite part.”

Spam musubis ($4) and walking tacos ($8) — a combo of Doritos, seasoned ground beef, cheese, lettuce and salsa — are also available as grab-and-go options.

Customers can call or text 808-941-3883 for free delivery throughout the Bayview property, according to Lau.

“This service started as free on-course delivery for the golfers, but we received a lot of delivery requests from other business patrons on the property,” Lau says.

Bean on the Green also participates in the Bayview Night Market, which is from 4 to 8 p.m. every first and third Tuesday at Bayview Golf Park.

“We sell huge dirty soda buckets with Harder’s syrups, our housemade cream top, and fun candy toppings,” Lau says. “It (the night market) features lots of food and craft vendors, as well as a card show for Pokémon, One Piece and sports card collectors and fanatics.”

Bean on the Green owner 060426

<title>Bean on the Green is launching viral dot cake-inspired lattes</title>

The coffee shop and matcha bar, located at Bayview Golf Course in Kāneʻohe, is open Fridays to Sundays. The business — which is open to the public, not only to golfers — is launching its trendy dot cake-inspired lattes and desserts this weekend; they will be available while supplies last.

Bean on the Green is launching viral dot cake-inspired lattes

A new Vietnamese eatery is opening today in Mōʻiliʻili.

 is opening today in Mōʻiliʻili (in the former space of Bangkok Chef). The eatery has other locations in Waipahu and Waikīkī. The menu at the Mōʻiliʻili store is the same as the ones at the other two stores.

 was renovated and now features new tables and chairs, new walls and updated lighting.

The Vietnamese restaurant is popular for its beef back ribs pho ($25.95), which is its signature dish. The beef noodle soup is topped with green and white onions, along with massive, meaty ribs.

“The beef is simmered for eight hours,” explains restaurant owner Phuong Nguyen. “Our broth is really flavorful.”

While the eatery is recognized for its pho, its menu is extensive, featuring a variety of appetizers, entrees and ramen.

Popular appetizers include classic summer rolls ($12) and calamari ($13.95). Summer rolls — shrimp wrapped with noodles, lettuce and daikon — come with a side of peanut sauce. Meanwhile, the crispy fried squid is served with a spicy mayo sauce.

The eatery’s barbecue beef back ribs ($25.95) are its second most popular dish, according to Nguyen.

“I started with the (beef back ribs) pho, and then I thought, ‘Maybe I need another dish that’s different,’” Nguyen says. “Sometimes, people don’t want the soup. Not a lot of restaurants have the barbecue beef back ribs. It’s really reasonable; this whole plate is only $25.95. It’s tender and features my own recipe.”

The eatery’s tamarind pork ribs ($20.95) are another customer favorite. The crispy pork ribs are served with a sweet chili sauce.

“It tastes sour and sweet at the same time,” Nguyen says.

To celebrate its soft opening, the eatery is offering a 20% discount from today until Dec. 19. The restaurant will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Customer parking is available in the side parking lot. Street parking is also available.

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Hawaiʻi Skies: Sitting low

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