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[{"type":"text","text":"A really good idea..."}]

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<title>Daily Smile: Monday, June 1, 2026</title>

A really good idea...

Daily Smile: Monday, June 1, 2026

WEB square crop Hayley Lehman Headshot RGZ1636

Haley Lehman

Government & Politics

The City and County of Honolulu collects thousands of abandoned shopping carts across the island per year. The Honolulu City Council is considering a bill that would make it illegal to remove and possess a shopping cart outside of the business that owns it.

 would make it illegal for a person to possess or use a shopping cart outside of the business premises that the shopping cart belongs to. People who are found with shopping carts would be fined up to $2,000 and could be imprisoned for up to a month, and they would forfeit the shopping cart to the city.

In a statement accompanying the bill, Waters said that the possession and abandonment of shopping carts threatens the public’s health, safety and welfare.

The City and County of Honolulu Department of Facilities Maintenance collected 3,535 shopping carts in 2024 and 2,608 shopping carts in 2025, according to a DFM spokesperson. Most of the carts collected are typically not in usable condition, they said.

Waters wrote that shopping carts on sidewalks, in parks and at bus stops create unsafe conditions for the public, and shopping carts that obstruct waterways can lead to overflow.

“The city must be able to ensure the safety of members of the public when they are using sidewalks, roads and streets, bus stops, parks, waterways, and other public spaces and ensure the public’s ability to use these accommodations freely,” Waters stated.

The bill has not been scheduled for public hearing or a committee meeting yet.

Shopping carts cost from $500 to $650 and up to $1,000 each depending on where they are manufactured, shipping costs, the volume purchased, the type, size and construction, and if they have anti-theft locking devices, according to Retail Merchants of Hawaiʻi Interim President and CEO Dave Erdman.

“All of this increases the cost of our goods purchased at a retailer because the loss of these carts, being stolen, it adds to cost of a retailer’s business and adds to the prices we pay in a store,” Erdman said.

The bill garnered support from Honolulu Police Department, which said the bill will disincentivize people from stealing shopping carts and improve the beauty and safety of Oʻahu.

Honolulu Police Department Major Paul Okamoto of Waikīkī wrote to the council that abandoned shopping carts in public spaces are a sign of “urban blight” and “deterioration” in Hawaiʻi.

“Removing these carts from private property onto public property, exerting unauthorized control over the cart, appropriating it for your own use, and retaining it to deprive its owner of its use is theft,” Okamoto wrote. “This theft continues to occur because there is no consequence for taking or being in unlawful possession of them.”

In an email to ASD, Okamoto wrote that theft cases involving shopping carts produce certain challenges that make enforcement impractical — sometimes a store representative cannot be found in a reasonable amount of time that can provide a statement or identifying marks on the cart have been removed or damaged — so HPD is “exploring a legislative solution to more effectively deter the theft and unauthorized use of shopping carts.”

Trevor Abarzua, president and CEO of the Waikīkī Improvement Association, wrote in a letter to the council that shopping carts left in pedestrian-oriented districts like Waikīkī prevent the public from safety using an area and create hazards. 

He stated that the bill “will provide the City with an important tool to address a longstanding problem, protect pedestrian access, support local businesses, reduce environmental hazards, and preserve the safety and usability of our public spaces.”

Lauren Zirbel, executive director of the Hawaiʻi Food Industry Association, wrote that the cost of replacing stolen shopping carts increase the cost of doing business in Hawaiʻi when retailers and customers are already dealing with high operation and food costs.

Waters wrote in an email to ASD on Thursday, “At a time when families are already struggling to afford everyday necessities like eggs, milk, and other groceries, Bill 53 is a commonsense step toward reducing avoidable cost increases, while helping keep neighborhoods across O‘ahu safe and accessible.”

Honolulu City Council, state Legislature considered alternative options

Former Councilmember Calvin Say introduced a 

in August 2023 that would ban people from using or leaving shopping carts on public property and would create a fine of $500 or imprisonment for up to a month. The bill was sent to two committees but never got a public hearing.

The Hawaiʻi Legislature attempted to address the same concerns in January through 

, but the bill received opposition and did not move forward. HB1636 proposed that businesses mark each shopping cart with identifying information and would have authorized counties to return a shopping cart to a business in exchange for a $500 fine.

RMH opposed House Bill 1636. “House Bill 1636 proposed holding the retail businesses accountable for abandoned shopping carts by allowing counties to impound them and assess fees or fines of $500 or more. Bill 53 recognizes that the shopping cart is stolen, and not abandoned by the retailer,” Erdman said.

The City and County of Honolulu isn’t the first municipality to consider fining people who take shopping carts off a business’s property. Ogden, Utah made it a 

 or a $50 fine if a person removes and is in possession of a shopping cart removed from a shopping area. People in Federal Way, Washington who push or use a shopping cart in a public right-of-way are fined $50. Arizona made it illegal to possess a shopping car away from a retailer’s premises, and Phoenix, Arizona ordered retailers to use locking wheel systems and charges $25 to $50 to return abandoned shopping carts.

Critics say the bill penalizes homelessness

 Critics wrote that the bill would disproportionately impact Oʻahu’s homeless residents. Jonathan Huynh, an Oʻahu resident, wrote that the bill is a “grossly disproportionate and inhumane” approach to addressing the issue of shopping carts.

“This ordinance targets those who have no home, who use a simple cart to carry what little they own,” Huynh wrote. “It is a legislative weapon against the poor, disguised as a public safety measure.”

Mandy Fernandes, policy director of ACLU of Hawaiʻi, told ASD that bill 53 is “is unnecessary, cruel, and singles out one type of property for special enforcement and resources.”

Fernandes said that the fine is nearly 10 times a cart’s value and jailing a person costs taxpayers $300 per person, per day, making it a disproportionate response to something that is already illegal.

“Jailing someone for possession of a shopping cart has nothing to do with public safety,” Fernandes said. “I understand retailers’ frustration, but this proposal criminalizes the conditions of being poor while doing nothing to address what leads someone to take a cart in the first place. Those same resources could go to supportive housing and health services, a cheaper, and far more effective, response to the actual problem. “

Shopping cart

<title>Shopping carts could be banned if removed from commercial stores</title>

Shopping carts could be banned if removed from commercial stores

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

[{"type":"text","text":"Caizel Jesus-Kapesi's parents knew it the day he was born. "}]

The son of Clisha Jesus and TeeJay Kapesi, Caizel was the second of four children and weighed 10 pounds at birth. 

"Literally as soon as he was born, we took him home, and that's how it started — Fatboy. He was a chunky kid," Clisha Jesus-Kapesi recalled to Aloha State Daily. 

And thus, Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi, the one the world has grown to love in recent days, was born. Clisha and TeeJay can't remember which parent coined the nickname, but it certainly stuck. 

In a 14-13 locally televised win at Leilehua on Aug. 21, Jesus-Kapesi completed 13 of his 20 passes for 193 yards, two interceptions and a touchdown. The gritty victory included a key first down in the closing minutes in which ‘Aiea went for it on fourth down deep in its own territory and converted to seal the game. For his efforts, Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi was named the Spectrum OC16 Impact Player of the Game. 

While interviewed by Spectrum's Jimmy Bender upon receiving his award, a TV super displaying Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi's name, weight, position and class was on display. The 6-foot-1, 268-pound sophomore quarterback quickly became an internet darling overnight, fans from around the world smitten with his name and social media posts of him reaching hundreds of thousands in reshares. Google Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi, and it would be hard to find a national sports content website that hasn't recycled the same set of pictures of him. 

"You must be here for Fatboy," multiple members of the ‘Aiea football program tell a visitor at a recent Na Ali‘i practice. 

Perhaps the first thing to know about Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi is that he's fully embraced his lifelong nickname. He politely introduces himself as Fatboy, and in the days since his viral introduction to the world, people who have never met him will approach him and say, 'Hey, you're Fatboy!'"

Due to the viral nature of his name, Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi was asked if local brands, such as local restaurant chain Fatboy's, have reached out. 

"I don't know about the restaurant yet. Hopefully soon," 

. "I was thinking about the FatBoy ice cream. That too, hopefully."

For those curious to learn more about him, what else should we know about Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi?

"I love cheeseburgers. I love burgers. That's one thing about me. I love burgers, especially McDonald's burgers," he said while flashing a grin. "You know, that's the one right there."

Life for the Jesus-Kapesi family has not been the same since last weekend. Their phones are still constantly buzzing with memes and comments. Through it all, Fatboy has stayed the same humble kid. During his viral interview, before he conceived it was possible he'd become as famous as he has, Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi gave the credit to God and his offensive line.  

"Being (seemingly everywhere) on social media, I take a lot of pride in it," he said. "I

t means a lot not just to me, but to my family. I'm putting my family's name out there, too."

Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi has been the starting quarterback on the varsity team at ‘Aiea High School since the beginning of his freshman year. He has a 3.7 grade point average and aspires to play college football. As ‘Aiea awaits improvements to its on-campus stadium, all of its games are on the road in 2026. Na Ali‘i improved to 2-0 after the Leilehua victory and will next take the field at Nānākuli on Saturday.

"I really, really want to play college football one day," he says. "My recruiting process so far, I'm working on it, but I'm ready."

A conversation with Clisha and TeeJay about Fatboy's ‘Aiea upbringing reveals why their son has been able to remain grounded despite his newfound fame. Young Caizel had his "knucklehead" moments, Mom says, but through strong parenting, he eventually learned and began to appreciate the process of earning everything he has, both good and bad. 

"'You can't do this, don't go do that. You have to do this to get that.' Having him work for his rewards. You want that? Then you work for it," Clisha says. "If you think we're hard, we're teaching you. He'll always be a kid at heart, and that's what I love about him."

Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi wouldn't gave gone viral last weekend if he weren't the Impact Player of the Game, and those go to winners. 

"I'm really proud of where he's at and where his potential could take him. We always tell him that what's done in the dark comes to light," TeeJay said. "The work he puts in on and off the field, the drilling he gets, letting him know that football's an avenue, and you can have all the talent, but you have to do everything right on and off the field. The talent can't outshine everything, and the classroom and the football field, one can't overcome the other, and he handles his business on that."

TeeJay is also an assistant linebackers coach for ‘Aiea, and he doesn't take it easy on Fatboy in practice. 

"Every day, we try to get this defense to bring the best out of not just him, but our offense as well," TeeJay said. 

The ‘Aiea community has supported Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi long before his viral moment. The rest of the world is now catching up. As nice as the attention is, nobody involved is pretending it's all been positive. 

"Seeing not only the positive comments, but the negative was really harsh," Clisha says. "I just had to remind him to just keep with the positive. (The attention) is something that we're not used to."

Mika Li‘ili‘i, ‘Aiea's head coach: 

"We always talk to the kids about social media. It can be evil and stuff like that. But in this situation, it's also a blessing for our school, for Fatboy to represent and bring some attention to our school and what we're doing. I know he feels it and he understands he's getting all the notoriety because his teammates are catching his balls and blocking for him and stuff like that."

Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi has played football for as long as he can remember, but he didn't get an opportunity to play quarterback until he was 12. 

He also dabbled in soccer and competitive hula, his 

 taking home a runner-up trophy during his only competition in 2019. 

Always on the bigger side, TeeJay remembers how he was placed as a lineman by default. "When he finally got his shot to be a quarterback, we hit the ground running, and that's who we have here today," Dad says. 

When one watches Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi throw a football, it's clear that doing so is easy to him. Using his upper body to gain torque, Fatboy spins it effortlessly in practice while his receivers practice multiple routes with him. 

Another thing that appears seamless to Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi: blending in with his teammates. In pre-practice stretching and jogging, he truly is one of the boys. His demeanor remains mellow and approachable.

Following a set of reps, his teammates, perhaps in acknowledgement of media around, break the huddle with "1, 2, 3, Fatboy!" 

[{"type":"text","text":"Fatboy Jesus-Kapesi can't help but laugh coyly."}]

"More people seeing that I'm on social media, I mean, it would be great for them to come to our games so we could show love to our community, show them what ‘Aiea High School football is about," he says. "For me, ‘Aiea is more than just a football program. It's home to me, so it means a lot."

Daily Smile: Monday, June 1, 2026

ASD Staff

Reporter

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Daily Smile: Monday, June 1, 2026

Authors

ASD Staff

Reporter

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