ASD icon blue inverse lighter

ASD Staff

Daily Smile

[{"type":"text","text":"Competition over. Give him the gold medal..."}]

Smile 26 6 7

<title>Daily Smile: Sunday, June 7, 2026</title>

Competition over. Give him the gold medal...

Daily Smile: Sunday, June 7, 2026

 Competition over. Give him the gold medal...

Arrasmith Portrait

Perry Arrasmith

Government & Politics

Columnists

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.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

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

Father’s Day is coming up Sunday, June 21. Whether dad wants a buffet, steak or seafood, check out the following options:

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

: Prince Waikīkī, 100 Holomoana St. 3rd Floor, Honolulu

: The Father’s Day dinner buffet costs $109 per adult ($54.50 for children ages 6 to 10 years old). Highlights include:

The brunch buffet costs $111 per adult ($55.50 for children ages 6 to 10 years old). It includes similar offerings with brunch additions like a waffle station and toppings and an omelet station.

: June 18-21 dinner buffet from 5 to 9 p.m.; June 21 brunch buffet from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"604 Clubhouse"}]

: Leilehua Golf Course, 199 Leilehua Golf Course Road, Wahiawā

: This Father’s Day brunch buffet costs $60 per adult ($25 per child, children ages 3 years and under have free admission).

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Bird of Paradise"}]

: The Father’s Day brunch buffet costs $98 per adult ($49 per child ages 6 to 12 years old).

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

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

: This three-course dining experience costs $90 per person. It includes:

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

: This all-you-can-eat lobster buffet costs $139 per person (50% off for children under 10 years old). The buffet will include:

: June 20 and 21; dinner seatings at 4, 4:30, 7 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday brunch at 9 and 9:30 a.m., 12 and 12:30 p.m. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Hy’s Steak House"}]

: This Father’s Day brunch buffet costs $140 per adult ($105 for seniors ages 65 years and older, $65 for children ages 6 to 12 years; children ages 5 years and under have free admission).

A 20% service charge will be added for groups of eight individuals or more. 

: June 21; brunch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., last seating at 1 p.m. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Kamukura Surf + Dine"}]

: This special Father’s Day celebration box costs $35 until June 13 (it’s $38 from June 14 to 18). It includes strawberry mochi; ‘ahi katsu; washugyu vegetable roll; garlic shrimp; edamame, unagi, salmon and hijiki rice; steamed vegetables; vegetable kakiage tempura; fried gyoza and an avocado mentaiko omelet. 

: Orders must be picked up before June 21

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

: Royal Hawaiian Center, 2201 Kalākaua Ave., Honolulu 

: This Father’s Day meal costs $99.99 for two people. It includes:

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Plumeria Beach House"}]

: The Kāhala Hotel & Resort, 5000 Kāhala Ave., Honolulu

: This buffet costs $137 per adult ($55 per child ages 6 to 12 years) and will take place in the Plumeria Beach House restaurant and Maile room. Customers can look forward to carving stations, fresh seafood, chef specialties and desserts. 

: June 21, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., 5:30 to 8 p.m. 

kahalaresort.com/dining/plumeria-beach-house/

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

: The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikīkī Beach, 383 Kalaimoku St., Honolulu

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

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

A two-hour dining period will be enforced. 

: June 21; brunch from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., last seating at 1 p.m. 

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

: Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort & Spa, 2424 Kalākaua Ave., Honolulu

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

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

The eatery’s kamaʻāina discount is not applicable for the Father’s Day buffet. There will be a 90-minute dining time limit. 

: June 21; seatings at 9:30, 10 and 11:30 a.m.; 12 and 1:30 p.m. 

https://www.buffetathyatt.com/menus/#fathers-day-brunch

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Tim Ho Wan Waikīkī"}]

: Royal Hawaiian Center, 2201 Kalākaua Ave. A-307, Honolulu

: Customers who celebrate Father’s Day at Tim Ho Wan Waikiki will receive a complimentary dessert (inquire with servers). If you purchase a $100 gift card, you’ll receive a $20 coupon for your next visit. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Waikele Country Club"}]

: The Father’s Day dinner buffet costs $129 per adult ($74 for children ages 4 to 9 years).

The buffet will also feature live music entertainment. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Wolfgang’s Steakhouse"}]

: Royal Hawaiian Center, 2301 Kalākaua Ave., Honolulu

: This Father’s Day special costs $155 per person. It includes a glass of red wine, Wolfgang’s signature extra-thick slice of bacon, and 24 to 26-ounce prime bone-in rib-eye steak with mashed potatoes and creamed spinach. 

Fathers Day 2026 Buffet at Hyatt 052126

<title>Where to celebrate Father’s Day 2026 - part 1</title>

Whether you’re looking to dine-in or celebrate at home, we’ve got you covered.

Where to celebrate Father’s Day 2026 - part 1

, serving made-to-order tempura and udon bowls, recently opened in Waterfront Plaza. The business can be found at Aloha Mamacita’s takeout window (level 2F, up the stairs near the security office and Building 4 parking elevators).

The concept has been in the works since January, according to Ryne Shimabukuro, who co-owns the business with Marc Kumai.

“Marc’s my oldest brother’s friend,” Shimabukuro explains. “He was working at Sakura Terrace, as well as at other Japanese restaurants, for a long time, specifically making tempura. He called me one day, saying he wants to do that (make tempura) as his job.”

Shimabukuro was working at Totoya at the time, but is no stranger to running a business. He previously operated his udon business, Shima-Ya, as a pop-up at fishcake Honolulu in Kakaʻako.

When Shimabukuro and Kumai were looking for potential spaces for their tempura business, they were connected with Kevin Nguyen, business owner of Aloha Mamacita.

“We’re really happy that Aloha Mamacita let us share their home with them,” Shimabukuro says.

Right now, Tempura Man is open from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mondays to Fridays. Operating hours are subject to change, according to Shimabukuro. The business accepts walk-in orders only.

[{"type":"text","text":"“‘Tempura man’ is what my niece calls Marc,” Shimabukuro says."}]

Customers can opt for pre-set tempura boxes or order from the a la carte menu. So far, the chef’s choice box ($18.50) — comprising three shrimp, pumpkin, eggplant, zucchini, sweet potato and mushroom tempura over rice — and seafood box ($22.50) have been customer favorites. The latter includes two shrimp, two ika (squid), kakiage (tempura fritter made from a fried carrot and onion mix) and two chikuwa (Japanese fishcake) tempura over rice. All boxes include a choice of ten-don or tentsuyu sauce.

“The tentsuyu sauce is going to be a more traditional Japanese dipping sauce, with daikon and a little bit of ginger on top,” Shimabukuro explains. “The ten-don sauce is going to be a little sweeter with a hint of ginger inside.

“What normally happens in Japan is you put the rice, then tempura on top, and you pour the sauce on top,” he adds. “Since this is for takeout, right now, the sauces are packed separately.”

The a la carte menu includes options like shrimp ($3.50), nori-dusted chikuwa ($3.50 for two pieces), pumpkin ($2.50), zucchini ($2.50) and sweet potato ($2.50) tempura. A la carte tempura come with complimentary Japanese salt on the side.

“The tempura has a crispy texture,” Shimabukuro says. “He’s (Marc’s) been doing it (making tempura) a long time. The crispiness of it, the freshness, how it comes out hot but not doughy — that’s what I like about it.”

The business also offers tempura udon ($11) — which includes two pieces of shrimp and one piece of pumpkin tempura — beef udon ($13) and gyu-don ($14.50), or Japanese-style beef bowls with rice.

Shimabukuro encourages customers to enjoy the tempura immediately, since it’s served hot and fresh.

“But, if you don’t eat it right away, you can always take it home; air-frying it is probably the best way to re-heat it,” he says. “If you come visit us, eating it right away is probably the best way to have it.”

As for his Shima-Ya udon business — known for its handmade noodles — Shimabukuro says “that dream is still alive.”

“I don’t have the space to do udon, as well as the right equipment to do a large quantity of it,” he says. “But hopefully, while we get this ready and this becomes profitable, I can hopefully get my own brick-and-mortar (in the future).”

[{"type":"text","text":"The business validates customer parking at Waterfront Plaza. "}]

Open from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mondays to Fridays

Tempura Man lunch spread 060226

<title>Tempura Man offers udon and tempura bowls in Kakaʻako</title>

The new business is located at Aloha Mamacita’s takeout window at Waterfront Plaza. The menu features made-to-order tempura bowls and udon; tempura is also available a la carte.

Tempura Man offers udon and tempura bowls in Kakaʻako

Located in the former space of Nami Kaze, 

Thirty Eight restaurant opened for dinner at Pier 38

The eatery just launched its new lunch menu, and the restaurant is now open from Monday to Saturday.

According to chef de cuisine Daysen Masuda, the lunch menu is inspired by familiar flavors and plate lunch fare.

“I wanted to do something different from your normal plate lunch,” he says. “I feel like this menu is familiar to everyone — misoyaki butterfish, ‘ahi belly, Korean fried chicken and loco moco are staples here in Hawaiʻi — but we’re putting our own spin on it here. Here at Thirty Eight, how could we make it a little more elevated?”

Appetizers include popular selections from the eatery’s dinner menu, including maguro cabbage ($21), poke crackers ($12), calamari katsu ($17) and cabbage Caesar ($16).

The mix plate ($26) is not only aesthetically pleasing, but equally tasty. It includes a daily catch — in our case, guava chili ‘ahi — short ribs, spicy ‘ahi, watercress salad, potato salad and Spam fried rice.

“When you go out and eat a plate lunch, you want to have a little bit of everything,” Masuda says. “Especially here at Thirty Eight, we’re using really good seafood and fresh ‘ahi, so we wanted to highlight it. It’s just a mixture of flavors.

“The Spam fried rice is actually my mom’s Spam rice,” he adds. “(When I was) growing up, she made that for potlucks. I’m also a big fan of potato salad, so you gotta have potato salad. The potato salad is dusted with chermoula (a blend of spices); that’s paying homage to chef Mourad and (previously) working with him.” 

The black cod ($28) is served with shredded cabbage, potato salad and white rice. Meanwhile, the Korean fried chicken plate ($20) features a generous portion of chicken.

“We’re using the chicken quarter at dinner for the huli huli chicken, so I wanted to cross utilize that as well, but who doesn’t want a nice, big portion of chicken for lunch?” says Masuda, who notes this is one of his favorite dishes.

“It’s kind of inspired by my mom’s Korean fried chicken, but we do add a little bit of guava jelly in there,” he says. “It’s a little sweet and a little spicy.”

The eatery’s loco moco ($24) is expected to be a local favorite. The beef patty is topped with two sunny side up eggs, brown gravy and Hamakua mushrooms, and is served with rice.

“Everything starts with good quality,” Masuda says. “We’re using Prime ground beef topped with local eggs; we make grown gravy from scratch.”

The ‘ahi belly plate ($22) features local big-eye ‘ahi with ponzu butter, potato salad, watercress and white rice.

For dessert, diners can enjoy scoops ($9 each) from ice cream business Please Come Again, located in Kailua. Choose from shiso mint chip — topped with freeze-dried strawberries — and Vietnamese iced coffee, which is topped with condensed milk and cocoa nibs. Masuda notes that the restaurant is currently working on a dessert program.

“I’m excited (for this menu); for lunch down here at the pier, there’s a lot of guys that work around here, but a lot of tourists and locals. as well,” he says. “Lunch is always a little more casual; this is what I think people will like.

“That’s the cool thing about this project — we have a blank slate,” he adds. “Hawai

i is such a big melting pot of diverse cultures, so that’s why you’ll get some Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese flavors here, but it all works because that’s Hawai

Open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch, 5 to 9 p.m. for dinner Mondays to Saturdays

Thirty Eight Honolulu lunch spread 030626

<title>Thirty Eight Honolulu launches lunch service</title>

The new eatery, which recently opened for dinner at Pier 38, just debuted its new lunch menu. The menu features some of the most popular pūpū from the dinner menu, along with elevated plate lunches like a mix plate, Korean fried chicken, loco moco and more.

Daily Smile: Sunday, June 7, 2026

ASD Staff

More in Daily Smile

Daily Smile: Saturday, June 6, 2026

Daily Smile: Friday, June 5, 2026

Daily Smile: Thursday, June 4, 2026

Daily Smile: Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Most read

Daily Smile: Sunday, June 7, 2026

Authors

ASD Staff

More in Daily Smile

Daily Smile: Saturday, June 6, 2026

Daily Smile: Friday, June 5, 2026

Daily Smile: Thursday, June 4, 2026

Daily Smile: Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Most read