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Daily Smile

[{"type":"text","text":"Dog says: Nice pool. Who's it for?"}]

Smile 26 6 29

<title>Daily Smile: Monday, June 29, 2026</title>

Dog says: Nice pool. Who's it for?

Daily Smile: Monday, June 29, 2026

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

Aloha Spirit

As a gold medalist at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Heather Olson knows what it's like to experience the pinnacle of artistic swimming.

Olson was a member of the U.S. team that brought home gold, back when the sport was known as 

synchronized swimming. Olson has stayed close to the sport, coaching the Walnut Creek Aquanuts, a club team in her native California. 

For years, Olson has wanted to bring an international competition to Hawai‘i with hopes that the event could attract teams from Asia. From June 17-19, Olson's vision came to fruition with the inaugural Aloha Cup at the University of Hawai‘i's 

Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex. Teams from the Mainland, hailing from both the East Coast and West Coast, were a part of the field. Internationally, the event pulled teams from as far away as Greece. 

"It's been amazing," Olson told Aloha State Daily during the final day of competition. "A lot of the times we're competing at very stressful events that are indoor pools. Just having that spirit of aloha and a little slower pace and a more relaxed invitational instead of the pressure of a national championship or a junior Olympics has been a nice change and refreshing for all of us as coaches and athletes. Still, a very high level competition, but you see the other teams that have come here, and they're having a wonderful time here."

Reaching the highest levels of the sport for Olson required years of work involving about 30 hours of practice per week. Though perhaps not as rigorous, she sees a high level of work ethic in members of her club. Putting on the invitational in the Islands during the summer has provided her swimmers and their families a chance to enjoy the fruits of their labor. The same has applied to other clubs in the invitational. 

"Part of our goal was to have a flexible schedule so teams would have free time," Olson said. "They were all smiles. It's that kind of joy, and that aloha spirit that we really came here for, and so we wanted to pad that time in, so that teams from Greece could come and enjoy Hawai‘i, not just compete in Hawai‘i."

After a successful first event, Olson is hoping to bring it back in the near future. 

"We're so honored to have been welcomed into this facility, and they've really taken good care of us and helped us sort of navigate running a competition from afar," Olson said."We had to set everything up from California which was challenging, but I think it's turned out really well. We hope we can do this again in the future — every other year is sort of our goal."

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Artistic swimming 062626

<title>Northern California club brings artistic swimming to Hawai‘i</title>

Walnut Creek Aquanuts, an artistic swimming club from Northern California, recently held an international event at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex.

Northern California club brings artistic swimming to Hawai‘i

Lopaka and Tanya Kapanui

Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya Kapanui

Hawai‘i History

Columnists

As we walk swiftly across the soft, burning sand of Polihale Beach, a wave crashes on the shore, and the ocean rolls up to meet us. I bend to pick up a seashell that made a brief appearance, but it’s quickly covered again by the ebb tide, and I miss my chance. Our granddaughter squeals with delight as the cold water runs up to her knees, and she takes the opportunity to splash the ocean water on her grandparents, too.

Located on the west side of Kaua‘i, it’s the longest stretch of beach in Hawai‘i and holds deep cultural significance to Hawaiians. As a state park, Polihale is a favorite spot for locals who grew up swimming, fishing, and camping there, and due to its increasing popularity, it’s a growing favorite for visitors as well.

However, it’s not an easy place to get to. The 5-mile-long, former cane-haul road to Polihale is full of ruts and potholes. It’s a dirt road, so if it rains, the road turns to mud, making it nearly impassable unless one has a 4-wheel-drive vehicle. Most rental car companies strictly prohibit their users from driving to the remote beach.

Swimming there can be deadly, as rip currents can quickly pull you away from shore, and large tiger sharks are frequently seen in the area. There is no cell service, which can mean disaster for the unprepared, but if you do make it out there, you’re met with incredible natural beauty.

For generations, Hawaiians have called Polihale their home. Aside from its visual splendor, Polihale is a place of ancient history and culture. The sand dunes hold the burials of our ancestors in sacred embrace, while the mountain peaks that butt up against the sand, jutting out into the ocean, serve as a leaping place for souls into the afterlife.

Like every place in Hawai‘i, Polihale has its own legends. As we sat basking in the sun, we were fortunate to share a bit of history and legend with our granddaughter, and now we share it with you.

There was a special type of limu called pahapaha, sometimes known as sea lettuce, that grew off the shores of Polihale. In our mo‘olelo, it was Nāmakaokaha‘i, goddess of the ocean and Pele’s sister, who gave the limu its special quality. It was said that a lei pahapaha, a garland made of this special seaweed, can fade and dry out over time, but when soaked in water, it will revive to its original freshness. Only the limu pahapaha of Polihale did this. Visitors who made the long trek to Polihale made lei pahapaha and wore them home to prove that they had, indeed, been there. Sadly, this legendary limu can no longer be found off the shores of Polihale.

Lei kauna‘oa was used when praying to Kapoʻulakinaʻu, another sister of Pele and the goddess of sorcery and dark arts. Kāhuna would offer a lei made of kaunaʻoa from the dunes of Polihale to ask for help in defeating their enemies. While the parasitic plant is often found growing on pōhuehue vines along beaches and sand dunes across every island, it is said that Kapo first discovered the yellow-orange plant at Polihale.

At the far end of the beach, just below the cliffs, there is an ancient heiau dedicated to Laka, which also serves an important purpose in the spiritual afterlife. The spirits of the dead come to the west side of Kaua‘i from all over the island. They gather at Kāʻana at the edge of Waimea Canyon and follow the Hikimoe Stream down to the heiau at Polihale. Then, they climb to the top of the 300-foot cliff and leap into the ocean to sink into Pō, the everlasting night. Any spirits that lost their way to the leina a ka ‘uhane, the leaping place of souls, or any spirits that were not accepted into Pō, were left to haunt the ridges of Waimea Canyon and the shores of Polihale. It was said that the people in the area never built their hale pili, their grass houses, with the entrance facing east, so the spirits traveling to Polihale would not enter their home and become trapped.

At night, the air is cool, and the sand loses the heat it soaked up during the day. The sound of crashing waves seems louder, broken occasionally by the music and laughter of shoreline campers. There are no streetlights here, so when the sun goes down, the darkness can feel quite intimidating, and for good reason.

In addition to the procession of the dead, people have witnessed the night marchers walking to and from the ancient heiau. There are numerous stories of people who set up camp on the beach, throw out their fishing lines, and sit back to wait for a bite, only to pull up their lines and leave quickly before anything got a chance to nibble at their bait.

One man described his experience with that exact scenario, saying that everyone in his camp heard the rhythmic beating of the drums.

The wind died, and the air was suddenly hot, when someone in the group shouted, “Night marchers!”

They all lay flat on their stomachs, covering their faces. The drums grew louder, and at one point, they seemed to be right next to the frightened campers. After the sound was gone and they could feel the wind again, the group immediately decided to break camp, believing that there was no way they’d catch any fish that night.

Another woman describes driving out to Polihale late one night to meet her family. With only the headlights from her car to see ahead, Amy drove slower than she would during the day. In the passenger seat, her sister Michelle was talking about her day, filling the silence left by the radio after they lost the signal.

They were almost at the last camp area, where their family was waiting, when Michelle shouted, “Did you see that?”

[{"type":"text","text":"She turned to Amy and said, “You did see it, didn’t you!”"}]

Though she didn’t admit it to her sister right away, Amy saw exactly what Michelle saw. Without saying a word, she pressed the gas a little harder and told Michelle to be quiet as she tried to focus on the road.

Amy told us that as they made their way through the darkness, they saw a person standing in the middle of the dirt road. The person was far enough away for Amy to gradually slow down, and as they got closer, they could see it was a woman wearing a long dress, walking in the same direction they were headed. But just as Amy started to move to the side and slow down even more, the woman vanished.

“She didn’t move or jump out of the way, and she didn’t run off anywhere. She just totally disappeared!” Amy said.

Polihale is far more than just a scenic beach. It is a wahi pana, a celebrated and storied place, that is culturally sensitive to the Hawaiian people. Park users can help protect this sacred area by leaving no trace of their presence. Be considerate by packing out all trash, and avoid moving rocks or boulders that may be part of the natural or cultural landscape. Resist the urge to drive on the sand beyond designated access routes and stay off the sensitive sand dunes. By treating Polihale with care and respect, we can all help preserve this special place for future generations.

Polihale Beach

<title>Legends and Spirits of Polihale</title>

At the end of an unpaved, 5-mile road on Kaua‘i's west side is Polihale Beach. It is many things — a treasured local hangout, a visitor attraction that's gaining popularity, and, in ancient Hawaiian tradition, it is a jumping-off place for souls seeking the afterlife. Eerie stories abound about it.

Legends and Spirits of Polihale

Higa headshot white shirt square

Sterling Higa

A multi-billion-dollar corporation has been stalled by an insect the size of a grain of rice.

The company is Host Hotels, based in Maryland. It wants to build a 375-room resort on the North Shore of Oʻahu, at Turtle Bay. The insect is the Hawaiian yellow-faced bee. On July 2, a court takes up whether an out-of-date environmental impact study forces the developer to start over. That process can take one to three years.

 was fitted to this coastline long before any of us arrived. It forages the native shoreline plants and asks nothing of anyone. It has held on in the few pockets of habitat we left it. There is a quiet dignity in a creature so suited to its place.

But the bee is not really the point of the lawsuit. The people bringing it would mostly agree. The point is to stall the development, and their lever is 

a 13-year-old environmental impact statement

 they say is out of date. The city’s own attorneys contend that nothing is being built where the bees actually live. The bee is the sympathetic face on a procedural fight, and the fight is about delay.

Delay is a strong tool here because we have built such a fine machine for making it. Before anyone pours a foundation near the water, a project must clear a Special Management Area permit, satisfy the Coastal Zone Management law, honor shoreline setbacks, pass historic and archaeological review, and complete an environmental impact statement. Once a species is listed as endangered, the federal government joins the table too.

Each of these has its acronym, and each acronym feeds a profession. We have raised up a whole guild of planners, engineers, archaeologists, and cultural consultants. They each demand a fee from the developer. He trusts them to navigate the thicket of regulations.

The thicket is built to slow development. A single environmental study can run from a quarter-million to two million dollars and add years to a project. And time is the one thing a developer cannot buy back. He has taken money from investors or bought the land on credit. He loses money every day the work does not start.

A developer who must survive years of delay needs enough margin to justify the risk. The modest project cannot carry those costs. The luxury project can. So a system meant to restrain development does not stop the mansions — it selects for them. It clears the field of everyone else.

A few miles down the coast from Turtle Bay, another developer is already building homes that start at $5.9 million each. That project is not affected by the lawsuit. The activist fighting the resort and the seller of the luxury home are working the same machine from opposite ends, and it rewards them both.

The same pattern is visible from the stalled rebuilding of Lahaina to the Neighbor Islands. There, the only people still willing to build are the ones who can afford to wait. It is the same machinery that strangles the affordable housing everyone claims to want, though that is an argument for another day.

The bee’s fit to its coast was authored. It is a small instance of a world that was made, and made well. The thicket answers to no such wisdom. It was authored by no one in particular and is accountable to no one at all. It is a heap of law upon court ruling upon administrative rule, each layer added in good conscience. But it is always added to, never refined. One of these is design. The other is accumulation.

None of this argues for tearing the rules down. Development without restraint would be a sin of its own. The ground was given to us to keep, not to strip. The coast and its creatures are real goods, not obstacles in the way of profit. The man who treats untouched nature as the highest thing and the man who treats his return on capital as the highest thing have made the same error pointed in opposite directions. Both have set something small in the place of God.

We cannot redesign the bee, and we have no business trying. The thicket is the one thing here we did make — and what we have made, we can unmake.

Hawaiian bee

<title>Turtle Bay Resort vs. a bee: Why the rules keep choosing luxury</title>

An endangered bee could stall a Turtle Bay resort, writes ASD columnist Sterling Higa. A few miles down the coast, homes that start at $5.9 million are going up untouched.

Turtle Bay Resort vs. a bee: Why the rules keep choosing luxury

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

Government & Politics

 are on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. this week as part of a new exhibit called “From These Lands: Sharing Our Natural and Cultural Heritage,” which opened on June 18.

On July 4, the U.S. will turn 250 years old, which marks the nation’s semiquincentennial. In celebration of that milestone, the exhibit, which will be on display through December 2029, includes more than 600 specimens and cultural objects from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories.

“This exhibit is part of what the National Museum of Natural History is doing in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the U.S.,” 

, co-curator of the exhibit and curator of North American archeology told Aloha State Daily. “The Smithsonian — and all of our various museums and centers — are each doing something that's contemplative, and then also reflective on the nature of what that anniversary means.”

Not planning to go to Washington D.C. any time soon? 

, where a map connects more than 170 items with their place of origin.

The National Museum of Natural History has more than 

, according to the Smithsonian website. It is part of the Smithsonian Institution, which is the largest museum, education and research complex in the world and consists of 

more than 20 museums — many of which are in the Washington D.C. area — as well as the National Zoo

. Admission to all of these museums, except Cooper Hewitt in New York City, is 

To create this exhibit, its curators, including Rick, asked members of the museum community to submit ideas. The process started about three years ago, he added.

“We try to create as democratic a process as possible, and so we had a call that went out to the entire museum community to pitch items that they thought should go in this exhibit,” Rick said. “We hosted a workshop, and then a series of workshops after that, where people could present on this and debate and discuss. We whittled down to about 1,000 or so and then put those up on a wall, and our core team — the six of us, the co-curators and our exhibit designers and writers — debated those and then went back and forth with different scientific departments, and visitors, and volunteers, and thought: 

What are the best things to tell the stories that represent the breadth of our natural history and cultural heritage?’ And then through a lot of contemplation — a lot of discussion — we came down to the over 600 objects that we have in there.”

Each item on display in this exhibit was already part of a permanent collection.

[{"type":"text","text":"“Most of them had never been on display before,” he added."}]

The exhibit features items from different states grouped together by 

anthropology, botany, entomology and more

. Since the exhibit is organized to showcase connections between the states, it can feel like a scavenger hunt for visitors, who can explore the space to find items from the state where they live or places they like to visit, Rick said.

Each state has at least four to six specimens to represent it, the co-curator added. For Hawai

ʻi, there are 13 items. California has the highest number of things to represent it with about 40 objects, he added.

“We created an exhibit where we wanted people to come in and more than see what's from a particular state, we wanted them to see the connections between the states,” he said. “And to see that really natural history knows no borders — the rivers, the streams, the birds that fly — they all cross over those political boundaries.”

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Pāhoehoe

<title>Hawaiʻi showcased at Smithsonian exhibit</title>

In July, the U.S. will celebrate the 250th anniversary of its existence as a nation. In honor of the event, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History has launched an exhibit that includes items from all 50 states, including its youngest one: Hawaiʻi.

Hawaiʻi showcased at Smithsonian exhibit

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

With more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit work, 

 made the move from Bishop Museum to president and CEO of 

ʻi Foodbank in May 2021, after a concerted effort to keep all of the museum’s staff on payroll during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“When I took a step back and saw everything that was happening in our community, the thousands of families who were affected, I knew I wanted to do something with more direct impact on helping people in my day job. So, when this opportunity became available, I was really interested,” Miller recently told Aloha State Daily.

usiness of food banking is extremely complex, and I didn

shipping, logistics, inventory and the whole distribution model. Especially because most of the time we’re working with donated products that really needs to move fast, right?” she continued. “Just understanding how it all worked was a steep learning curve, but also really exciting for to learn something new.”

She noted that prior to her onboarding, the organization, which is a member 

, was transitioning internal systems to be “more data driven.” 

“Right before the pandemic, the foodbank had switched to a sophisticated ERP [or Enterprise Resource Planning] system to manage all our finances, distribution, agency relationships, etc.” Miller said. “We can now track every pound of food from where it’s purchased to when it gets here, is stored and moved, which helps us understand where people are falling between the gaps. That’s been a big push.

’re in a very different space now, so we are 

leveraging the information to make good decisions for our internal efficiencies and to better serve the people in our community that need assistance.”

Food insecurity is high across the Islands, with Hawai

ʻi Island and Maui experiencing it the most. Overall, 32% 

were food insecure in 2024-2025, per the latest 

The State of Food Insecurity Executive Summary report

. Additionally, 11% of households went a whole day without food at least once during the year.

“Ending hunger is more than meeting a basic need 

 it is a catalyst for healthier communities and a more equitable Hawai

ʻi,” the report reads. “By ensuring consistent access to nutritious food for all our communities, we can improve health outcomes, reduce health care costs and strengthen overall well-being across generations."

distributed 22.5 million pounds of food. We are on track to distribute more than 25 million pounds of food this year, and by next year, we expect a 15% increase."

According to her, Hawaiʻi Foodbank, in partnership with 250 agencies, helps stock neighborhood food pantries and provide access to fresh fruits and vegetables via 

, with a focus from keiki to kūpuna, including low-income families, those with disabilities and/or are experiencing homelessness, and more.

barriers to accessing food as low as possible, no matter what ZIP code you’re in,” Miller said. “Our commitment is to do everything we can to ensure people get enough safe and healthy food. I feel it shouldn’t be a privilege; it should be a right.”

In an effort to bring produce and proteins to underserved communities on Oʻahu and Kauaʻi, the organization in summer of 2025 launched two fully refrigerated 

The Hawai'i Foodbank also received $5.5 million last October under the state’s 

, to offset federal cuts to programs. Miller oversees 80 staff members and nearly 8,000 volunteers in addition to the nonprofit’s annual 

One recent funding opportunity, she notes, was advanced by The Honolulu Charter Commission in late May and will appear on the November ballot for voters to decide on 

, which would support the food safety net. 

She said it “would carve out 1% out of real property tax to support local food purchase, allowing for investment into local food and agricultural systems.”

“It gives the community a voice,” Miller said. “I feel like our state is stepping into the gap, but I would like to see the counties do that, too.”

Looking ahead to the next five years, Miller said programs for kids remains a priority. Currently, Hawai

 on sites during summer that provide ready-to-eat meals for keiki, and Kaukau 4 Keiki, which coordinates weekly grocery and meal box pickups for parents per child.

“We’ve tried new things out and continue to build and expand these programs,” she said. “We’re on our last year of our strategic plan that we put together about five years ago, so this is our time to say, ‘OK, what are we doing next? How can we collaborate … to build a system where people don’t need to come to us on a regular basis?’ We have this opportunity in the next year or so to think through the next 5 to 10 years.”

“Our goal is to be a good partner to government, philanthropy, community organizations, corporations, anyone that cares about getting food into community, that we can help be an efficient partner.”

We’re better together, she said, adding that there is always an open invitation to collaborate.

i Foodbank has a strong buying power, meaning it gets low-cost healthy produce, for example. “On the average, we can stretch the dollar about five times as far, compared to what any of us could spend at the grocery store because we’re buying a container load, right?

Becoming a volunteer, donating monetarily and spreading the word are some of the ways to get involved or give back to the Hawai

[{"type":"text","text":"Miller says even though the work is hard, it is meaningful."}]

“We get notes from kids. I shared a letter in my testimony at the Charter Commission from a mom who thanked us for helping get families access to local food. … Her middle son had finally gained weight. I’ve never forgotten it.

“I can’t tell you how many families I’ve talked to and the kid’s expressed gratitude, ‘We got to put milk on our cereal.’ So many of us take these things for granted. But it’s happening right here, and we’re lucky we get to do something about it.”

Amy Miller 01

<title>Amy Miller reflects on five years at Hawaiʻi Foodbank</title>

The nonprofit's president and CEO shares more about the operations and ongoing partnerships at the food bank with warehouses, staff and support on both Oʻahu and Kauaʻi. Her top priority is to expand the organization’s mission of nourishing ʻohana and ending hunger.

Amy Miller reflects on five years at Hawaiʻi Foodbank

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Real Estate

[{"type":"text","text":"It's a first for James Campbell Co."}]

The Hawai‘i-based, nationally diversified real estate company recently acquired its first multi-family property: The Element, a garden-style apartment community in West O‘ahu's Ho‘opili master-planned community.

Built in 2020, The Element offers 318 one-, two- and three-bedroom rental apartments, 20% of which are reserved for households earning no more than 80% of the area median income, according to a recent announcement. Income limits vary by household size, but you can find current limits for the City and County of Honolulu 

"The Element is an exceptional, relatively new (only 6-years-old) Class A apartment community in one of the fastest growing regions on the island," JCC President and CEO Kevin Penn told Aloha State Daily in an emailed response to questions. "The property’s ideal location near University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu, Skyline Keoneʻae rail station, Ho‘opili and access to major employment centers coupled with a very limited supply of comparable Class A rental properties make it a compelling long-term addition to our portfolio. It is also a strategic complement to Nāliko, our 300-unit apartment community in Kapolei currently under construction with completion expected in late 2027. 

"We’re committed to investing in the future of West O‘ahu, where we have longstanding roots, and this brings a high-quality multi-family property back under the ownership of a local company, reinforcing our role as long-term stewards of this residential community."

 late last year. Penn told the crowd gathered in November that it was the first time the company was developing a housing community it intended to keep as part of its long-term portfolio, ASD reported at that time.

James Campbell Co. has assets totaling $4.8 billion with more than 22 million square feet of properties and 2,300 acres of land across 11 states and Washington, D.C. 

It has played a pivotal role in the development of Kapolei.

Penn declined to comment on The Element's acquisition price, citing company policy. 

 from the City and County of Honolulu show that the land and building have a total assessed value of nearly $89.4 million.

When asked how the purchase of The Element plays into the company's current business strategy, Penn says: "We know quality housing is an important long-term need in Hawai‘i, particularly in West O‘ahu, and The Element provides an opportunity to expand our multi-family presence through a high-quality asset in a market we know well. Adding multi-family properties enhances our portfolio diversification, while balancing our existing portfolio with a new asset type and complementing our ongoing residential development, Nāliko."

According to the announcement, The Element will continue to be managed by Greystar. Amenities include a resort-style saltwater pool with cabanas, an indoor-outdoor clubhouse, co-working facilities, shared outdoor kitchens and barbecue areas, a coffee shop and a two-story fitness center.

And ICYMI: It's not a residential development, but JCC also held a blessing ceremony last month for 

, the redevelopment of the former Paradise Cove Lū‘au site adjacent to the Ko Olina resort area, last month.

That redevelopment is being led by Cove Campbell Kobayashi LLC, a joint venture led by James Campbell Co. in partnership with Kobayashi Group, a locally owned and operated real estate development firm; and BlackSand Capital, a Hawai‘i-focused private real estate investment firm.

As ASD reported then, citing an announcement in May, 

Waianiani will include a new oceanfront entertainment amphitheater with nightly lū‘au shows from Tihati Productions; three full-service restaurants, including Duke's at the Cove, the chain's first West O‘ahu location; a cultural pavilion and open-air activity lawn; and a 20,000-square-foot "village walk" marketplace, with retail space that aims to showcase local artisans and produce. Meanwhile, an existing wedding chapel will be retained and improved for future use.

Penn told ASD last month that Waianiani was just one of five active development projects in progress for JCC, a "high water mark" for the company and its history.

Daily Smile: Monday, June 29, 2026

ASD Staff

Reporter

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Daily Smile: Monday, June 29, 2026

Authors

ASD Staff

Reporter

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