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ASD Staff

Hawai'i Skies

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by John Pritchett on Oʻahu. "I liked this photo, wispy clouds, because it looked like jellyfish floating in the sky. It made me feel like flying. The photo was special because I had never seen clouds like that before."

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Whispy clouds

<title>Hawaiʻi Skies: Jellyfish clouds</title>

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by John Pritchett on Oʻahu.

Hawaiʻi Skies: Jellyfish clouds

Today&#039;s Hawai‘i Skies was captured by John Pritchett on Oʻahu. &quot;I liked this photo, wispy clouds, because it looked like jellyfish floating in the sky. It made me feel like flying. The photo was special because I had never seen clouds like that before.&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.

Tree authors

Daniel Dinell & Carol Kwan

Viewpoints

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is forecasting an above-normal 2026 hurricane season in the Central Pacific, with up to 13 tropical cyclones expected this year. For Hawaiʻi residents, that's a reminder to stock emergency supplies, check flashlights, review family preparedness plans — and perhaps think about something many of us overlook.

Most homeowners understand the importance of maintaining roofs, clearing gutters, and securing outdoor furniture before a storm. We recognize these as critical parts of our property's infrastructure. Yet few of us think about the trees that tower above our homes, streets, schools and parks.

[{"type":"text","text":"Trees are infrastructure, too."}]

They cool our neighborhoods, reduce energy costs, absorb stormwater, improve air quality, and make our communities healthier and more beautiful. But like any infrastructure, trees require maintenance. A neglected tree has a higher risk of failing during severe weather, while a healthy, properly maintained tree is far more likely to withstand high winds and continue providing benefits long after the storm has passed.

Hawaiʻi residents have seen firsthand how destructive extreme weather can be.

The good news is that there are practical steps homeowners can take now to reduce risk.

No tree is "hurricane-proof," but properly maintained trees are generally more resilient to strong winds. Strategic pruning can reduce wind resistance and lessen the likelihood of branch failure during a storm. The key word is 

Unfortunately, some common practices actually make trees more dangerous. Topping a tree by removing most of its canopy can trigger rapid growth of new branches that are weakly attached. "Lion's tailing" branches by stripping foliage from the interior and leaving foliage only at the tips amplifies wind loading on branches. Both of these practices increase the likelihood of failure and are prohibited under nationally recognized arboriculture standards. They leave trees structurally weaker than before.

Instead, qualified arborists use pruning techniques that preserve a tree's natural form while reducing risk. Dead, dying, or damaged branches should also be removed as part of a regular maintenance cycle.

[{"type":"text","text":"One of the most important things homeowners can do is act early."}]

Tree care is not something to put off until a hurricane watch is issued. Reputable tree care companies often become overbooked when a storm is approaching, and proper pruning should never be rushed. Hurricane preparedness for trees is most effective when done well before a storm appears on the horizon.

When hiring a tree care professional, verify that the contractor is properly licensed and insured. Tree care contractors in Hawai‘i are required by State regulations to hold a specialty license. You can check a contractor’s license status online at Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs’ Professional & Vocational Licensing search website, 

. If the company is licensed, click on its name and then License Class to verify they have a C-27 or C-27B license.

Homeowners should also ask whether an ISA Certified Arborist is involved in the work. Check credentials 

 by using the Find an ISA-Credentialed Arborist tool.

Hiring an unlicensed, often uninsured, contractor may save money upfront, but it can become an expensive mistake if property is damaged or a worker is injured. And only prune trees that you own unless your neighbors’ tree has grown over the property line into your yard. In that case, while you can prune it back to the property line, it’s best to speak with the tree’s owner first. Your neighbors may prefer to prune it themselves. In addition, the tree fronting your house along the street typically belongs to the county where you live, so you could be breaking the law if you prune it.

As hurricane season unfolds, it's worth remembering that preparing for storms isn't only about what we store in our closets or garages. It's also about caring for the living infrastructure that surrounds us.

A resilient Hawaiʻi depends on staying healthy and prepared — and that includes our urban forest. Well-maintained trees help neighborhoods recover faster, remain cooler, manage stormwater more effectively, and continue providing benefits for decades to come.

This hurricane season, add one more item to your preparedness checklist: look up. Your trees may be some of the most valuable infrastructure on your property.

Downed tree kapiolani

<title>Community Voices: Are your trees ready for hurricane season?</title>

Community Voices: Are your trees ready for hurricane season?

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

A Hawai‘i senator has introduced a federal bill that would require AI-generated content to be clearly labeled as such.

Sen. Brian Schatz co-introduced last week the 

 as an effort to improve transparency as AI-generated content becomes more and more common in everyday life.

The measure that requires any AI-generated digital content — whether an image, video, audio or chatbot — include clear disclosures embedded within the content itself identifying it as AI-generated.

Those disclosures must also include a machine-readable disclosure, an invisible “stamp” embedded within the file’s metadata, that also describes the system that generated the content, and when it was generated.

All providers of generative AI systems would be required to ensure that their outputs’ disclosures are detectable by widely available AI-detection tools. Social media platforms would also be required to ensure that the disclosures are still visible when AI-generated content is viewed on their sites, and would be prohibited from obscuring or removing them.

The measure also includes a host of prohibitions against distributing AI content that doesn’t include the disclosures, or against adding disclosures to non-AI-generated content. People or entities who violate those prohibitions could be sued for up to $2,500 per violation.

“People deserve to know whether or not the videos, photos, and content they see and read online is real or original,” 

said Senator Schatz in a statement Tuesday.

 “Our bill is simple – if any digital content is made by artificial intelligence, it should be labeled so that people are aware and aren’t fooled or scammed.”

When introducing the bill, Schatz’ office specifically referenced a 2023 AI-generated photo of an explosion near the Pentagon, which triggered a dip in the stock market.

This wasn’t the only AI bill introduced last week. The 

 would require AI developers to report to the Secretary of Commerce any potentially harmful action autonomously taken by an AI model.

For instance, the bill requires that developers notify authorities if there is any sign that an AI model “is attempting to evade human oversight, deceive evaluators or operators … resist shutdown or modification … enable or accelerate the development, acquisition, or use of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive weapons,” or other behaviors.

Neither bill has been voted on in Congress so far.

Meanwhile, the House voted last week to pass the 

Small Business Administration Artificial Intelligence Utilization Act

, a measure requiring the SBA to publish regular reports about how it uses AI. No representative voted against the measure’s passage.

Other bills the House passed last week include:

Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act

, which establishes within the SBA an Office of Native American Affairs that would work to promote SBA programs with Native American tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations. The bill passed the House with no objections.

, which requires the SBA to report to Congress about the number of COVID loan fraud cases that have been reported and resolved. The bill passed the House with no objections.

Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act

 would allow agricultural producers to receive reimbursements for up to 75% of the cost of replacing farm or conservation structures following a natural disaster through the Emergency Conservation Program and Emergency Forest Restoration Program. The bill passed 368-19, with Hawai‘i Reps. Jill Tokuda and Ed Case in support. The bill has been enrolled to President Donald Trump’s desk.

Brian Schatz official portrait 113th Congress 2 16x9

<title>CONGRESS WATCH: Schatz introduces bill requiring labels on AI content</title>

U.S. Congress considered AI measures and other legislation last week.

CONGRESS WATCH: Schatz introduces bill requiring labels on AI content

John Dekhane

Hawai‘i History

During World War II, as fear and devastation spread across the world, a generation stepped forward and answered the call to serve. From the bustling streets of Honolulu to the shores of Hilo and communities across the Hawaiian Islands, countless young men left behind their homes and families in defense of freedom. Among the brave souls who left Hawaiʻi and made the ultimate sacrifice was 

Nagaji was born on July 10, 1920, in Waipahu, Hawaiʻi, the son of Kichijiro and Shizuyo Nagaji, both Japanese immigrants who built their lives in the islands. He grew up in a close-knit family alongside his two brothers and sister. Raised with strong values of integrity, responsibility and perseverance, he would go on to embody these principles throughout his life.

He was educated at Waipahu Elementary before attending McKinley High School, where he graduated in 1939. A brilliant student, he then continued his studies at the University of Hawaiʻi. However, as the world moved closer to global conflict, Nagaji chose a different path. He left the university to serve with the Hawaiʻi Territorial Guard and later joined the Varsity Victory Volunteers, where he distinguished himself through his skill in carpentry and dedication to service. In a moment meant to be, Nagaji fell in love with Betty Katano of Waipahu. They became engaged and dreamed of a future that the war would ultimately deny them.

Following the lifting of restrictions on Japanese American service in combat units and determined to play his part in the struggle for freedom, Nagaji joined the U.S. Army on March 25, 1943. He became a proud member of the 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate), 34th Infantry Division, and trained at Camp Shelby in Mississippi. His determination carried him through the intensity of his instruction, preparing him for the harsh realities of combat overseas.

In 1944, Nagaji was deployed to Europe, where he saw action in Italy as part of the Allied campaign against German forces. Thousands of miles from home, he fought near Suvereto in Tuscany and displayed remarkable courage under fire. Sadly, on June 26, 1944, during an assault on an enemy tank, he was mortally wounded when it exploded. He was only 23 years old.

News of his death brought profound grief to his family and community in Hawaiʻi. His parents, siblings, friends, and fiancée were left devastated by the loss of a young man with so much life still ahead of him. His father, Kichijiro, passed away in 1963, followed by his mother, Shizuyo, in 1965, both later laid to rest at Mililani Memorial Park in Waipahu.

Today, Nagaji rests at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, where he is honored among fellow service members who gave their lives for a cause greater than themselves. The cemetery stands in quiet stillness, a place of remembrance and reflection.

When his country called, Staff Sergeant Grover Kazutomi Nagaji fulfilled his duty with pride and dignity. Now it is our responsibility to honor and preserve his legacy, ensuring his sacrifice is never forgotten. His story reflects those of countless fallen heroes from Hawaiʻi — young men who traveled overseas and gave their lives on foreign soil in the name of freedom. Though their journeys ended far from the islands they called home, their courage and memory remain forever woven into the history of Hawaiʻi.

Grover K Nagaji tomb

<title>From Waipahu to Italy: Remembering Staff Sgt. Grover Kazutomi Nagaji</title>

Born and raised in Waipahu, Nagaji joined the U.S. Army on March 25, 1943. He became a proud member of the 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate), 34th Infantry Division, and trained at Camp Shelby in Mississippi. One year later, he was deployed to Europe, where he saw action in Italy as part of the Allied campaign against German forces.

From Waipahu to Italy: Remembering Staff Sgt. Grover Kazutomi Nagaji

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

Aloha Spirit

The Declaration of Independence will be read at the same time across 50 states, the District of Columbia, five territories and the Minor Outlying Islands of the United States on Wednesday, July 8. Called the Sharing the Spirit of America project, this nationwide program was initiated and sponsored by the Hawaiʻi America250 Commission.

So far, readings of the Declaration of Independence will take place at 

. There will be readings on all seven continents and in 36 locations outside of the U.S.

“You start reading the Declaration of Independence and you're going to be joining thousands of people literally across the world that will be reading at the same moment in time,” said Peter Young, the chair of the Hawaiʻi America250 Commission. "But it is spanning over 19 different time zones, so we're separated geographically, but we're joined together in time.”

This year marks the semiquincentennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

 on July 4, but the reading of the historic document is on July 8?

“On July 4, 1776, Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence,” Young said. “That document then got printed, and you couldn't just email it or Xerox it. It had to get to a printer. And then it had to get distributed, and so it wasn't until July 8 that that document was officially 

 is striving for “350 for 250,” or a goal to engage all 350 million Americans by the nation’s 250th anniversary, according to its website.

For the Sharing the Spirit of America project, the idea is that readings of the Declaration of Independence will take place at the same time across the world, starting at 6 p.m. EST, which is noon in Hawaiʻi.

“And in the territories of Guam and Northern Mariana Islands, it's 8 a.m. in the morning on July 9, because they're on the other side of the dateline,” he said.

In Hawaiʻi — the youngest state — copies of the the Declaration of Independence will be available at local libraries, Young said.

 “At noon some of those libraries will have actual live readings, but anyone can go down to the library, and it will be available if you want to read it," he said.

Earlier this year, Young broke the Declaration of Independence into sections and asked politicians and students to read it. The video features Gov. Josh Green, as well as sixth graders and high school students, among other readers. It was assembled by students from Maui High School and was recently published on YouTube. 

“An important aspect of the commemoration is not just the historical events, but looking to the future,”  Young said. “How do we work better together? How do we have a common bond? However we think about the world or issues in the world, we have the common bond of being Americans, and that bond takes us back to this Declaration of Independence.”

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Waipahu Army JROTC Color Guard

Perry Arrasmith

Columnists

If you really want to understand why we're celebrating Independence Day, go back to the source and read the Declaration of Independence, says ASD political historian Perry Arrasmith. It's only one of the most important documents in history!

Declaration i Stock 172711668 16x9

On the Fourth, read the Declaration

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Hawaiʻi government officials will not be present at the Great American State Fair, put on by Freedom 250 now through July 10, along with at least 10 mostly Democratic-led states citing cost, staffing and for some, political reasons. Gov. Josh Green says no funds were earmarked for the fair by the state or Congress and instead, has thrown support behind local celebrations.

Hawaii at Great American State Fair

Hawaiʻi says ‘No can’ to Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C.

<title>Sharing the Spirit of America heads to all 50 states</title>

The birth of the United States started with the Declaration of Independence. Now, 250 years later, people will read the historic document in all 50 states, five territories and the Minor Outlying Islands, as well as across the world, through this initiative with Hawaiʻi America250.

Sharing the Spirit of America heads to all 50 states

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

“Something new, below BLA, is hatching soon,” Bar Leather Apron posted on 

This isn’t fowl play: BirdyGo!, the new concept from the team behind Bar Leather Apron and MĀZE, is now open. BirdyGo! is located right downstairs from Bar Leather Apron (the former spot of Burgers on Bishop) in Topa Financial Center.

The business is in its soft opening and its hours are posted on Instagram. It will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. from June 25 to 27.  

BirdyGo! is currently only open for takeout, but we’re told a dine-in area will be coming soon. There are tables around the corner, though, where customers can sit and enjoy their food.

The menu currently features fried chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, cauliflower nuggets and fries. No pre-orders are currently accepted; orders are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Of course, the fried chicken sandwiches are the star of the show.

“Fried chicken has always been a huge part of my life,” 

. “Throughout my career, it’s been one of those things I’ve constantly made for people I care about — special staff meals, birthdays, celebrations, late nights, after party events where we just wanted to cook something fun and comforting.

“I’ve wanted to open a fried chicken shop for a long time now,” he wrote. “I’ve done a couple pop-ups and events, but finally, I’m excited to share my passion with everyone.”

The fried chicken sandwich features the business’s signature fried chicken thigh dipped in house chili oil with BirdyGo! sauce, pickles and cabbage slaw. Customers can choose their spice level — no spice, mild, medium, hot or super hot. The chicken is crispy on the outside and juicy inside.

“(It’s) Nashville hot chicken meets Korean ramyun seasoning,” Chung explains in his 

. “The chicken gets dipped in a scallion chili oil (with a hint of duck fat) inspired by ginger scallion sauce, then dusted with a seasoning blend inspired by Korean ramyun packets. Spicy, savory, a little nostalgic, and something I’m really excited about. The pickles and slaw are extra tart to cut the richness.”

Two- ($8.50) and four-piece ($15.50) chicken tenders are also available. Adding the signature BirdyGo! sauce or paniolo ranch ($1 each) is recommended. The Birdy Go! sauce is like a creamy, zesty Thousand Island.

Sandwiches are served a la carte, but customers can opt for BirdyGo! fries ($6.50) or crinkle-cut fries ($5). The BirdyGo! fries feature a ramyun seasoning and roasted garlic.

BirdyGo! also features two drink options—its iced tea and lemonade of the day ($6 each). During our visit, a smoky tea — lapsang souchong, lemon and mandarin — and yuzuade were offered. The latter is a tart-yet-refreshing combo of yuzu, red shiso, ume and soda.

Stay updated with the business by following along on 

“This project is meant to be fun, something casual,” 

. “It’s something we can keep evolving and improving every single day. And we will have plenty of fun items for everyone to enjoy.”

The Downtown Honolulu business offers $2 flat rate parking at Topa Financial Center for BirdyGo! customers.

Open 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (or until sold out) June 25 to 27

Birdy Go fried chicken sandwich 062526

<title>BirdyGo! offers fried chicken sandwiches in Downtown Honolulu</title>

The new concept from the Bar Leather Apron and MĀZE is located downstairs from Bar Leather Apron in Topa Financial Center. The business is in its soft opening and features fried chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, seasoned fries and cauliflower nuggets.

BirdyGo! offers fried chicken sandwiches in Downtown Honolulu

A proposal to build the Thirty Meter Telescope on the former site of another observatory is “feasible,” said a TMT project leader last week.

Last October, Gov. Josh Green and all four of the state’s Congressional delegates signed 

 urging leaders of the TMT project to consider shifting the construction of the controversial observatory to another site on Mauna Kea’s summit.

The letter cited “the Hawai‘i community’s request” to instead build TMT on the site of a decommissioned observatory, rather than disturbing a previously untouched piece of summit land, as the plan has been so far. The letter’s signatories assured that they would work with the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority and the University of Hawai‘i to develop a process for securing the permits necessary for such a shift.

, TMT project manager Fengchuan Liu told the board that the project could still work if it was shifted to the former site of the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory, which was fully dismantled in 2024. The CSO, first activated in 1986, was selected for decommissioning as part of the terms for TMT to receive a permit; the University of Hawai‘i needed to commit to close five existing telescopes by 2033.

“We on the project have taken a preliminary look at this issue from the technical side, scientifically, engineering-wise, and we believe it is feasible to build on the CSO site,” Liu said.

Liu said there are size differences between TMT and CSO: TMT’s 

, including the observatory dome, support buildings and parking area is roughly five acres, while CSO 

Nonetheless, Liu reiterated that moving the site to the former CSO location could conceivably be done. He suggested that the observatory’s support facility — used to recoat the TMT’s primary mirror segments — could be moved off the mountain to a location at sea level. Liu said this would introduce a logistical burden to the telescope’s operation, but would reduce the observatory’s footprint.

However, the logistics of such a move are still unclear, Liu said. He told the board he does not know whether the process would require new conservation district use permits or new environmental impact studies, and said the TMT’s own board would also need to sign off on the change.

Liu added that the change in site would also introduce minor variances in the observatory’s functionality: he said the CSO location is in a valley lower than most other summit observatories, causing different wind patterns that could impact the telescope’s imaging, although he believes those impacts can be mitigated.

By the same token, Liu said the lower site would also make the facility less visible from around the island than its proposed higher-elevation site.

While there was no public testimony on the matter at last week’s meeting, the board’s discussion last November of Green’s letter drew hundreds of pages of testimony, largely in opposition to the TMT project in general, relocated or otherwise.

One way or another, the future of the project remains unclear. The National Science Foundation announced in 2024 that it could only realistically fund one of two proposed telescopes as part of a “U.S. Extremely Large Telescope” project — either TMT or the Giant Magellan Telescope in Chile.

 last year that it had removed TMT from consideration — punching a $1.6 billion hole in the observatory’s budget — Congress passed 

 last month stipulating that the NSF advance both projects into final design review, although with no additional funding granted to either telescope.

 For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Hawaiʻi Skies: Jellyfish clouds

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