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Daily Smile

[{"type":"text","text":"Quincy, the dog, is not a fan of Mickey, the mouse....."}]

Smile 26 7 15

<title>Daily Smile: Wednesday, July 15, 2026</title>

Quincy, the dog, is not a fan of Mickey, the mouse.....

Daily Smile: Wednesday, July 15, 2026

 Quincy, the dog, is not a fan of Mickey, the mouse.....

IMG 1445

Rick Hamada

Government & Politics

Columnists

[{"type":"text","text":"You're picking up your loved one at the Honolulu International Airport."}]

It can be a bit chaotic depending on the time of day, so you do your best to find your party, load up and get out.

I've been dropped off and I've picked up family and friends from HNL three times in as many weeks.

[{"type":"text","text":"I understand it."}]

Imagine for just a moment the anticipation and happiness at spotting your loved one (let's say your spouse) at curbside baggage claim.

  You stop and get out of your vehicle, give a quick "welcome home kiss" and help load his/her luggage into the trunk.

[{"type":"text","text":"SOP - Standard Operating Procedure."}]

While you're relishing the return, a criminal lurking nearby chooses you. Yeah, you're the one. You and your ride.

He's a carjacker. He targets innocent people to steal their property. But he's different than a typical car thief. His goal is to confront you personally and use whatever force or actions necessary to obtain your vehicle. The carjacker makes it personal.

[{"type":"text","text":"This sounds like a plot line to a thriller on the screen, but it's not."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Meet Lawrence and Rose Ching."}]

, Rose Ching makes weekly trips to the Big Island and her husband routinely picks her up. This time Lawrence Ching stated that he had exited with the car running while helping Rose load her luggage into the trunk. “I hear the (car) door open, which was a little bit odd because I shut my driver’s door,” said Lawrence Ching. “I turn really quickly and I see someone just jump into my car. I dropped what I was doing and ran as quickly as possible to stop it," said Ching.

A motivating factor was knowing their teenage daughter was in the back seat.

“Usually, my wife goes on days that line up with our daughter’s hula practice, so our daughter was in the car,” said Lawrence Ching.

“I was just worried about my daughter, and I was in fear of her life,” said Rose Ching. “I didn’t know what was going to happen to her, and I was just worried about her safety.” 

The state Department of Law Enforcement said Garrett Spencer, 25, took the vehicle with the young teenage girl in the back passenger side seat and tried to make a getaway through the congested terminal area, with Lawrence Ching in pursuit. 

Investigators said Spencer released the girl, unhurt, a short distance away.

Spencer escaped the confines of Honolulu International Airport, drove west on H-1 exiting on the Joint Base Pearl Harbor - Hickam off ramp leading him to the security check point gate where he was apprehended.  Nice work first responders.

[{"type":"text","text":"Here's where it gets interesting."}]

Spencer was initially charged with first-degree theft, first-degree unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle and kidnapping. He was also cited for criminal trespass by DOD police officers at the Hickam gate. However, just days later, the charges of kidnapping were dropped.

And the Ching family was incredulous. How can this be? How is this not kidnapping; a child was stolen?!?!  

According to the State Attorney General's office the crime did not rise to the legal definition of kidnapping nor even lesser charges. The current charges, as I mentioned earlier, are now just theft and unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle. No kidnapping. And that's leaving so many with questions.

In response to the Ching's statements and others, the Department of the Attorney General sent HNN the following statement:

“We understand the concerns expressed by parents and members of the community. 

Prosecutors evaluate the specific facts and evidence in each case to determine which criminal charges are supported by the evidence. Based on the evidence in this case, the alleged conduct does not meet the legal elements required to charge Kidnapping or Unlawful Imprisonment.

Retired Honolulu police deputy chief John McCarthy told the station, “I totally agree with the family,” recalling similar cases in the past in which the suspect was charged with kidnapping

“He basically took that person against their will. They weren’t free to leave. They didn’t ask to go along on a joy ride. They didn’t ask to be stolen, basically have their person stolen for whatever time it was,” McCarthy added. 

I invite you to take a look at the statutes cited by the Office of the Attorney General.

Ok, perhaps this case does not rise to the technical definition of kidnapping. The perp did none of the above, so I'll leave it to legal experts to opine.

[{"type":"text","text":"I ask you to consider this:"}]

A dedicated and learned prosecutor could and should levy charges of Unlawful Imprisonment in the First Degree. The perpetrator knowingly restrained the daughter twice. Firstly, when Lawrence Ching clung to the escaping vehicle undoubtably yelling for the perp to stop while invoking his daughter's name proving that another person was in that car. Ergo, the daughter was restrained 

 of serious bodily injury with risk being the operative word.

It's also apparent a case could definitely be made for Unlawful Imprisonment in the Second Degree given the above summation.

Because the criminal let the girl go. It was an admission by action that the daughter was not in that car of her own free will. By allowing her to exit confirms at the moment of the carjacking the perp knew that he committed this crime and wanted to avoid more serious charges.

[{"type":"text","text":"But it was too late."}]

The effects of this crime do not end with thievery. It's a crime against innocence.

The Ching's report that their daughter now lives in fear; that she suffers from PTSD, and they are engaged in family therapy. The daughter poses the common question, "Is he going to get out? Is he going to come back?

Prosecutors prioritize having a winning record in court. The higher percentile of victories can enhance careers and propel one further on their professional path. Not all prosecuting attorneys but likely most.

If you agree with the Ching family, legal pundits, and with your own conclusions that charges against Spencer must be elevated then do something.

, respectfully, and urge more strident prosecution of Garrett Spencer for what he illegally inflicted upon this family.

Doing so could advance the pursuit of justice for the victims.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Carjacking i Stock 521975360 16x9

<title>Hamada: Airport carjacker skating on kidnapping charge</title>

Lawrence and Rose Ching are stunned that the man who carjacked them at Honolulu International Airport — driving off with their teen daughter in the back seat — isn't getting charged with kidnapping. ASD opinion columnist Rick Hamada agrees and takes a close look at the definition of the crime.

Hamada: Airport carjacker skating on kidnapping charge

Lopaka and Tanya Kapanui

Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya Kapanui

Hawai‘i History

On the eastern edge of Hilo Bay, the small Waiākea Peninsula was one of the most fertile and abundant landscapes in East Hawaiʻi Island. This peninsula was fed by freshwater streams and springs, creating thriving estuaries that supported generations of skillfully managed agriculture and aquaculture.

Fresh water was diverted from the streams through a system of ʻauwai (ditches) to the loʻi kalo (taro patches) before being returned to the sea. The loko iʻa (fishponds) were carefully maintained, full of mullet and milkfish, shellfish, limu, and other marine life. These food systems provided sustenance not only for the residents of Waiākea but also for the aliʻi that governed the region. By the time the first Western ships arrived in Hilo, the peninsula had already been shaped by centuries of careful stewardship.

Throughout the Waiākea Peninsula stood fishing shrines (koʻa), heiau, family shrines, homes, and burial grounds, creating a landscape where daily life and sacred obligations were inseparable.

Historical accounts describe Kūakaʻananuʻu as a massive heiau that once towered almost 60 feet above the shoreline of Hilo Bay, near the area where the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel now stands and directly across from Mokuola, commonly known as Coconut Island. Unlike many Hawaiian temples, Kūakaʻananuʻu featured a distinctive pyramidal design with two platforms and a central chamber, making it one of the more unusual heiau described in Hawaiʻi.

Dredging, harbor improvements, land reclamation, road construction, and hotel development have substantially altered the landscape over the last two centuries. Since much of the original shoreline was destroyed before modern archaeological documentation, the precise extent of the heiau complex is impossible to determine. However, it is estimated that the heiau occupied what is now the shoreline between Banyan Drive and the bridge to Mokuola and may have been part of or immediately adjacent to the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. 

Kūakaʻananuʻu was a luakini heiau, where men were sacrificed to the gods. There were a number of ceremonies performed during and after a sacrifice that included the body being laid out for several days while kāhuna offered pule (prayers) to the gods. Once the protocol was finished, about 20 days later, the body might be returned to relatives to be stripped. The flesh was thrown into the luapaʻu, a refuse pit in the luakini enclosure, and the bones were taken to the tiny island of Kaulaʻinaiwi to dry.

While Kūakaʻananuʻu has been destroyed, Hawaiians often believe that the mana, the spiritual essence, of the past is not separated from the present. Our kūpuna (ancestors) remain connected to the places they lived in and loved. The sacred ground of Waiākea was never just a piece of land. It is a living landscape shaped by generations of people from ancient moʻolelo to modern history. It is perhaps fitting, then, that stories continue to emerge from this place long after the voices of earlier generations have faded.

For years, people have shared their tales of strange events at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. Many of those reports involve guests watching spheres of light dancing about their rooms. These silent orbs are said to be visible to the naked eye and drift from corner to corner unimpeded. No source for the lights could be found: no headlights from outside, no reflections, and no malfunctioning electronics. Witnesses insist that they were wide awake, certain of what they saw.

Two former housekeepers at the hotel have said these experiences are not uncommon. One of them said she tried to ignore any weird happenings, kept her head down, and cleaned the rooms as quickly as possible.

Far more unsettling are the accounts of guests startled from sleep without explanation, heart racing for no apparent reason. When they look around, they see an elderly man dressed in old-style clothing, standing at the foot of the bed or resting against the wall. He remains silent and still, watching them until he vanishes moments later.

One friend shared that one year, as hundreds of hula dancers and spectators descended upon Hilo for the Merrie Monarch Festival, the women of her halau stayed at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. One night, she awoke to the sound of electricity crackling near the bathroom. An elderly woman suddenly appeared, floated a bit near the window, and then settled on the edge of her bed. The kupuna wore a mu‘umu‘u with a handkerchief around her neck and a papale (hat) on her head. Unfortunately, my friend said that even with the soft, warm light of the morning sun, she didn’t recognize her silent visitor.

Even though the landscape of a place changes, imprints of the past often remain. The Waiākea Peninsula has been inhabited for hundreds of years. Who were these ghostly visitors and what did they have to do with this particular location?

Hilo Hawaiian Hotel

<title>Silent Spirits at the Hilo Hawaiian</title>

Life thrived along Hilo Bay and Waiākea Peninsula, with abundant taro lo‘i, fish ponds, for centuries before Western contact. Spiritual life was ever-present and the landscape was dominated by the towering Kūakaʻananuʻu heiau, where men were sacrificed in elaborate ceremonies. Now the site is home to Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, and guests share stories of spectral visitors from long ago.

Silent Spirits at the Hilo Hawaiian

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Crime & Courts

No charges will be filed for a pair of Honolulu police officers who shot and killed a man after a vehicular assault in 2025.

On June 24, 2025, on a Mākaha driveway, a pair of police officers attempted to stop a vehicle driven by 38-year-old Iosua Stevens. Soon after, the officers’ car was in flames and Stevens was dead with a bullet in his head.

Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm announced Tuesday that an investigation of the incident found that the two officers acted in self-defense and that no charges will be filed against them. Unlike 

 into officer-involved shootings, Alm said this case was not an example of a “suicide by cop.”

[{"type":"text","text":"“He brought his death on himself,” Alm said."}]

In 2025, Stevens was wanted by the police for multiple prior offenses. By the day of his death, he had four separate warrants for his arrest, with a collective bond value of $111,100. Alm said he had been charged with second-degree theft, first-degree terroristic threatening (i.e., making a threat with a gun) and promoting a dangerous drug in the third degree.

Police had attempted to arrest Stevens on those warrants throughout June. However, he was hard to find. One attempt on June 6 had ended with Stevens additionally wanted for first-degree assault on a law enforcement officer.

Alm said officers had contacted Stevens’ ex-wife to find him on two occasions that month with no success: all they learned was that he would ask his ex-wife for gas money periodically and that he drove a stolen Ford F-250, which Alm noted is one of the most common models of pickup truck on Hawai‘i roads.

Nonetheless, photos of Stevens’ vehicle were distributed to officers on the Honolulu Police Department’s Crime Reduction Unit. And on the afternoon of June 24, a pair of CRU officers — with six and eight years of HPD experience, respectively, with no reports of complaints against them — reported seeing a Ford F-250 matching the vehicle’s description turning onto Farrington Highway in Wai‘anae.

The officers followed the vehicle, attempting to identify the lone male they saw driving it. After following for a short period, Alm said the vehicle turned off the highway, eventually turning onto a dirt driveway off of Hana Street leading toward a residence in Mākaha.

At this point, the officers followed Stevens into the dirt lane before Stevens stopped. The officers also stopped and activated their vehicle’s police lights and siren; this would be a traffic stop as a pretext to confirm Stevens’ identity, the officers having observed the vehicle run a stop sign during their slow pursuit.

Stevens’ immediate reaction was to rapidly reverse his truck into the officers’ vehicle, a much smaller Nissan Altima. The truck continued to push against the car, driving it perpendicular to the road and starting a fire in the engine compartment.

According to the prosecuting attorney’s investigation, the officers, believing they could not safely exit their vehicle or safely remain inside, fired multiple times into the truck’s cabin. The truck stopped.

Stevens was found unresponsive in the truck’s cabin with multiple gunshot wounds. A medical examiner later found he had been shot three times — although seven bullet casings were found at the scene — with bullets lodged in his head and shoulder, and a third bullet having passed through his shoulder. No alcohol or drugs were found in his system. Stevens had no weapons, save for a machete stored by the truck’s driver’s seat.

Witnesses in their residences on Hana Street told investigators that they heard the collision, followed by gunshots, but did not directly witness the events, although one resident extinguished the police car’s fire with her garden hose.

Alm said that the officers’ actions — taken against a known multiple felon in the process of attempting to kill two police officers with a multiple-ton vehicle — presented a clear-cut justification for the use of lethal force. Despite the relative proximity of civilians, Alm said the officers had a close and clear line of sight on Stevens in the driver’s seat and the risk of injuring others was minimal.

Meanwhile, the two officers were treated for neck pain and bruising related to the car collision.

 For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

PXL 20260218 210639371 16x9

<title>Police shooting of man in 2025 Mākaha vehicular assault justified</title>

Iosua Stevens was killed in June 2025 after ramming a police car with his truck.

Police shooting of man in 2025 Mākaha vehicular assault justified

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort and Spa is celebrating a milestone anniversary this year. In honor of the resort’s 50th anniversary, 

 from Mondays to Thursdays — and 20% off on Fridays to Sundays — during the month of July.

The buffet usually costs $89.99 per adult ($44.99 per child ages 6 to 12, $14.99 per child ages 5 years and under).

The Buffet at Hyatt recently updated its offerings to include more Island-inspired dishes and local comfort foods. The updated menu includes a 

lūʻau area, featuring huli huli chicken thighs with pineapple relish; kalua pig with roasted Molokai sweet potato and coconut; and lau lau with lomi Kamuela tomato relish. Other new additions include hapa poke, North Shore garlic shrimp, sauteed sweet corn with kale and shimeji mushrooms, miso salmon with pickled ginger and green onions, and roasted pork loin with orange and shoyu glaze.

“As we celebrate 50 years of welcoming guests to Hyatt Regency Waikīkī, we’re proud to introduce a refreshed dining experience that reflects the vibrant spirit of Hawai

i and the diverse flavors of the Pacific Rim,” states Jeff 

Szombaty, director of culinary and food & beverage operations

. “The Buffet at Hyatt has been thoughtfully reimagined to celebrate the people, cultures and local ingredients that make this place so special, while continuing to offer the quality, variety and warm hospitality our guests have come to expect.”

Individuals can still enjoy popular buffet classics, including rosemary and Hawaiian salt-crusted prime rib, made-to-order temaki hand rolls, Alaskan snow crab legs, Hyatt signature sweet soy garlic fried chicken, Goosepoint oysters, assorted nigiri, and assorted sashimi.

The buffet’s dessert station includes soft serve ice cream with assorted toppings; a chocolate fountain with fruits, brownies and sponge cake; mini coconut crème brulee; pineapple upside-down cake; butter mochi and a rotating selection of seasonal treats.

The Buffet at Hyatt is open nightly from 5 to 9:30 p.m. (last seating is at 9 p.m.). Guests can enjoy live music on Fridays and Saturdays from 5 to 9 p.m.

Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort and Spa

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Buffet at Hyatt buffet area 071326

<title>Kamaʻāina can enjoy limited-time discounts at the Buffet at Hyatt</title>

Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort & Spa recently updated its buffet menu to include more Island-inspired dishes. As part of the resort’s 50th anniversary celebration, kamaʻāina can enjoy 25% off at the Buffet at Hyatt from Mondays to Thursdays and 20% off on Fridays to Sundays for all of July.

Kamaʻāina can enjoy limited-time discounts at the Buffet at Hyatt

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

From picnicking at Aloha Friday Music in the Park to catching local films at the Honolulu Surf Film Festival, there are lots of events happening on Oʻahu this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Friday July 17"}]

Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Auana soundtrack launches on streaming platforms on Friday, July 17. The 16-track album is performed entirely in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. The music of 

Auana was created by composer Evan Duffy and developed in close collaboration with Native Hawaiian linguist Dr. Keao NeSmith. The first song is already streaming. 

 on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and more. 

Go to the Huli Huli Chicken Extravaganza. 

Eat huli huli chicken and other island style barbecue favorites, along with mini malasadas at this event at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Waikīkī Beach Resort. The event runs from 4:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. on the Village Green. Food prices range from $5 to $15. The event also has a prime view of the 

, which starts at 8 p.m. on Friday nights. 

 The Aloha Friday Music in the Park occurs every third Friday at Victoria Ward Park. Grab food and drinks or bring a picnic and enjoy the live music. The featured entertainer for this event is Henry Kapono Foundation On the Rise Artist 

. The event runs from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with different featured artists. 

The 49th annual Prince Lot Hula Festival, features hula, ʻāina education, cultural activities, and opportunities to shop from local vendors at the mākeke and runs from Friday, July 17, to Saturday, July 18. 

 and musical performances are listed here. 

will hold their Bon Dances on July 17 and 18, while 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Saturday, July 18"}]

 Hammond’s Gourmet Ice Cream is offering $2 ice cream scoops and $1 flights of six mini cones on National Ice Cream Day, which is this Sunday, July 19. The Hawaiʻi Kai business will also offer exclusive flavors that day. Current featured favorites include cookies and cream, Biscoff, strawberry cream, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, caramel mac nut, tiramisu, lilikoʻi cream and more. 

In the afternoon, enjoy family friendly hands-on activities, as well as storytelling, games, crafts, art projects, bubbles, plant giveaways and more. As the sun sets, watch the garden come alive with lights, music and dance performances. Featured entertainers include Jeff Gere, Ben Fairfield, Nalani Kaio, Dragon Beat, Allegro Keiki, Hula Joy, Kailua Moon, the Middle Easter Dance artists of Hawaiʻi, and the Mendoza Philippine Dance Group. Tickets are $5 for adults and $1 for keiki. 

The 15-minute film, which is part of the Honolulu Surf Film Festival at the Honolulu Museum of Art, features third-generation waterman Kaliko Kahoonei, who grew up on the Oʻahu's West Side, and surfs with a paipo board. “Haagua” will show along with “Ciebo” starting at 2 p.m.  on Saturday, July 18. The films explore Indigenous knowledge of surfing and the ocean. Tickets are $15 for kamaʻāina or free for attendees 18 years old and younger. Follow “Haagua” on 

Catch Honolulu Night Market’s return to Our Kakaʻako. 

This event brings together local businesses, food vendors, artists, and entertainers. Participate in Poetry of Paʻakai, a live poetry session, or stop by Bubbaloha to step into a world of floating bubbles. There will also be a fashion show and a chance to engage in ʻulana lau niu, or the weaving of coconut leaves. There will be featured performances from Kailua Moon, Hālau O Nāpualaʻikauikaʻiu, and 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Sunday, July 19"}]

The 75-minute documentary, which is part of the Honolulu Surf Film Festival at the Honolulu Museum of Art, captures renowned singer and songwriter Jack Johnson’s journey from surfer to musician. The free screening is currently sold out, but if there empty seats they will be released five minutes before the start of the 2 p.m. screening. 

 Hawaiʻi State Public Library System's 

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

Physical books, audiobooks, eBooks, graphic novels and more

 count toward the contest. The challenge runs through July 31. The theme of the reading challenge is “E Heluhelu Kākou: ‘Umeke Kā‘eo” and celebrates a calabash overflowing with knowledge and wisdom. Readers who log reading get a chance to unlock rewards and possibly win the grand prize of roundtrip tickets from Alaska Airlines / Hawaiian Airlines. 

Get a 12-ounce prime rib for $30 when dining at 8 p.m. or later at 

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Cirque du Soleil ‘Auana

<title>Hula, ʻAuana soundtrack, and $1 ice cream: weekend guide for Oʻahu</title>

Looking for ways to celebrate the weekend? Catch the Prince Lot Hula Festival, listen to the ʻAuana soundtrack, eat $1 ice cream and attend Bon Dances. Aloha State Daily shares a list of a dozen ways you can get into weekend mode this Friday, July 17, through Sunday, July, 19.

Hula, ʻAuana soundtrack, and $1 ice cream: weekend guide for Oʻahu

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Aloha Spirit

Nearly three years after wildfires destroyed much of Lahaina town, a new three-day celebration will bring more than 100 former residents back.

The inaugural Lahaina Homecoming — set for July 17 to 19 — will welcome 103 former residents home and offer a handful of community events.

It's an initiative of Maui Economic Recovery Commission's Healing Journey Team, coordinated by nonprofit Festivals of Aloha and is sponsored by the Maui County Office of Recovery, Hawaiian Council, Hawai‘i Community Foundation and Hawaiian Airlines, along with other local organizations and private donors, a recent announcement from Maui County noted.

It was created "from deep listening, lived experience and community need," the 

 states. "The idea grew from ongoing healing work with Lahaina families and a shared understanding that coming home — together — is an essential part of recovery."

 ravaged parts of the Valley Isle. One blaze destroyed much of Lahaina and killed more than 100 people.

The homecoming centers on the people, stories, culture and the future of Lahaina, the site says, and is a "space to heal together, to honor what was lost and to invest in what comes next."

“The inaugural Lahaina Homecoming represents a crucial investment in the belief that although many families have been displaced, Lahaina remains their home,” Maui Economic Recovery Commission Chairman Layne Silva said in the announcement. “The event welcomes former residents and the community at large to take part in cultural experiences, storytelling, resource sharing and community-focused programming that honors Lahaina’s rich heritage and strengthens connections among residents, families and supporters as Lahaina continues its recovery.”

Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen told Aloha State Daily last week that he thought the homecoming was a "great idea," and the event was driven by the community's interest. 

For Bissen, the residents returning, many of whom left after the fire, is the coolest part. 

"The whole idea was to let them know your town is vibrant, your town is alive, your town is coming back and come and see it. Come and see your friends and family and reconnect," he says.

According to the announcement, organizers had initially hoped to sponsor airfare for 80 individuals but, "as applications continued to arrive, they found it impossible to turn away so many people with deep roots in Lahaina." Instead, 103 former residents representing 20 families will return for the weekend.

[{"type":"text","text":"Here's what's on deck:"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Friday, July 17"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Saturday, July 18"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Sunday, July 19"}]

According to the announcement, complimentary parking will be available at the Lahaina Aquatic Center, with continuous shuttle service to and from Campbell Park each evening. Those who plan to attend are encouraged to carpool and allow extra travel time. A dedicated kūpuna drop-off and pick-up area will be available at the corner of Front and Prison streets.

Additional parking will be available at Lahaina Hongwanji Mission, Waiola Church and Lahaina Baptist Church.

Trilogy Excursions also is offering complimentary community cruises for Homecoming participants.

The homecoming also serves an opportunity for the community to reconnect with the area before Front Street reopens to the public.

County officials told ASD that the county aims to reopen Front Street to through traffic before the third anniversary of the fire.

Currently, Front Street is closed from Papalaua to Dickenson streets, while the portion from Dickenson to Shaw streets is partially open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily., a county spokesperson confirmed in a follow-up email.

Details of the reopening are still being discussed and will be announced soon.

Office of Recovery Administrator John Smith noted that the area is a "kuleana in progress place." 

"We will continue to have construction and limited road closures based on all of the work that's going down there," he told ASD. "But we just finished the railing project, we just finished a paving project on Front Street, and it's just really good timing. So when the festivities are over and after everything's cleaned up, it's going to be the right time to allow traffic on Front Street."

Lahaina Front Street rainbow 070826

<title>Lahaina homecoming planned; Front Street to reopen in near future</title>

Nearly three years after deadly wildfires destroyed much of the West Maui community, 103 former residents are set to return this weekend  — and the public is invited to help celebrate the community's spirit.

Daily Smile: Wednesday, July 15, 2026

ASD Staff

Reporter

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Daily Smile: Wednesday, July 15, 2026

Authors

ASD Staff

Reporter

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