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Hawai'i Skies

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Peter DeForest in Honolulu. "I just thought the combination of city and nature was an interesting photo."

To submit your Hawai'i Skies photo, visit us 

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<title>Hawaiʻi Skies: An interesting combo</title>

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Peter DeForest in Honolulu.

Hawaiʻi Skies: An interesting combo

Today&#039;s Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Peter DeForest in Honolulu. &quot;I just thought the combination of city and nature was an interesting photo.&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.

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

Aloha Spirit

This year, the Native Hawaiian Convention returns to Honolulu after five years away from Oʻahu. Hosted by Hawaiian Council, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, the event will take place Monday, July 20, through Wednesday, July 22, at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center

The convention brings together Native Hawaiian leaders, cultural practitioners, policymakers, educators and community members for three days of activities and conversations. It will immediately be followed by the Queen Liliʻuokalani Keiki Hula Festival, an invitational competition for keiki between the ages of six and 12 years old. The festival 

which runs Thursday, July 23, through Saturday, July 25 

“It is super important for us that we celebrate our 25th anniversary of our beginnings back here home in Hawaiʻi on Oʻahu,” Mehanaokala Hind, senior advisor to the CEO, executive office for Hawaiian Council, told Aloha State Daily. “After being away from Oʻahu for five years, we're so excited to be back home and be back in a venue that can host the growing audience that we have that's participating in the convention.”

start at $230 for Hawaiian Council members and $305 for non members. To make the convention more accessible, a limited number of need-based scholarships are available. Participants must 

In recent years, the convention garnered about 2,000 participants, Hind said, adding that the convention has outgrown the hotels in Waikīkī, especially for breakout sessions.

Last year, the convention was held in Tulalip, Washington. Before that, events were held on Hawaiʻi Island, Maui and in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“We have things that have been consistent over the past couple years that our conventioners look forward to and look toward,” Hind said. “But this year, since we're back home, and since it's the 50th anniversary of the first landing on Kahoʻolawe, we're going to have a few breakouts dedicated to that and celebrating them, and also a Kilohana Award [will go] to the surviving members of the 

In addition, the convention will feature Nā Mea Hawaiʻi, a marketplace featuring Native Hawaiian artisans and 

, as well as a 24-hour film competition and panel discussions. Some of the topics addressed during the convention include efforts to return ʻāina to Hawaiian hands, aloha ʻāina in the age of artificial intelligence, water safety, storytelling, economic sovereignty, disaster recovery, health, and more.

On Monday, July 20, there will be a pre-convention workshop day with hands-on cultural workshops led by Kumu Hinaleimoana Wong, Kumu Hula Cody Pueo Pata, Kumu Hula Vicky Holt Takamine, Kumu Hula Lono Padilla, Lōpaka Kapanui, Haus of Puas, Kāhuli Leo Leʻa, the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs and Pā Kōnane, among others.

The following day, Tuesday, July 21, there will be a keynote address by Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green, and panel discussions on legal challenges facing Native Hawaiian programs and efforts to restore ʻāina to Hawaiian hands. There will also be breakout sessions on different topics.

For the final day of the convention, which is Wednesday, July 22, there will be a keynote address by Senate President Ron Kouchi and a mayor talk story event, moderated by Green, which includes Hawaiʻi Island Mayor Kimo Alameda, Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi and Kauaʻi Mayor Derek Kawakami.

“We're going to bring our government leaders in, starting with the governor and all county mayors, which is a unique feature of ours that we've been able to command the attention of our lawmakers to be able to be present while we discuss those issues that are super important for us,” Hind said. “And then for this year — because of the recent challenges within the last year to the Native Hawaiian trusts — the trusts are going to speak.”

 that evening, which features music by Hoʻonuʻa, Three Plus and Manaʻo Company

 in honor of Hawaiian Council’s 25th anniversary.

“We have a great concert,” she said. “We know that our people love to gather around music. We're going to take it 25 years back to celebrate the 25 years of our existence, [and the] birth of our organization. We're going to do a throwback concert to back in the days about 25 years ago, and the bands that were celebrating with all of us.”

Native Hawaiian Convention

<title>Native Hawaiian Convention returns to Honolulu</title>

Following a convention in Washington last year, the Native Hawaiian Convention hosted by Hawaiian Council has returned to Oʻahu. Learn about the speakers, hands-on cultural workshops and panel discussions planned for this year’s event. There will also be special dedicated events to remember the 50th anniversary of the first landing on Kahoʻolawe.

Native Hawaiian Convention returns to Honolulu

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

The 2026 legislative session is effectively over after Gov. Josh Green made his final bill signings and vetoes Wednesday.

Nearly 6,000 bills this year were winnowed down to 267 new laws throughout the 2026 legislative session, fewer than the 313 signed into law in 2025.

 announced his intention to veto four bills this session, on Wednesday vetoed only one outright, although he made a line-item veto to a second bill that effectively killed it despite signing it into law.

[{"type":"text","text":"Among the final bills Green signed this year are:"}]

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"New rules for cleaner fuels"}]

, formerly Senate Bill 2999, requires the state Department of Transportation to develop by 2028 new rules that set standards for alternative fuels, as part of the state’s mandated transition to carbon neutrality by 2045.

HDOT must also set benchmarks for the reduction of carbon emissions in the transportation sector: emissions must be 10% down from 2019 levels by 2035 and 50% down from 2019 levels by 2045. Those standards must be implemented by 2029, and allow producers of fuels at or below those benchmarks to receive credits; fuels above those benchmarks would receive deficits, and providers of high-carbon fuels would need to purchase credits to meet their obligations to the standard.

However, the new rules also require mechanisms to prevent those deficits from “unreasonable fuel price increases,” such as a credit clearance market whereby vendors can purchase additional credits at a fixed price, mirroring similar programs such as one in California.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"E-bikes leave the wild west"}]

Consistent state rules are coming for e-bikes, electric skateboards and other personal transportation gizmos under House Bill 2021, now 

The measure defines a motorized personal transportation device under 75 pounds as an “electric micro-mobility device,” and an “electric bicycle” as a pedalable bike with a motor of no more than 750 watts. Devices with motors higher than 750 watts and capable of speeds higher than 28 mph are now “high-speed electric devices,” a separate class of devices from mopeds or electric vehicles.

E-bikes also are now subdivided into three classes passed on their motor capabilities: those with motors that assist the rider only while pedaling and never above 20 mph are Class 1 bikes, those with motors that can be exclusively used to power the bike up to 20 mph are Class 2 bikes, and those capable of assisting up to 28 mph are Class 3 bikes.

With those new definitions in place, the bill includes “electric micro-mobility devices” under the same rules as “electric foot scooters,” prohibiting people younger than 15 from using them on public streets, requiring them to have lamps if used after dark, and more. Class 2 and 3 e-bikes are now prohibited for riders under 16 years old, unless under direct parental supervision, and no e-bike can be ridden on sidewalks faster than 10 mph.

The measure also prohibits wheelies — electric bicycles are required to keep all wheels on the ground — and high-speed devices are not permitted to be operated on a public roadway, sidewalk, bicycle lane, or other public area.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"$3 million for statewide dementia support"}]

, establishes within the state Executive Office of Aging the Hānai Memory Network Program, a project intended to expand the state’s ability to detect and care for patients of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Rep. Cory Chun said Tuesday that there are more than 31,000 Hawai‘i residents with Alzheimer’s, a number expected to double by 2050 as the population ages. The bill itself notes that people spent more than $309 million in Medicaid funds to care for Alzheimer’s patients last year, a sum that is expected to exceed $1 billion in 24 years.

The Hānai Network will establish memory clinics, hire dementia care specialists and develop a network to refer patients throughout the state to necessary care options and other services.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Lower price caps on school lunches"}]

Before Monday, state laws required that the Department of Education must recoup from students 50% of the cost of preparing a school meal. But after Green signed HB 2296 into law as 

, the cost of a school meal can be no more than one-quarter of the cost of preparing it.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"More pay for teachers"}]

Annual pay hikes are coming for public school and public charter school teachers under HB 1890, now 

While step increases for teachers have been part of the Hawai‘i State Teachers Association’s contract with the state for years, those increases have never been funded. The measure, therefore, allows those already-negotiated salary hikes — which will be about 3% annually for most teachers — to finally go through.

The measure also allows for longevity-based step increases for teachers who have served for more than three years.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"And “one” veto"}]

The sole bill which Green fully vetoed this year was 

, a measure that would change the process by which members of the Hawai‘i Teacher Standards Board — which sets credentialing standards for Hawai‘i teachers — are chosen. Green explained his rationale for vetoing the bill was because it muddies the separation of duties between the Standards Board and the Board of Education, and further evaluation is needed to assess how the proposal would impact the operation of both boards.

, a measure allocating $50 million into the state’s Rainy Day Fund. Green had previously said that such a use of funds would be imprudent given the state’s current disaster recovery priorities, and noted that the current balance of the fund, more than $1.5 billion, is the highest it’s ever been.

Consequently, although Green signed the bill, his line-item veto 

 the appropriation to a mere single dollar.

 For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

GovGreen

<title>2026 legislative session ends with 266 new laws</title>

Gov. Josh Green signed the last bills of the year on Wednesday, and made his final veto decisions.

2026 legislative session ends with 266 new laws

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

Food & Dining

A new exclusive partnership between The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikīkī Beach and 

Ladurée will bring the Parisian pâtisserie, known for its macarons, to Hawai‘i for the first time.

Launching in celebration of the hotel's 10-year anniversary, the collab introduces a "collection of elevated guest experiences" that culminate in the debut of a pop-up 

Ladurée cafe in December, an announcement from the luxury hotel noted.

Designed as an "immersive extension of the Ladurée brand," the hotel says that the seasonal experience will transform the hotel's outdoor terrace into a Parisian-inspired garden where guests can "linger over pastries and tea beneath cafe umbrellas surrounded by lush greenery."

The partnership also includes The Ritz-Carlton Suite Collection Tea Experience with Ladurée, which is available exclusively for guests staying in the hotel's three top-floor suites, which were introduced as part of an 

According to the announcement, the bookable, in-residence tea experience will be available through the end of the year and features a curated selection of Ladurée teas paired with its macarons, 

Eugénies and other signature sweets, presented in the suites.

The holiday season pop-up market, which is expected to open Dec. 4, will be 

Ladurée's first activation in the Islands.

"Centered around Ladurée's signature pâtisserie cart and inspired by the famed Parisian maison, the elegant outdoor cafe will invite guests to enjoy Ladurée's famed macarons, Eugénies and other signature confections beneath café umbrellas with intimate bistro seating, blending the timeless elegance of Paris with the relaxed sophistication of Waikīkī," the announcement notes.

You'll also be able to buy gift boxes of the brand's macarons and Eugénie cookies.

Hotel officials made the announcement during a media luncheon on Wednesday.

The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikīkī Beach, told Aloha State Daily following the luncheon and announcement that General Manager Mike Kass wanted to choose an iconic luxury brand that was not available in Hawai‘i, "because we know, especially me, for someone who's born and raised in Hawai‘i ... we go crazy, we love brands that aren't available in Hawai‘i."

"When we came across Ladurée, we thought, 'Oh my gosh, we see these similarities in between the Ritz Carlton and Ladurée,'" he continued. "We share the same values. We really are all about the craftsmanship, the pursuit of excellence, the attention to detail, and we're both iconic brands, so it was a natural fit."

"Ten years ago, we set out to create a residential luxury experience unlike anything else in Hawaiʻi, and since then, we have remained committed to thoughtfully evolving the guest experience in ways that reflect both the spirit of Oʻahu and the expectations of today’s global traveler,” Kass said in the announcement. “Ladurée is an iconic brand whose dedication to craftsmanship, artistry and timeless hospitality aligns beautifully with our own. This collaboration allows us to celebrate 10-year milestone and journey into a new era by introducing a collection of distinctive experiences that blend French elegance with the warmth and sense of place that define our property.”

As far as the response they're expecting, Vo says, "I've seen what the kama‘āina impact and effect does for brands' foray into the Hawai‘i market. I think we need to be prepared."

Vo says, too, that while the cafe will debut for the holiday season, it will remain open past New Years. More details, including hours of operation and reservations, are coming soon.

La durre ritz carlton residences 071526

<title>The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikīkī Beach to partner with Ladurée</title>

The exclusive partnership will bring the French pâtisserie, known for its macarons, to Hawai‘i for the first time.

The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikīkī Beach to partner with Ladurée

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

When it comes to their new businesses — 

, which specializes in gourmet burgers, and Ihawan Ave., which offers street food-style skewers — husband-and-wife team 

Joshua Dein Pagtama and Enerisa Pagtama say they were inspired by their personal taste and love of food. The duo’s businesses officially launched a few months ago; they currently pop up at events across Oʻahu.  

“As a couple with a highly competitive and entrepreneurial mindset, we wanted to created something truly distinct,” Enerisa Pagtama says. “We absolutely love premium wagyu beef, and we are equally obsessed with matcha. We decided to boldly combine the two, resulting in a unique, flavor-packed fusion concept that you won’t find anywhere else.”

Ihawan — which means “grill” in Tagalog — is Enerisa’s business and features a line-up of skewers. Customers can choose from wagyu ($10), Pinoy pork ($6), chicken teriyaki ($6), garlic shrimp ($6) and more.

“We are known for our signature skewers, served alongside our refreshing, housemade black Gulaman juice, which is a traditional black jelly drink enhanced with sweet vanilla extract,” Enerisa explains.

She says the wagyu skewer is a customer favorite.

“Our premium, juicy, wagyu beef skewers are paired with our inventive, tangy matcha vinegar sauce,” she says. “Customers constantly tell us it’s an absolute flavor bomb. The lobster balls are our second best-seller on the grill.”

Joshua, meanwhile, heads up Burger Ave., which specializes in wagyu beef patties.

“Every burger features a premium, juicy wagyu beef patty nestled inside a soft, toasted brioche bun,” he says. “You can upgrade any burger to a full combo meal, served with our crispy seashore garlic fries and a refreshing soda pop (our custom-flavored specialty sodas).”

The wagyu loaded ($20) is the most popular flavor. It includes a wagyu patty topped with bacon, white onions, sauteed mushrooms, the business’s signature housemade matcha garlic aioli and matcha powder on top.

Other options include the wagyu boss ($18) — wagyu beef patty with double cheese, pickles, white onions, matcha garlic aioli and matcha powder — Aloha wagyu ($19), which includes a pineapple slice, and wagyu herbs ($19). The latter features a wagyu beef patty topped with double cheese, pickled radish and carrots, cilantro, white onions and spicy honey Sriracha sauce.

“The Aloha wagyu is a perfect taste of the Islands; it has sweet grilled pineapple and a rich teriyaki sauce,” Joshua says. “The wagyu boss is simple and classic; the wagyu herbs features a fresh, vibrant twist. The housemade pickled radish and carrots is made Filipino atchara style (a popular pickled condiment).

“Our fusion of matcha into the savory dishes makes us unique,” he adds. “Using matcha as a culinary component in our garlic aioli and vinegar sauces creates an incredible depth of flavor that cuts through the richness of the premium wagyu. It’s a culinary boundary we are proud to push.”

Ihawan Ave. and Burger Ave. pop up at Wai Kai, What the Truck?! and Ka Makana Aliʻi. For the businesses’ event schedule, follow their 

“Everything we do is driven by love,” Enerisa says. “For us, this isn’t just about running a business; it’s about the community. The people we serve aren’t just customers; they become an extension of our family.”

“We are always growing and love hearing from the community,” Joshua adds. “We are open to suggestions and recommendations from our guests, so we can continue to elevate our food and serve you all even better.”

Burger Ave owners 071326

<title>This couple is serving up skewers and burgers with a twist</title>

Premium wagyu is the inspiration behind Burger Ave. and Ihawan Ave., which feature gourmet burgers and street-style skewers, respectively. These businesses are run by husband-and-wife team Joshua Dein Pagtama and Enerisa Pagtama. You can find these businesses at various events across Oʻahu, including What the Truck?!

This couple is serving up skewers and burgers with a twist

Crime & Courts

A Waialua man was convicted Monday of funneling funds to Iran in defiance of U.S. sanctions.

Between 2016 and 2022, Arash Einolghozati, 37, made dozens of online transfers, sending money and cryptocurrency to people in Iran, without a license from the U.S. Department of the Treasury authorizing him to do so.

The Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations prohibit any person in the U.S. from transporting any goods or services, including funds, to Iran or anyone within Iran. Nonetheless, according to an FBI investigation, Einolghozati conspired with several others to do exactly that.

An FBI investigator reported that Einolghozati immigrated to the U.S. from Iran and became a lawful permanent resident here around April 2016. Since his arrival, Einolghozati resided in part in Hawai‘i.

Einolghozati reportedly communicated via email with two other people — an American and a Canadian citizen — in 2017, discussing the transfer of funds to unspecified people in Iran. In that conversation, Einolghozati reportedly stated he wanted to move up to $90,000 to the country.

Then, in 2017, Einolghozati used the cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase to transfer cryptocurrencies valued at about $18,000 to a user the FBI investigator believed was an Iranian citizen.

In 2020, Einolghozati then made 72 separate transactions which transferred about $108,000 in cryptocurrency to another Iranian Coinbase user.

The FBI investigator also noted several other miscellaneous Coinbase transactions Einolghozati made between 2020 and 2021 to various users, including one series of 19 payments totaling nearly $36,000 to one user, who, the investigator believed, transferred the money to different Iranian cryptocurrency exchanges.

An affidavit by the FBI investigator claimed that the FBI interviewed Einolghozati in October of 2024. During the interview, Einolghozati reportedly claimed he never knowingly sent any cryptocurrency to Iranian exchanges; he claimed his transactions were sent to repay a lost bet to one friend, to pay for another friend’s wife’s education, or to make crypto investments, not knowing the end recipients were in Iran.

However, the FBI investigator noted, these claims were contradicted by Einolghozati’s online conversations: one such conversation began with Einolghozati asking (in translated Farsi) “Can I send you dollars in some way and you give it to someone in Iran?”

Einolghozati was charged in 2024 with violating the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations. On July 13, he pled guilty. He faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million, and will be sentenced on Oct. 29.

Courtfed

<title>Waialua man pleads guilty to violating Iran sanctions</title>

Arash Einolghozati sent thousands of dollars to people in Iran despite longstanding economic sanctions.

Waialua man pleads guilty to violating Iran sanctions

[{"type":"text","text":"If you’re driving too fast on South King Street, you’ll miss it."}]

 can be found at his red trailer — located on South King Street, between the 76 gas station and McDonald’s — on specific days of the week. He’s been in business for about 10 years serving up Tennessee-style barbecue.

“I learned how to cook from my grandfather in Tennessee,” says business owner Sean Paul Jones. He says he was one of 12 grandkids.

“My grandfather taught me how to cook barbecue,” he says. “Since I was a kid, he taught me how to barbecue and cook. For Tennessee-style (barbecue), we use a little dry rub mixed with the barbecue sauce; that’s what makes it really good.”

Jones, who previously worked as a contractor for the military, knew he wanted to start his own barbecue-centric business. He decided to name his business after his grandpa, Bozie Jones, in honor of the man who taught him how to cook.

Jones moved his red trailer around various locations on Oʻahu before settling on his current spot on South King Street.

“A lot of customers wanted me back (here); they kept asking me to come back,” he says.

Jones’ menu is simple, and comprises rib tips ($18), ribs ($24), brisket ($28), chicken ($17) and combo plates ($30). He says the ribs and brisket are the bestsellers.

[{"type":"text","text":"“Within two to three hours, the brisket sells out,” he says."}]

Jones prepares the meats with kiawe wood. He says it takes about three to four hours for the ribs and rib tips to cook.

All plates come with a side of baked beans and Jones’ housemade barbecue sauce.

“The sauce is my granddaddy’s special that he made in Tennessee,” Jones explains. “It’s a vinegar and mustard-based sauce.”

“It’s been a lot of work, and a lot of relationships have been built,” Jones says. “A lot of people keep coming back for the same barbecue.

“I wanted to bring part of the soul and love from Tennessee to Hawaiʻi, and infuse southern barbecue with Hawaiʻi by using kiawe wood,” he adds. “I didn’t just want to bring Tennessee here, but bring Hawaiʻi and Tennessee together.”

Jones’ trailer is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays to Fridays and Sundays. Earlier this year, he also opened a second location with Maunakea Marketplace in Chinatown; his food stall is open every day except Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Chinatown location’s menu is mostly the same as the one at the trailer, but it features more daily specials, according to Jones.

Bozie Jones BBQ owner 041626

<title>Where to find Tennessee-style barbecue in Honolulu</title>

Bozie Jones Barbecue — with its signature red trailer on South King Street — has been serving Tennessee-style barbecue for about nearly 10 years. Owner Sean Paul Jones learned how to cook barbecue from his grandfather in Tennessee, and now serves up brisket, barbecue ribs and rib tips.

Hawaiʻi Skies: An interesting combo

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Hawaiʻi Skies: An interesting combo

Authors

ASD Staff

Reporter

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