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ASD Staff

Daily Smile

[{"type":"text","text":"When your favorite dog is probably the dumbest....."}]

Smile 26 7 20

<title>Daily Smile: Monday, July 20, 2026</title>

When your favorite dog is probably the dumbest.....

Daily Smile: Monday, July 20, 2026

 When your favorite dog is probably the dumbest.....

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

 recently soft opened in Honolulu. The biz doesn’t have an official sign yet, but it’s located on one end of the 

The business is known for its flavorful gourmet burgers made with wagyu patties. Created in collaboration with 

, winner of London’s Slider Decider competition in 2015 and 2016, Dragon Burger is known for its flavorful gourmet burgers made with wagyu beef patties and innovative sauces.

Dragon Burger initially did a pop-up in Fukuoka, Japan in August 2017. After positive customer feedback, the brand opened in Tofukuji, Kyoto the following month. 

The yuzu kosho burger is the business’s signature burger. It includes yuzu mayo, a sweet chili sauce, spring onions, cheddar cheese and pickled radish. Yuzu kosho, a popular Japanese condiment made with fresh yuzu citrus zest, contributes to the burger's savory flavor. 

The shiso flame features spicy mayo, spring onions, cheddar cheese, shiso leaf and onion chili paste.

We’re told that the business will add more burgers — like the wasabi (crispy onions, wasabi mayo, onions, cheddar cheese, wakame seaweed and Karashi mustard) and classic (sweet mustard, onions, onion miso, cheddar cheese and Karashi mustard) — to the menu in the upcoming days.

Customers can opt for the business’s Kyo chips ($6), or fries, plain or with sauces like yuzu mayo, spicy mayo and wasabi mayo (additional $1). The wasabi mayo comes highly recommended.

Dragon Burger is currently open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5 to 8 p.m. daily. Both this biz and the business next to it, Bonbori — a ramen spot from Hokkaido — will be celebrating their grand opening on July 25.

Open daily, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., 5 to 8 p.m.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Dragon Burger yuzu kosho burger 072026

<title>Kyoto’s Dragon Burger is now open in Honolulu</title>

The Japan-based burger spot — known for its gourmet wagyu patties and innovative sauces — just soft opened at Midtown Eats food hall at The Park on Keʻeaumoku. The menu is limited for now; the business will celebrate its grand opening on July 25.

Kyoto’s Dragon Burger is now open in Honolulu

[{"type":"text","text":"The world's laziest game of fetch....."}]

Smile 26 7 18

<title>Daily Smile: Saturday, July 18, 2026</title>

The world's laziest game of fetch.....

Daily Smile: Saturday, July 18, 2026

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

Crime & Courts

A Virginia nonprofit’s lawsuit against Hawai‘i's election officer could go to the U.S. Supreme Court.

, a public interest law firm focused on election integrity, filed a lawsuit against Scott Nago, Chief Election Officer for the state, arguing Nago had failed to make statewide voter records publicly available as per federal laws.

According to that suit, PILF contacted Nago in April of 2023 requesting to inspect Hawai‘i's complete voter registration system data. While Nago didn’t directly respond, the Office of Elections’ General Counsel Aaron Schulaner eventually directed PILF to direct its request to individual county clerks.

Schulaner’s response cited state statutes that place the responsibility for maintaining voter registration data on the county clerks, rather than the state elections officer. However, PILF responded by arguing that the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 does not allow the state to delegate that authority: according to the U.S. Department of Justice, the NVRA requires each state to designate a state officer to be responsible for coordinating state voter registrations.

When PILF sent requests to Honolulu, Hawai‘i and Kaua‘i's county clerks in August of 2023 — as the Lahaina wildfire had only recently happened, PILF did not send a request to Maui — those clerks denied the requests.

However, U.S. District Judge Leslie Kobayashi granted a motion by Nago to dismiss the case in 2024. While the judge concurred that PILF had standing to sue Nago, she noted that PILF had technically not been wronged yet: PILF had not, at that point, actually gone through the counties’ information request forms for the voter registration data.

PILF subsequently appealed the case in October 2024. But the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of PILF’s claim in April of this year.

Among the arguments in the Ninth Circuit’s decision was a claim about the NVRA’s requirement to provide “all records concerning the implementation of programs and activities conducted for the purpose of ensuring the accuracy and currency of official lists of eligible voters.”

The Ninth Circuit suggested that the best reading of the law is that voter lists are not “records concerning the implementation of programs” but are instead the objects of those programs, which are not themselves required to be provided by the NVRA.

[{"type":"text","text":"PILF disagrees."}]

“Congress said the public is entitled to all records concerning voter list maintenance. ‘All’ means ‘all’,” said PILF President and General Counsel J. Christian Adams in a statement Friday. “The statewide voter file is exactly what Congress requires be made public.”

PILF, having once again appealed the case, this time to the nation’s highest court, has requested the Supreme Court to determine whether a list of registered voters in a state is a record as specified by the NVRA.

While PILF has requested that the Supreme Court hear the case, the court has not yet granted that request; Nago can file his own request for the case not to be heard.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

I Stock 1149364911 16x9

<title>Lawsuit against Hawai‘i's chief election officer could go to U.S. Supreme Court</title>

Virginia-based Public Interest Legal Foundation sued Chief Election Officer Scott Nago over access to state voter registration data in 2023.

Lawsuit against Hawai‘i's chief election officer could go to U.S. Supreme Court

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

LAS VEGAS — Nothing says Mountain West football quite like the University of Hawai‘i paying a visit to DeKalb, Ill. for a road conference game on Oct. 24, or North Dakota State heading down to the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex on Nov. 14 for a matchup that figures to be pivotal in the conference championship race.

When members of the Mountain West gathered for another edition of its annual media days on Wednesday and Thursday at the 

Palms Resort Casino Resort, the congregation served as an unofficial celebration that the conference was still standing in 2026. 

 of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State to the Pac-12, the Mountain West retooled by adding Hawai‘i, UTEP and UC Davis as full-time members, while also securing Northern Illinois and North Dakota State as football-only affiliates.

In her Wednesday morning address to open the media day festivities, Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez said the conference is "as stable as we can be at the moment," citing the grant of rights each member has committed to. In February, the Mountain West also agreed to a six-year media rights deal with CBS Sports, Fox Sports and streaming company Kiswe, as well as a five-year deal with the CW Network. 

"Honestly, the excitement level is really high, and I think with a new-look Mountain West and new members, there's just excitement," Nevarez told Aloha State Daily. "It's really fun, and we thought it was really important to provide continue to provide the stage to showcase our student-athletes in advance of the season."

No preseason poll was released by the conference, although four members of the University of Hawai‘i football team in 

 were selected to the preseason All-Mountain West team. 

Though no predicted order of finish was given among the 10 squads, one thing is certain — the teams will travel far and wide to play each other this fall. 

"It's exciting," Nevarez said. "We've heard that all those fan bases travel really well, and I think there's a lot of excitement and newness. I think we're going to see a lot of fan travel."

For North Dakota Stare, the mid-November trip to Honolulu will surely be a welcome one. 

"Probably four feet of snow and negative 20 degrees," North Dakota State senior safety Darius Givance said when asked about what Fargo looks like at that time of the year. "It's gonna be a complete climate flip, but usually they'll put us in the indoor facility for that week, turn the heat up, crank it up and get it to like 95 degrees in there, and we'll just get after it."

Northern Illinois interim head coach Rob Harley compared the Mountain West slate to that of the Big Ten, where a team like USC can travel to New Jersey to face Rutgers in a road game. Still, the notion of a Chicagoland school sharing a conference with Hawai‘i is certainly out of the ordinary. 

"It's wild, the fact that it's a conference game," Harley said of the Oct. 24 matchup. "I think that's unique, but we're used to it because of (conference) expansion. But I think it's a neat thing to bring five different time zones and to bring the game of college football to most people. ... You gotta love that."

While Hawai‘i's conference slate brings fresh matchups, it also features familiar and heated rivalries. 

After opening its season on Aug. 29 at Stanford, the Rainbow Warriors will begin conference play by hosting UNLV at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex on Sept 5. The Rebels, like Hawai‘i, open their season on Week 0 against Memphis. 

"It's going to be a big game because it's two teams that expect to play for a championship," UNLV head coach Dan Mullen said. "Whoever wins has a two-game edge over the other team (in the standings), so I think that's a big deal for a big game early in the season. ... A lot of excitement around both programs. I expect a great atmosphere."

No program in the Mountain West has had Hawai‘i's number in recent years as much as San Jose State. The Spartans own five consecutive wins over the Rainbow Warriors dating back to 2020. When the teams meet on Oct. 3 at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, it will be SJSU head coach 

's first time coaching against his alma mater at its temporary venue. 

"Any games on TV, I watch. I'm a fan. I mean, still my school, so I watch a lot of their games a little bit more," Niumatalolo said. "Their games have been packed. It's not the biggest stadium, but the games that I've seen, it's a hard place to play. Talked to a few folks that went there last year, and they're they're a tough team to beat. And 

's done a great job in creating that atmosphere. 

"The other part I think about is it's sad to see Aloha Stadium go down, but I'm excited about the 

Another familiar face could play a major role in the matchup, as former Hawai‘i quarterback 

 is currently in the running to be the next starting quarterback at San Jose State. 

"He just wanted the chance to play, so it showed me what kind of character he has. He was totally honest with why he was coming," Niumatalolo said of the process in recruiting Weaver out of the NCAA transfer portal. "It wasn't about money. He just wanted a chance to play, and I feel like we had more of those kind of guys in the fold this year."

recently extended Hawai‘i head coach Timmy Chang

 is curious to see where his team stacks up. 

"We're excited for the three new members. We're excited for the existing members. Mountain West football has been tough and competitive throughout the years," Chang said. "I've been in it now going on 10 years, and I've seen how great the teams are and how every year it's so elite and so competitive and I look forward to watching everybody play."

Hawai‘i's new full-time membership in the Mountain West meant that the school departed the Big West. Prior to leaving, the University of Hawai‘i women's volleyball team was set to host the 2026 Big West Tournament, which was since moved to Cal Poly. 

While the Mountain West Conference title game for football will be hosted by the school with the highest College Football Playoff ranking or top team in the conference standings, a handful of neutral site tournaments have been locked in for the conference's other sports. In 2026-2027, women's volleyball and men's basketball will take place in Las Vegas, while baseball will take place in Mesa, Ariz. 

Could the Stan Sheriff Center be the host of the Mountain West women's volleyball tournament in the future? 

"All options are on the table," Nevarez told ASD. "We do have some championships that are determined by season performance, so there's opportunity there. But if it makes sense for us, and obviously there's some additional costs with travel. If we can offset some of those, we absolutely look to Hawai‘i to host."

Mountain West coaches 071626

<title>University of Hawai‘i right at home in new-look Mountain West Conference</title>

After sticking together in the latest round of conference realignment, members of the retooled Mountain West ushered in the league's new era in Las Vegas this week.

University of Hawai‘i right at home in new-look Mountain West Conference

Business & Tourism

[{"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.

Where to find Tennessee-style barbecue in Honolulu

 concluded with rounds 5-20 on Sunday, with five players with Hawai‘i ties getting selected. 

Up first was Arizona State senior and Saint Louis alumnus Nu‘u Contrades, who was taken in the sixth round with the 186th overall pick by the San Diego Padres. 

A pair of Baldwin alums were taken a round apart from each other in University of Hawai‘i senior standout Ben Zeigler-Namoa, who was taken in the 10th round by the Atlanta Braves. Arkansas junior Kuhio Aloy followed in the 11th round when he was selected by the New York Mets with the 330th overall selection.

Additionally, Seattle University pitcher and Maui High School alumnus Luke Alwood was taken in the 10th round by the Chicago Cubs with the 307th overall selection.

Rounding out the Island ties was former University of Hawai‘i outfielder Jack Salmon, who transferred to UNLV prior to the 2026 season and was selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the 19th round. 

Zeigler-Namoa woke up at 4 a.m. to keep track of the draft online, then received a call from his agent telling him the Braves were preparing to take him in between rounds 8-10. 

"It was obviously shock," Zeigler-Namoa told Aloha State Daily of his reaction. "Didn't expect that to happen. I was just grateful to have my mom right next to me."

Zeigler-Namoa came to UH as a pro prospect out of Yavapai College in Arizona. He remained on the radar of scouts in each of his four years as a Rainbow Warrior. Though getting selected as a fifth-year senior was a relief, he also acknowledged he was picked as a senior sign, meaning he'll earn significantly less than the 

With the Braves organization, Zeigler-Namoa says he was told he'd be playing a lot of first base. At Hawai‘i, he played all three outfield positions in addition to first base. He even pitched during his first season with UH in 2023. 

 at the Big West Conference tournament, Zeigler-Namoa says he was able to stay sharp by working the program's keiki camps during the summer. 

"The kids have been keeping me in shape, making me run around and yell and do things like I'm playing baseball. And then I've been training on my own after, which has been really nice, and I've had the honor of having the coaching staff around to help me out, too," Zeigler-Namoa said. "It's been great."

One of the first calls Zeigler-Namoa made after getting drafted was to former UH teammate Austin Machado, who signed with Atlanta as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 season as a junior. Machado is currently with the 

Augusta GreenJackets, the Single-A affiliate of the Braves.

In the days ahead, Zeigler-Namoa is expected to sign, then receive his minor league assignment. Starting his journey in pro ball has been a long time coming, but the wait is finally over. 

"I'm grateful for everyone I've met throughout the journey so far, and I hope to continue to represent Hawai‘i in the best way possible," he said.

Additionally, UH pitcher John Alikre II signed with the Cubs as an undrafted free agent on Sunday. On Monday morning, former Hawai‘i ace pitcher 

 signed a free agent deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. 

Daily Smile: Monday, July 20, 2026

ASD Staff

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Daily Smile: Monday, July 20, 2026

Authors

ASD Staff

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