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Daily Smile

A golden retriever suffering from seizures seemingly lost her spunk — until one day her owners brought home a miracle cure — a duck named Louie...

Smile 26 8 17

<title>Daily Smile: Monday, Aug. 17, 2026</title>

Daily Smile: Monday, Aug. 17, 2026

 A golden retriever suffering from seizures seemingly lost her spunk — until one day her owners brought home a miracle cure — a duck named Louie...

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Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

A battle over water rights in East Maui boiled over Friday as the Board of Land and Natural Resources considered a proposal to auction off water rights for 30 years.

The East Maui Irrigation System delivers as much as 450 million gallons of water per day throughout thousands of acres of agricultural land in East Maui. The operation of the irrigation system is contingent upon a contract between the state and agricultural company Mahi Pono LLC, which, as of 2025, owns and operates 100% of the system.

On Friday, the BLNR considered a pair of possible futures for the EMI. On one hand, Maui County requested in April to have state-owned land and a daily average of 6.5 million gallons of surface water within the EMI to be set aside to the county’s control and management “for domestic, municipal and agriculture purposes.”

On the other hand, the BLNR could also sell via public auction a 30-year license to divert up to nearly 87 million gallons EMI waters daily.

For scores of Maui residents who testified on Friday, the choice was obvious. Testifiers spoke for more than eight hours urging the BLNR to either reject the public auction — in which Mahi Pono would be the only serious bidder — or postpone their decision.

Attendees warned against placing more of Maui’s natural resources under the control of private entities.

“Mahi Pono can purchase the water it legitimately needs for agriculture from a publicly managed system just like the rest of us small farmers here on Maui,” wrote farmer Eddy Garcia. “We already have to compete with them taking all of our sales. It does not need to control the source for the next 30 years.”

Others raised concerns about Mahi Pono’s corporate ownership: the business is a subsidiary of PSP Investments, a Canadian pension fund with substantial water holdings in Australia. Several testifiers argued that a foreign company’s chief fiduciary duty is to its shareholders, not the people of Maui.

“They are not farmers,” said testifier Tamara Lester. “They’ve squeezed out a lot of family farms and sell the water back to the people it should belong to.”

Still others pointed out that, in 2022, Maui residents voted to amend the county charter and establish the Department of the East Maui Water Authority, which came online in 2024 and is tasked with the stewardship of East Maui waters and acquiring water systems directly. Surrendering those water systems to a private entity instead would seem to contradict that charter amendment, many said.

Nonetheless, there were some voices in support of the auction. Scott Enright, former chair of the Department of Agriculture, wrote that the alternative to a 30-year water license would be repeated one-year revocable permits, which he opined would be “fundamentally mismatched” to the decades-long transition from the plantation era to more diversified agriculture.

After hours upon hours of impassioned opposition, the board voted unanimously to reject both options. Maui board member Jay Carpio introduced a motion to deny both the auction and the set-aside of land to Maui County. 

Included in that motion was a request for any further discussions on the matter to be held on Maui.

A contested case on the matter, requested by environmental group Sierra Club last December is still pending, after the state Environmental Court ruled in July that Sierra Club has standing to challenge the renewal of a revocable permit allowing Mahi Pono to divert water from the EMI.

Ditch 16x9

<title>BLNR rejects East Maui water auction decision</title>

Controversial proposal to auction East Maui water rights for 30 years rejected pending legal challenge.

BLNR rejects East Maui water auction decision

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

Aloha Spirit

The 19th annual Kani Ka Pila Grille Talent Search brings four finalists together to perform for a panel of 

Emcees for the event happening at the festival's Main Stage include Billy V and Bruddah Wade.

The talent search starts at 2 p.m. with a performance by the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winning trio, ʻŌlauniu, which won the talent search in 2025.

— Makana Arce, Moon Kahale, Keawe Kaluhiwa and ʻĀlewa — who will perform three songs, or for up to 20 minutes of non-stop music. At 5 p.m., the contest winner will be announced and perform once more on that stage.

The winner earns a one-month paid performance contract at Kani Ka Pila Grille, a poolside restaurant and bar that offers live Hawaiian music at the Outrigger Reef Waikīkī Beach Resort. Spearheaded by Luana Maitland, Outrigger’s area director of cultural experience, the talent search has become a chance for artists to gain mentors, paid performance opportunities and marketing support.

“Each year, we are reminded of how much talent and heart exists within our Hawaiian music community,” Maitland said in a written statement. “The Talent Search gives musicians a stage, professional support and the encouragement to continue developing their craft. We are honored to welcome this year’s finalists and excited to see how each one shares their unique voice, manaʻo.”

Judges of the talent search contest this year include Kawika Kahiapo, an award-winning musician, singer-songwriter and slack key player; Milton Lau, CEO of the Ki-Hoʻalu Foundation and founder of the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festivals; Bobby Moderow Jr., an award-winning musician, singer-songwriter and slack key player; and Eric Lagrimas, assistant professor of the Music and Entertainment Learning Experience (MELE) at Honolulu Community College.

On July 11, Ei Nei, a trio which won the talent search in 2017, captured 

: Group of the Year, Single of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Island Music Album of the Year, and Favorite Entertainer of the Year.

The last four talent search winners — ʻŌlauniu, Rickey Kamai, Kahiau Lam Ho and Anthony Pfluke — earned nominations for Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards last month. Several took home top prizes. ʻŌlauniu won the Hawaiian Language Performance of the Year and the Haku Mele of the Year awards. Pfluke won Contemporary Acoustic Album of the Year. He also joined Kamaka Camarillo in winning Hawaiian Music Video of the Year.

Ei Nei

<title>Kani Ka Pila Grille announces finalists for talent search</title>

Looking to catch some Hawaiian music at the Made in Hawaiʻi Festival? Stop by the Main Stage on Saturday, Aug. 22, to see the finalists for the 19th annual Kani Ka Pila Grille Talent Search. The winner of the contest gets a paid performance contract at Kani Ka Pila Grille, which is part of Outrigger Reef Waikīkī Beach Resort.

Kani Ka Pila Grille announces finalists for talent search

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

 just opened today in Waimalu Shopping Center. This is the business’s third and newest location. It features a full-service, sit-down dine-in experience, along with a takeout window. 

The biz is celebrating its grand opening tomorrow, Aug. 15, with a lion dance at 11:30 a.m.

Customers can expect a variety of manapua, along with dim sum, peking duck and plate lunches; this location features an expanded menu.

The business’s Hong Kong-style dim sum selection was crafted in partnership with its sister restaurant, Mei Sum Dim Sum. The dim sum menu comprises spring rolls ($4.95), potstickers ($6.35), shrimp pork hash ($6.35), half moon dumplings ($6.35), shrimp dumplings ($6.35) and more.

[{"type":"text","text":"The business’s classic char siu manapua is a bestseller."}]

Besides manapua and dim sum, customers can choose from a variety of local-style plate lunches. Entrees include ginger fried chicken, kalbi ribs, garlic butter shrimp, hamburger steak and more. Seafood and steak combo plates are also available. 

Island Manapua is re-branding its other two locations in Mānoa and Waipahu as Aloha Manapua.

“Over the years, we’ve grown from being a neighborhood manapua counter into a gathering place for families, friends and our community,” states Christy Tong, owner of Aloha Manapua. “Rebranding as Aloha Manapua celebrates our local roots, our commitment to serving our community, and the relationships we’ve built with our customers. While our name is changing, our dedication to the food and service our customers know and love remains the same.”

The ‘Aiea store will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. For the rest of August, customers can take advantage of a 10% discount.

Aloha Manapua shrimp dim sum 081426

<title>Aloha Manapua is open in Waimalu Shopping Center</title>

This is the business’s third and newest location; it’s celebrating its grand opening Aug. 15. Customers can enjoy its signature manapua, along with dim sum and plate lunches. The business is featuring a 10% discount for the rest of the month.

Aloha Manapua is open in Waimalu Shopping Center

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Haley Lehman

 Government offices and public schools will be closed Monday to support response and recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Lala.

According to a news release issued Sunday evening, “the statewide closure will allow emergency response, recovery and restoration efforts to continue while communities across Hawaiʻi recover from the storm.”

Governor Josh Green stated in a news release, “The safety of our people remains our highest priority as we’re responding to these storm impacts. Our state crews continue to work around the clock to protect life and property, and we encourage our residents and visitors to continue to shelter in place.”

Department of Land and National Resources State Parks on Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokai, Maui and Hawaiʻi Island will remain closed until further notice.

As of Sunday evening, all airports are open, but some flights may be delayed or cancelled. Hawaiʻi Island harbors and Kahului Harbor and Kaumalapau Harbor on Lanaʻi are open. Kaunakakai Harbor on Molokai, Nāwiliwili and Port Allen on Lanaʻi and Oʻahu harbors remain closed pending port assessment.

Hawaiʻi State Department of Education public schools and offices will be closed Monday.

UH Mānoa, Windward Community College and Kapiʻolani Community College are currently without power. Updates will be provided late Sunday night regarding campus operations for Monday.

City and County of Honolulu non-essential offices and services will be closed Monday. All public park facilities, the Honolulu Zoo, municipal golf courses, city botanical gardens, satellite city halls and driver licensing centers will be closed Monday.

“While the storm has passed, our work is not finished,” City and County of Honolulu Mayor Blangiardi said. “Our first responders, emergency personnel and City crews have worked tirelessly throughout this storm, and Monday will be an important day for assessing damage, clearing roads and debris, restoring services and helping our communities recover. This coordinated decision by the Governor and county mayors will allow us to keep our resources focused on that work while keeping unnecessary traffic off our roads and giving our communities time to recover.”

 A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for Kauaʻi and the Hawaiian Islands are still under a flood watch as Lala continues to produce heavy rainfall and gusty winds. The National Weather Service discontinued the Tropical Storm Warning for Oʻahu at 2 p.m. Sunday.

As of 5 p.m. Sunday, Tropical Storm Lala was approimately 240 miles west of Honolulu and holding steady southwest of Kauaʻi County. Heavy rainfall and the potential for flooding and mudslides will continue through Sunday night or early Monday, according to the National Weather Service. Large waves generated by Lala will continue to impact the Hawaiian Islands and may cause coastal flooding and beach erosion.

Hawaiian Electric restored power to approximately 180,000 customers Sunday after Hurricane Lala and 191,800 customers are without power. Customers on Hawaiʻi Island are asked to prepare for extended outages in the hardest hit rural areas as road closures, flooding, fallen trees and debris and continuing incelement weather slows the restoration process. Approximately 130,100 are without power on Oʻahu, approximatey 15,800 Maui County residents are without power and 45,900 customers are without power on Hawaiʻi Island.

Cell service in parts of Central Oʻahu and the North Shore is intermittent.

City, county and state crews are responding to road and lane closures across the state caused by flooding, fallen trees and debris. Motorists should avoid driving on flooded or debris-covered roads.

Honolulu Fire Department fielded nearly 700 calls over the weekend and responded to calls about 175 downed trees, 79 blown roofs, 39 downed power lines, 16 water evacuations, four building fires, one high angle rescue and one swimmer rescue.

The City and County of Honolulu is transitioning overnight shelter operations to Booth District Park, ʻEwa Mahiko District Park and Kāneʻohe District Park at 6 p.m. Sunday. According to a news release, 247 people sought refuge in the hurricane refuge shelters at the peak of operations and 127 people reamin.

Hawaiʻi is currently under a statewide Brown Water Advisory following Hurricane Lala.

Hawaiʻi Department of Education closed Nāʻālehu Elementary School through Thursday due to storm-related damage to the campus and road closures. Kaʻū High School and Pāhala Elementary School will be closed Monday.

Honolulu Zoo, indoor park facilities, most botanical gardens, transfer stations and the Waimānalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill will reopen Monday. Wahiawā Botanical Garden will remain closed Monday. Outdoor park facilities will be reassessed Monday.

 More than 100 homes on Hawai’i Island have been damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Lala, Gov. Josh Green said Sunday.

Some parts of the Big Island received more than two feet of rain since the storm reached Hawai’i, Green said at a media briefing Sunday morning. Laupāhoehoe in North Hilo received 32 inches of rainfall, and Green said a “river of water” flooded parts of Na’alehu and that several smaller bridges connecting Volcano to Na’alehu were impassable. 

So far, there is only one reported storm-related casualty: Green said a fatal car crash occurred on the Big Island Saturday, although he added that whether that death is found to have been directly caused by the storm is a matter for local law enforcement.

As of 7 a.m., nearly 200,000 people were without power statewide. Hawaiian Electric reported that “all of the east side and south sides” of the Big Island were out of power, along with Waimea and Honoka’a, for a total of about 58,000 customers. 

About 110,700 customers were without power on O’ahu, and about 28,700 were without power in Maui, Lāna’i and Molokai.

Crews are conducting damage assessments as areas become accessible. However, HECO warned that customers, particularly those in the rural areas of Hawai’i Island, “should prepare for extended outages lasting weeks or even months.”

On O’ahu, fallen boulders have closed Pali Highway, although Department of Transportation Services Director Roger Morton said crews expect to reopen the highway later today.

Morton said bus services are gradually resuming route-by-route today as DTS determines which roads are passable. He added that many traffic lights throughout the island are out of power and advised drivers to remain cautious.

O’ahu residents are urged to report any damage to their residents to the City and County of Honolulu at 

 City and County of Honolulu officials urge residents to shelter in place as Hurricane Lala buffets the state.

Mayor Rick Blangiardi said the worst impacts of the storm on O’ahu are expected to begin around 8:30 p.m. tonight, and will last for the next 12-16 hours. On the other hand, he said, within 24 hours, the worst of the storm should have passed. 

In the meantime, residents are urged to stay at home and avoid unnecessary travel. 

Transit Director Jon Nouchi said TheBus will cease new operations beginning 8:30 p.m., as a precaution against unexpected road closures or bus rollovers caused by heavy winds. Buses en route at 8:30 p.m. will complete their routes and allow passengers to reach their destinations, but will not begin subsequent routes.

Nouchi said bus services will resume when the city evaluates the roads are safe.

If residents must leave their homes or are in a vulnerable location, they are advised to seek shelter at the homes of friends or family or at their workplaces. While eight shelters remain open throughout O’ahu, Randy Collins, director of the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management, said they are not rated for high winds and are not equipped with emergency supplies or sufficient staff.

"We encourage you to leave the space at the refuge areas for those that truly don’t have another place to go, and that way we can save those valuable resources for the people that need them the most,” Collins said. 

Shortly after 6 p.m. on Saturday, Collins said there were 99 people in O’ahu shelters, including homeless residents of the city’s Homeless Outreach and Navigation for Unsheltered Persons facility. On Maui County, 40 people were reportedly in shelters as of about 4:30 p.m.

Honolulu Fire Chief Sheldon Hao said HFD has responded to 40 storm-related calls Saturday, primarily involving torn-off roofs or fallen trees. HFD, the Honolulu Police Department and other agencies including the National Guard have vehicles and resources positioned around the island to respond to emergencies as necessary.

Blangiardi emphasized that, unlike the Kona Low storms in March, “we know what to expect,” and “we’re not going to be surprised by Mother Nature.”

So far, only one person on O’ahu has reported a storm-related injury. Jim Ireland, director of the Honolulu Emergency Services Department, said an elderly woman reported being knocked off her feet by a strong gust of wind, but added that her injuries were not serious.

On the other hand, Hao said that a hiker was reportedly stranded on the Lulumahu Falls Trail. Shortly after 6 p.m., he said, rescue workers were ascertaining how to reach the hiker.

Hawaiian Electric announced that, as of 3 p.m. on Saturday, about 44,000 customers statewide were without power. The bulk of those outages — about 32,300 — were on Hawai’i Island, where wind gusts above 70 mph have been recorded. On O’ahu, about 8,400 customers were without power Saturday afternoon, while about 3,300 Maui customers were in an outage as well.

Hawaiian Electric also announced at the same time that it has restored power to more than 42,000 customers on Saturday, but as the storm progresses, customers may experience multiple outages and restorations over time.

As of 5 p.m. Saturday, the storm had dropped up to 20 inches of rain in certain parts of the Big Island. Flash flood warnings are in effect for East Hawai’i until at least 10 p.m. Flood watches are in effect on all islands through at least Sunday night.

 More than 4,000 homes on Hawai’i Island lost power Saturday morning as Hurricane Lala approaches the state.

Hawaiian Electric announced that about 4,050 customers on the island, largely in Puna, North and South Kohala, and South Hilo were without power as of 7 a.m. Meanwhile, about 160 customers in Upcountry Maui and about 100 in the Hawai’i Kai area of O’ahu were also without power at the same time.

Hawaiian Electric staff are addressing the outages, but customers are advised to plan for possible extended outages as the storm progresses. Crews are standing ready to begin damage assessments once it is safe to do so.

The City and County of Honolulu opened eight hurricane refuge centers today at school facilities around the island: Blanche Pope, Kahuku and Nānākuli elementary schools and Castle, Kapolei, Mililani, Moanalua and Roosevelt high schools will remain open as shelters “as conditions warrant.”

All refuge shelters are pet-friendly, but people should bring their own food, water, medications and other supplies whenever possible.

The city relocated 63 residents of the Homeless Outreach and Navigation for the Unsheltered program to the Kapolei High School shelter. Tents at the HONU site are being disassembled until storm conditions abate.

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply has advised residents to conserve water throughout the storm in case of power outages. According to a city announcement, the water system’s pumps rely on electricity to operate, so conservation can maintain reservoir levels and reduce system demand during an outage.

Residents are also urged to avoid hazardous ocean conditions, as lifeguards in Waikīkī and Ala Moana conducted 95 rescues on Friday alone. High surf warnings remain in effect for the windward shores of all islands at least until 6 a.m. Sunday.

All city parks and recreational facilities will close at 6 p.m. until further notice, including for permitted activities such as overnight camping. The city will assess on Sunday when it might be safe to reopen them. 

 "Damaging hurricane-force winds are expected on the Big Island of Hawai‘i later today, with the strongest wind gusts expected in areas of higher terrain," reports the 

 as it tracks Tropical Storm Lala. "Tropical-storm-force winds are already beginning on the Big Island, and preparations should now be complete. Tropical-storm-force wind gusts are also beginning across portions of the smaller islands and should continue through Sunday."

CPHC said that ﻿﻿﻿the Hawai‘i Island will see increasingly heavy rainfall this morning, which will then spread west across the Islands through the weekend.

"This rainfall will produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain," said CPHC. "﻿﻿﻿Large and dangerous waves are expected across portions of the Hawaiian Islands this weekend. Surf is already building along east-facing shores and will increase along exposed southern shores as Lala passes through the region. This heavy surf may cause localized coastal flooding and significant beach erosion."

Read on for the latest updates, including reports on official preparations underway.

As of 5 p.m. on Friday, Tropical Storm Lala is approximately 235 miles east south-east of South Point, Hawaiʻi and 440 miles southeast of Honolulu with maximum sustained winds of 65 miles per hour.

Gov. Josh Green called Lala an “enormous storm” during a press conference Friday. 

“Let’s just say this: it’s going to be a heck of a lot of wind and water."

“Just be very safe throughout this storm,” Green said. “We can repair roads, we can replace cars, we can fix schools but it’s hard for us if we lose one of the people we love.”

The storm is currently moving at 14 miles per hour and is anticipated to reach Hawaiʻi Island Saturday morning and Oʻahu Saturday evening.

The National Weather Service issued a tropical storm warning for the counties of Maui, Oʻahu and Kauaʻi on Friday. Hawaiʻi Island remains under a hurricane warning as the storm is expected to become a category 1 hurricane by the time it reaches the island, bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds that may cause flooding and landslides.

NWS Meteorologist John Bravender said that Lala is on track to reach just south of Hawaiʻi Island but it’s uncertain how the storm will interact with its terrain.

Residents are encouraged to review their emergency plan, secure outdoor items, charge electronic devices and have enough food, water and supplies. 

Hawaiʻi Department of Defense Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Stephen Logan said Friday that the Hawaiʻi National Guard is prepared to support county and state emergency response efforts with the activation of 180 Hawaiʻi National Guard personnel across the state and military high-yield vehicles. The Coast Guard is prepared to conduct search and rescue efforts, if needed.

According to Hawaiʻi County Mayor Kimo Alameda, the last hurricane that hit Hawaiʻi Island was in 1871. Hurricane Iselle peaked in the Pacific before it was downgraded to a strong tropical storm in August 2014.

Alameda encouraged Hawaiʻi Island residents to hunker down and stay off the roads.

City and County of Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said at a press conference Friday that the City is preparing for the worst and hoping for the best.

“The City is prepared. Now we need you to be prepared, too,” he said. “We can’t control the storm necessarily, but we can prepare for it.”

NWS estimates that the storm will bring 2 to 4 inches of rain to the Leeward side of Oʻahu, 4 to 6 inches of rain to the Windward side and 6 to 8 inches of rain in mountainous regions.

The City will open a non-emergency call center at 7 a.m. on Saturday, which can be reached at 808-723-8960. Residents are urged call 911 for all emergencies. 

At the Friday press conference, Blangiardi called the Kona Low storms in March a “reality check” and said that the City and County of Honolulu has been informed on how to prepare and respond to future storms.

According to Honolulu Police Department Major Cliff Ramson, commander of the major events division, the 

City and County departments hosted their own emergency centers during natural disasters like the Kona lows. The Joint Operations Center was established during the Kona Low storms to coordinate efforts and deploy first responders, and for this storm, the city activated the Joint Operations Center Friday morning.

“It’s an all hands on deck, just getting all the right people in the room together to identify and solve problems as they arise and direct resources as they’re most needed,” he said.

Police Chief David Lazar added that the police department is being proactive and is ready to deploy.

“We also want to tell the public that if anyone thinks they can go out and commit a crime during this time, they better think different,” he said.

Ocean Safety Chief Kurt Lager said that the surf will change quickly, with waves of up to 8 to 12 feet.

Department of Transportation Services Director Roger Morton said Friday that the department is not predicting any road closures, but the department will be monitoring conditions island-wide. He encouraged residents to avoid unnecessary travel and to never drive through standing water.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources and the City and County of Honolulu Department of Facilities Maintenance has been preparing for the storm by clearing streams and bridges and opening stream mouths. Dam owners were directed by the state to inspect their facilities and dams have been secured, according to Green.

The Community Outreach Response and Engagement team has been engaging with the houseless populations and offering shelter with a focus on areas near bridges and streams, according to Honolulu Emergency Services Department Director Jim Ireland.

Hawaiʻi airports remain open. As of Friday afternoon, Hawaiian Airlines canceled 23 flights. 

Zippyʻs Restaurants has temporarily closed its Hilo location starting at 6 p.m. Friday through Saturday. 

State offices on Hawaiʻi Island and Maui will be closed over the weekend.

On Oʻahu, Capitol Modern will be closed Saturday and the Honolulu Museum of Art will be closed Sunday.

In advance of the storm, Hawaiian Electric "has increased 24/7 staffing and additional personnel" on Hawaiʻi Island, per a news release from the company at 7:30 p.m. "

Crews are at-the-ready in Hilo, Kona and Waimea, and the company is prepared to deploy more crews from other islands, as needed," Hawaiian Electric stated.

The City and County of Honolulu will open eight shelters in partnership with the American Red Cross on Oʻahu at 8 a.m. Saturday, which will remain open as conditions warrant. The shelters include Blanche Pope Elementary School, Castle High School, Kahuku Elementary School, Kapolei High School, Mililani High School, Moanalua High School, Nānākuli Elementary School and Roosevelt High School. All locations are pet friendly. Residents are encouraged to bring their own food, water, medicine and necessary pet supply.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Education is closing all campuses and offices on Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Lānaʻi and Molokai at 5:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday. All Oʻahu and Kauaʻi campuses and offices will be closed Saturday and Sunday. The cancelations include extracurricular activities, athletics and community uses of school facilities. Public schools statewide are scheduled to resume normal operations on Monday, Aug. 17.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"UPDATE, AUG. 14, 11:30 A.M.: "}]

As of 8 a.m. Friday, Tropical Storm Lala is approximately 365 miles east south-east of Hilo and 580 miles east south-east of Honolulu. Tropical Storm Lala is expected to become a hurricane as it approaches Hawaiʻi Island. The storm may produce rainfall of 8 to 12 inches across Maui and Hawaiʻi Island and 4 to 6 inches across the rest of the Hawaiian Islands. 

The National Weather Service issued a hurricane warning for Hawaiʻi Island from 6 p.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Sunday. The storm may develop into a category 1 or category 2 hurricane with the potential for winds of 74 to 110 miles per hour by the time it reaches Hawaiʻi Island.

Maui County is under a tropical storm warning from 6 a.m. Saturday through 6 a.m. Sunday. Oʻahu is under a tropical storm watch from 6 p.m. Saturday through 6 p.m. Sunday. 

Hawaiʻi County Mayor Kimo Alameda signed an emergency proclamation Friday morning.

This is a quickly evolving situation and we urge our residents to act now to prepare for the storm by checking your emergency supplies, securing your property, and contacting neighbors who may need assistance,” Alameda said in a news release Friday. “Readiness requires all of us, and with a storm this close, a slight change in its track can greatly enhance rain and wind hazards across the island. We encourage everyone to stay safe, stay connected and be prepared to hunker down and stay home during severe weather.” 

Hawaiʻi County will open shelters at 6 p.m. Friday. Residents should bring their own food, water and medicine. The shelters include Ikuo Hisaoka Gymnasium, Waikoloa Elementary School cafeteria, Kahilu Town Hall, Honokaʻa Gym, Laupāhoehoe Public Charter School band room, Waiākea High School gym, Keaʻau Armory, Pāhoa Neighborhood Facility, Robert N. Herkes Gym, Nāʻālehu Elementary School gym, Kealakehe High School gym and Yano Hall.

Hawaiʻi County closed all solid waste facilities and camping permits and cancelled the Hawaiʻi Island Agrifood Summit in Honokaʻa and Waimea, the Hulu Street Evacuation Drill in Waikoloa and the Island Showdown at Hilo Drag Strip. All Hawaiʻi Island parks and solid waste facilities will be closed Saturday.

Hele-On Kakoʻo Paratransit Services will halt at 8 p.m. Friday and all fixed route Hele-On and Paratransit Services are cancelled for Saturday and Sunday.

Hawaiʻi County residents can request sandbags from the Department of Public Works at 

The University of Hawaʻi at Hilo and Hawaiʻi Community College campus, office and off-campus locations will be closed Saturday and Sunday. All events are cancelled this weekend. Normal operations are scheduled to return Monday.

The City and County of Honolulu activated its Emergency Operations Center and the Honolulu Police Department’s Joint Operations Center Friday morning to bring together City departments, first responders and emergency management personnel. A 12-member team from South Carolina State Fire and the Palmetto Incident Support team will arrive on Oʻahu Friday to provide additional emergency management support.

The Department of Facility Maintenance will open stream mouths Friday evening at Pōkaʻi Bay and ʻUlehawa.

Residents of the City's Homeless Outreach and Navigation for the Unsheltered program will be relocated to Kapolei High School gymnasium Saturday morning.

Lala Sunday afternoon

<title>LALA UPDATE: Public schools, state, county government offices to close Monday</title>

Nearly 200,000 customers remain without power as Lala heads west. Some parts of Hawaiʻi Island received more than two feet of rain since the storm reached the state, Green said at a media briefing Sunday morning. So far, there is only one reported storm-related casualty and more than 100 homes on the Big Isle have been damaged.

LALA UPDATE: Public schools, state, county government offices to close Monday

Business & Tourism

Fun fact: Selling homemade cinnamon rolls was not 

While the business is currently known for its warm, fluffy rolls, Jasmine “Jaz” Milam, who co-owns Hele Rolls with Brittany “Kawai” Lopez, remembers she started out with doughnuts.

“It was doughnuts to begin with; I’m no good at doughnuts and I already knew that, but I think she (Lopez) really likes doughnuts,” Milam says. “After a couple weeks, I was like, doughnuts are not working.”

Milam, who always loved baking, remembers making homemade cinnamon rolls regularly when she was deployed.

“I was making homemade cinnamon rolls every Sunday to share with my fellow service members,” she says. “It became a tradition that brought everyone together, and seeing how something as simple as a warm cinnamon roll could create that sense of comfort and connection has always stayed with me.”

Milam suggested featuring cinnamon rolls for Hele Rolls’ main product and, long story short, they quickly became a hit.

“Cinnamon rolls felt like the perfect fit,” she says. “They’re nostalgic, comforting, and have a way of bringing people together, which is exactly what we hope every customer experiences when they enjoy one of our rolls.”

Hele Rolls officially launched last June, shortly after Milam’s father died. The business was created as a way to honor his legacy and the values he believed in, especially the idea of food having the power to bring people together.

The business’s name pays tribute to Hele Nui, the food truck Milam’s father previously operated.

“Everyone says it (the business name) should be Jaz’s cinnamon rolls, and I didn’t want my name on it,” Milam says. “All of a sudden, it came to me — his food truck’s name was Hele Nui, so what about Hele Rolls? It’s using his name, but kind of paving my own path, carrying his legacy forward.

“Now, I tell everybody, this started off as a side hustle, but it’s turned into so much more,” she adds. “I have a legacy that I’m trying to continue with my dad. It’s more than just making cinnamon rolls for some extra cash; it’s making him, my family and my community proud.”

The family-operated business accepts pre-orders and pops up at various events across O

ahu, such as the Taste of Aloha Night Market at NEX and What the Truck?! in Waikele. The business’s first What the Truck?! market was recent, and Hele Rolls sold out of its cinnamon rolls in 45 minutes, according to Milam.

“I had about 220 to 240 rolls at What the Truck?!,” she says. “Taste of Aloha was the most I’ve done at a market; it was a little more than 300.”

All cinnamon rolls are handmade in small batches, according to Milam, who says the business focuses on creating that soft, fluffy texture and homemade frostings.

While the business’s original cinnamon roll continues to be a bestseller, it also offers specialty flavors which change every month, according to Milam. Previous specialty flavors include strawberry shortcake, chocolate haupia, ube and Oreo. In July, the business featured Oreo and lemon blueberry cinnamon rolls.

“We love keeping our menu fresh with rotating flavors inspired by Hawai

i, classic desserts and seasonal favorites,” Milam says. “One of our favorite things is challenging people’s expectations of what a cinnamon roll can be. They can be familiar, nostalgic and comforting — or completely unexpected.

“Lemon blueberry had our housemade blueberry compote, our icing, homemade whipped cream, fresh blueberries, lemon zest and blueberry shortcake, which is like cookies with freeze-dried blueberries,” she adds. “The Oreo one was like a cookies and cream. Our menu rotates regularly, so there’s always something new to discover. We put a lot of heart into everything we make.”

At markets, customers can buy individual cinnamon rolls or get sample packs, which include two original rolls and two specialty flavors. If customers pre-order, only packs are available. At markets, original cinnamon rolls cost $6 each; specialty flavors cost $8 each.

When asked about her favorite cinnamon roll flavors, Milam says she likes her kūlolo one — “I still need to perfect it a little bit more” — and also recommends the haupia flavor, which features original icing, toasted macadamia nuts and coconut shavings. 

Besides pop-up events and accepting pre-orders, the biz also offers catering for private parties, corporate events and celebrations. Customers can opt for the full-sized cinnamon rolls or the business’s Cinni-Maninis, or bite-sized cinnamon rolls.

Hele Rolls wasn’t even a year old when the biz was asked to participate in Food Network’s “The Great Food Truck Race.”

“One day, we were making cinnamon rolls; I was in the kitchen, and Kawai yelled my name,” Milam remembers. “It wasn’t a panic yell; it was more of an excited yell. I came to her, and she said, ‘Look at this.’ It was a casting agent who reached out to us through Instagram. Obviously, like everyone else, we thought it was Spam.”

“We thought it was Spam for sure, but we were like, ‘Who knows, let’s just take a chance,’” Lopez says.

Hele Rolls responded to the message, the agent got back to them, and from there, “it just snowballed,” according to Milam.

That was earlier this spring; Hele Rolls left to compete on “The Great Food Truck Race” in April. Hosted by Tyler Florence, this season follows eight food truck teams from across the country, as they travel through the Great Smoky Mountains. The winning team gets a $50,000 grand prize. Previous show episodes can be viewed on HBO Max.

Hele Rolls, known for its homemade cinnamon rolls, started its business last June. The biz regularly pops up at events across Oʻahu and accepts pre-orders. Hele Rolls is also competing on the new season of Food Network’s "The Great Food Truck Race," which premiered on July 26.

Daily Smile: Monday, Aug. 17, 2026

ASD Staff

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Daily Smile: Monday, Aug. 17, 2026

Authors

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