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Daily Smile

[{"type":"text","text":"Frank doesn't have time for your games, lady..."}]

Smile 26 9 22

<title>Daily Smile: Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026</title>

Frank doesn't have time for your games, lady...

Daily Smile: Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026

 Frank doesn&#039;t have time for your games, lady...

[{"type":"text","text":"Came over for a visit. Stayed for the sleepover."}]

Smile 26 9 21

<title>Daily Smile: Monday, Sep. 21, 2026</title>

Came over for a visit. Stayed for the sleepover.

Daily Smile: Monday, Sep. 21, 2026

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

Mauna Kea is the only possible site for the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope, after an alternate site in the Canary Islands has reportedly been nixed.

, sources within Spain’s Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities confirmed that the TMT International Observatory has rejected a bid by the Spanish government to have the long-planned telescope built on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands.

The news comes little more than a month after TMT itself 

 that Spain had proposed a “financial framework” to build the observatory on La Palma, a proposal involving multiple Spanish government agencies and the European Investment Bank. That proposed framework 

 up to €1 billion (about $1.1 billion) for the project. 

, the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities announced the rejection on Friday, but the reasons for that rejection were not publicly disclosed.

While Mauna Kea has always been the primary site planned for TMT, La Palma had been proposed as a potential alternative. The island hosts several telescopes at its Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, as its height and equatorial position makes it well-suited for astronomy in the same way that Mauna Kea is.

 of TMT by the National Science Foundation noted that the La Palma contingency was not developed to the same level of detail as the Mauna Kea plan. 

With La Palma seemingly out of the picture, TMT’s only remaining potential site is, once again, Mauna Kea. 

But the future of the project remains murky. In 2024, the NSF named both TMT and the Giant Magellan Telescope in Chile as potential linchpins of a “U.S. Extremely Large Telescope” project, but also that only one could feasibly be funded, putting the two telescopes in competition with each other. 

 a budget request that mentioned that it was no longer considering TMT for the Extremely Large Telescope project, wiping about $1.6 billion in federal funding off the table for TMT.

 earlier this year stipulating that NSF continue to consider both TMT and the Giant Magellan Telescope through its final review process, although no funding for either project was guaranteed in that bill. 

Meanwhile, Gov. Josh Green and the state’s Congressional delegation have 

 TMT to consider building the observatory in the footprint of a previously existing telescope on Mauna Kea, rather than on untouched summit land. TMT project manager Fengchuan Liu told the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority in April that this could be feasible.

Kerry Slater, vice president of communications for TMT International Observatory, confirmed to Aloha State Daily that the observatory declined Spain's financing terms. Slater added that the observatory "remains committed to respectful engagement with Native Hawaiian and Hawai‘i communities."

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<title>TMT reportedly rejects Spanish bid to build on Canary Islands</title>

A €1 billion proposal to build the Thirty Meter Telescope in La Palma has reportedly fallen through.

TMT reportedly rejects Spanish bid to build on Canary Islands

Scores of people, students and state and county officials gathered in the Hawai‘i State Capitol Friday to commemorate former Gov. George Ariyoshi.

Ariyoshi, the longest-serving governor in state history and the first Asian-American elected governor in the United States, 

 April 19 at the age of 100. His casket, draped in a U.S. flag, was laid in state at the state Capitol Friday, where it will remain until noon Saturday.

At the public visitation on Friday, a procession of people including Gov. Josh Green paid their respects to Ariyoshi and his family, while students from McKinley High School — his alma mater — other schools performed songs, dances and recitations in his honor.

McKinley High School principal Ron Okamura said Ariyoshi’s legacy looms large both at the school itself and in his own career. When Ariyoshi was first campaigning for governor in 1974, Okamura said the gubernatorial candidate emphasized the word “integrity,” which Okamura defined as: “What you say, is what you do.”

Okamura added that Ariyoshi was a fan of dancing the jitterbug, and presented McKinley students swing dancing to a performance by the McKinley High School Jazz Band.

Other dignitaries in attendance included Hawai‘i County Mayor Kimo Alameda, who told Aloha State Daily the former governor was a model for his own leadership.

“He did a lot of connecting,” Alameda said. “He was good with building relationships, and that’s something I try to do.”

Alameda added that Ariyoshi’s longevity was also something he aspires to; previous Hawai‘i County mayors, including his immediate predecessors Mitch Roth and Harry Kim, had heart attacks in office, which led Alameda to worry about his own health.

“But [Ariyoshi] lived to 100, so he had to have done something right,” Alameda said.

Others agreed with Ariyoshi’s ability to build relationships. Ken Takemoto said Ariyoshi was “the perfect bridge between Hawaiian and Japanese culture.

“He was a transition from older Japanese cultural values into modern Hawai‘i,” Takemoto continued. “But without discarding them.”

Takemoto, himself a McKinley graduate, said he never knew Ariyoshi personally — although Ariyoshi, then a Hawai‘i State Senator, delivered the commencement address at Takemoto’s graduation in 1966, Takemoto said ruefully that he didn’t remember a word of it. But, he said Ariyoshi was a perennial role model for the Japanese community in Hawai‘i, lauded for leading the state through “a transformative period” in the state’s history.

Ariyoshi is survived by his wife, Jean Ariyoshi, daughter Lynn and sons Ryozo and Donn.

After Ariyoshi’s lie in state ends Saturday, there will be a public visitation at Kawaiaha‘o Church from 2-4 p.m., followed by a celebration of life from 4-5 p.m. Public seating will be available only on a first-come, first-served basis.

Ariyoshi will be buried Monday at the National Memorial Center of the Pacific in a private service for immediate family only.

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<title>Gov. Ariyoshi commemorated in Capitol rotunda</title>

The former governor's casket will remain in the Capitol until noon Saturday.

Gov. Ariyoshi commemorated in Capitol rotunda

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

In honor of International Poke Day — coming up on Monday, Sept. 28 — 

 is giving out free mini poke bowls at all of its locations (except downtown Honolulu) from 2 to 6 p.m. No purchase is necessary to get a free mini poke bowl. Ahi & Vegetable’s ‘Ewa Beach location is not usually open on Mondays, but it will be open on International Poke Day.

For the free bowls, customers can choose from three new poke flavors — Hawaiian chili garlic, hot shoyu or creamy California. One free mini poke bowl will be available per guest, while supplies last, in-store only.

The creamy California is inspired by the California roll and features avocado and masago, according to Ahi & Vegetable chef and director of operations Paul Santos.

“The spicy ‘ahi sells really well at our Ala Moana location,” he says. “The California poke has fresh cucumber and avocado, which add that crunch factor and creaminess.”

The hot shoyu poke is savory and nutty with a spicy kick.

“I’m a huge fan of hot shoyu poke,” Santos says. “I think shoyu poke is the simplest form of poke with sweet onions, local green onions and Aloha Shoyu. We added different spices like sambal, Sriracha and Hawaiian chili peppers. I like a lot of spice, so it adds a little more excitement. When you eat it, you get instant flavor; if you like spicy, I think you’ll really like that one.”

Meanwhile, Hawaiian chili garlic features a bold garlic flavor. Each mini poke bowl includes four ounces of pure fish and one ounce of sauce, according to Santos.

The three new poke flavors will officially join Ahi & Vegetable’s permanent menu after International Poke Day. While customers can choose from the three flavors for the free mini bowl, Ahi & Vegetable’s other poke flavors — including spicy ‘ahi, sweet ginger guava poke, and ginger scallion poke — will also be available. Mini poke bowls usually cost $14.99 each, according to Santos.

“The spicy ‘ahi hits you with three different flavor profiles — sweet, creamy and heat,” he explains. “There’s kewpie mayo, togarashi chili pepper flakes and some honey to pull everything together.

“Trying to make your own spicy ‘ahi in a sea of many spicy ‘ahi pokes is very hard,” he adds.

For those who want shoyu ‘ahi poke without the spice, Santos recommends trying the sweet ginger guava poke. For those who want something unique, he suggests the kajiki mochi crunch poke or ginger scallion poke, which he says is his favorite flavor.

“The kajiki mochi crunch poke is a sweet, honey oyster glaze with mochi crunch crumbles,” Santos explains. “I think locals will appreciate it because it tastes very familiar. Kajiki is a really misunderstood fish; it’s hard to work with because of its firmness. The mochi crunch gives an illusion that the fish is softer because you’re fixated on the crunch of it.

“I’m a big fan of cold, ginger chicken,” he adds, regarding the ginger scallion poke. “I think it has an all-purpose sauce.”

Santos explains that the newer poke flavors have been in the works for some time, and that the company wanted to expand its poke selection for International Poke Day.

“It’s very hard not to create something new that is also not trendy or going to be a fad,” he says. “I love traditional shoyu poke, which is why I created a hot shoyu poke. I wanted to do a sweet variation with a Hawaiʻi touch, so that’s how we got the guava flavor. Now is a great time to showcase what Ahi & Vegetable has in store.”

For more information, visit Ahi & Vegetable’s 

Ahi and Vegetable Paul Santos 090826

<title>Ahi & Vegetable is giving out free mini poke bowls</title>

The biz will be giving out free mini poke bowls at all of its locations (except downtown Honolulu) from 2 to 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 28, for International Poke Day. No purchase is necessary to get a free mini poke bowl. One mini free poke bowl will be available per guest, while supplies last, in-store only.

Ahi & Vegetable is giving out free mini poke bowls

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

Tuesday was the deadline for NFL teams to cut their rosters to 53 players ahead of the 2025 regular season, which begins on Sept. 4 when the Dallas Cowboys visit the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

Below is the list of players with Hawai‘i ties on NFL rosters following Tuesday's cuts:

, defensive tackle, Indianapolis Colts (Punahou)

, quarterback, Cleveland Browns (Mililani)

, linebacker, Pittsburgh Steelers (Saint Louis)

, defensive lineman, Las Vegas Raiders (University of Hawai‘i)

, quarterback, Washington Commanders (Saint Louis)

, receiver, Carolina Panthers (born in Hawai‘i)

, linebacker, New York Giants (Mililani and University of Hawai‘i)

, punter, Indianapolis Colts (University of Hawai‘i)

, interior offensive line, Pittsburgh Steelers (born in Hawai‘i)

, quarterback, Miami Dolphins (Saint Louis)

, receiver, Pittsburgh Steelers (Saint Louis)

Meanwhile, Hawai‘i alumnus and New England Patriots linebacker 

 was left off the initial 53-man roster after being put on injured reserve, though he is designated to return.

Daily Smile: Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026

ASD Staff

Reporter

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Authors

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