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Daily Smile

[{"type":"text","text":"A costume so good, it runs through your dreams..."}]

Smile 26 10 16

<title>Daily Smile: Friday, Oct. 16, 2026</title>

A costume so good, it runs through your dreams...

Daily Smile: Friday, Oct. 16, 2026

 A costume so good, it runs through your dreams...

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Crime & Courts

The Honolulu Police Department will shift 100 officers to patrol duties beginning November.

 announced Thursday that the department will move 100 officers from duties throughout HPD as a shift to get as many officers back on the road as possible.

“It means more officers on the road,” Lazar said. “It also means officers are available to respond when someone calls for help. It means we’re working to reduce response times and getting officers to those who need them sooner, and it ultimately means we can continue providing emergency police services without having to reduce our response capabilities.”

Lazar added that the move will also reduce overtime expenses. He said HPD’s overtime budget is about $6.8 million each quarter, but in the first quarter of 2026, that budget was exceeded by another $6 million.

“We just don’t have enough officers in patrol to do the work,” Lazar said. “We have beats, we have shift work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and so a lot of that overtime was spent to make sure that we have enough officers to do the work.”

The officers to be on patrol will be reallocated from throughout the department, from the chief’s office and the criminal investigations unit, to the traffic unit, training division, human resources, the narcotics and vice unit and more. Furthermore, where officers who finished field training would previously go to an additional training unit called “fourth watch,” they will now be put on patrol alongside another officer.

“Make no mistake, we still will investigate narcotics crimes,” Lazar said. “We’ll still go after gambling houses. We are still going to investigate every single type of crime that’s occurring.”

But while Lazar said the shift will not “sacrifice any ongoing investigation,” he also said that patrols are the primary focus for the time being, and investigations are secondary.

The shift does not have a specific end date. Lazar said the new state of affairs will continue for the time being as officer recruitment continues.

“There’s really no time limit on it, other than that we have to keep this in place until we have enough officers in patrol, and then we can start looking at … other elements that we need to refill again,” Lazar said.

But Lazar said officer recruitment is strong, with a class of 32 new recruits expected to graduate at the end of the month. Nonetheless, he said officer numbers are still some 200-300 short of the 2,177 officers the department is budgeted for.

The response from the rank-and-file is still unknown; Lazar said Thursday that he had informed the department as a whole about the change only about 15 minutes before the media were informed. Nonetheless, he said that “officers wanting to leave or retire [because of the change] have not crossed [his] mind.”

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi commended Lazar on his “flexibility [and] willingness to think differently,” and said his decision simultaneously addresses a financial challenge while improving public safety.

Lazar

<title>100 HPD officers to be reassigned to patrol</title>

Scores of officers will be reallocated to patrol duties next month, HPD Chief David Lazar announced Thursday.

100 HPD officers to be reassigned to patrol

Government & Politics

As Hawai‘i voters begin receiving their ballots for the general election, they may ask: What does Constitutional Amendment Question 2 actually mean?

 to the state constitution will be on the ballot this election. One of those is self-explanatory — should the state Senate be allowed 60 days to appoint judges and justices between April and January, instead of the current 30 days — but the other may seem complicated.

Constitutional Amendment Question 2 asks whether the state should allow the counties to issue “Resilient Infrastructure for Shelter and Equity bonds” — or RISE bonds — to help fund public improvement projects. These bonds would be repaid by future tax revenues on the new developments funded by said bonds, without imposing additional taxes or raising tax rates, and would be exempt from the counties’ debt limit.

The proposed amendment was introduced in the state Senate this year with the stated purpose of attempting to lower the development costs of affordable housing. As noted in 

 — the measure introducing the amendment — the development of new homes requires large up-front investments in water, drainage and other infrastructure.

Rep. Luke Evslin, chair of the House Committee on Housing, said Wednesday that the solution to this has been either to pass on those up-front costs to homebuyers, leading to rising house prices and a lack of affordable housing, or to raise taxes.

RISE bonds would, in theory, present a third option by allowing counties to fund that infrastructure, with the debt being serviced by future increases in tax revenue specifically generated by those selfsame new developments made possible by the infrastructure.

This is not an original concept; 48 other states, excluding Hawai‘i and Arizona, use “tax increment financing bonds,” which operate on the same principle.

Evslin told Aloha State Daily Wednesday that it’s only due to a quirk in Hawai‘i's constitution that the state doesn’t also use these bonds. He said the constitution as written does not permit the counties to issue such bonds, hence the need for a constitutional amendment.

Evslin emphasized that the bonds do not bring an increase in taxes. The property taxes paid by new homeowners in a new development made possible by the bonds will be at the same tax rate as any other comparable development, but the revenues from those taxes will go to pay off the bond, rather than back to the county.

However, Gov. Josh Green said Wednesday that this does not mean the bonds will reduce the counties' tax revenues, as the tax revenues generated by these new developments do not currently exist. Rather than reduce existing revenues, the bonds will simply redirect some future revenues.

Furthermore, the amendment would exempt RISE bonds from counties’ debt limits, which Evslin said means a county could issue any number of the bonds — although, he added, because developments funded via the bonds will still require taxpayer-funded services such as police and fire department responses, counties will likely be judicious in how many they issue.  

Evslin said that the tax increment financing bonds are typically structured conservatively so that the municipality that issues them takes on little to no risk. He said in the event of a disaster wiping out the infrastructure investments — something he said has happened in California — typically the bondholder, not the municipality, is left holding the bag.

The proposal was nigh-universally popular as it passed through the legislature, with major unions such as the Pacific Resource Partnership and the General Contractors Association of Hawai‘i voicing strong support of the amendment. This week, the Chamber of Commerce Hawai‘i urged members to vote yes on Question 2. 

One of the few people to testify against the proposal, Hawai‘i County resident Cindy Freitas, warned about the potential for lost tax revenue and the lack of guardrails for how much of a county’s tax base can be captured by the bonds.

But Green and several other lawmakers spoke in favor of the amendment Wednesday. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said there is a roughly 28,000 unit deficit of housing on O‘ahu, which he said RISE bonds can help to reduce.

Kaua‘i Mayor Derek Kawakami called the bonds “a monumental change to how we fund infrastructure,” adding that, after the many disasters of 2026, it is clear that the state’s resilience is dependent on having modern and reliable infrastructure.

“Communities can only be as resilient as the roads that connect us,” Kawakami said.

Evslin

<title>So what is a RISE bond anyway?</title>

Voters may wonder what Constitutional Amendment Question 2 means when they receive their ballots this week.

So what is a RISE bond anyway?

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

Aloha Spirit

Ready to get in a Halloween mood? Aloha State Daily compiled a list of 31 things to do this month, in honor of the 31 days of October. 

From haunted houses to themed drinks, there are lots of opportunities to celebrate spooky season. Check the list for where to take keiki to trick-or-treat and participate in costume contests. There are also opportunities to surf and dance.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Now until Oct. 31:"}]

This scary experience is back. Brutex Laboratories quarantine facility has an outbreak. See what happens when containment fails. There are live actors and immersive sets, plus hands-on challenges. General admission is $38. Express pass is $46. Get a 10% discount through Oct. 11 with the code EARLY10. 

Dead Letter Office (Downtown Honolulu). 

’s “Dead Letter Office” Halloween pop-up will run from Oct. 8 to 31. The speakeasy is part of AC Hotel by Marriott Honolulu. To enter, look for a wall of mailboxes. The themed drinks include the phantom ink ($18), moonlit martini ($18), autumn after dark ($20), and blood transfusion ($18). Individuals can get those cocktails “delivered” using the speakeasy’s signature mailbox system. The speakeasy is open Wednesdays through Sundays. 

. Doors open at 6 p.m. and close at 10:30 p.m. Late arrivals cannot be admitted. Not recommended for youth who are under 13 years of age. Tickets start at $20. 

Something Spooky for Everyone! (Kapolei). 

Catch three scary movies each Saturday of October at the Consolidated Theatres at Ka Makana Aliʻi. From “Corpse Bride,” “ParaNorman” and “Beetlejuice” on Saturday, Oct. 10, to “Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit,” “E.T. The Extra- Terrestrial,” and “The Ring” on Saturday, Oct. 31, there are lots of movies coming to the big screen soon. 

Hitchcock Tober and Horror Fest (Oʻahu). 

 at Consolidated Theatres. The Master of Suspense is famous for films such as “Psycho,” “Rear Window,” “Vertigo,” “North by Northwest” and “The Birds.” October also marks 

, and Consolidated Theatres will be featuring scary movies on Wednesdays at its Kapolei, Mililani, Pearlridge and Ward locations. Featured films include “Hereditary,” “The Exorcist,” “Rosemary’s Baby,” “The Thing,” and “Psycho.” 

Go to Church, with a Spooky Twist! (Oʻahu). 

 to paniolo-themed festivals, check out some of the events being offered by local churches. Senior Editor Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros shares some of the events coming up across Oʻahu from Waikīkī to Lāʻie. 

Visit Wet ʻnʻ Wild and participate in a 

 at noon as part of daily admission on Saturday, Oct. 10. Also included in the lineup of Wet ʻnʻ Wild events is a 

 on Saturday, Oct. 31. Events are included with daily admission or season pass. 

Check out this pumpkin patch where you can pick your own pumpkin, attend a farmers market, shop local vendors and visit sunflower fields. Head to Aloun Country Market on Saturday, Oct. 17, in Waipahu to participate in the holiday activities. Tickets are $5. 

The Great Pumpkin Festival (ʻĀina Haina). 

Holy Nativity School will host The Great Pumpkin Festival from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 17. There will be pumpkins, games, live entertainment and ʻono food. Admission is $10 and includes access to the pumpkin patch and one free mini pumpkin. Attendees can also enjoy a petting zoo, silent disco, live entertainment and meet-and-greets with characters from “Toy Story.” 

 which explores twilight, mirages and ghost stories, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22, at Hawaiʻi Theatre Center. The performance  features aerial performance from Samadhi Hawaiʻi, spoken word from Kealoha, the first poet laureate of Hawaiʻi, and contemporary and Polynesian dance. Tickets start at $30, plus fees. 

Chicken Skin Ghost Stories (Near Downtown). 

Ready for chilling legends and ghost stories? Catch

 “The Ghost Guy” who writes a column for Aloha State Daily, as he shares stories of the Islands’ folklore on Friday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. at the Doris Duke Theatre at the Honolulu Museum of Art. He and his wife, Tanya, run the ghost tour company Mysteries of Hawaiʻi and co-authored the books: “Hawaiʻi’s Night Marchers: A History of the Huakaʻi Pō” and “Kahuna.” Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for youth. 

Howl-o-Ween Dog Costume Contest & Parade (ʻEwa). 

Bring your dog and head to Hoalauna Community Park. The event, which includes Emcee Steezy, a live DJ, games, prizes and more, runs from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 23 in ʻEwa. Don’t have a pet? Everyone is welcome to join the fun. Free. 

Da Dream Lab is partnering with Kailua Dance Academy and Kailua Music School, plus other local businesses to host Hauntopia, which runs Oct. 23, 24, and 25, plus Oct. 28 – Oct. 31. The event is back for its third year. Its defined for keiki and families with a goal of 

 according to the listing on Eventbrite. Designed for keiki who are between three years old and 12 years old. Tours are 60-90 minutes. Costumes are encouraged. Tickets are $20 or free for keiki who are two years old or younger. 

Octo-Bear-Fest: Boos & Brews (Waikīkī).

 Go to the Honolulu Zoo on Saturday, Oct. 24, for an evening of fun, featuring food, live music, local breweries, and trunk-or-treat opportunities. There will be games and costume contests. Attendees who are at least 21 years old can sample beers from four local breweries: Aloha Beer Co., Waikīkī Brewing Co., Beer Lab HI, and Honolulu Beerworks. The event supports wildlife conservation and helps protect the Malayan sun bears, which are the world’s smallest bear species. Tickets are $10 for keiki and $20 for adults or $45 for the adult brew package, which includes pours from local breweries. 

Creatures of the Samadhi Lagoon (Kakaʻako). 

This Halloween-themed show presented by aerial dancers of Samadahi Hawaiʻi features otherworldy creatures. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. 

for the performance of “Creatures of the Samadhi Lagoon - A Circus Halloween Show.” Costumes are encouraged. Tickets are $30 plus fees. 

Trick or Treat (Hawaiʻi Kai, Kāneʻohe). 

On Oct. 24, go trick or treating at various locations across Oʻahu, including the 

 at Hawaiʻi Kai Towne Center, the Trunk or Treat at 

This dog, bird and car show features games and costume contests, plus activities for keiki at Wai Kai. There will also be local vendors, trunk-or-treat opportunities, and an aquatic exhibit. The Mega Monster Mash runs from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Oct. 24. Free. 

Keiki and pets are invited to dress up in their Halloween best and trick or treat at stores at the Town Center of Mililani on Sunday, Oct. 25. There will be a costume contest. Pets must be on leashes. Free. 

There is also a chance for keiki to participate in a Halloween costume contest from 2 to 5:15 p.m. at The Royal Grove within the Royal Hawaiian Center. Shops throughout the Royal Hawaiian Center will also offer opportunities to trick or treat from noon to 6 p.m. the same day. Free. 

 The weekly Thursday Night Market at Wai Kai, which runs from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., will have a Halloween theme on Oct. 29 with a 

. The night market is pet and keiki friendly. Free. 

 Catch Emo Night at The Republik. Doors open at 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30. Tickets are $16 and include a $1 donation to support organizations focusing on mental health, harm reduction, children and families, poverty and homelessness, disenfranchised communities and terminal illness. 

Hawaiʻi Opera Theatre is bringing this best-selling novel by Stephen King to life at the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall. This is a co-production of Opera Parallèle in San Francisco, Portland Opera, and Hawaiʻi Opera Theatre. The production is about two hours with an intermission. There are shows on Friday, Oct. 30, and Sunday, Nov. 1. Tickets start at $35. 

Trick or Treat (ʻEwa, Kapolei and Waimānalo). 

 on Oct. 30 with chances to trick or treat, participate in costume contests and enjoy haunted pop-ups. There will also be live entertainment, food and drinks and more. The Villages of Kapolei will host its 

, which includes trick or treat opportunities, a costume contest and a screening of the movie “Nightmare before Christmas.” Or catch Waimānalo School Family Resource Center will also host 

 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the parking lot for the school. The event includes a contest for best decorated trunk, as well as local food vendors. Free. Details in links.

Catch Natural Vibrations and DJ Jojo Flow upstairs at the Hideout and Likkle Jordee and DJ Hapa Boy downstairs at The Secret Spot. The Halloween bash is being presented by Hawaiʻi’s Finest. Arrive early to get zombie makeup done by artists. Doors open at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31. Tickets are $60. 

Tiki’s Annual Halloween Bash (Waikīkī). 

This annual event at The Twin Fin will transform a beachfront venue into an Island-inspired Halloween hotspot with live music, a DJ, handcrafted specialty cocktails, and a dance floor overlooking Waikīkī Beach. The event runs from 8 p.m. until closing on Oct. 31. There will be a costume contest. Pre-sale tickets are $15. Same-day tickets are $40. 

, a celebration featuring “cult camp, crimson lips, fishnets, corsets, glam rock, mad science, theatrical weirdness,” and more, according to its website. The party starts at 8 p.m. and is open until 4 a.m. this year on Oct. 31. There are more than $2,000 in cash and prizes. Tickets start at $15 with VIP experiences available. 

KSSK Perry & The Posse Bring Morning Live Show to Limelight (Ala Moana). 

The popular Saturday morning show will be live at Limelight Hawaiʻi from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Oct. 31. The entertainment lineup includes Lyric Medeiros, who was recently part of Season 28 of the television show “Big Brother,” the Mākaha Sons,

. There will also be a costume contest. Tickets are $60 for adults and $36 for keiki. 

The Ala-Ween Spooktacular at Ala Moana Center is family friendly event features trick-or-treating at more than 100 stores and restaurants, plus a dance party, prize giveaways and complimentary balloon creations and photo opportunities on Saturday, Oct. 31, at Ala Moana Center. Throughout the month, there will also be a 

, seasonal merchandise and themed dining experiences. 

 Kāhala Mall will also host Halloween events, including trick or treat opportunities across the mall from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. There will be a DJ and decorations. Participating shops and restaurants have balloons outside. 

“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (Near Downtown). 

Catch “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at the Honolulu Museum of Art. Dress in your Rocky Horror best and check the website for 

. In collaboration with Hawaiʻi Opera Theater, the screening on Oct. 31 will be accompanied by a full cast of actors acting out the scenes playing on screen. Recommended for ages 18 years old or older. Tickets are $25. 

Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience (Chinatown). 

This high-energy, live tribute concert, “Who’s Bad: Thriller Nights,” is a celebration of Michael Jackson and starts at 7 p.m. on Oct. 31 at Hawaiʻi Theatre Center. It features a live band and dynamic dancers. Tickets start at $54.50. 

Surf, Style & Spooky Season (North Shore). 

The sixth annual Turtle Bay Halloween Surf Off returns to the lineup at The Ritz-Carlton Oʻahu, Turtle Bay. Presented by Jamie O’Brien Surf Experience, this contest brings together surfers of all ages and abilities in their best Halloween costumes. A panel of celebrity judges will give awards for division champions, best costume, and best surfing performance. The event starts at 2 p.m. on Oct. 31. Entry fees are $20 per participant, which is donated to the Kahuku High School Surf Team. 

Catch this tour from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 31 at the 

. Creepy tales and chills are part of the program and visitors will get to meet the animals who call the sanctuary home. There will be lots of opportunities for photos. Long pants and closed-toed shoes are recommended. So is water, sunscreen and bug spray. Attendees who wear costumes get prizes. 

Know of something that didn’t make the guide this year? Email katie@alohastatedaily.com to be considered in next year’s guide.

Ritz

<title>31 things to do for Halloween on Oʻahu</title>

Ready to get in the mood for Spooky Season? Here are 31 events happening between now and Halloween, which is Saturday, Oct. 31.

31 things to do for Halloween on Oʻahu

At Aloha State Daily, sometimes readers provide tips, ask questions or share observations that lead to our next stories. 

One that came our way recently was a claim that “judges in Hawai‘i only work one week a month.” It was a quick email to the state Judiciary to confirm that judges work full-time, but it led to the question: “what 

To answer that, we spoke to Ronald Ibarra, former chief judge of the Third Circuit Court on Hawai‘i Island from 1989 to 2017, about his average daily workload.

“It’s definitely more than one week a month,” Ibarra laughed. He described long work weeks made up of long workdays, with the scant minutes between cases spent preparing for the next ones.

“For a typical workload, you can look at a judge’s calendar,” Ibarra said. “We’re usually in court hearing cases from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. … That’s the most important piece of a judge’s day.”

While the type of cases heard vary between judges — district court judges will hear a high volume of low-level offenses, circuit court judges may hear cases going to jury trial, and so on — Ibarra said resolving these cases quickly is a judge’s most important role, and therefore requires a heavy workload to get through them all.

Ibarra, who said he had been assigned the role of senior family court judge on the Big Island, said family court judges have just as heavy a workload as others. In fact, he added, family court can be even harder, since issues like temporary restraining orders need to be resolved as quickly as possible in order to end potentially abusive situations.

 by the Hawai‘i State Judiciary states that there were more than 40,000 cases across all circuit courts for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. According to the Hawai‘i State Data Book, the state employs 

 across its courts, not including per diem judges. (They're outnumbered — the same source notes there are nearly 5,000 active licensed attorneys in the Islands.)

[{"type":"text","text":"But resolving any case requires preparation."}]

“It’s almost like being a school teacher,” Ibarra said. “Teachers need to prepare tomorrow’s lessons, and that happens after hours.”

Ibarra said prep work for the next day’s cases can last for hours after the courtroom closes. He recalled days when he stayed up past midnight researching cases for the next day. A workday also typically includes reviewing and signing motions filed with the court, which also happens outside of courtroom hours.

Prep work for upcoming cases requires not just reading what has been filed by both parties’ attorneys, but by looking through all the prior cases the attorneys have cited in their arguments to make sure they are being accurately invoked. This has become even more important in recent years, Ibarra said: 

 earlier this year to submitting briefs generated by AI, which cited wholly fictional cases.

Preparing for jury trials also require lengthy reviews of all prior documents in the case, in order to head off any potential legal questions that may arise.

“Attorneys deserve a judge who is prepared,” Ibarra said. “We can’t keep calling a recess just so I can look things up. That’s not fair to the jury … and attorneys are charging by the hour for their services.”

Ibarra said he had a law clerk who helped with research, although that didn’t necessarily reduce his own workload.

His other assistant was a court clerk, who would be in charge of maintaining the judge’s schedule — a balancing act in and of itself, Ibarra said. Because the court clerk must be present when court is in session, they would only be able to respond to calls from attorneys — who were typically calling to schedule new court hearings — during recesses.

So, Ibarra said, court recesses would often be spent retreating to his office to catch up on voicemails and find ways to wedge new hearings into his already packed schedule.

This is another facet of the job that has become harder as technology has improved: Ibarra said that, now that files can be submitted electronically, attorneys can and have sent in motions minutes before deadlines, requiring hasty read-throughs and reviews.

As part of occasional civic education events, school classes would sometimes visit the courthouse, where Ibarra would speak about the role of the judiciary and answer questions. This, too, would take place during recesses.

As chief justice, Ibarra said he was also obligated to attend meetings and conferences, typically in Honolulu, which would also have to be fit into his schedule.

“Usually, I’d go in at 7 a.m. and stay until 6 p.m. at least,” Ibarra said. “And I’d go in on Saturdays, usually at 9 a.m. and stay until 5 p.m. Sometimes I’d go in on Sundays, too.”

Ibarra was frank about his work-life balance: “My wife hated it … If I could do it again, I don’t think I would.”

When talking to incoming judges, Ibarra said he has advised them to leave more time for their families. He added that the culture among attorneys seems to be shifting to favor a more balanced lifestyle.

Whether the pay is worth it is, of course, a matter of personal judgment, but judge salaries range from about $225,000 for a district court judge to about $272,000 for a Supreme Court justice. Judge salaries are also set to increase by about 25% over the next five years, based on 

 to the state Legislature by the state Commission on Salaries.

IMG 20250822 170454 16x9

<title>What do judges do all day?</title>

Retired judge Ronald Ibarra speaks about the work — and workload — of Hawai‘i's judges and justices.

What do judges do all day?

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

Hawai‘i hospitality executive Elliot Mills says he and Jerry Gibson, another longtime industry leader, have — first and foremost — been friends "for many many years."

Both men have spent decades working in the sector, leading some of the largest hospitality operations in the Islands, but they've now teamed up to launch Hawai‘i Hospitality Group, a new asset management firm headquartered on O‘ahu, "focused on hotel, resort and tourism-aligned real estate" across the state, a recent announcement noted.

Mills, who serves as CEO and managing partner of HHG, has held leadership roles with Marriott International, oversaw Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, as well as the Disneyland Resort hotels in California, and is a board director for the Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau.

Gibson, the president and founding member of Hawai‘i Hotel Alliance, previously held senior leadership roles with Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott and Blackstone, and was area vice president for Hilton Hotels and Resorts. He serves as president of HHG.

Mills told Aloha State Daily on Monday that an effort like this has "always been in the back of my mind," with both men having spent time with different brands, working in the industry and working locally at different resorts.

As the pair thought about what their careers might look like in the future, Mills says, "we thought that we could provide more value at this stage of our careers, working with specific individuals in the industry, and using the talents that we have locally, along with our strategic partners, to bring added value to some of the ownership groups — also to lend to a broader sense of place for Hawai‘i."

The work they're doing, focused on Hawai‘i as a hospitality asset management group, "doesn't really exist" in the state right now, he said.

According to Mills, the pair thought that with a local perspective, with an understanding of the business here — marketing, sales, revenue, government relations, public relations, cultural issues and other facets —  they could "add a lot of value in that space, and also create a space where Jerry and I could actually work together along with a lot of our long-time friends and associates within the hospitality area."

It also is a chance to "have some fun and work for good people and create value for those individuals who would appreciate us working with them and bringing higher performance levels to the assets that they're managing now and into the future — and also creating a great connection with our community."

Mills says Hawai‘i is a unique place and it benefits the hospitality industry to align with and understand the culture and communities in which it works.

"When that alignment happens, when we consider those issues, the priorities of the community and the host culture and the values that it brings, I think it creates more value for the entire ecosystem, collectively," he said. "Having that perspective and having the experience that Jerry and I have, along with the rest of our partners, helps to create that alignment a little bit better than we have in the past. To share that narrative with ownership groups, the management companies, as well as the guests and consumers who are coming to Hawai‘i, to us is really important. I think the greater we create that alignment, the more successful everybody will be."

Gibson told ASD Monday that the ultimate goal is to create "great value" for their future clients.

"Hawai‘i is really a different community to come into," he says. "We're blessed with all these different ethnic cultures that we have, and a lot of people who do come into Hawai‘i have a difficult time beginning because they don't understand that. Because we have been involved and immersed in this culture so long, I think that that's one real big thing that we could do, obviously, to help them with their businesses, as they begin to hire people in the community, whether they bring in people or not."

Mills said, too, that what's important with the organizations they'd like to work with is creating a great organizational culture within the companies that are tied to assets here.

In the short-term, though, the Mills said one goal is to "make sure everybody understand who we are and what we're doing."

The new organization already has a client list that includes Waikīkī Beach Marriott Resort & Spat and Kaimana Beach Hotel on O‘ahu and Hotel Wailea on Maui.

According to the announcement, HHG offers a range of asset management services including strategic planning and capital alignment, operator and brand oversight, performance optimization, and cultural integration and community engagement.

HHG also works with a "Strategic Partner Network," which includes advisers likes chef and restaurateur Roy Yamaguchi; cultural producer and consultant Afatia Thompson; B.J. Kobayashi, founder and CEO of BlackSand Capital, 

a Hawai‘i-focused real estate private equity firm

; employment and labor law attorney Darin Leong; Eric Heenan, president of Alaka‘i Executive Search; Rob Iopa with WCIT Architecture; Alana Kobayashi Pakkala, CEO of Kobayashi Group; Dean Yamamoto, an attorney focusing on corporate, financing, real estate and regulatory law; Joan Bennet, president and CEO of Bennet Group Strategic Communications; and hospitality real estate consultants and brokers Tim Powell and Kevin Aucello, principals at Powell & Aucello.

Mills told ASD that this team is not comprised of people they trust and have worked with throughout the years, but they're also individuals who are "very deeply rooted in Hawai‘i, best in class in their discipline," who can provide expertise in all facets of hospitality.

Mills gibson

<title>Veteran Hoteliers Launch Next-Gen Hospitality Venture - Aloha State Daily</title>

Elliot Mills and Jerry Gibson have spent decades working in Hawai‘i's hospitality sector, leading some of the state's largest hospitality operations. They've now teamed up to launch Hawai‘i Hospitality Group, a new asset management firm.

Daily Smile: Friday, Oct. 16, 2026

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