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[{"type":"text","text":"What a fitting costume for Hawaiʻi..."}]

Smile 26 10 20

<title>Daily Smile: Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026</title>

What a fitting costume for Hawaiʻi...

Daily Smile: Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Crime & Courts

Business & Tourism

The owner of two West Maui golf courses has accused a Maui landowner of repeated wire fraud and racketeering amid an ongoing legal battle.

The latest shot fired in a back-and-forth series of lawsuits between Maui Land and Pineapple and TY Management Corp. — owner of the Kapalua Golf Courses in West Maui — is a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in which TY Management accuses MLP executives of inflating water prices to defraud TY Management of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

MLP maintains the Honokōhau Ditch System, an irrigation system that supplies water to much of West Maui. The golf courses TY Management owns and operates depend upon that water, and MLP bills TY and other users for their water use at a set rate each month.

According to a complaint TY filed last week, MLP can raise water rates to cover certain increases in operational and maintenance costs. However, MLP cannot pass on costs for capital improvements or repairs to users.

Nonetheless, the lawsuit alleges that MLP executives doctored records to pass off capital improvement projects as maintenance, passing on the costs to TY.

Specifically, the lawsuit names as defendants MLP CEO Race Randle, former MLP Vice President of Land Productivity and Asset Management Kainoa Casco, MLP itself and the Hawai‘i Water Service, the contractor that operates and maintains the Honokōhau Ditch System on MLP’s behalf.

The suit claims that MLP’s forecasts for its operation and maintenance costs have increased nearly tenfold since 2022, while TY’s water rate has increased by more than 300% between the Januarys of 2025 and 2026 alone.

MLP’s alleged malfeasance comes after years of deterioration and deferred maintenance of the ditch system. TY, along with a local farm and several area owners’ associations, also 

 MLP last year, accusing the company of neglecting its obligations to its users by allowing the ditch system to fall into disrepair.

The Hawai‘i Commission on Water Resource Management fined MLP $140,000 last year for allowing water levels to drop beneath the commission’s standards.

TY’s latest suit alleges that Randle contacted TY in 2024, requesting that TY’s water development agreement be amended to include a rate change that passed on the cost of improving the ditch system to TY. But, the suit goes on, MLP implemented a rate change before TY answered, increasing TY’s rate by 243%, from about $0.49 per thousand gallons to $1.68 per thousand gallons.

When TY asked for documentation to support the cost increase, MLP allegedly refused to provide such documentation, although the company listed about $1.7 million in projected operation and maintenance costs.

In June of this year, MLP reportedly informed TY it would raise rates again, listing some $2.4 million in projected costs, many of which were reportedly up to three times higher than the projections in 2025.

The new rate took effect in July, and TY is now paying $2.15 per thousand gallons. TY estimates that it was improperly charged at least $447,000 in 2025 alone.

The suit claims that TY is in possession of documents confirming that Randle, Casco and HWS conspired to doctor reports; the suit includes a draft report appearing to scrub all uses of the word “repair” and replacing them with “maintain” or “maintenance,” sometimes without care for grammatical sense.

All of this, the suit states, is “textbook financial fraud,” and the conspiracy between Randle, Casco, MLP and HWS constitutes racketeering that can be prosecuted under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO Act.

[{"type":"text","text":"TY declined to comment on the situation."}]

A statement by Maui Land & Pineapple characterized the suit as an attempt by a “foreign billionaire” — TY Management is owned by Tadashi Yanai, the CEO of Uniqlo — to seize control of the Honokōhau Ditch System.

“We believe this lawsuit is simply another effort to pressure MLP into transferring the system to him,” the MLP statement reads.

“We refuse to be bullied by a billionaire who seeks control of the system while refusing to pay his fair share of the costs to maintain it.”

In addition to the 2025 lawsuit over MLP’s management of the ditch system, another lawsuit TY filed last year 

 Randle and MLP of illegally annexing land into MLP’s resort association as a supposed power grab. Those two lawsuits are scheduled for trials in 2027.

[{"type":"text","text":"No court dates have been set in the latest lawsuit."}]

Meanwhile, Maui County and MLP initiated proceedings 

 to have the county acquire the ditch system.

Maui

<title>Federal lawsuit alleges racketeering, fraud, by Maui Land & Pineapple</title>

Lawsuit claims Maui landowner doctored records to defraud TY Management Corp. for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Federal lawsuit alleges racketeering, fraud, by Maui Land & Pineapple

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Real Estate

A recently completed $7 million rehabilitation project has breathed new life into an affordable rental community in Līhu‘e, preserving long-term dozens of affordable rental homes on the Garden Isle.

Kaua‘i Housing Development Corp., a nonprofit corporation established in 1992 to provide affordable housing for low and moderate income families, was joined last week by government officials, project partners and other community leaders for a dedication and blessing of Kalepa 23.

“This investment ensures that 80 affordable homes on Kauaʻi will remain available to local families and kūpuna for years to come,” KHDC Executive Director Andy Friend said in a recent announcement. “We’re grateful to the state, county and all of our partners who worked with us to improve this community and preserve an important source of affordable housing for Kauaʻi."

According to the announcement, Kalepa 23 encompasses phases 2 and 3 of Kalepa Village, and includes eight two-story residential buildings with one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. 

The rehab included the total replacement of the solar water heating system; repairs to exterior dry rot; interior and exterior painting; upgrades to individual residences, including new flooring, appliances, cabinetry and light fixtures; and replacement of numerous plumbing fixtures and interior doors, the announcement notes.

Kalepa 23 serves households earning up to 60% of the area median income, with some units designated for households at the 30%, 50% and 60% income levels, the announcement notes. Income limits are determined by household size; you can find current guidelines for Kaua‘i County 

[{"type":"text","text":"All 80 units are now fully occupied."}]

Friend told Aloha State Daily in an emailed response to questions that he's seen a couple of market studies that show a need for more than 2,000 affordable housing units on Kaua‘i, and with land and development costs so high, it's "extremely challenging to increase the supply of both single-family and multi-family housing."

"Building new affordable housing is needed, but we can't overlook the importance of preserving the affordable housing we already have," Friend says. "We need to do both to increase the overall supply. As multi-family properties reach 15, 20 or 25 years of age, they require rehabilitation and improvements to remain safe and viable for rental. Investing in these properties not only extends their useful life but also gives people a sense of pride in where they live."

Friend says the development was originally built in two phases, with 40 units completed around 2004 and another 40 built around 2008.

Statewide, Hawai‘i will need an estimated 64,490 additional housing units through 2027 to meet demand, according to the Hawai‘i Housing Finance and Development Corp.'s 

That same study notes that Kaua‘i County needs a total of housing 4,914 units by 2027 — 2,156 for ownership and 2,758 rental units. Some 3,258 units are needed for those making 80% or below of the area median income.

According KHDC, the Kalepa 23 rehabilitation project was completed with both public and private financing, including federal and state Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, support from the Hawai‘i Housing Finance and Development Corp.'s Rental Housing Revolving Fund, and financing by Bank of Hawai‘i and Rural Community Assistance Corp.

Kaua‘i County owns the underlying land. Shioi Construction, Inc. was the general contractor for the rehab work, the announcement says.

Kalepa 23 rehab

<title>rehab project preserves affordable rentals in Līhu‘e</title>

Kaua‘i Housing Development Corporation recently completed the rehabilitation of Kalepa 23, preserving long-term 80 affordable rental homes for Kauaʻi families and kūpuna.

$7M rehab project preserves affordable rentals in Līhu‘e

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Aloha Spirit

For Tracey Bender, director of development at 

, gratitude is one word that comes to mind for the organization's Over the Edge fundraiser.

“We’re really grateful for everyone who supports this event,” she told Aloha State Daily ahead of the event scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17, at the 

The 17th annual Over the Edge fundraiser invites individuals and teams to rally for athletes with intellectual disabilities across the Islands. Those who raise more than the fundraising minimum of $1,000 can rappel over 400 feet, or 40 stories, down the side of the hotel.

One goal, Bender notes, is ensuring that participants feel appreciated every step of the way. As a result, many teams of supporters have returned for more friendly competition year after year.

“You get to see the thrill and excitement on their faces at the top and a sense of accomplishment on the bottom, which we reward with a participation medal and photo op with our athletes,” Bender explained.

“Over the Edge has become a signature event that reflects the strength and special spirit of our community,” she said. “What makes this event so meaningful to those that participate is not just the challenge of rappelling along Waikīkī’s iconic coastline, but the impact it creates for our athletes. Every participant is able to face and overcome their fears and challenges, much like our athletes do every day.”

[{"type":"text","text":"What to expect"}]

According to Bender, Over the Edge is a Canada-based company that the nonprofit contracts with, while the manpower for tech and gear comes from the Mainland. Approximately 80 local volunteers will also lend a hand at this year’s event, which aims to attract 96 participants with a total fundraising goal of $203,000. As of Thursday, more than $138,000 has been raised to support local athletes across the state, 

Since 2009, Over the Edge has raised more than $2 million for Special Olympics Hawai

i athletes and programs, which are offered year-round at no cost for people ages 2 and up with intellectual disabilities. The local nonprofit reported total revenues of more than $4 million in 2024, 

Bender says there will also be a livestream of the event so people at home can watch you rappel. Fans can also watch in-person.

“We’re calling it our golden anniversary – because it’s our 17th year on Oct. 17 – with plans to give out incentive prizes and more,” she said, adding that during the “golden hour,” Special Olympics Hawaiʻi staff, including President and CEO Dan Epstein, and two athletes, 

Legacy Sponsor Monica Adorno will match the athletes

donations up to $10,000 in total. The Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort & Spa and New York Life have both supported this fundraiser for 12 years.

Note: You must register for this event in advance 

 Can’t make it this year? Give online or donate directly to a participant and/or team, 

Local media, including Aloha State Daily, will rappel on Oct. 16 to help bring awareness to this cause. Follow us on Instagram at 

 to see ASD Social Media and Marketing Manager Kady Pascual go Over the Edge.

 is among the top five teams ranked by monies raised for this year’s Over the Edge fundraiser.

Team leader Sheila Bierwert, along with her family and friends, have participated for 16 years, she told ASD. A mother of four, her oldest son Trevor, 33, joined Special Olympics Hawai

 when he was 8 years old. Since then, her children have gotten involved in sports, while she and her husband volunteer as coaches when they

’re not "cheerleading," she said with a laugh.

It became a big family affair, even with fundraising,” Bierwert said. “I will be going over the edge this year with my two daughters. … It’s so fun! The hardest part is stepping off the edge on top and trusting that your fully locked in and safe. But you are, and the main goal is to get down.”

So far, Team Trevor has raised $7,000 for this year’s fundraiser; however, overall they have raised upwards of $80,000 to further the nonprofit’s mission, she added.

It’s so important, the kids make friends and the camaraderie is nice,” she said of the program. “It’ also a great place for parents to network; when you have a child with special needs, there’s no directions that come with it, and so you’re always looking to connect with other people who have gone through what you have, right?

“I love that the people that work at Special Olympics work so hard to know these athletes by name and know their stories. It’s more than a number to them.”

Her advice to those who might be on the fence about going Over the Edge? “Just go for it. If you’re afraid, overcome your fear. It’s so special. So many people will be there cheering you on.”

SOHI Over the Edge 2026 12

<title>Dare to go 'Over the Edge' to support Special Olympics Hawaiʻi?</title>

The 17th annual fundraiser invites individuals on Oct. 17 to rappel more than 400 feet down the side of the Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort & Spa to raise funds for athletes with intellectual disabilities. “Every participant is able to face and overcome their fears and challenges, much like our athletes do every day,” says a spokesperson for the local nonprofit.

Dare to go 'Over the Edge' to support Special Olympics Hawaiʻi?

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?

My Favorite Local Saying

, a museum in Waipahu, for recently highlighting three Pidgin words that stem from Hawaiʻi's plantation era — pau, kau kau and bumbai. The origins of each were interesting — from the Hawaiians, Chinese and English, respectively.

"Ever wonder why words like pau, kau kau and bumbai sound so familiar in Hawaiʻi?" the museum wrote in an Oct. 3 post on Instagram. "These everyday words carry stories of the many cultures and languages that came together during Hawaiʻi’s plantation era. What began as a way for workers to communicate across communities became part of the way generations of local families still talk today."

To submit your Favorite Local Saying, visit us 

Hawaiis Platation Village 2025

ASD's Christian Shimabuku shares his favorite expression — "No shame" — which can be used in social settings and at work.

Leonards Bakery airport malasada box 030226

My Favorite Local Saying: 'No shame, take the last malasada.'

Nancy Partika shares her favorite saying from "small-kid time."

Matthew lancaster ip1eu cw49 A unsplash 16x9 1

My favorite local saying: When 'Wot da frick!' skirts the swear jar

<title>My favorite local saying: Pidgin words from Hawaiʻi's plantation era</title>

Words such as pau, bumbai and more carry stories of the cultures and languages converging at that time. "What began as a way for workers to communicate across communities became part of the way generations of local families still talk today," writes Hawaiʻi’s Plantation Village.

My favorite local saying: Pidgin words from Hawaiʻi's plantation era

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

It's been about a week since Kale's Hale started selling $10 bentos. Last Friday — the fifth day of selling bentos — the eatery had sold more than 200 before noon. 

Chef/owner Kale Afong says a friend had suggested this $10 bento idea last year. After running some numbers, he figured he would "try and make it work."

“We sold 40 bentos on the first day, 60 on the second, 60 on the third, 250-plus on day four, and it’s more than 200 now on day five," Afong says.

“Everywhere you go, a lunch is $20 or more,” he adds. “Even plate lunches, poke bowls — it’s a $20 bill. We’re trying to bring back a taste of old-school Hawai‘i and make an affordable $10 bento.”

Afong says Kale’s Hale, located in Kalihi, is in the perfect neighborhood for the bento deal.

“We have a whole community full of kūpuna out here,” he says. “Everybody likes a good $10 bento.”

The $10 bento deal is available daily, according to Afong. While the restaurant officially starts selling the bentos at 10 a.m., the eatery could open as early as 7 a.m. The restaurant will post updates regarding the bentos on Instagram.

“Sometimes, if I have the energy, we’ll start at 7 a.m.,” Afong says. “We’re going to try keep it rolling for at least three months; we’re going to try and go until December, but it’s going to depend on the community.

“If the community is for it, we’re going to stick with it,” he adds. “We don’t really make money because it’s $10. But, we can make it worthwhile if we can sell 500 to 700 bentos per day.”

Like the restaurant’s banchan — the side dishes that come with the AYCE yakiniku experience — the bento choices change daily. Recent selections featured citrus salmon belly, miso Swai (fish), garlic chicken and char siu chicken.

“The most popular are probably the shoyu pork and miso Swai,” Afong says. “The Korean fried chicken is also really popular. We have miso chicken, teri chicken and spicy pork. We get choke; those are the top sellers.”

Bento sides also rotate, according to Afong, who says they have included options like gyoza, seaweed rolls, spring rolls, lumpia, dried radish kimchi and ocean salad.

He says that bentos are also available for catering, and customers can call ahead for larger orders.

“It’s first come, first served in the morning, but if somebody calls and pre-orders, we can accommodate,” he says.

On days when the restaurant opens early to sell bentos, Afong says they will have “a few hundred out” for customers to choose from. The bentos are just the beginning of a bigger project, though.

“We’re going to get this elevated,” Afong says. “We played around with some plating options, but I just got so busy. The bentos look good now, but we’re going to get it way better.”

He explains part of the restaurant will be redesigned to create a mini mākeke, and will include a fridge and freezer filled with local products.

“We’re going to have all locally made products — ice cream, chili pepper water, and more,” he says. “I’m starting with the bentos, but I’m going to build this all out.

[{"type":"text","text":"Customer parking is available in the restaurant’s lot."}]

Kales Hale chef Kale 091126

<title>Kale’s Hale is offering $10 bentos for the next three months</title>

The Kalihi-based restaurant — known for its all-you-can-eat Hawaiian fusion yakiniku experience — recently started offering $10 bentos starting at 10 a.m., according to chef/owner Kale Afong. Sometimes, the restaurant opens from 7 a.m. to start selling bentos. The $10 deal will be available for the next three months.

Daily Smile: Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026

ASD Staff

Reporter

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Daily Smile: Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026

Authors

ASD Staff

Reporter

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