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Daily Smile

[{"type":"text","text":"Dog thinks every delivery driver is there to see her..."}]

Smile 26 11 15

<title>Daily Smile: Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026</title>

Dog thinks every delivery driver is there to see her...

Daily Smile: Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026

 Dog thinks every delivery driver is there to see her...

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

[{"type":"text","text":"MĀNOA — Same shortcomings, different week. "}]

The University of Hawai‘i football team squandered another valiant defensive effort and produced another inconsistent offensive performance en route to a 21-13 loss to North Dakota State, its bowl eligibility hopes washed away in the Mānoa mist at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex on Saturday night. 

Hawai‘i fell to 3-7 overall and 2-5 in Mountain West play. Meanwhile, NDSU improved to 8-2 overall and 5-2 in Mountain West games, its conference championship hopes still alive.

Prior to Saturday's game, a moment of silence and cheer for late former Hawai‘i head coach 

 was held. The Rainbow Warriors had not hosted a home game since the Oct. 29 passing of Jones. From 1999 to 2007 when Jones was the head coach, Hawai‘i had one of the top offenses and passing attacks in the country behind Jones' interpretation of the run-and-shoot offense. 

The tributes UH played for Jones throughout the night only amplified the distance between the glory days of Hawai‘i football and the product the Rainbow Warriors put out on the field offensively on Saturday night. Quarterback Micah Alejado completed 31 of 47 passes for 231 yards and two costly interceptions that led directly to Bison touchdowns.

North Dakota State got the scoring started after Alejado was intercepted at the UH 11, setting up a 7-yard 

Mekhi Collins touchdown reception from Nathan Hayes with 4:20 left in the first quarter. 

The 'Bows stayed scoreless until a 17-yard DeVon Rice fake reverse on fourth-and-3 got UH on the board with four seconds remaining in the first half. 

UH had two trips in the North Dakota State red zone in the third quarter, both trips ending on Sean Olvera-Harle field goals. 

The Bison took the lead for good with 8:34 remaining on its only full touchdown drive of the day, a 16-play, 77-yard drive ended with DJ Scott's 1-yard run. 

On the ensuing possession, Alejado was intercepted by North Dakota State linebacker Ray James Jr., who returned it 49 yards for a Bison touchdown with 6:27 left. 

With no timeouts and one last chance to attempt to tie the game, Alejado was sacked on fourth down at the UH 29 and stayed on the ground for an extended period of time. After further review, it was determined that a previous call should have granted Hawai‘i an extra down, causing confusion to those at the stadium who hadn't left yet. Alejado, unable to enter the game due to an injury timeout on the previous play, yielded to backup quarterback Bjorn Jurgensen on fourth-and-19 on the UH 29. After pulling the ball on a play action pass, Jurgensen ran out of bounds after a six yard gain, causing even more confusion. The Bison were able to take one knee and secure victory after the turnover on downs. 

Following the game, Hawai‘i head coach Timmy Chang stepped up to the podium and took an extra second to lift his head up after the latest hard loss. 

"Hard fought on both ends. ... It's pretty tough for our guys right now, understanding that there's a goal, possibility and chance of us being together for a longer period of time. So, that's a tough situation for us," Chang said of his team missing out on bowl eligibility. 

The confusion that came from Hawai‘i's final offensive play stemmed from Alejado getting flagged for intentional grounding on first down earlier in the possession. Officials skipped second down and went straight to third down. When Hawai‘i thought it turned it over on downs, officials caught their mistake and granted the Rainbow Warriors an extra down. 

"We did not see it. None of our staff saw it. None of the referees caught it. So, tough situation," Chang said. "As the game goes on, in that situation, you're looking for the next call. You're wondering what the [play] call is going to be. Going from first to third, rather than being second, it's a tough deal."

However, by the time Jurgensen trotted out to the field for the last gasp effort, Chang thought everyone was on the same page. 

"Bjorn, I believe, understood it was fourth down," Chang said. "He has to get the ball out of his hands, and he felt bad after the game."

Hawai‘i has two games remaining on its regular season schedule. Next for the Rainbow Warriors is a road contest at Nevada on Nov. 21 for a 5:30 p.m. HST kickoff. 

Hawaii football 111526

<title>Hawai‘i football falters against North Dakota State</title>

Despite a valiant defensive effort, the Rainbow Warriors crumbled late against the Bison on Saturday night.

Hawai‘i football falters against North Dakota State

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

, a French-inspired wine bar located above Hangang Korean Grill House across of Ala Moana Center, just soft opened on Halloween night. For business owner Jared Brown, this has been a long time coming.

I always wanted a spot like this,” he says.

Brown — whose other Honolulu projects included Garibaldi’s, Fat Cheeks and Little G Café, and currently Katsu Zen at 808 Center — says that Élan

 is inspired by a French spot in midtown Manhattan, where he and his wife, Levina Moy, were industry regulars after late-night shifts.

He recalls how they would often finish work around 1 a.m. when they lived in east Manhattan.  

“This little spot was open until 4 a.m.,” he says. “It was a French wine bar, but it felt sexy and comforting. And it was a spot where they got to know you really quickly — like they knew what you were going to order before you even sat down. We missed that; there’s nothing like that here, as far as we know, that caters to those feelings later in the evening in Hawaiʻi.”

 features a u-shaped bar with additional cafe-style banquette tables. The cozy space can fit around 28 individuals. The wine bar is currently open from 5:30 p.m. to midnight Tuesdays to Saturdays on a first-come, first-served basis (no reservations are accepted).

The interior design and décor were intentional, according to Brown, who notes the music is as much a part of the dining experience as Élan

“It should feel like this French-inflected dive bar from the East Village, back in the day,” Brown says. “We’re trying to craft something that feels like a totally different place. The music is American and French funk, disco and soul (from the 

80s); the posters are a mix of disco, funk and some pop from Europe and France. The food is French-inflected; the mural has people partying in Paris. This is meant to be a getaway.”

,” as a noun, means a combination of liveliness, stylish elegance and vigor.

“We were burnt out from Fat Cheeks (which closed in June) and Little G Cafe (which closed in May); we wanted something that would revitalize us and excite us about hospitality,” he says. “I didn’t want to do something on a huge scale; you lose some of that intimacy. We wanted a small spot where people around the area or across the Island could hang out as adults, drink and eat, laugh, and have a good time, and give them a little respite from the day.”

While Brown is French-trained, he describes the wine bar’s food as “French-ish” rather than strictly French. While some dishes will stay on the menu, others will rotate.

“It’s not being pretentious; I made it (the menu) to go well with your evening and with your wine,” he says.

 doesn’t have a set wine list. Instead, guests are encouraged to share their drink preferences with their server, who will make recommendations. The wine bar has space for about 160 bottles — mostly French, with some Italian and Spanish wines — on-site, according to Brown.

“I always wanted a spot like this,” Brown says. “I didn’t realize that the ‘no wine menu’ is the thing now … it’s starting to be a thing. You don’t need to look at the same menu over and over again; sometimes, you want to do interesting things. Maybe I’ll come across a bottle and they only have six of it; we’ll grab it, and we can run that.”

Brown explains he did a similar concept with Little G Cafe’s slice shop, in that flavors would constantly change.

“Life is short; try new things,” he says. “You don’t have to get the same thing all the time, every day. Maybe that’s your tradition, but save some space for something new.”

Brown says that he hired “people with wine experience across the board” to help him with the new wine bar. He says Élan

’s wine lead is Abraham Kim, whose previous roles included being a sommelier at R. Field Wine Company.

“Abraham Kim has been in the industry for 30 years,” Brown says. “He wanted to try something funky and fresh; we’ll see what it turns out to be. The wine menu allows us some adaptability in who comes along. We work with (master sommelier) Patrick Okubo as well, to craft some wine selections. I have a good group of people around me.”

The food menu features a la carte plates that are designed to share. From Élan

’s opening night, the roll de crabe ($16) — sesame buns with crab and citrus cream — arancini a la truffle blanche ($10) and le burger ($19) were customer favorites.

The arancini were stuffed with mushroom fricassee, Gruyere, herbs and burnt lemon aioli. Le burger featured a 6-ounce patty with caramelized onions, peppercorn cream, and cheddar and swiss cheeses in a brioche bun.

Larger plates include a 16-ounce steak au poivre (market price), ravioles with clam beurre blanc ($17) and poularde vieille ($23). The latter is a chicken dish complete with maitake mushrooms, tarragon and chives.

 to be a neighborhood space where people could dine with friends, or just as comfortably enjoy a solo night out. He says eventually, Élan will be open six nights a week.

“Honestly, I just want people to come in, have a good time, laugh loudly, have good conversation, and relax a little bit,” Brown says. “This is a space built to have some fun — just have a good time and forget about your worries for a little bit.”

Open from 5:30 p.m. to midnight Tuesdays to Saturdays

Elan wine bar interior 110426

<title>Élan is a new wine bar in Honolulu</title>

Located across from Ala Moana Center, late-night wine bar Élan features a cozy interior with a French-inspired menu and no set wine list. Owner Jared Brown — whose previous Honolulu concepts included Fat Cheeks, Garibaldi’s, Little G Café, and currently, Katsu Zen — says he always wanted to have a spot like this.

Élan is a new wine bar in Honolulu

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Real Estate

[{"type":"text","text":"Nearly 250 affordable rentals are coming to Makiki."}]

Tradewind Capital and Stanford Carr Development broke ground Thursday on ‘Olohana, a 247-unit affordable rental community at 1105 Pi‘ikoi Street.

According to an announcement Thursday, the rental homes will be available to households earning between 30% and 60% of the area median income. Income limits vary depending on household size, but you can find the City and County of Honolulu's current limits 

Located at the corner of Pi‘ikoi and Young streets, the site is within walking distance to amenities like schools, grocery stores and other retailers, restaurants and employers.

“Tradewind Capital’s mission is to invest to build a better Hawaiʻi. Today marks a meaningful step forward in meeting that commitment,” Chris Fong, vice president of development at Tradewind Capital said in the announcement. “‘Olohana meets a dire need on Oʻahu. It is critical affordable housing for local residents right where it should be — a most centralized location within urban Honolulu. We can think of no better use of our property, no greater potential for it to serve the larger community, and no company more qualified to stand with us as partner and co-steward over the next several decades to ensure ‘Olohana flourishes than Stanford Carr Development.”

Fong told Aloha State Daily Thursday that Tradewind Capital acquired the property, previously the site of Plumeria Hostel, in 2017 but it was "encumbered with a ground lease until 2023." However, once that ground lease ended, Fong says, "it was an opportunity for us to reimagine what the site could be."

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 number includes more than 42,000 units needed for people making 80% of the AMI or below, according to the data in the report.

"We think these 247 units can play a part in solving that problem," Fong says. "We like this site because it's in the urban core, right outside of the Ala Moana TOD [transit-oriented development neighborhood], in a neighborhood that's zoned for business, mixed-use residential, so really, [it is] the perfect type of site for an affordable housing tower."

[{"type":"text","text":"Fong says Thursday was \"a big milestone for the project.\""}]

"There was a lot of years of planning, designing, securing the financing, entitling, so we're excited that the project was able to stay on track and we could celebrate with our ground blessing."

Likewise, Stanford Carr told ASD before the blessing ceremony that Thursday's groundbreaking was "a great milestone."

Many people don't realize the amount of time and effort that goes into a project before the groundbreaking, he says.

"All the heavy lifting is actually done before we break ground," Carr told ASD. "When it's time to build, it's execution. We pride ourselves that every project we build has come in ahead of schedule and under budget, and that's attributable to the whole project team — the architects, the engineers, the consultants, our team collaborating to make sure that we flush out any conflicts along the way so that when it's time to execute and build, it's smooth sailing. You don't catch everything, but we're very nimble in making decisions to move things forward."

Carr says financing for the $150 million project, which will include a mix of studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom units, closed Tuesday; fencing goes up Monday "and we start building." Construction is expected to take about 18 to 20 months.

According to the announcement, the name ‘Olohana is a Hawaiian transliteration of "all hands," and was the Hawaiian name for John Young, an advisor to King Kamehameha I and namesake of nearby Young Street.

Tradewind Capital is the investment arm of Tradewind Group, a local company whose legacy spans nearly a century in the Islands across insurance, real estate, technology services and private investment.

Stanford Carr Development, LLC is a Honolulu-based real estate development firm that has developed more than 5,500 homes and apartments across O‘ahu, Maui and Hawai‘i Island since it was founded in 1990.

Olohana groundbreaking 111226

<title>Affordable rental project underway in Makiki</title>

Tradewind Capital and Stanford Carr Development broke ground this week on ‘Olohana, a 247-unit affordable rental community on Pi‘ikoi Street.

Affordable rental project underway in Makiki

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"There’s one at every sleepover..."}]

Smile 26 11 11

<title>Daily Smile: Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026</title>

There’s one at every sleepover...

Daily Smile: Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026

Thanksgiving is coming up on Nov. 26. Peruse part 1 

. Check out the following dine-in and takeout options:

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Aliʻi Fish Market"}]

i Fish Market’s Thanksgiving menu ($395) is designed to feed six to eight people. Each box’s contents are designed to take home, cook and re-heat.

[{"type":"text","text":"Boxes include:"}]

: Basalt Waikīkī’s turkey to-go packs costs $250 and are designed to feed a family of four.

[{"type":"text","text":"The turkey to-go meals include:"}]

The food will be chilled with heating instructions included. Pre-orders must be made by Nov. 19.

[{"type":"text","text":"The restaurant will also feature Thanksgiving Day specials."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Brunch specials (7 a.m. to 1 p.m.):"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Dinner specials (4 to 9 p.m.):"}]

: This Thanksgiving feast costs $155 per adult ($75 per child ages 12 years and under). Highlights include chilled crab, sushi, and fresh Pacific oysters; carving station with roasted Thanksgiving turkey, prime rib and whole suckling pig; locally caught steamed fish; Kona lobster pasta; and a variety of decadent desserts. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Big City Diner"}]

: Various locations (Kailua, Pearlridge, Waipio)

: This Thanksgiving big meal to-go costs $159.99. All items are ready to re-heat.

[{"type":"text","text":"The to-go meal includes:"}]

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Chef Chai"}]

: Chef Chai’s Wiki Wiki Thanksgiving boxes ($175 small, $320 large) feature a Thanksgiving feast designed for two or four people.

: Pick-up Nov. 26, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; the restaurant will be closed for dine-in service on Thanksgiving Day 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"DECK."}]

: DECK.’s Thanksgiving specials will be served on a first-come, first-served basis. The Thanksgiving plate ($42) includes turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, stuffing and roasted vegetables.

Desserts are served a la carte and include pumpkin bread pudding ($12) with whipped cream, caramel and cinnamon; basque cheesecake ($14) with lime zest and caramelized banana; and pecan tarts ($13) with whipped cream, salted caramel and praline pecans.

The eatery’s regular menu will also be available all day. 

Eating House 1849 by Roy Yamaguchi – Waik

: International Market Place, 2330 Kalākaua Ave. Ste. 322, Honolulu

: This special holiday dinner costs $70 per person. It includes:

Limited items on the eatery’s regular dinner menu will also be available. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Empire Steak House"}]

: This four-course menu costs $140 per person. It includes:

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Et al."}]

: et al.’s Thanksgiving special ($45) is available for both dine-in and takeout.

The meal includes garlic and herb butter roast turkey, HI Steaks smoked meat and sage stuffing, Sweet Land Farm chevre and chive potato puree, pan roasted brussels sprouts with ‘Ōhi‘a Honey verjus, prune mui cranberry sauce, turkey jus and basque pumpkin caramel cheesecake. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Foodland"}]

: Foodland features a variety of Thanksgiving options.

Premium turkey dinner ($129.99), serves eight to 10 people; order by Nov. 18

[{"type":"text","text":"Turkey breast dinner ($89.99), serves up to five people; order by Nov. 18"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Prime rib dinner ($149.99), serves four to six people; order by Nov. 18"}]

Dinner from our chefs ($199.99), serves eight to 10 people; order by Nov. 18

: Pick-up during store hours, Nov. 25 to 27

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Haliʻa by Side Street Inn"}]

a by Side Street Inn will feature a family-style meal ($185) designed to feed four to five people.

It includes kalua turkey with gravy, lilikoʻi and pineapple glazed ham, mushroom and Portuguese sausage stuffing, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, mixed greens, green beans with macadamia nuts and fresh cranberry sauce. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Hau Tree"}]

: This four-course family-style Thanksgiving dinner costs $135 per adult ($55 per child ages 12 years and under).

It includes ‘ahi tartare, creamy truffle mushroom soup, delicata squash salad, glazed turkey breast with brown butter and thyme, leg and thigh meat confit with maple mustard, black truffle gravy, mashed potatoes, cranberry compote, roasted brussels sprouts, Hawaiian rolls, pumpkin crunch, and hojicha kūlolo tart. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Hard Rock Cafe"}]

: Hard Rock Cafe’s Thanksgiving menu includes traditional slow-roasted turkey, buttermilk stuffing, creamy sweet potato mash, green bean casserole and sticky toffee bread pudding for dessert. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Hideout at The Laylow"}]

: Hideout at The Laylow’s holiday menu features local flavors through dishes like kabocha ravioli, Portuguese sausage-infused turkey and pumpkin spice crème brulee. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Jolene’s Hawaiʻi"}]

: Various locations (Honolulu, ‘Ewa Beach and Bayview)

i is offering Thanksgiving packs for pick-up. Choose from:

Each pack is designed to feed six to eight people; food should be consumed within four hours of pick-up.

Pre-orders must be made by Monday, Nov. 23. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Kukui’s (Kauaʻi)"}]

: The Thanksgiving morning buffet costs $95 per person. Highlights include a chef’s omelet station, cranberry-roasted turkey carving station, made-to-order crepes and waffles, coconut shrimp, Hawaiian-style miso mahi mahi, roasted pumpkin and vegetable Wellington, pumpkin cheesecake bars and more.

The Thanksgiving prix fixe dinner costs $85 per person. It includes herb-roasted turkey with cranberry-orange compote, Hawaiian Alaea salt prime prime rib, misoyaki butterfish with passion fruit glaze, pumpkin soup, pecan pie and more. 

: Morning buffet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Nov. 26

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Little Sparrow Honolulu"}]

: Little Sparrow’s Thanksgiving take-away feast costs $89 per person.

Each dish comes with re-heating instructions. Pre-orders are open thru Nov. 22. 

: Pick-up from 1 to 5 p.m. Nov. 25; 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Nov. 26 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Pitch Sports Bar"}]

: Pitch Sports Bar’s Thanksgiving packages come in small ($110, feeds two to three people) or large ($220, feeds five to six people) sizes.

Packages include oven-roasted turkey with a turkey leg, honey-glazed ham with traditional turkey gravy, homemade stuffing with water chestnuts, bacon parm brussels sprouts, Asian chicken salad and garlic mashed potatoes.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Side Street Inn"}]

: Side Street Inn’s dine-in prix fixe special costs $185 and is designed to serve four to five people.

It includes smoked kalua turkey, garlic mashed potatoes, Portuguese sausage stuffing, turkey gravy, potato mac salad, cranberry sauce and farmer’s salad. Dine-in seatings will be limited to two hours; the restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The eatery will also offer a Thanksgiving to-go special; pre-orders are recommended. The local-style kalua turkey plate ($40) includes smoked kalua turkey, garlic mashed potatoes, Portuguese sausage stuffing, potato mac salad, turkey gravy and cranberry sauce.

: Nov. 26; pick-up for Thanksgiving to-go from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. 

: International Market Place, 2330 Kalākaua Ave. Ste. 330, Honolulu 

: Stripsteak’s Thanksgiving feast features a three-course menu for $129 per person. It includes:

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Swim Restaurant & Bar"}]

: Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort & Spa, 

: Swim Restaurant & Bar will serve a special Thanksgiving menu for the holiday. The roast turkey dinner ($35) includes stuffing, mashed potatoes, maple glazed brussels sprouts, giblet gravy and a slice of pumpkin pie. Extra pumpkin pie slices ($6 each) will be available. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"The Lookout"}]

: The Lookout’s Thanksgiving buffet costs $85 per adult ($39 for children ages 5 to 11 years). The buffet includes butternut squash soup, macadamia nut green beans, candied yams, mashed potatoes, Portuguese sausage and mushroom stuffing, pineapple glazed ham, roasted turkey with gravy, kalua turkey, togarashi glazed salmon, prime rib station with au jus and horseradish sour cream, warm bread pudding, pumpkin crunch, self-serve vanilla ice cream with whipped cream and chocolate sauce, and more. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Tiki’s Grill & Bar"}]

: Tiki’s Grill & Bar is featuring a special Thanksgiving plate. Plates include brined, roasted Tom turkey with all the fixings, including sausage apple and Hawaiian ‘ulu stuffing; Yukon Gold potato and tarragon gratin; Molokai sweet potato puree; sage chardonnay pan gravy; fresh cranberry and star anise orange relish; and a side of bacon, macadamia nut and pineapple brussels sprouts.

Pumpkin tres leches topped with spiced crème and dulce de leche will be for dessert.

Thanksgiving 2026 Stripsteak 110326

<title>Where to go for Thanksgiving 2026 – part 2</title>

Whether you want to celebrate with a buffet or a cozy meal at home, we’ve got your Thanksgiving plans covered.

Where to go for Thanksgiving 2026 – part 2

WEB square crop Hayley Lehman Headshot RGZ1636

Haley Lehman

Government & Politics

Crime & Courts

A Honolulu Fire Department battalion chief and the City of Honolulu face a civil lawsuit from a woman who alleges she was assaulted at the department headquarters in February 2025.

According to the complaint filed on Oct. 28, the woman identified as Jane Doe was working at the Honolulu Fire Department headquarters when Battalion Chief Blake Takahashi texted her at 4:53 p.m. on Feb. 14, 2025, and asked her to stop by his office. He reportedly gave her alcohol and made sexual advances.

Takahashi is accused of sexually assaulting the woman in his office. Takahashi remains on paid administrative leave, according to HFD Public Information Officer Jacob Pekelo. Pekelo declined to comment on pending litigation.

Battalion chiefs at HFD earn between $139,752 to $160,908, according to the City and County of Honolulu 

Takahashi has worked for the City and County of Honolulu for more than 24 years and serves as a 

 in 2024 for his work leading the department’s training programs and developing the department’s Mentorship Program for recruits.

The lawsuit filed by Woodruff Soldner, Nicole Kalakau and Rafael Renteria of Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner alleges that the city and its fire department “failed to keep its employees safe from Battalion Chief Blake Takahashi’s predation — resulting in a sexual assault in the workplace.” 

Takahashi turned himself in at the Honolulu Police Department on Feb. 18, 2025, and was released later that same afternoon pending investigation, the 

A woman obtained a temporary restraining order against Takahashi in 2025 in connection with the allegation, according to court filings.

Lance Aquino, a spokesperson for HPD, told Aloha State Daily that the case was 

“thoroughly investigated by HPD.” According to Aquino, the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney declined to charge Takahashi on Dec. 17, 2025.

The attorneys representing the woman argue that the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney had an “obvious conflict of interest” and 

Daily Smile: Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026

ASD Staff

Reporter

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Daily Smile: Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026

Authors

ASD Staff

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