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Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

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ASD Staff

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A. Kam Napier

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Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

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Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

Crime & Courts

A Hawai‘i law prohibiting guns on private property has been overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.

 to the state’s gun control laws included the so-called “

.” Named after the folkloric belief that a vampire cannot enter a home without first being invited, the vampire rule prohibited a person from carrying a concealed firearm onto private property without the property owner’s express consent.

The bill effectively required establishments such as restaurants that serve alcohol, as well as public beaches and parks, to opt in to permitting concealed firearms.

But the Supreme Court put a stake through the heart of the vampire rule Thursday, finding it to violate the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

, Justice Samuel Alito described a hypothetical situation where a woman carrying a handgun in her purse attempts to run basic errands: “When she arrives, she will violate the literal terms of the Hawaiʻi law merely by pulling into the parking lot while having her handgun concealed on her person.

“She may choose to remain armed when she enters the supermarket and promptly search for someone who is authorized to provide the consent that the law demands … During all the time this search goes on, our hypothetical young woman will be violating the terms of the statute, and if that is brought to the attention of the police … she may be charged with a criminal offense or lose her license.”

This presents an intolerable burden upon the right to bear arms, wrote Alito, which is sufficient to conclude that the law violates the Second Amendment.

Arguments by the state that Hawai‘i's historic opposition to firearm possession — stemming to King Kamehameha III — fell flat, as Alito wrote that local attitudes cannot alter the fundamental rights in the Constitution.

Other arguments by the state — including a comparison to an 1865 Louisiana law that was created as part of the infamous “Black Codes” in order to disarm black citizens fallowing the abolition of slavery — were similarly found unconvincing. The Black Code comparison in particular “cannot be taken seriously,” Alito wrote, in part because that law was a “tainted artifact” aimed at depriving citizens of rights so they could be further oppressed.

The court’s verdict was not unanimous, however. Justices Elena Kagan, Ketanji Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor — all appointed by Democratic presidents — dissented.

Jackson’s dissent, co-signed by Sotomayor, argued that “the Court’s objective is protecting guns, not consistently preserving any principle of law.” She argued that there is no constitutional right to enter private property without the owner’s consent, irrespective of whether a firearm is present at all. Therefore, a rule allowing the property owner to withhold consent on the grounds of firearms doesn’t violate the Second Amendment, she argued.

The vampire rule, Jackson wrote, simply requires gun owners to seek express consent to bring a gun onto their property, rather than assume implicit consent.

The case originated from three Maui residents — Jason and Alison Wolford and Atom Kasprzycki — who had been able to carry concealed handguns at places like restaurants without issue before the vampire rule was put in place. The trio were represented by the nonprofit Hawai‘i Firearms Coalition in filing their suit against the state.

The verdict drew plaudits from other Second Amendment groups. The Second Amendment Foundation, a national nonprofit which filed a brief in support of the plaintiffs last year, called the verdict “a victory to gun owners.”

“This law was nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to disarm peaceable citizens, and we’re grateful the Supreme Court saw through the ruse,” SAF founder Alan Gottlieb said in a statement Thursday. “With this precedent-setting ruling in hand, other states that have similar laws in place should be on notice – SAF is coming after you and will not hesitate to challenge the continued disenfranchisement of our members and the public.”

But multiple Hawai‘i lawmakers condemned the decision. Sen. Mazie Hirono attributed the verdict to an “out-of-control Supreme Court majority … placing political ideology above protecting lives.” Hirono said in a statement that Hawai‘i’s strong gun control laws have given the state the lowest rate of gun deaths in the country.

Rep. Jill Tokuda said the ruling takes away “Hawai‘i's ability to determine what safety looks like in our own communities and businesses.” She compared the vampire rule to businesses’ “no shirt, no shoes, no service” rules, calling them both “basic rules … about what is allowed on their property and what is not.”

Aloha State Daily reached out to the Hawai‘i Firearms Coalition, the Hawai‘i Defense Foundation, the Hawai‘i Rifle Association, and Sen. Glenn Wakai, co-introducer of the 2023 bill that established the vampire rule, for further comment.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Court Building 16x9

<title>U.S. Supreme Court stakes Hawai‘i's 'vampire' gun law</title>

A 2023 law prohibiting bringing concealed firearms onto private property without the owner's explicit consent has been deemed unconstitutional.

U.S. Supreme Court stakes Hawai‘i's 'vampire' gun law

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Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

Several new retailers and restaurants have recently opened at Ala Moana Center in Honolulu and more are set to open soon, the center announced Thursday. Here’s what you should know.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"What's New:"}]

, a Montreal-born fashion brand, can be found on Level 3 of the ‘Ewa Wing

, a fast-casual brand serving up Hawaiian-style plate lunches, has opened in the Makai Market Food Court on Street Level 1.

, know for its handcrafted xiao long bao, is open on Mall Level 2 of the ‘Ewa Wing.

(ICYMI: Read more about Supreme Dumplings from ASD's Food and Dining reporter Kelli Shiroma Braiotta 

The Cookie Corner, a local brand offering freshly baked cookies, bars, brownies and other treats, has expanded at Ala Moana Center with a second location on Mall Level 2 of the Diamond Head Wing.

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

, a luxury wellness and recovery destination created by the team behind Body Balance Hawai‘i, is set to open on Street Level 1 of the Diamond Head Wing in August. The new studio will offer infrared and traditional saunas with red light therapy, cold plunges, private Pilates and personal training, body treatments and other wellness services.

, offering a selection of toys, plushies, collectables, stationery, beauty products, home goods, fragrances, electronics, snacks and accessories, is set to open on Level 3 of the ‘Ewa Wing in August.

, an ear piercing and jewelry brand, is also set to open on Level 3 of the ‘Ewa Wing in August.

 will make its debut in the Islands on July 1.

, which is renovating and expanding its permanent location at Street Level 1 near Center Court, can temporarily be found on Street Level 1 of the Diamond Head Wing (makai). The refreshed space is expected to reopen this summer.

Luxury brand Dolce & Gabbana has relocated to a newly designed boutique on Mall Level 2 of the Diamond Head Wing.

Gap will unveil its newly renovated store, found on Level 3 of the ‘Ewa Wing, on July 3.

UA Hawai‘i, formerly known as Ua Body, has relocated to a new space on Level 3, Center Court.

Ala Moana Center opened in 1959 and is the world's largest open-air shopping center with more than 2.4 million square feet of retail space. It offers more than 350 stores and restaurants, including more than 160 dining options.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

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<title>What's new at Ala Moana Center</title>

The shopping center has welcomed a number of new tenants with more coming soon.

What's new at Ala Moana Center

Aloha Spirit

Roselani Aiwohi, owner of Waiwaolani, a Maui-based clothing brand inspired by Hawaiʻi's native ecosystems, described the store opening Saturday at Kāhala Mall as “a beautiful day.”

“Four and a half years of Waiwaolani and the only way I was able to continue and persevere is because of the love I received by my ʻohana and hoaaloha (friends),” 

. “At the end of every day and through every trial and bump in the road, it was the love I received from my family, the kako'o (support) and the kōkua (help) that pushed me along. So grateful for the sea of support and to be surrounded by such love.”

This is the brand’s first retail store on Oʻahu, which can be found on the ground floor of the mall in the former Fighting Eel space.

Aloha State Daily spoke with Aiwohi in January

, she teased about moving into a permanent space on Oʻahu “soon.”

“I can’t really say much, but it is going to take up a lot of my time, and then, I’m under that lease and unable to do as many pop-ups on Oʻahu as I used to,” she said at the time. 

In 2024 alone, Waiwaolani was at 20 pop-ups across the Islands. Earlier this month on Oʻahu, the biz was a vendor at Hoʻomau Market. It is also participating in the 

, which will be held from Aug. 20 to 23, at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center. (ASD will be there, too! Stop by our booth for free merch.)

ʻi and raised on Maui, Aiwohi said that the business, which launched in November 2021, “happened by accident,” after she befriended a family in Bali in need of work. They later became her team of seamstresses, while she designed prints at home that share stories of Hawaiʻi's native plants. Waiwaolani’s various giveback programs focus on conservation, mālama ʻāina and local youth development.

“Through our locally designed clothing and products, we hope to inspire people to learn about and appreciate Hawaii's native ecosystems, while supporting the organizations working to protect them,” Aiwohi said in a Tuesday statement.

Aiwohi adds that the new location will “allow Waiwaolani to connect with new customers, expand its reach across the Islands and build relationships with community organizations, while continuing to support the Native Hawaiian community.

“Kahala Mall is delighted to be the first Oʻahu location for Waiwaolani,” said Kāhala Mall 

in a statement. “We look forward to introducing our customers to this unique Maui-based brand and supporting its continued growth in Hawaiʻi.”

Waiwaolani is looking to partner with other Native Hawaiian groups and organizations statewide for its Kāhala Mall store. Interested? Email aloha@waiwaolani.com.

Waiwaolani 005

<title>Maui-based clothing shop now open at Kāhala Mall</title>

Waiwaolani, a Native Hawaiian-owned alohawear business featuring prints of Hawaiʻi’s native species, has expanded to Oʻahu with the opening of its first retail store on the island.

Maui-based clothing shop now open at Kāhala Mall

Food & Dining

Known for its hand-crafted xiao long bao, 

The business, which just opened by Shabuya in Ala Moana Center, has 14 locations in cities like Bellevue, Tacoma, San Francisco and more. The eatery offers authentic Taiwanese cuisine and soup dumplings, according to owner Brandon Ting.

“We started this restaurant’s first location in Bellevue, Washington,” he explains. “We brought the former executive chef of W Hotel Taipei from Taiwan to America; we created this menu together. We want to bring the most authentic, classic xiao long bao experience to Hawaiʻi; we are very excited to be on this island and to serve so many customers here.”

The Honolulu store opened for its friends and family event on Friday, and was soft opened over the weekend. The eatery can seat about 140 individuals.

Customers can make reservations for dine-in via 

“We encourage people to make reservations; we will occasionally accept walk-ins,” he says.

Most xiao long bao orders include six pieces. Each dumpling is folded by hand and steamed fresh to order, according to Ting. The wrappers are delicate, but designed to contain the filling and soup broth.

“The amount of soup inside is a very important standards that we value for our dumplings,” Ting says. “We always tell our customers not to bite them the regular way. If you do, the inside has a lot of soup, and you’ll squeeze it all out.”

Ting recommends that customers let the dumplings cool down, then “eat the entire dumpling in one bite” to enjoy the dumpling exterior and soup together. 

Ting explains that chef Peter Wang — former executive chef at W Hotel Taipei — helped establish the standards, recipes and techniques for Supreme Dumplings. Supreme Dumplings chef Norman Lu, the former head chef of Din Tai Fung’s original central kitchen, adds his expertise to the culinary team.

“Great xiao long bao is a game of millimeters and grams,” Lu states. “Each Supreme Dumplings xiao long bao weighs exactly 27 grams — 6 grams of wrapper, 11 grams of soup, and 10 grams of filling. Achieving that balance consistently requires tremendous discipline and craftsmanship.”

The Supreme pork xiao long bao ($13) is the eatery’s signature dish. Lu explains that choosing high-quality ingredients was essential.

“We carefully select a premium pork specifically chosen for its ideal fat ratio and fiber structure,” he states. “That’s what allows the filling to remain juicy without feeling greasy, while delivering a clean, natural pork flavor. We use premium ingredients throughout our kitchen, and even our seasonings are made from real ingredients, rather than additives." 

The Honolulu menu includes options like Szechuan spicy pork xiao long bao ($12), shrimp and pork xiao long bao ($14), black truffle and chicken xiao long bao ($19) and wagyu beef xiao long bao ($16). If you want a little bit of everything, go for the signature XLB assortment ($20), which includes spicy pork, chicken, wagyu, black truffle and crab fillings.

The menu also features Taiwanese favorites, including spicy pork wontons ($10) and Taiwanese chicken cold noodles ($13). Customer favorites include stir-fried string beans with garlic ($18), pork chop fried rice ($19), mini pan-fried pork dumplings ($15) and Supreme tan tan noodles ($15.50).

Customers can also look forward to a Hawaiʻi-exclusive dish that’s coming soon. The golden pineapple fried rice and a variety of Island-inspired cocktails will be added to the menu.

Desserts include sweet taro ($10.50), chocolate melt ($11) and matcha lava xiao long bao ($12). The latter features a matcha and white chocolate filling.

Supreme Dumplings Honolulu is currently open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays to Thursdays, and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Hours are subject to change.

“This is a place where people genuinely appreciate great food, family-style dining and experiences worth sharing,” Ting states. “We look forward to creating moments of joy for local residents and visitors alike.”

Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays to Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays

Supreme Dumplings wagyu dumplings

<title>Supreme Dumplings is now open in Ala Moana Center</title>

The business, which originated in Washington, specializes in handmade xiao long bao, or soup dumplings. Dumplings are folded by hand and are steamed fresh to order; customers can choose from fillings like pork, wagyu beef, truffle and chicken and more. Customers can currently make reservations via Yelp.

Supreme Dumplings is now open in Ala Moana Center

Several new retailers and restaurants have recently opened at Ala Moana Center in Honolulu and more are set to open soon, the center announced Tuesday. Here’s what you should know.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Coming Soon:"}]

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Relocations and renovations:"}]

Ala Moana Center opened in 1959 and is the world's largest open-air shopping center with more than 2.4 million square feet of retail space. It offers more than 350 stores and restaurants, including 160 dining options.

(ICYMI: Last month it was announced that longtime anchor tenant Neiman Marcus 

Always aline 041426

Five new tenants have recently opened at Ala Moana Center and three more are set to open soon, the center announced Monday. Here’s what you should know.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"What’s new:"}]

 can be found Street Level 1 of the ‘Ewa Wing, offering Mexican-style cabana chillers, mango twisters and fresh fruit cups.

, a Native Hawaiian and ‘ohana-driven apparel brand, can be found on Level 3 of the ‘Ewa Wing.

(ICYMI: Aloha State Daily caught up with its owners at the Made in Hawai‘i Festival in August. Read 

Kawaii Kingdom, which offers an array of collectibles that include plush toys, character figurines, stationery, blind boxes, hair accessories, bag charm, key chains and more, can be found on Mall Level 2 of the Mauka Wing.

, a Hawai‘i-based jewelry brand, is located on Level 3 of the ‘Ewa Wing.

 has opened its second location at Ala Moana Center in the Makai Market Food Court on Street Level 1. Read more about the new location from ASD’s food and dining reporter Kelli Shiroma Braiotta 

, a clothing brand where every piece is cut and sewn in Hawai‘i, is set to open in February 2026 on Level 3 of the ‘Ewa Wing.

Eyeland Hawai‘i, which offers a selection of eyewear, prescription lenses, professional adjustment and repair services, will open this month on Street Level 1 of the Diamond Head Wing.

, a brand founded in Shenzhen, China, that offers a modern take on traditional tea culture, will open its first Hawai‘i store in February 2026 on Mall Level 2 of the Mauka Wing.

Ala Moana Center opened in 1959 and is the world's largest open-air shopping center with more than 2.4 million square feet of retail space. It offers more than 350 stores and restaurants and 160 dining options.

Ala Moana Center provided

The shopping center has welcomed a number of new tenants, with more coming soon.

<title>Letters to the Editor</title>

Letters to the Editor

An ASD reader writes in to say mahalo and share the newspaper clipping she keeps in her own Mary Pukui Hawaiian Dictionary.

2019 newspaper clipping

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An ASD reader, born in Honolulu who now resides in Louisiana, gives kudos to columnist Sterling Higa for his take on the May 30 beating on Oʻahu's North Shore. "His article was faith-affirming and much needed in these days of violence," she writes.

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A Chaminade student shares how habitat loss threatens Native Hawaiian land snails and how the Green Fee can help safeguard its resources.

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A reader shares a past example when mediation worked for evictions during the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, renters unable to pay rent will have more resources to avoid eviction through the state's Pre-Eviction Mediation Filing Program.

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Krauss had influence on Hawaiʻi politics, culture and more, including family.

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"Even if you don't believe in God, how can you argue against these 10 basic rules for living?"

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Thanks for the reminder of "Hawai‘i's Forgotten Governor."

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Maui County’s obsolete zoning code is making life difficult for our community.

Letters to the Editor

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