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Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

, known for its Japanese-style negitoro bowls, is opening its third O

ahu location this Sunday, Feb. 15. The business’s new location is on the second level of 

Aiea Shopping Center, next to Ice Garden and Koa Pancake House.

Aiea location is in the former space of a sandwich shop. Construction on the space started after the business’s sister restaurant, Marujuu Hawai

i will be open from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch and from 5 to 8:30 p.m. for dinner Thursdays to Mondays (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays). The business will be open for walk-ins only; no reservations will be accepted.

The menu at this location is the same as the ones at the business’s Kaimukī and 

Totoya’s original negitoro — which is made fresh daily with local fresh ‘ahi — is the base for the majority of its bowls. Its tokujo bowl ($38.90) — a premium option with original negitoro, salmon roe, sea urchin (Hokkaido uni) and snow crab — is the most popular order.

The eatery’s Fukuju bowl ($39.50) is the second most-popular dish. It features original negitoro with tuna and salmon, red shrimp, scallops, sea urchin, snow crab, tobiko and two pieces of nori.

The salmon bowl with salmon roe ($19.50) is a local favorite. All bowls come with your choice of miso soup — Aosa seaweed miso soup, or upgrade to shrimp head ($3.90) or crab ($4.90) miso soup — or half-size udon noodles ($4.90).

Other dishes on the menu include fresh shrimp combination bowl ($27.90); rainbow trio bowl ($25.90); matsu bowl ($26.90) with Hokkaido uni and salmon roe; and more.

Customers now have the option to add an “ikura shower” when they order Take, Matsu and Tokujo bowls. The “shower” includes a tripleamount of ikura for an additional $9.80.

Open from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch and from 5 to 8:30 p.m. for dinner Thursdays to Mondays

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

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<title>Viral seafood rice bowl spot is opening in ʻAiea</title>

Totoya Hawaiʻi, known for its negitoro bowls, is opening in ʻAiea Shopping Center on Sunday, Feb. 15. The menu here is the same as the business’s other two locations in the Ala Moana and Kaimukī neighborhoods. Customers can now add “ikura showers” when ordering specific seafood bowls.

Viral seafood rice bowl spot is opening in ʻAiea

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Daniel Farr

Government & Politics

A proposal from Honolulu City Councilmember Andria Tupola would make it easier to develop affordable rental housing on Oʻahu.

The Affordable Rental Housing Program, adopted in 2019, was designed to encourage affordable housing by easing certain zoning and construction rules. Tupola said in a recent announcement that only six projects have been completed under the program since its adoption.

As proposed, Bill 18 would expand where affordable housing projects are allowed, increase the number of units permitted on each zoning lot, and eliminate maximum lot and building area requirements and fixed height limits, among other provisions. Building heights could reach the maximum allowed by the underlying zoning. 

“At least 80% of units must be rented to households earning 100% of area median income or below, with rents tied to federal HUD limits,” Tupola told Aloha State Daily, adding that, units “must remain affordable for at least 15 years after a certificate of occupancy is issued.”

Hawai‘i needs an estimated 64,490 additional housing units by 2027 to meet demand, according to the Hawai‘i Housing Finance and Development Corp.’s 2024 Hawai‘i Housing Planning 

The City and County of Honolulu has the largest shortfall, requiring 25,710 units to meet demand. The study notes that 18,676 of those units (73%) are needed for households earning 80% of Area Median Income or below.

Tupola also said the bill does not create new funding programs, change taxes, or alter developer fees. It simply reforms development rules to make affordable housing easier to build.

As of Friday, one member of the public submitted written testimony ahead of the hearing, suggesting that affordable housing projects include accessibility features such as Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant units, wheelchair-accessible bathrooms and designated parking.

Bill 18 is scheduled for a hearing before the full Honolulu City Council at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18, at Honolulu Hale.

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<title>Bill aims to boost affordable housing in Honolulu</title>

Bill 18 aims to relax zoning limits, increase density near transit, and speed construction of affordable units across Oʻahu.

Bill aims to boost affordable housing in Honolulu

Kung Hei Fat Choi! Lunar New Year officially starts Feb. 17. These limited-time specials below feature a variety of themed treats and full-on meals to celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse. 

: The eatery is featuring a char siu pineapple special ($26). 

: Available throughout February for Hong Kong Festival and Lunar New Year 

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: Enjoy specialty Year of the Horse-themed treats, including:

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: The eatery will have a variety of Lunar New Year-themed specials available, including:

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

: Enjoy specialty treats like the six-piece Lunar New Year truffle box ($22.99) and Good Luck tokens ($6.99). The truffle box includes flavors like almond cookie, fresh gau and white rabbit wrapped in a box with a “year of the fire horse” design. 

: The Lunar New Year truffle box is available for pick-up Feb. 13, 14 or 17; available while supplies last 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Duk Kee Chinese Restaurant"}]

: The restaurant’s Lunar New Year menu ($108) is available for all of February. It includes chicken salad, New Year jai, half roast duck, beef tenderloin with King oyster mushrooms, steamed fish with ginger and scallions, shrimp with lotus root and snow peas, mini sesame balls and steamed rice. 

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

: Enjoy a Lunar New Year set ($17), which includes gau mochi with whole red bean, whole longan mochi, whole lychee mochi, chi chi dango and almond cookie manju. Almond cookie senbei ($13.95) will also be available. 

: Feb. 16 and 17, but may be available longer 

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

: This Lunar New Year special menu ($128.88) is designed to feed four to six people. It includes crab meat with dried scallop soup, Chinese stir-fried sticky rice, Chinese jai, fried chicken, braised pork trotter clay pot and fried sesame balls. 

 7192 Kalanianaʻole Hwy. Ste. D-105, Honolulu, HI 96825

: Enjoy a variety of featured specials, including:

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: The Year of the Horse Gift Box 2026 ($20.95) includes 16 cookies in six flavors, including chocolate chip macadamia, pineapple macadamia, chocolate dipped macadamia, dark triple chocolate macadamia, white chocolate confetti and yuzu. Yuzu is February’s flavor of the month, and features a bright, citrus flavor with hints of mandarin, grapefruit and lemon. 

honolulucookie.com/cookies-gifts-chocolate/year-of-the-horse-gift-box.asp

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Kamukura Surf + Dine"}]

: Enjoy specials like roasted pork and seasoned egg ramen and Kamukura gyoza set ($33) and lemon salmon sushi roll and edamame set ($26) 

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

: This limited-edition treat is inspired by the Year of the Horse. The new dessert — called The Horse — features vanilla ice cream infused with Cinnamon Toast Crunch, persimmons and candied pecans, and is finished with gold sprinkles and a dried persimmon garnish. The flavor is available in three formats — milkshake, ice cream sandwich and ice cream swirl.

The business’s Lunar New Year capsule collection adorned with horse motifs is also available. 

: To celebrate Lunar New Year, Kona Coffee Purveyors and b. patisserie will be launching two pastries and six desserts for a limited time. Indulge in the following:

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: The Chinese New Year family pack ($119.95) is available for both, dine-in and takeout. It includes half roast duck, house special chow mein, New Year jai, salt and pepper shrimp, orange chicken, seafood fish maw soup and garlic fried rice. The eatery will also have specials like fried flounder ($12.95) and jai ($16.95). 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Oh My Grill"}]

: Pearl’s Lucky Pac ($199) is designed to feed 12 to 15 people. It includes beef broccoli cake noodle, green onion and ginger fish fillet, garlic shrimp, char siu fried noodles and crispy gau gee. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"SXY Shu Xiang Yuan"}]

: Ala Moana Center, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 

: The Lunar New Year special course ($99) is designed to feed four to six people. The meal highlights bold, Szechuan-inspired flavors and comforting classics. Feast on signature dishes like spicy pork dumplings, garlic fried rice, fish filet simmered in Szechuan chili broth, garlic pork ribs, stir-fried eggplant, green beans infused with savory aromatics, and sticky rice cake with brown sugar. 

: The Lunar New Year set menu ($88.88) is designed to feed four people. It includes siu mai, har gow, fried chives and shrimp cake, fried mochi pork dumplings, garlic chicken, vegetable combo, original soup with fatty beef rice noodles, pickled pepper with beef tripe rice noodles, and warabi mochi dessert (served with kinako, matcha and ube powder). Guests who order the Lunar New Year set menu will receive one complimentary Ten Seconds Yunnan Rice Noodle fan, while supplies last. 

: Starting Feb. 1; available until the end of February 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"The Pig & The Lady"}]

: This special Year of the Fire Horse menu ($100 per person) includes:

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Tim Ho Wan"}]

2201 Kalākaua Ave. Ste. A-307, Honolulu,

: Feast on special dishes for Chinese New Year, including lava buns ($8.88) and Chinese pan-fried mochi cakes ($8.88). 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Yi Xin Café"}]

: This Chinese New Year set menu ($238) includes New Year jai, sand ginger chicken, signature curry crab with naan bread, tenderloin steak with fresh pineapple, garlic butter prawns and Hong Kong-style garlic stir-fried fish fillet. If you pre-order anytime before Feb. 16, you will receive complimentary homemade Chinese New Year gao. 

Lunar New Year Duk Kee Chinese Restaurant 020626

<title>Where to celebrate Lunar New Year 2026</title>

Welcome the Year of the Fire Horse with these limited-time specials.

Where to celebrate Lunar New Year 2026

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ASD Staff

Aloha Spirit

Mau‘umae Nature Park in Kaimukī will be home to O‘ahu’s first public kyudojo, the City & County of Honolulu and Hawai‘i Kyudo Foundation announced at a Tuesday press conference.

The facility will consist of a training center, or dojo, for kyudo, the traditional Japanese martial art of archery, as well as parking, restrooms, a Japanese garden and landscaping with native plants.

This is a public-private partnership, with

 taking the lead on a little over half an acre of a city park bounded by 16th Avenue and Claudine Street.

A statement from the City & County of Honolulu says, "HKF is funding and constructing the $850,000 facility, which will be gifted to the city when completed. ... The kyudojo will be operated and maintained by HKF under the supervision of the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation. The annual maintenance and upkeep for the facility is estimated to cost nearly $20,000."

Planners intend for an early 2026 groundbreaking, with the first lessons to be taught in the finished building by summer. Archers take aim from the shajo, an open-air shooting bank, sending arrows down 28-meter shooting path, or yamichi, toward a row of targets known as matoba.

“We are blessed to have found such an ideal space to enhance the practice of  this ancient and meditative form of archery,” said Hiroko Dewitz, president of HKF and one of the initiators of the kyudojo effort, said in a statement. “Utilizing extensive records, and the assistance of the researchers & planners who compiled the data, we have ensured the creation of this facility is being done in reverence to our host culture, the natural environment, and neighboring community. Our goal is to introduce new practitioners to the serene art of kyudo, while welcoming back those who wish to reconnect with it.”

“One of our greatest strengths in these islands is the diversity of our people, and how we are all able to find space to share our unique cultures,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi in a statement. “A big mahalo to the Hawai‘i Kyudo Foundation for their extensive work organizing and executing this effort, all while incorporating the immediate community in their efforts. Like a kyudo archer, they draw their bow not necessarily to destroy their target but to master themselves. This is truly an embodiment of living with purpose, harmony, and the quiet power of aloha. We are eagerly looking forward to seeing this community resource become a reality so that everyone can enjoy this unique facility."

In addition to nurturing the kyudo community, the campus could also host other community and cultural events such as hula and lua (Hawaiian martial arts), the city noted.

“We are grateful for the support of the community, and especially for the generosity of several leading construction firms who have stepped forward to underwrite much of the cost of building the project,” added HKF Board Member Bob Dewitz.

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<title>Kaimukī to get public kyudo range</title>

Devoted to the Japanese martial art of archery, the facility will be a public-private partnership between the City & County of Honolulu and Hawai‘i Kyudo Foundation.

Kaimukī to get public kyudo range

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Michael Brestovansky

Crime & Courts

Rebecca Folley made hundreds of Facebook posts threatening to kill Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

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Pearl City woman gets supervised release following threats against the president

The Pre-Eviction Mediation Filing Program requires landlords to offer mediation before evicting a tenant for not paying rent

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Tenants facing eviction can seek mediation under new state program

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Tom Yamachika

Viewpoints

There are two Hawaiʻi Supreme Court cases pending that involve fights over the extent to which courts can get involved with the Department of Taxation.

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Community Voices: Tax versus Judiciary

Mahuna has been offered the position of Hawaiʻi County police chief following a nationwide search and strong public support, the Hawaiʻi County Police Commission announced Friday.

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Reed Mahuna named police chief after nationwide search

Two state bills would lower the threshold for drunk driving from .08 to .05.

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Green backs BAC reduction bills

Hawai‘i Island police seize hundreds of pounds of narcotics, dozens of firearms and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash in first year after units merged.

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Vice division cracks down on drugs, guns

Lawmakers promise legislative response to Minneapolis shootings

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Green, legislators promise anti-ICE bills

The commission plans to make its decision once the selection process wraps up on Jan. 30. Any chosen candidate would receive a provisional appointment, pending the successful completion of required screening procedures such as a background check, psychological assessment and polygraph test.

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8 finalists to interview for Hawaiʻi Police Chief

Methamphetamine remained the leading contributor. Fentanyl-related deaths rose sharply, increasing by nearly 60% over three years. Cocaine-related deaths also increased during that period.

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Traffic, drug deaths rise in Honolulu

Wolford v. Lopez challenges 2023 gun law prohibiting concealed firearms on private property.

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U.S. Supreme Court hears "vampire rule" gun law arguments

Hawai‘i Sen. Mazie Hirono was a lead signatory of a brief supporting trans athletes last year.

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CONGRESS WATCH: Supreme Court hears arguments in landmark trans athletics case

Robert Silva, 52, tipped streamers in the Philippines to sexually abuse children on camera.