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Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Government & Politics

Real Estate

Efforts to bring a 127-unit affordable housing project to ‘Ewa Beach are moving forward.

Kaleimaʻo Village — West Loch Apartments will be located at 91-1666 Renton Road, on a 3.7-acre lot owned by the City and County of Honolulu.

In February, Honolulu's Office of Housing released a new, three-year 

. At that time, city officials said the plan provides a roadmap that outlines actions the city will take to facilitate the production of new housing on O‘ahu.

Catherine Taschner, Department of Land Management director designate, said in an emailed response to questions from Aloha State Daily, that Kaleimaʻo Village is "a great example of how we're putting the city's Strategic Housing Plan into action."

"One of the key priorities in the plan is to activate underutilized public land to build deeply affordable homes, and this project does exactly that," she says. "It's being developed on city-owned land through a long-term lease, which helps lower costs and speed up delivery. It also aligns with our commitment to equitable geographic distribution — making sure affordable housing isn't concentrated in one area, but available across the island."

The project is being developed through a public-private partnership with Komohale West Loch LLC, a joint venture between Stanford Carr Development and Standard Communities. According to the announcement, the Honolulu City Council recently approved a 75-year ground lease for the site.

Taschner says these types of public-private partnerships are "absolutely essential" in the city's efforts to meet housing demands.

"The city has tools — like land, zoning and financing programs — but we need private partners to bring in the investment, the development, the know-how, and the ability to move quickly and efficiently," she said.

According to a recent announcement from the city, the project will be comprised of seven three-story residential buildings with 28 one-bedroom, 87 two-bedroom and 12 three-bedroom units around a single-level community facility. The community center will have a meeting space, laundry facility, administrative office and mailboxes, and there will be 137 parking stalls and 64 bicycle stalls, the announcement noted.

All units will be reserved for residents earning at or below 60% of the area median income, the city says, noting that this includes "single-person households earning up to $58,000 per year, and families of four earning up to $75,000 per year."

Mayor Rick Blangiardi said in the announcement that the project "specifically targets income ranges that include many of O‘ahu's essential workforce." That includes food service employees, childcare providers, maintenance staff, health care support workers and transportation personnel, he said.

Although the project is still in the development phase, Taschner says they're nearing a "major milestone" with the financing. The total cost of the project has not been made public yet, she said, but the city has committed to some $30 million in private activity bonds to help finance it.

"That funding plays a huge role in keeping the project affordable and financially feasible — especially in today's market."

According to Taschner, the city revived its PAB program in 2021 after a 23-year hiatus. She explained that PABs are usually paired with 

, a federal program for financing affordable rental housing.

"Together, these tools reduce the amount of traditional debt a developer needs to take on, which lowers the overall cost of building the project," she explained. "That makes it possible to offer units at more affordable rents."

Taschner say 119 of the units will be reserved for households earning up to 60% of the AMI, while seven are set aside for families earning as little as 30% AMI, which she says is "crucial for those living paycheck to paycheck or struggling to stay housed."

The affordability and availability of housing continue to be frequent discussions — on O‘ahu as well as Neighbor Islands.

Blangiardi spoke at length about housing and homeless on O‘ahu during his 

 on March 18. Affordable housing also was addressed by Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen Jr. and Kaua‘i County Mayor Derek Kawakami during their individual 

Honolulu also recently announced plans to move forward with the 

, issuing earlier this month a request for qualifications for that project. The city said at that time the redevelopment is a "key component of Honolulu's transit-oriented development initiative, leveraging the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation's Skyline rail system to create high-density, mixed-use communities with accessible housing, economic opportunities and multimodal transportation options."

 the former First Hawaiian Bank building at 445 N. King St. for $8.4 million and in January 2024 it acquired the Iwilei Center for $51.5 million.

The recently unveiled housing plan, which can be 

, says these acquisitions, which total nearly five acres of land, "will form the catalyst of its redevelopment and revitalization efforts around the Kūwili Rail Station in Iwilei, consistent with the Downtown TOD Neighborhood Plan."

A list of the city's affordable housing projects in development can be 

[{"text":"In the mean time, though, home prices continue to rise on O‘ahu.","type":"text"}]

The median sale price of single-family home resales on O‘ahu hit a record high of $1,185,000 in February, according to the latest statistics from the Honolulu Board of Realtors.

Trevor Benn, president of the Honolulu Board of Realtors, said earlier this month, however, that fluctuations in monthly median figures can be more volatile since it represents a small sample of sales and that the number of home sales at different price points vary from month-to-month. The median prices of condominiums, however, declined year-over-year in February. Read 

House key istock photo 032825

<title>Honolulu looks to add more affordable housing in ‘Ewa Beach | Aloha State Daily</title>

Although the project is still in the development phase, city officials say they're nearing a "major milestone" with the financing.

Honolulu looks to add more affordable housing in ‘Ewa Beach

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Entertainment

Arts & Culture

a singer, songwriter and ʻukulele virtuoso based on O’ahu, joined Foumai at the Hawai

i Symphony Orchestra’s office in Kaimukī to run through the timing of the music he wrote for the orchestra, which joins her on stage next month. Taimane and the orchestra will perform together on Saturday, April 5, at the Hawai’i Theatre.

. In 2023, she received the same award, again. In the next few months, Taimane has concerts in Italy, Czech Republic, Poland, Germany and the Netherlands.

For concerts like the upcoming one between Taimane and the orchestra, there is just one opportunity to rehearse together in person. That’s why Foumai meets artists ahead of that rehearsal to share a computer-generated version of the music he composed to accompany their guest performances.

Exactly what a composer looks like now is a bit different than how it used to be in the time of Johann Sebastian Bach or Ludwig van Beethoven.  

“The image of a composer back when Beethoven was around and a composer today is very different in that I'm not behind a piano anymore,” Foumai said. “I'm behind computers. …  I can compose anywhere in the world. I can compose in my car. I can compose in a coffee shop. I don't need to be at a home studio, bound to a piano anymore.”

Today, composers hold more than one role. Foumai is also the orchestra’s director of artistic engagement. He is constantly planning future seasons and making sure performances are ready to go. Foumai writes program notes, and even dabbles in video and audio editing, as well as social media marketing for events.

Foumai got started in his musical career when he joined the orchestra in middle school. His older sister, who played piano and clarinet, wanted him to join the band. 

“My sister, being in the band, wanted me to play a wind instrument,” he said. “And so did my pediatrician, because I had grown up with asthma. He said: ‘You should really, play the trombone — build up your lungs!’ ”

But, when Foumai got his schedule, he was assigned to orchestra. On the first day, his teacher demonstrated the violin, viola, cello and bass. It was the violin that captured his attention.

When asked to pick a favorite piece he has composed, Foumai said it is always “the most recent piece,” with a laugh. But “Raise Hawaiki” remains especially important, he added. That piece was composed over three years and celebrates the return of the 

“It's one of the largest works I've ever composed. It's about 65 minutes long — evening length,” he said. “Before 

Raise Hawaiki,’ I was just a composer wanting to write stories about other places, other countries, other cultures, but ‘Raise Hawaiki’ gave me a true purpose of what music meant to me and what I could use music for and that was a tell the stories of my home, which weren

 being told on the concert stage. ‘Raise Hawaiki’ was a way to say Polynesian composers — Polynesian-inspired music — has a place in orchestras, and that's what I want to do with my music.”

The final production, which hit the stage in 2019, included a full orchestra and choir, as well vocal soloists, a children’s choir, hula dancers and projections inspired by the double-hulled voyaging canoe.

Some of the artists Foumai works with don’t read music, but instead play by ear, listening to music and then playing it back. 

“That doesn't quite work with an orchestra,” he said. “For my job, I need to translate that all into musical notation, which is a hard job to do, but I find it's really satisfying for me because I feel like I'm bringing their music to the symphonic stage, which is an incredible thing. When I think of symphony orchestra, I think of Hollywood movie soundtracks. For me, it's bringing that sound to their music, and I always find it very exciting. The artists — when they get to the stage — you can see it in their eyes: 

Taimane’s concert with the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra starts at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 5, at the Hawai’i Theatre in Honolulu.

Tickets range in price from $20 to $118.50. 

Michael-Thomas Foumai

<title>Meet the composer behind Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra’s performance… | Aloha State Daily</title>

Composer-in-residence Michael-Thomas Foumai is teaming up with the Nā Hōkū Hanohano award-winning Taimane Gardner for a concert with the Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra. Aloha State Daily takes you behind-the-scenes to their meeting before the concert in April.

Meet the composer behind Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra’s performance with Taimane

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Aloha Spirit

Spring is in the air. As keiki head back to school after break, let their hunger to learn continue at the Keiki Street Festival in Kakaʻako this Saturday, March 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The festival will take place on Keawe, Auahi, and Coral streets; The Barn at SALT; and Kalokoʻeli Courtyard, and will include more than 50 vendors, free activities, entertainment and more. Event parking is validated at Waterfront Plaza at 500 Ala Moana Blvd.

Our Kakaaʻko, owned by Kamehameha Schools, is hosting this year's event sponsored by American Savings Bank, and partners JPG Hawaiʻi, the UPS Store, Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, the Keiki Department and more. The first 100 keiki to visit ASB’s booth “will receive a surprise gift,” and parents who show their ASB Visa card could win free, two-hour parking on a first come, fist serve basis (located in the Gold Bond Building, the open lot behind 677 Ala Moana Blvd.).

“Our festival offers a variety of activities to learn and celebrate Hawaiian culture, language, art, and games,” 

. “But that’s not all, you’ll also enjoy live music and hula performances, a keiki fashion show, and free outdoor parent and keiki fitness classes.”

The Henna Shack will be giving temporary tattoos, while Orangetheory Fitness and Cornerstone Community Chiropractic will offer services in fitness bootcamps, health and well-being. 

There will also be open picnic seating in Kalokoʻeli Courtyard for families to enjoy food from vendors such as Sage Creamery, Halo-Halo Craze, Hokulani Bake Shop, Fig & Ginger, Olay’s Thai Lao Express, among other eateries.

You can also sign-up for event updates by texting the word “KEIKI” to 808-545-4835.

Keiki Street Fest Banner 03.29.25

<title>Block party for the keiki this Saturday | Aloha State Daily</title>

Looking for some free family fun this weekend on Oʻahu? Head to Our Kaka‘ako’s Keiki Street Festival presented by American Savings Bank on Saturday, March 29.

Block party for the keiki this Saturday

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

Get ready, Haleʻiwa — the cevichelada has entered the chat. This ingenious concoction allows you to eat ceviche while drinking a michelada (popular Mexican beer cocktail) at the same time. (Da Seafood Cartel’s michelada doesn’t include alcohol, but customers are welcome to BYOB).

That’s just one of the eye-catching dishes you’ll find at the 

’s second storefront location, which just opened in Haleʻiwa. Those familiar with the area will recognize the space as the former home of Poke for the People. Not to worry — the poke shop is still in Haleʻiwa and moved further up the road, across of Storto’s Deli and Nalu Health Bar & Café.

Da Seafood Cartel, which officially started in 2020, opened its first brick and mortar location in ‘Aiea about two and a half years ago, according to business owner Amanda Cordes. The business focuses on Sonora-style Mexican seafood.

“We’ve been selling ceviche since 2020 — first during Covid-19, then at the farmers markets,” she says. “We started in the thick of Covid-19 and the idea (for the name) came really fast to us. At first, I was like, ‘I don’t know if cartel has the best connotation.’ But when I looked at the definition, ‘cartel’ is someone who takes over an industry. We do want to take over the Mexican seafood space; it’s (our name’s) kind of a twist on the cartel.”

When she was exploring the possibility of opening a second location, Cordes says that she found out through word of mouth that Poke for the People were looking to move locations.

“It just really worked out,” she says. “We really love the area and we thought ceviche and the North Shore beaches really went hand in hand. We thought it was a good cuisine for people to enjoy after a day at the beach. Or, they could grab a container (of ceviche) and enjoy it at the beach.”

Similar to the ʻAiea location, the new Haleʻiwa spot features Mexican seafood, but offers several exclusive dishes. While the ʻAiea eatery has dishes like fish tacos and steak quesadillas, the Haleʻiwa one includes more dishes centered around fresh seafood.

“Some of the more exciting things we have here are our mariscadas, which is a variety of Mexican seafood,” Cordes says. “Mariscadas pretty much translates to ʻseafood dish.’ People can try a little bit of everything — ceviche, cooked shrimp, fish, scallops and octopus — if they want a variety of fresh seafood.

“We also have cevicheladas — a mix of micheladas with our ceviche — fruit cups with chamoy and tajin, a shrimp Caesar salad, a Mexican-style poke bowl and poke nachos,” she adds.

Mariscadas feature a variety of fresh Mexican-style seafood marinated in the eatery’s special Cartel sauce. It’s served with housemade chips and the “black sauce of death.”

The Mexican-style poke bowl ($18.25) features spicy ‘ahi, ceviche, soybeans, blue crab tobiko spread, avocado, mango, unagi sauce, chipotle aioli, furikake and serrano. Meanwhile, the orale poke nachos ($17.95) include chips topped with spicy ‘ahi, blue crab tobiko spread, guacamole, jalapenos, unagi and chipotle aioli.

“I grew up in Hawaiʻi; I know typical poke bowls are pretty much poke and rice,” Cordes says. “Here, it’s like a wide variety of different flavors.”

Cordes highly recommends the aguachile verde ($18.95) to customers. The dish features shrimp crudo in a citrusy aguachile sauce, and it’s topped with cucumbers, purple onions and serrano. Customers can choose from verde (green), rojo (red spicy) or pineapple habanero aguachile.

“I guess you can translate ‘aguachile’ to chili pepper water, Mexican style,” Cordes says. “The shrimp starts off raw, but it cooks in the lime. The green sauce is really good; I highly recommend the fruit one, too. If you like a sweet and spicy flavor profile, that one’s delicious.”

No trip to Da Seafood Cartel is complete without the business’s signature OG tostada. This is the business’s bestselling tostada, and it’s layered with blue crab tobiko spread, ceviche and avocado. All chips and tostadas are still housemade, according to Cordes.

If you want to take your tostada to the next level, opt for the tostada la basta, ($19.95), which features a medley of fresh seafood — cooked shrimp, shrimp crudo, octopus, mahi crudo and ‘ahi — served with chipotle aioli on a tostada and garnished with purple onions, serrano and an avocado.

Looking for a smaller snack? Check out the business’s chamoy fruit cups ($9.95) or horchata ($5.95).

Da Seafood Cartel’s Haleʻiwa store is currently open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For updates, follow the eatery on Instagram.

“We really focus on and take a lot of pride in being the only place that serves Mexican mariscos,” Cordes says. “Mariscos is the word that Spanish people use for seafood; we’re the only ones that are doing something like this right now.”

Instagram: @@daseafoodcartel Open daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Da Seafood Cartel cevichelada 032725

<title>This new Mexican seafood spot just opened in Haleʻiwa | Aloha State Daily</title>

Da Seafood Cartel is bringing a taste of Sonora to Oʻahu’s North Shore.

This new Mexican seafood spot just opened in Haleʻiwa

ASD Staff

[{"text":"\"A honu world!\" had us dying.","type":"text"}]

Screenshot 2025 03 28 at 2 34 22 PM

<title>Hawaiʻi Scene on Social: Making up all any kine | Aloha State Daily</title>

In today's social media find, @islandmagicmike riffs on Hulu, Disney and more.

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social: Making up all any kine

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

, the University of Hawai‘i men's volleyball team completed its 11th contest over the course of 23 days. That type of workload was new for some key freshmen on the squad, who had 

not been used to playing more than once a week in their native countries

Members of the team believe the last bye week of the regular season came at an ideal time for the No. 4 Rainbow Warriors (19-2, 2-0 Big West Conference), who return to the court on Friday at 7 p.m. against No. 11 UC San Diego (16-4, 2-0). 

In its last idle weekend of the regular season, which also coincided with UH-Mānoa's spring break, the 'Bows had an excursion to the North Shore, where the team practiced at BYU-Hawai‘i and also held a youth clinic for about 150 kids. 

"It was amazing. It was good to just get a little time away from here and just get our minds to reset a little bit," setter Tread Rosenthal said. "It was great. They got a beautiful house up there for us and a lot of the fans from the North Shore got to see us play in person, which was pretty cool. It was more of a mental break. Now we're just ready to work.

"Our main focus has been getting our bodies right and just coming up with some new things in our defensive schemes, offensive schemes, just to kind of pack a punch going forward. It was really helpful just to have that time to work on ourselves."

Hawai‘i closes out its regular season with four consecutive weeks of matches against ranked conference opponents on Fridays and Saturdays, starting with the Tritons. 

The Tritons enter the series led by senior setter Bryce Dvorak, a former North Shore resident who graduated high school in Southern California. Dvoarak, a multi-year starter at Pepperdine, is averaging 10.10 assists per set in his first year at UCSD. 

The Rainbow Warriors split their season series with the Tritons in 2024, winning the first match in four sets before getting swept in the regular season finale for both teams. 

"We're really hungry to get going in this part of the season. We've been looking forward to Big West play for a while," Rosenthal said. "I think last year's Big West play didn't really show how good we are and how talented we were at the time. But we're really focused. We're really ready to get started with a good game against UCSD, get a little revenge for last year, hopefully, and just take care of business going forward.

"(UC San Diego is) really good. I think their ranking doesn't show up, but I think they're one of the best teams in the nation. They're tough. They swept us last year. They've got a funky offense that works really well, so it's going to be a hard game. We just got to stay focused and stay on our own side of the of the net."

UH will rotate between series at the Stan Sheriff Center and on the road prior to hosting the Big West Conference Tournament from April 24-26. With only 10 total conference matches to position itself, each contest will carry equal weight in UH's quest to return to the NCAA Tournament. 

"Certainly the most exciting time of the year coming up in front of us," head coach Charlie Wade said. "I think we're pretty healthy. I think we've shown at times we can be really, really good, and hopefully we finish strong here. A lot of things to look back on, but to sit here 19-2, I think we feel pretty good and hopefully play well down the stretch."

Hawai‘i MVB 032825

<title>Recharged Hawai‘i men's volleyball returns to action after bye | Aloha State Daily</title>

The No. 4 Rainbow Warriors will face No. 11 UC San Diego on Friday and Saturday.

Recharged Hawai‘i men's volleyball returns to action after bye

The Hawaiian Humane Society says, "If you’re looking for a loyal, playful companion who loves adventure and cuddles, Ahi might be your perfect match!"

Adopt a pet Ahi 3.28.25

Adopt A-Pet March 28, 2025: Meet Ahi, a snuggly pup who loves a good treat

Learn how to adopt this pup named Bubbles from the Hawaiian Humane Societyʻs Mōʻiliʻili Campus.

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Daily Features - Saturday, 29 March

Pet of the Day: Meet Ahi, a snuggly pup who loves a good treat