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Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

Hawai‘i Rep. Ed Case spoke out Wednesday against a military funding proposal that, he believes, shortchanges the needs of the state.

At a Wednesday meeting of the House Appropriations Committee, House Representatives discussed a 90-page budget proposal allocating some $469 billion to various military projects and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

But Case and other Democrats on the committee voted against the measure. Case in particular highlighted the bill’s lack of investment in projects in the Indo-Pacific region.

“The Indo-Pacific is, of course, our priority theater,” Case told the committee Wednesday. “We say this all the time … where we are facing a generational challenge with (China) and its allies … And this is where we should be putting our money, from a defense perspective.”

Case said he does not believe the Indo-Pacific is prioritized at all in the proposed budget: only one Indo-Pacific military construction project, a $50 million item for “defense access roads” on Guam, is listed in the proposal.

Case told the committee that Hawai‘i's military facilities require billions of dollars of deferred maintenance projects, urging for the addition of $1 billion for Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, among others.

“And then there is the problem of a continued reluctance, a continued closing of their eyes by the Defense Department of anything that smacks of any kind of base resilience, because they don’t want to talk about the effects of weather on our bases,” Case said.

Despite this, Case did highlight several provisions he supports within the proposal, including the roughly $134 billion allocated to the VA, including $117 billion for veterans medical care, $2 billion for VA construction projects, $970 million for a veteran homelessness program and more.

And the budget does allow some military funds to reach Hawai‘i facilities, including funding for an infrastructure development plan at Pearl Harbor-Hickam to address aging wastewater facilities, funding to assess the capacity of all public shipyards to carry out battle damage repairs and more.

However, the bill also includes provisions prohibiting the VA from providing abortions or abortion counseling, and eliminates Covid-19 vaccination requirements for VA medical personnel, House Democrats note. Opponents have also warned that the proposal will continue a gradual privatization of VA health care, with the budget cutting funds for direct VA care and boosting funds for outside care.

[{"type":"text","text":"The proposed budget will go to the full House for a future vote."}]

Ed Case 2022 Official Portrait

<title>CONGRESS WATCH: Military construction budget leaves Hawai‘i high and dry, Case warns</title>

House committee advances budget and VA proposal despite Democrat opposition

CONGRESS WATCH: Military construction budget leaves Hawai‘i high and dry, Case warns

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Real Estate

Aloha Spirit

As the third generation of his family born and raised on Lānaʻi, Kurt Matsumoto

 joined Oracle Corp. founder and billionaire Larry Ellison’s company, Pūlama Lāna’i, in late 2012. He said he wasn’t its first employee but came on board the same year it was formed (when Ellison purchased 98% of the island).

“The biggest change over time is that the island used to be a completely dedicated pineapple plantation. And now, there’s no pineapple grown at all. We have two hotels now, but as you drive through town, a lot of it still looks the same as it did when I was growing up.

“It’s a classic picture of rural America – kids walking to school and the neighbors all looking out for each other,” he said.

When asked what initially drew him to the role, Matsumoto said, “The opportunity to work with somebody like Larry Ellison and help the island have a chance at reaching sustainability is, of course, very attractive.”

That, and giving back to the island that raised him, he noted, adding, “I owe a lot to growing up on Lānaʻi and I look forward to continuing to create positive change.”

Pūlama Lānaʻi, a land and resource management company controlling Ellison’s holdings, aims to preserve Native Hawaiian culture and the ‘āina, as well as build community and economic opportunities, 

Delivering more affordable housing is one thing Matsumoto is proud of. “We just got done adding 150 new workforce rental homes – that’s a 10% increase in housing.”

Spanning 76 acres, Hōkūao, is the first housing development to be built on the island in 30 years. More than half of the single-family homes are affordable, with the remaining at market rates.

“Lānaʻi has some of the lowest rental costs in the entire state,” he said citing the 

The University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization

. According to report, median rent in ZIP code 96763 is $1,087 and the median single-family home price is $675,000.

For a population of over 3,000, there are more than 1,500 housing units on island. Matsumoto estimated that the island’s 

number of employed workers is close to 1,600.

ʻi directly employs 400 workers, he said. “We have an entire leasing and maintenance operation, so we

re the ones repairing homes and making housing available when new employees arrive on the island. On the commercial side, we own the grocery store, the gas station, the theater, and coming soon, a new bowling alley.

“It’s all about making the lifestyle on the island more manageable, making access to goods and services easier and less expensive,” Matsumoto continued. “Prior to us owning the gas station, gas prices were the highest in the state. Now, we're the lowest.”

In addition to a barge that brings in goods once a week, Pūlama Lānaʻi covers the cost of flying things in “to keep the shelves full,” he said.

This year, one of the company’s goals is to demolish the old, shuttered bowling alley and build a brand new one with a full-service restaurant and ’50s diner theme by November.

Other priorities include building more houses and outdoor art installations; upgrading the water system; and contining efforts to fence off 20,000 acres from mauka to makai to keep sheep and deer out and revegetate the land, Matsumoto said.

“The focus is really about making the lifestyle on Lānaʻi better for the people who live there. We’re not developing luxury homes for sale or only catering to visitors, we want to keep employment up, too,” he said.  

In 2015, Pūlama Lānaʻi and the University of Hawai‘i Maui College launched its dual credit program, which allows Lāna‘i students to earn both a high school diploma and college credit. This year, 15 high school seniors participated from Lāna‘i High & Elementary School, the only school on the island, bringing the total to more than 200 students over 10 years.

“Reaching 10 years is a significant milestone. We started off as way to supplement what happens at school. But it’s turned into a pathway for kids to save money for their families and help achieve their higher education goals.”

Matsumoto said Lāna‘i High & Elementary School’s graduation rate had been high, but the matriculation rate was “well below the state average.”

“So, this has really changed that dynamic and has had a good impact on youth on island. Being able to see the results of the things we’re committed to is rewarding," he said. "All of our projects are being funded by Larry and it's all part of his commitment to the island and residents.”

He added, Lānaʻi students have come back home after going away to college to work on island, and even with Pūlama Lānaʻi.

“Within our workforce, of the people who serve in manager and director roles, close to 50% of them are either from Lānaʻi, meaning graduated from high school here, or they lived on 

 for 20 years or more. So, yes, we do have challenges filling holes, but we really try to invest in people, train them up and find appropriate work for them, which goes back to our role of enriching the community.”

Lanai Bowl rendering

<title>A new bowling alley, more workforce housing planned for Lānaʻi</title>

Learn more about the initiatives at Pūlama Lāna’i, including its dual credit program for students on the island, a 10-year partnership with the University of Hawai’i Maui College.

A new bowling alley, more workforce housing planned for Lānaʻi

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

[{"type":"text","text":"A local developer is building deeper ties with the Korean visitor market."}]

JL Capital has acquired a 40% ownership stake in Tournet Hawai‘i Inc., a travel and transportation agency focused on the Korea-Hawai‘i market, it was announced Tuesday.

Founded in 2000 by David and Mira Jung, Tournet Hawai‘i has offices in Honolulu and Seoul, "and has established itself as the premier inbound travel partner for major Korean tour operators, airlines, entertainment agencies and government delegations," an announcement from JL Capital noted.

“This partnership represents our confidence in the future of Hawaii’s tourism industry and the vital role Korea will play in it,” Tim Lee, CEO of JL Capital, said in the announcement. “With our ownership of the Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa and now this investment in Tournet Hawai‘i, we are creating synergies to better serve the growing Korea-Hawaii travel market.”

JL Capital, a Honolulu-based real estate and private equity firm founded in 2017, is focused on Honolulu's Ala Moana neighborhood.

, a $507 million mixed-use twin tower condominium and hotel at 1388 Kapi‘olani Blvd. 

Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa, a Marriott brand

Underway now is a luxury residential and mixed-use condominium project at 1538 Kapi‘olani Boulevard called 

. Designed by architectural firm Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, its sales gallery opened in April.

, an adaptive reuse project that will convert a five-story former office building at 765 Amana St. into 32 studio, 20 one-bedroom and 12 two-bedroom affordable rental apartments. Lee told ASD at the May 30 groundbreaking that a second, a ground-up project at 

, is set to get underway in about six months and will create another 37 affordable units.

Lee told Aloha State Daily in an emailed response to questions that JL Capital has known of Tournet Hawai‘i's "strong reputation in the Korea travel market for some time." Discussions regarding this acquisition began in 2023 and the deal was finalized in late May, he noted.

Korea is one of the most resilient and rapidly growing international source markets for Hawai‘i," Lee says. "Korean travelers tend to stay longer, spend more, and seek high-quality experiences, making them a strong fit for Hawai‘i’s evolving visitor economy. With the right partnerships and infrastructure, we believe Hawai‘i can become the preferred destination for Korean travelers across leisure, business and group markets."

In the short-term, Lee says the partnership offers direct insight into visitor behavior, preferences and travel patterns, which helps inform how the firm positions its assets like the Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa.

"Over the long term, we see the potential to co-create targeted travel packages, streamline logistics for large groups and even influence airlift and event programming strategies," he continued. "The real synergy comes from aligning Tournet's inbound travel expertise with our hospitality investments and future developments to enhance the visitor experience from arrival to departure."

According to Lee, Tournet Hawai‘i will still be led by the Jungs, who he says "bring decades of trusted relationships and cultural fluency in the Korea-Hawai‘i travel corridor."

"JL Capital's role is not operational, but strategic," he continued. "We'll provide support in areas like long-range planning, business development and hospitality alignment."

According to visitor statistics from the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism's 

, there were 155,974 visitor arrivals statewide from the Korea in 2024. From January through April of this year, there have been a little more than 51,000 arrivals from Korea.

Unsplash waikiki aerial

<title>JL Capital acquires an ownership stake in Tournet Hawai‘i</title>

Find out what the move means for the real estate and private equity firm in the short- and long-term.

JL Capital acquires an ownership stake in Tournet Hawai‘i

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

 is back — well, sort of. The biz just launched its new burger concept, 

, which is still in Kaimukī — specifically in the former Hokkaido Ramen spot at 1108 12th Ave.

The biz announced its June 9 soft opening via 

, and the community showed up to support. We got there on the second day of soft opening around 11:40 a.m., and there was already a line outside the burger spot.

Note: Boarded Up will announce its hours for the day via social media; for the past two days, the biz has been open from 12 to 9 p.m. or until sold out.

[{"type":"text","text":"So, here’s what you need to know:"}]

Right now, only in-person ordering is accepted (no online ordering yet). When we stood in line, we were given a menu to look at. The menu is currently more limited and different from the one from Chubbies Burgers, but you’ll find some familiar flavors.

While there are a few tables for dine-in inside Boarded Up, the spot is more conducive to takeout. There are a few tables outside the eatery as well.

You’ll still find sides like Chubbies signature crinkle-cut fries ($5), which are always crispy and cooked with 100% trans-fat free, highly sustainable rice bran oil. Eating them was like greeting a long-lost friend — just as good, if not better, than what you remembered. Some fries are worth standing in line for.

If you want to take your fries to the next level, you can add a sauce for $1 more. Choose from 1950 sauce, garlic sesame aioli or Carolina Dijonnaise; the latter comes highly recommended. It reminded us of creamy Thousand Island and was positively addictive.  

You could also opt to bring the heat to your meal with spicy garlic fries ($8), complete with Spicy Nashville sauce, fresh garlic and garlic-sesame aioli.

All burgers come on soft potato buns — featuring Chubbies’ house recipe — that are baked fresh locally. You can opt for a single ($8-$10) or double ($12-$14).

There are currently four burger options — O.P. style, Carolina onion, The 1950 and a cheeseburger.

If you’ve been craving a Chubbies’ smashburger since the eatery closed in its original Kaimukī spot on Feb. 1, go for The 1950 ($10), which is described on the menu as “the bad boy version of a Chubbies’ classic.”

The smashed beef patty is topped with American cheese, housemade red onion relish, shredded lettuce, tomato and 1950 sauce. It’s simple, flavorful and comforting. The smashburger still boasts that signature, crispy, caramelized crust and flavorful patty that the eatery is known for.

If you want something with more texture, opt for the O.P. Style — smashed beef patty with American cheese, grilled onions, housemade hot pickles and garlic-sesame aioli — or Carolina Onion, complete with thin-sliced griddled onions.

When it comes to pucker power, this lemonade ($5) delivers. Cold and sour, it was refreshing after a savory burger — but if you’re on the fence about tart flavors, you might want to get the POG lemonade instead.

I was craving a Ghirardelli chocolate milkshake ($8), but alas, it wasn’t available during my visit. Neither were Chubbies new premium vanilla soft serve or Cali fries (topped with American cheese, grilled onions, 1950 sauce and diced pickles), which will be coming soon to the menu … and gives me another excuse to go back.

Boarded Up sign 061125

<title>Chubbies Hawaiʻi is back as Boarded Up Burgers</title>

The new smashburger concept soft opened in the former Hokkaido Ramen spot with a revamped menu and support from the Kaimukī community.

Chubbies Hawaiʻi is back as Boarded Up Burgers

Regular customers at the former MARA Restaurant & Bar, located in Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa on Kapi‘olani Boulevard, were probably confused when the eatery’s rebranding and change in management was official at the end of May.

 — still features the same interior décor and concept, in terms of offering Mediterranean cuisine. The eatery is still open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and is operated by DB Restaurant Group (the same group behind DB Grill, Café Duck Butt and CINO).

[{"type":"text","text":"SERA Chef Arnold Corpuz was most recently at CINO."}]

The restaurant’s name has several meanings, including “fiery and bright” and it’s also part of the phrase “que sera, sera,” meaning “whatever will be, will be” in Spanish.

The menu is influenced by diverse Mediterranean flavors while incorporating locally sourced ingredients. It’s designed to transport guests to the Mediterranean coast — dishes highlight fresh seafood, seasonal ingredients and housemade pastas.

We got a first taste of SERA during a media preview in April and returned once the restaurant officially launched at the end of May.

For diners who loved MARA’s menu — here’s some good news. Some of the most popular dishes from MARA Restaurant & Bar are still on the menu, including the popular tasting trio ($35), which is one of my favorite dishes. It’s a combo of hummus, tzatziki and burrata, served with hearth-baked pita. The creamy burrata is my go-to, but the flavorful hummus with crispy chickpeas on top is a must-try.

The Kefalograviera cheese saganaki ($24) — known for its impressive presentation on a sizzling skillet — is another dish that remains on the menu. It’s served with seasonal vegetables, but the hot cheese skillet — boasting a golden-brown exterior and molten, melting interior — is the star of the show.

The grilled Spanish octopus ($33) with ‘nduja, gigande beans and gremolata continues to be a customer favorite. The octopus is flavorful, not too rubbery, and there's an ample amount of it to share. 

Choose from salads like Caesar ($22), Greek salad ($20) and beet and citrus ($28). I love a traditional Caesar salad, and this new menu option — complete with Parmigiano-Reggiano, garlic breadcrumbs and boquerones (white anchovies) — doesn’t disappoint. We especially enjoyed the crunch from the breadcrumbs and the garlicky anchovy dressing. If you want something familiar from MARA’s previous menu, opt for the beet and citrus salad, a refreshing combo with chunky beets, creamy Di Stefano burrata and an aged balsamic drizzle.

Onto the entrée portion of the menu — seafood, pastas and meats. The biggest menu change would be in the seafood section; before, you could choose your preferred seafood and preparation. Now, the choices are more streamlined and feature dishes like whole Mediterranean branzino (market price), scallops ($44), seafood paella ($76) and whole Kona kampachi (market price).

We recommend the Kona kampachi (market price) if you’re sharing dinner family-style. The fish is served on a skillet with salsa verde and a charred lemon. We’re told Kona kampachi was on the eatery’s previous menu, but now, it’s a whole size with garlic butter poured on. During the time of our visit, the market price is $90.

These scallops come with sweet potato hummus and bok choy ($44). They’re plump, juicy and a nice option if you’re looking for something lighter as your entrée.

The seafood paella ($76) is one of the newer dishes with Mediterranean flair. It includes monchong, shrimp, mussels, clam and saffron. The saffron flavor is prevalent — as it should be in a paella — and this dish is sure to please seafood fanatics.

Spaghetti and meatballs might seem basic, but this combo is anything but. The meatball is love at first bite. It’s a savory mix of veal, pork and beef that’s full of moisture, so you won’t have to worry about it being dry.

The porcini rubbed prime rib is one of SERA's new entrees and comes highly recommended by our server. It’s served with natural jus and horseradish crème. It’s a huge portion, ideal for sharing among a group. The meat itself is tender, but the umami dry rub will keep you coming back for more.

New side dishes include creamy potato puree with a poached egg on top ($22) and asparagus with olive tapenade and lemon ($15). The potato puree is video-worthy because of the poached egg on top.

The dessert menu is also revamped, but it still includes one of my favorite dishes — housemade Greek yogurt ($6). You can get it plain, or choose between two topping combos — baklava and honey, or sour cherry, olive oil and sea salt. While the latter is a more unique combo, you can’t go wrong with flaky pieces of baklava. This Greek yogurt isn’t super tart, and the honey drizzle gives it a sweeter aftertaste.

Other dessert options include a rotating lineup of sorbets, pavlova with yuzu strawberry meringue, cheese kunefe with kataifi and orange blossom syrup, and budino. The latter is a new dessert, featuring a rich, chocolate pudding with whipped cream and cacao nibs on top.

Bonus: SERA is currently offering free valet for restaurant customers, so parking just got that much easier.

Sera appetizer spread 061025

<title>SERA is Honolulu’s newest Mediterranean restaurant</title>

The new eatery from DB Restaurant Group took the place of MARA Restaurant & Bar, and specializes in coastal Mediterranean cuisine.

SERA is Honolulu’s newest Mediterranean restaurant

Lopaka and Tanya Kapanui

Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya Kapanui

Hawaii History

Columnists

Honolulu has undergone enormous changes since Hawaiians first inhabited these islands. Long before buildings and high-rises lined the waterfront, before the time of Kamehameha, the area was known as Kou. Though modern development has drastically changed the landscape, this relatively small area still carries a long, rich history with many notable spots that still contain the mana, the spiritual energy, of the past.

One of these spots is Ulakua, where ki‘i, the images of gods, were made. Aside from just using stone tools to carve a sacred item out of wood, numerous prayers and ceremonies under the strictest kapu were involved when creating a ki‘i, and only high-ranking kahuna were allowed to create the images that were made to represent the gods and the embodiment of their powers. The mana of these rituals seeped deep into the land itself, leaving a spiritual imprint that, some say, remains even now. A place where sacred rituals once called ancient gods into the physical world may not easily forget what it once was.

This place was at the foot of what is now Richards Street when the shore was further inland than where it is now. Today, upon that spot of land is the King David Kalākaua Building, where the Downtown Post Office sits.

Formerly known as the U.S. Post Office, Customhouse, and Courthouse, the structure was completed in 1922 and was commonly referred to as “the Federal Building.” From the very beginning, reports of unexplained activity began to circulate.

The most famous haunting is that of Benedict L. Westkaemper, the disgraced Superintendent of Mail. By all accounts, Westkaemper was a quiet, hardworking man who was so dedicated to his job that, when he disappointed his boss and was left humiliated, he only knew one way out. Barely a month after taking his own life, a postal worker said he saw the ghost of Westkaemper in the basement supply room. The belief was rampant in the federal building that Westkaemper was back, watching the postal supplies to ensure there was no waste or misuse.

Staff spoke in hushed tones about strange noises and cold drafts in rooms with no windows. Lights flickered without cause, and mail carts seemed to move on their own. Though subtle, the incidents added up. Some believe these occurrences are tied not to the building’s federal past but to something older, something deeply rooted in the ground beneath it.

The most recent haunted account came from a retired postal worker who spent decades in the building. He recalled when a paranormal investigation team from Japan received special permission to explore the post office after hours. The crew arrived with various electronic monitoring equipment in tow. The postal worker had asked earlier if he could quietly observe their process. They’d agreed, and he stayed nearby.

They set up cameras, recorders, and meters to document whatever they might encounter. But suddenly, nothing worked.

Every device they brought, from video cameras to audio recorders, failed without explanation. Batteries drained instantly, lights flickered, and gear shut down moments after powering on. After trying time and again without success to get started, they finally sent someone out to buy disposable film cameras—the kind you wind by hand and drop off for developing. Each of the six team members received one. Oddly, the retiree said, even those didn’t work.

After taking a photo, the film advance dials jammed. One by one, the cameras froze up. The team made it as far as the alcove near the elevator to the upper floor before they gave up for the night. As the team began to leave the alcove, he witnessed something he still can’t explain.

“One of the guys got yanked back,” he said. “On his heels… like something invisible had grabbed him.”

The man struggled to stay upright. When they got him into the light, a bruise had already begun to form around his neck. It was not like a rope mark, exactly. The retiree described it as looking like coarse coconut fiber, dark and rough.

The team left soon after, empty-handed. They hadn’t captured a single image or recording.

[{"type":"text","text":"“Maybe,” the postal worker said, “they weren’t supposed to.”"}]

Downtown Post Office 2025

<title>More than mail at this post office</title>

Does the spirit of a postmaster still haunt these halls?

ASD Staff

Today's social media find comes from kenekethegreat, tunneling his way to laughter.

Pali Tunnel i Stock 182908571 16x9

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Pork over the Pali

Today's social media find comes from jensonkona, who keeps on truckin'.

Firefly funny illustration of a monster truck in a tropical paradise 185070 Large

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: TACOMA FIGHT!

Today's social media find comes from waikikipd, on how to get the truth out of some low-life.

Firefly the word Pow in comic book 539230 Large

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Classic interrogation technique

This kitty loves to lounge and play with toys and his "chosen people," which you, too, could be!

6 12 2025 Reggie

Adopt-a-Pet June 12, 2025: Reggie, the 'comical goofball'

According to the Maui Humane Society, "He's a 4-year-old boy with a big heart and an even bigger love for toys, treats, and cuddles."

Daily Features - Thursday, 12 June

Pet of the Day: Reggie, the 'comical goofball'

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Pork over the Pali

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Pork over the Pali