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ASD Staff

Now let's all enjoy the automatic dog ball launcher...

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Daily Smile: Tuesday, June 16, 2026

This is Copo. He firmly believes this cow statue is his new best friend...

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Daily Smile: Monday, June 15, 2026

You can't go wrong with puppies and a baby...

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Daily Smile: Sunday, June 14, 2026

Now, let's all enjoy a hamster enjoying an omelette...

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Daily Smile: Saturday, June 13, 2026

This dog had to make the hardest decision of his life...

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Daily Smile: Friday, June 12, 2026

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Daily Smile: Thursday, June 11, 2026

We apologize. There has been a delay in your delivery...

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Daily Smile: Wednesday, June 10, 2026

Now, let's all enjoy passengers' reactions to Uber driver who brought dog along for ride...

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Daily Smile: Tuesday, June 9, 2026

That squirrel knows a thing or two about this dogs inability to make a tight turn...

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Daily Smile: Monday, June 8, 2026

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Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

, is now open to the public. The Pinehopple Room is located on the second floor, directly above the Kaka

The space was previously home to the HI Brau Room, Aloha Beer Co.’s speakeasy that the biz operated primarily as a private event space.

“We always loved the room and felt like it had so much character,” says Candice Ishikawa, Aloha Beer Co.’s head of marketing and brand. “People who discovered it seemed to immediately fall in love with it, and we saw an opportunity to reimagine the space as something more distinctly connected to Aloha Beer and to Hawaiʻi, while opening it back up for more people to enjoy.”

Ishikawa explains that The Pinehopple Room concept came from the idea of taking the creativity and craft that goes into brewing beer and applying that same spirit to cocktails and hospitality.

“We wanted to create an intimate, upscale lounge that still felt unmistakably part of Aloha Beer, while offering a different side of Aloha Beer from the casual beer garden downstairs,” she says. “The name ‘Pinehopple’ comes from our logo icon and is a play on pineapple and hops, bringing together something immediately evocative of Hawaiʻi, with our roots as a brewery.”

[{"type":"text","text":"The venue’s name impacted its décor and ultimate vibe."}]

“We didn’t want to lose the darker, intimate character that made the original space special, so we built it with a vintage Hawaiʻi-inspired aesthetic, adding tropical botanicals, greenery, warm lighting and other details that make the room feel lush and inviting,” Ishikawa says.

She says The Pinehopple Room’s beverage program is where “the concept comes to life.” The drinks were inspired by the golden age of Hawaii cocktail culture, but the team wanted to bring its own unique twist to the beverages.

“We kept coming back to the idea that classic Hawaiʻi cocktails deserve to be remembered, not simply replicated,” Ishikawa says. “We’re taking those flavors and traditions, and reinterpreting them through fresh ingredients, thoughtful technique and our perspective as a craft brewery.”

So far, popular cocktails include the tropical itch ($18), Molokai fogcutter ($16) and paradise of the Pacific ($21). The tropical itch is made with 

bourbon, rum, orange curaçao, lilikoʻi, pineapple and a dark rum float; the Molokai fogcutter features aged and white rums, pineapple, lilikoʻi, lemon and orgeat; and paradise of the Pacific includes aged rum, tamarind, pineapple and hibiscus grenadine, according to Ishikawa.

Customers can also enjoy a scorpion bowl for two ($38), which is served in a vintage-inspired fish bowl. The drink is designed to be shared and also doubles as a fun centerpiece for the table, according to Ishikawa.

She also explains that The Pinehopple Room team is excited to offer a series of guided spirit flights.

“Guests can explore bourbon, Scotch, international whiskies, agave spirits, and Caribbean rum or Hawaiʻi-made rum, with a guided tasting sheet that provides some background and context for each pour without making the experience feel overly formal,” she says.

Customers can also enjoy light bites that pair naturally with the cocktails. Highlights include Pinehopple sashimi trio (market price) — served with a lilikoʻi-wasabi glaze — Pinehopple shrimp cocktail ($12), spinach dip salmon belly bites ($18), Cuban sliders ($13), paprika chicken pops ($18) and a salami caprese flatbread ($15).

“On the food side, we wanted dishes that were easy to share and felt at home alongside the cocktail program,” Ishikawa says.

The Cuban sliders feature brioche buns stuffed with mayo-mustard, ham, kalua pork, Swiss cheese, pickled cucumbers and cilantro-orange sauce. The paprika chicken pops comprises chicken drummettes in paprika batter, served with blue cheese honey-Red Zeppelin buffalo sauce and celery curls. So far, the chicken pops, spinach dip salmon belly bites and sliders have been customer favorites.

Ishikawa explains that The Pinehopple Room team has been excited to welcome guests and have them experience “the way different kinds of craft come together in one space.”

“Pinehopple is also about the experience around what’s in the glass,” she says. “There’s a sense of nostalgia and vintage Hawaiʻi hospitality without trying to recreate a specific era. We want it to feel special, but never overly formal — a place where people can slow down, connect and stay awhile.”

The Pinehopple Room is currently open from 5 to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The lounge does not have a formal reservation system set up and is primarily open for walk-ins, but if a customer calls ahead, the venue can hold a table for them, according to Ishikawa.

“Aloha Beer has always been about creating places for people to gather, and Pinehopple gives us a new way to do that,” Ishikawa says. “Someone can have a beer in the beer garden downstairs, then head upstairs for a cocktail or whiskey flight and feel like they’ve stepped into an entirely different experience without ever leaving Aloha Beer. We’ve loved this room for a long time, and we’re excited to finally open the doors and share it with more people.”

The Pinehopple Room decor 092826

<title>The Pinehopple Room is a new upstairs lounge in Kakaʻako</title>

Located upstairs from Aloha Beer Co. on Queen Street, The Pinehopple Room — previously home to the HI Brau Room speakeasy — recently opened to the public. The upscale lounge features a vintage Hawaiʻi-inspired aesthetic, along with classic Hawaiʻi cocktails with a modern twist.

The Pinehopple Room is a new upstairs lounge in Kakaʻako

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Michael Brestovansky

Crime & Courts

The Washington man charged with throwing a rock at a Hawaiian monk seal earlier this year can travel somewhat more freely now.

 in May with violating the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act by allegedly hurling a rock at an endangered monk seal on a Maui beach, narrowly missing the animal’s head.

Lytvynchuk was released on a $25,000 bond with several conditions in May. Those conditions restricted his travel to only the Western District of Washington — which covers Washington west of the Cascade Mountains — and O‘ahu, although he was only permitted to travel to the island for court purposes, and was prohibited from accessing any beaches while in the state.

However, at a status conference last week — at which Lytvynchuk was not physically present — Lytvynchuk’s travel restrictions were loosened to allow for work-related travel within Washington.

An agreement signed by Magistrate Judge Rom Trader now allows Lytvynchuk to travel within the full state of Washington. While he is only allowed to travel to O‘ahu for court purposes, with any travel to the island to be approved in advance by the court’s probation office, the restrictions do not mention any requirement to avoid beaches or marine animals.

While the status conference also established a trial date of Nov. 16, Lytvynchuk’s attorneys filed a motion Monday requesting that date be postponed to an unspecified date in 2027 for multiple reasons.

In particular, Lytvynchuk’s attorney’s are seeking to subpoena evidence from Delta Airlines — the airline he used to travel from Seattle to Maui — about whether the airline made any announcements or advisories regarding Hawaiian monk seals, endangered species or any prohibited actions on Lytvynchuk’s flight.

In addition, Lytvynchuk’s attorneys have outstanding requests with the state Attorney General, Department of Land and Natural Resources, the U.S. Department of Justice and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration regarding records of previous Hawaiian monk seal-related investigations.

Those records are intended to investigate “whether similarly situated persons accused of comparable conduct involving Hawaiian monk seals were treated differently from [Lytvynchuk]” and whether any differences in treatment indicate that Lytvynchuk’s right to equal protection is begin impeded, according to the motion filed Monday.

In any case, the subpoena and outstanding records requests are unlikely to be resolved in time for a November trial date, hence the request for a postponement.

Whether that request is granted will be determined at a hearing on Oct. 13. Lytvynchuk will also not appear in person at that hearing.

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<title>Travel restrictions eased for man accused of throwing rock at monk seal</title>

Igor Lytvynchuk can travel throughout Washington state again, although is still barred from Hawai‘i save for court business.

Travel restrictions eased for man accused of throwing rock at monk seal

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A. Kam Napier

Columnists

Government & Politics

Aloha State Daily received a press release today from a Mainland-based national interest group, U.S. Term Limits (USTL), letting us know that “2026 Hawai‘i state senate candidate, Wallyn Christian (District 13) has committed support for term limits on Congress by signing the term limits convention pledge.”

Why does this matter to that organization? “(USTL, the leader in the national, non-partisan movement to limit terms for elected officials, is gathering support from state lawmakers across the nation,” the statement says. “Its mission is to get 34 states to apply for an amendment proposal convention specific to term limits on Congress.”

Term-limiting Congress is a popular idea, and USTL cites a 

 that, “An overwhelming majority of adults (87%) favor limiting the number of terms that members of Congress are allowed to serve. This includes a majority 56% who strongly favor this proposal, just 12% are opposed.”

The idea emerges often for local politicians, as well. Civil Beat has found public support for term limits to be as high as 70% in a 2018 poll of likely voters, a stat Honolulu Civil Beat resurfaced 

 of the lawmakers themselves to see where they stand on the idea of limiting their own time in office. “Nearly half of House members and more than a third of senators say they support term limits. There are enough undecideds in both chambers to give it a good shot if they held their position for two years,” CB found.

Respectfully, all of these people are wrong. Well intentioned, but they're aiming term limits at the wrong people.

I mean, I totally understand where the frustration is coming from. We elect people, nationally and locally, then are disappointed in their results. We could end their terms ourselves by simply not reelecting these people and yet obviously a lot of the people who say they want term limits do something very odd: They seem to reelect the lousy politicians they say they want to term limit.

You want to limit someone’s term? You’re just a month away from your next opportunity to vote for someone else!

So we’ve always had the power to fire politicians with every election, but don’t, then remain convinced that what we need is more turnover in government to make it more efficient, effective and responsive. Somebodies’ terms need limiting, but who?

Easy: The workforce. The bureaucrats. See, I want term limits, too, but I want them on the people staffing all the departments and agencies that we’re perpetually frustrated with. 

Consider, to cite just one example, how many different mayors you’ve seen over the past 20 or 30 years promise to reform the departments of planning and permitting in each county. The mayors have term limits. They come and go. Have any of them succeeded at this reform?

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi has done more than any predecessor but there’s a long way still to go.

How many Hawai‘i governors — term-limited governors — have promised Hawai‘i a public education second to none? Which of them succeeded? Who is still in place, immune to reform?

What happens in real life is, candidates make bold promises of reform, we elect them, then they announce bold plans for reform and those plans run headfirst into a culture of unfirable civil servants shielded by union protections. These folks don’t even have to noisily and aggressively oppose the reform, all they have to do is … not do it. And wait. Four years later, or eight years later, their antagonist is gone, the staff remains, with its culture of job security over excellence safely intact.

[{"type":"text","text":"We, the taxpayers and voters, then sit around wondering what happened."}]

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Two Hawai‘i’s"}]

What’s happened is simple: Since statehood, Hawai‘i’s people have steadily split into two camps, those who work for government and everybody else. The appeal of Government Hawai‘i is the security and benefits — lifelong employment, if you want it, totally protected from market forces and competition, with solid benefits like healthcare and retirement, paid for by the rest of us in Real Hawai‘i.

If you think the security and the bennies of government jobs are a trade-off to compensate for low pay, guess again. Government Hawai‘i earns more than Real Hawai‘i.

The annual average wage of a non-government job in Hawai‘i is 

 from the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

The average annual wage in state government? 

What does Real Hawai‘i get in return? One of the highest tax burdens in America for one thing, and then very little to brag about in high-quality government service. (

I would say that that two Hawai‘i’s have hardened into opposing camps, except that’s not exactly true. Government Hawai‘i drives an Us vs Them dynamic, that was never clearer to me than it was during Covid, when Government Hawai‘i showed us that it will shut the rest of down for years at a time given the slightest opportunity. It will also protect itself first, at the expense of the public is supposedly serves, as we see in the lingering effects of the schools closing for so long. That policy made no one safer, but it did mess up the kids. (And have you noticed ever since then, Government Hawai‘i takes the day off for even bad weather like it never did before, while the rest of us soldier on with our work?)

Out here in Real Hawai‘i, we grumble but otherwise settle for apathy (i.e., low voter turnout) or outright flight to states where it feels like a good life is more possible. I don’t know who Government Hawai‘i is going to tax when the last of us moves to Vegas.

With all that in mind, term limits on government service seem like the one revolution we haven’t tried, haven’t even discussed, but should. Say 10, 15 years max, total lifetime employment in government at any level. We want people to stay long enough to learn the ropes and finish things they’ve started, not so long that they just settle in and kill time until retirement.

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

Breaks up all the pockets of resistance to change. Turnover would occur systemwide, one person at a time, as they age out. Reformers at the top have a chance building support in the workforce among newer staff.

[{"type":"text","text":"Brings in new people and new ideas in government at every level."}]

Opens up more opportunities for Government Hawai‘i and Real Hawai‘i to trade places and live in each other’s worlds. This may be the biggest upside — more of us would get a chance to feel like we had a chance to change the system from the inside and deliver the service we’ve always wanted, while more of them would be forced to realize that Real Hawai‘i is something more than subjects to be ruled and tax cows to be milked.

Forces a revolution in how government hires. Using Mayor Blangiardi again as an example, he’s talked about how it took people six months on average to get hired by the City & County of Honolulu when he assumed office. 

, he had cut that down to three months. Compared to the speed at which the private sector can hire, that’s still an eternity, and that would have to change immediately to deal with the kind of turnover we need.

(To be fair, government is not alone on this front. In my decade at Pacific Business News, I heard executives at Hawai‘i’s larger companies talk endlessly about a labor shortage. At the same time, I knew plenty of talented people who could not land great jobs. Something is seriously broken in the hiring process, and I suspect HR, especially using automated keyword-based filters on resumes, is to blame. Make Direct Hiring by Managers Great Again!)

Loss of expertise, I suppose, but we’ve seen what the accumulated expertise gets us: A chief elections officer who thought a lauhala basket suited the dignity of a Hawai‘i electoral tie-breaker and ended getting his office sued — successfully — and 

. Scott Nago has worked at the Office of Election for nearly 26 years, almost 17 of those years as its chief election officer. As Civil Beat 

, it’s just about the only place he has ever worked in his life. Well, in the private sector, you can lose your job for bungling things so badly you get sued. Under my plan, the private sector is where he would’ve been sent years ago. Had someone else, perhaps with a wider range of life experience, been at the helm, maybe that person would've made better decisions.

[{"type":"text","text":"So, OK, there are no downsides."}]

Term limits on government service. If you like this idea, spread the word. We’d be moving a mountain to make it happen. But that’s got to be better than carrying the mountain of Government Hawai‘i on our shoulders forever.

A. Kam Napier is editor in chief of Aloha State Daily. His opinions in Pipikaula Corner are his own and not reflective of the ASD team.

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People take time out of their lives to participate in the democratic process by testifying before committee hearings. Too often, the committee isn't there.

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Pipikaula Corner: Invisible Legislators

It's not getting much media attention, but the private diaries of Dr. Anthony Fauci have been published online by Sen. Rand Paul in advance of his hearings this week into Fauci and Covid-19. What they reveal across thousands of pages is man in love with the adulation he received, who privately knew that many of things he said publicly about the pandemic were wild exaggerations.

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Pipikaula Corner: Fauci revealed as fear-mongering, fame-loving fraud

<title>Pipikaula Corner: Limiting the wrong terms</title>

It's an election year, and some people are running on the popular idea that legislators and Congress should have term limits to prevent lifers from working the system. ASD Editor in Chief A. Kam Napier argues this is a great idea, with the wrong target. What if it's actually the government workforce itself that needs a term limit?

Pipikaula Corner: Limiting the wrong terms

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

Hawai‘i entrepreneurs will soon take the center stage as part of the Mana Up Showcase 2026.

 and Brittany Heyd, helps Hawai‘i companies expand within the state and globally through a six-month accelerator and alumni program that offers workshops, mentorship and sales opportunities, resources and more.

 from across the Islands was announced this summer. Just 11 businesses were selected from a record 256 applicants this year and they'll be introduced during a television broadcast and livestream that premiers on Sunday Oct. 18.

An in-person marketplace will follow from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at Bloomingdale’s in Ala Moana Center, although early access tickets can get you in a half-hour earlier. You can 

More than 65 Mana Up alumni and current cohort companies are expected to participate, a recent announcement noted. An Artists to Watch concert and official Showcase afterparty will follow at Mai Tai's Ala Moana.

"The Showcase is the culmination of the Mana Up accelerator experience," James told Aloha State Daily in an emailed response to questions. "Throughout the program, our entrepreneurs work to refine their brands, strengthen their businesses and prepare for their next stage of growth. Showcase gives them a platform to share that work — and their stories — with people across Hawaiʻi and around the world.

"It is also about highlighting the incredible talent we have here in Hawaiʻi," she continued. "We have best-in-the-world products and entrepreneurs, and we want more people to know about them, celebrate their successes and recognize their global potential. For the cohort, Showcase is both a celebration of how far they have come and a launchpad for what comes next."

The Mana Up Showcase Broadcast premiers at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, on Hawai‘i News Now (KHNL) and will air again at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23 and 30 on K5; and 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25 on KHNL.

Joining James as co-host of the broadcast this year is Honolulu-born singer and actress 

, the daughter of Hawai‘i entertainer Don Ho. Hoku is known for the songs "Another Dumb Blonde," featured in the film "Snow Day," and "

," which is used in the opening of "Legally Blonde."

"We are thrilled to have Hoku join me as a co-host this year," James says. "She brings such warmth, energy and authenticity to Showcase, along with a natural ability to connect with people.

"We wanted a co-host who has deep roots in Hawaiʻi, understands the power of storytelling and can help us share these entrepreneurs with audiences here and beyond the Islands. Hoku was a natural fit," she continued. "As an artist, she understands what it means to represent Hawaiʻi on a larger stage, and she brings so much heart to the experience. I am excited for audiences to see what we have created together."

According to the announcement, for the first time, Showcase will extend through October with online flash sales, product previews, limited releases, giveaways and chances to meet the entrepreneurs behind the brands.

"When we support Hawaiʻi’s entrepreneurs, we are investing in a more diverse and resilient economy for our state," James says. "These companies create jobs, keep more dollars circulating within our communities and share authentic stories about Hawaiʻi through products that can reach customers around the world."

One of the biggest challenges for any growing company is visibility, she told ASD.

"Showcase introduces our entrepreneurs to consumers, retailers, media, investors and potential partners," James continued. "Someone may discover a product, connect with a founder, share their story or create a new business opportunity. A single connection can lead to a wholesale account, collaboration, media story or loyal new customer.

"The event also gives our community a meaningful way to participate in their success. Every purchase, introduction and social share helps a local entrepreneur continue building a company here in Hawaiʻi."

According to James, more than 2,000 people are expected to attend the in-person marketplace and celebration Nov. 5 at Bloomingdale's, but the Oct. 18 television broadcast and global livestream via YouTube means people around the world "can meet this year's cohort, hear their stories and support local from wherever they are."

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"This year's cohort includes:"}]

Mana up showcase 2025

<title>Mana Up showcase will highlight Hawai‘i entrepreneurs</title>

Eleven businesses selected to be part of Mana Up's Cohort 11 will be introduced during a television broadcast and livestream that premiers on Sunday Oct. 18. An in-person marketplace will follow from Nov. 5 at Bloomingdale’s in Ala Moana Center.

Mana Up showcase will highlight Hawai‘i entrepreneurs

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Aloha Spirit

Spectrum News Hawaiʻi, a regional digital and streaming news platform managed by Charter Communications, has laid off “a few” positions, Spectrum Networks told Aloha State Daily Thursday, July 30, by email.

However, local employee Mike Tsai told ASD over the weekend via email that "

the entire five-person Spectrum News team 

— were given a few weeks notice ahead of their termination this month. "

We were told news operations will continue at a later date under a new delivery format but, for now, there is no working local news staff," the newsroom staffer wrote, adding that a fourth reporter recently left and was not replaced. 

The Hawaiʻi news division launched in fall of 2021 with six local journalists, among other nationwide staff, to cover “hyper-local” community news, politics, sports, weather, and more, 

. A quick glance at its site last week showed 

 about the Islands went up two days ago, now about a week ago. As of Monday, Aug. 3, no local journalists were listed at Spectrum News Hawaiʻi.

ASD also confirmed last week that Spectrum/Charter Communications was not required to file any WARN notices in Hawaiʻi for recent layoffs at its local newsroom and corporate offices. In total, the company employs approximately 1,000 staff members in Hawai‘i.

On Wednesday, July 29, Spectrum News Hawaiʻi Digital Journalist Brian McInnis took to X to share a post reflecting on a near 20-year career reporting on sports and other happenings in the Islands.

“My 5-year team at Spectrum News was sadly recently eliminated,” McInnis wrote in the X post. Heartfelt aloha and mahalo for reading. ... Here’s to what’s next.”

Prior to Spectrum News, McInnis worked at Pacific Business News and the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. He was recognized Wednesday night by the the Hawai‘i Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists for his coverage 

on the second anniversary of the August 2023 Lahaina wildfires

, which garnered Spectrum News Hawaiʻi first place in Online News Reporting in the Internet division for 2025. Sarah Yamanaka won second place in Online News Reporting for arts and entertainment writing in 2025, according to 

a LinkedIn post by executive producer Nuy Cho

Over the years, the Spectrum News Hawaiʻi team — which locally includes Tsai, McInnis, Yamanaka and Cho along with digital producer Lianne Bidal Thompson and digital reporter Michelle Broder Van Dyke — has won multiple awards for their work. 

A Spectrum spokesperson added that there are more updates coming on the news side. The company operates more than 30 physical and digital newsrooms across the country.

As for the Spectrum store near Mililani Tech Park and corporate offices in Mililani Town, less than 10 people were recently impacted, per the company. 

“We’ve made some structural changes that streamlines our organization to be more effective and efficient. No customer facing roles have been impacted,” a Spectrum spokesperson said.

Charter Communications manages all operations and financial revenue for Spectrum News as “a single consolidated business segment under Spectrum Networks,” 

Yahoo finance article from earlier this month

, Spectrum is currently battling “mounting customer losses in its cable TV and internet business” across the country following increased monthly prices for such services. In a 

, Charter said that Spectrum Internet customers declined by 120,000 and it lost 60,000 video customers in Q1. 

“As Charter works to reverse Spectrum's customer losses, it continues to cut jobs, with its latest round affecting hundreds of employees,” Yahoo finance reported at the time.

Charter Communications has recently issued WARN notices in 

, resulting in the layoff of hundreds of Spectrum employees, according to other media outlets.

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<title>UPDATED: Spectrum, Charter Communications lay off several local employees</title>

Spectrum’s local news division has recently laid off all of its journalists, per an employee, in addition to fewer than 10 employees at the Spectrum Store near Mililani Tech Park and neighboring corporate call center facility, officials with the company recently told Aloha State Daily.