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ASD Staff

Competition over. Give him the gold medal...

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Daily Smile: Sunday, June 7, 2026

Now let's all enjoy a baby playing with a baby...

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Daily Smile: Saturday, June 6, 2026

Now, let's all enjoy watching the viewing of Lady & The Tramp...

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Daily Smile: Friday, June 5, 2026

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Daily Smile: Thursday, June 4, 2026

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Daily Smile: Wednesday, June 3, 2026

This is Edward. He was given 6 months to live after being found as a stray. His family was determined to give him the best few months possible, so they introduced him to the ice cream truck. That was 27 months ago.

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Daily Smile: Tuesday, June 2, 2026

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Daily Smile: Monday, June 1, 2026

This is Frank. He was getting checked out at the vet when he decided the appointment was over. Has things to do and places to be...

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Daily Smile: Sunday, May 31, 2026

This is Sadie. She's a service dog who was honored with her own bone diploma at her human's college graduation. Worked very hard in all her classes and is glad her efforts didn't go unnoticed...

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Daily Smile: Saturday, May 30, 2026

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John Pritchett

Government & Politics

Red wave

<title>Paddling to the future</title>

Paddling to the future

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Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

Interisland and international travelers flying on Hawaiian Airlines, take note: changes are coming.

Daily supplemental service between Honolulu and Kahului take flight Oct. 3 on Alaska Airlines-branded 737-800 aircraft, Hawaiian 

dditional Neighbor Island passenger and cargo capacity connecting the company’s two largest Hawaiʻi hubs while helping maintain the schedule, reliability and frequency that residents, visitors and businesses depend on every day," the post reads.

Alaska Air Group Inc. and Hawaiian Holdings Inc. 

 that Alaska Airlines would acquire Hawaiian Airlines in a deal that was valued at approximately $1.9 billion, including $900 million of Hawaiian’s net debt, according to an announcement at that time. The acquisition was 

 and efforts to combine the two airlines are still underway.

"Right now, just given where we are with integration, that airplane has to stay in the Alaska brand, but it really is to make sure that we're giving as much capacity and flight frequency as we need to for our guests," Hawaiian Airlines CEO 

Although you'll see the 737 on three Honolulu-Kahului roundtrips, Hawaiian's fleet of 717 aircraft will continue to serve all Neighbor Islands with some 140 daily flights, the airline says, but adds that Hawaiian is set to retire its 717 fleet in 2028 and transition to a "more modern, Hawaiian Airlines-branded 737 Neighbor Island service" that will feature premium interiors and free Starlink Wi-Fi.

Also beginning Oct. 3, Neighbor Island guests must check in online or via the Alaska Hawaiian app and drop off checked bags at least 50 minutes before departure — up from 30 minutes.

Nearly all Hawaiian Airlines Neighbor Island travelers already check in 50 minutes before departure, and the earlier check-in will help improve baggage handling and support on-time departures," Hawaiian said in the online announcement.

According to the airline, guests traveling to Kahului on 737 aircraft will continue to check bags at Terminal 1, Lobby 3, using self-service bag-tag stations, while guests traveling from Kahului to Honolulu on the aircraft should visit Alaska's counters for check-in services and bag drop.

Meanwhile, Hawaiian is set to combine check-in and bag drop for all international departures at Terminal 2, Lobby 4, beginning on Oct. 3.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"More changes on the horizon"}]

 to invest in the premium travel experience for both the Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines brands.

For Hawaiian, that means new interiors for its A330 widebody aircraft, a fleet of 24 that serves destinations in Asia, Oceania and select North America routes, a recent announcement from the airline noted. That work begins in 2028 and includes 22 Leihōkū Suites for travelers on international business class and domestic first-class flights, that announcement noted. The updates are part of Hawaiian’s $600 million Kahu’ewai Hawai’i Investment Plan, which was 

As part of broader investments in core guest experiences, Alaska Air Group also will introduce premium reserve, a new premium economy cabin that debuts in 2028 on Alaska's 787-9, 787-10 and select 737-10 MAX aircraft, and on Hawaiian’s A330 fleet, “providing guests with more room, comfort and choice on longer flights,” the announcement said.

FUSE B717 over clouds

<title>More changes ahead for Hawaiian Airlines' interisland, international travelers</title>

Daily supplemental service between Honolulu and Kahului take flight Oct. 3 on Alaska Airlines-branded 737-800 aircraft, among other changes.

More changes ahead for Hawaiian Airlines' interisland, international travelers

De Soto 2025

DeSoto Brown

Hawai‘i History

Columnists

Do you remember Ward Warehouse? It was something of a landmark in Kaka‘ako once, but after being demolished nearly 10 years ago it’s now on its way to being forgotten.

The Ward family is foundational to the history of Kaka‘ako. Back in the 19th century, the clan came to own a large tract of land stretching from their private home that was just across King Street from Thomas Square, all the way down to what is now Kewalo Basin. This ownership, of course, is the origin of the name Ward Avenue for the street that formed most of the boundary of the property on its ‘Ewa side.

By the middle of the 20th century, the Ward land contained a mix of private homes and a variety of business tenants. The family-owned corporation that managed the property, Victoria Ward Ltd., started taking small steps towards more lucrative tenants in the 1950s but ramped up its redevelopment goals in the early 1960s by constructing a series of modern, low-rise structures.

A major new commitment came in early 1974 with the start of construction of Ward Warehouse on a 4.1 acre site between Ala Moana Boulevard, Ward Avenue and Auahi Street. The location had some special considerations in that it was covered by two very different types of zoning: one was for retail while the other was strictly for wholesale and industrial uses. The latter category was slightly problematic for what was intended as, essentially, a shopping center open to the public, and initially required a careful selection of tenants.

Designed by architect Steve Au, Ward Warehouse had a notably 1970s appearance. The hippie movement in the USA by this time had popularized more earthy, natural materials, so the complex’s exteriors were dark-stained wood, inspired in particular by a trend-setting development called Sea Ranch in California from the late 1960s. The only outside decorations were sections of bold painted “supergraphics” in geometric patterns. Industrial elements were not covered up but were openly displayed; on the outside, pipes and fittings were painted in bright colors to show them off, along with some oversized machine parts that were installed purely as decor. Inside the rental spaces, high ceilings showed undisguised conduits, light fixtures and air-conditioning ducts. Floors were concrete and walls were mostly unpainted wood. The effect was “honesty” in materials vs shiny synthetic surfaces.

Ward Warehouse opened with 87 tenant spaces; some interiors had the potential for the construction of mezzanines. Parking on the ground level accommodated 250 vehicles while the four-level concrete garage had 400 more spots. A soft opening for some businesses took place in time for Christmas 1974. By April 1975 the complex was placing large display ads in the Honolulu newspapers.

Those who are old enough to have patronized Ward Warehouse will undoubtedly remember particular stores or restaurants they regularly visited. For many people, the Old Spaghetti Factory at the far ‘Ewa end, with its two-story interior spaces, was surely a favorite (it has since moved to Aloha Tower). Embellished by numerous antique light fixtures and other old-time props which the company had been able to accumulate when such items were mostly inexpensive salvage goods from the demolition of 80- or 90-year-old structures in the USA, the low-cost restaurant had a unique feeling in its diverse seating areas.

Of course many other businesses came and went through Ward Warehouse over the years. There was the Liquor Collection which was filled with limited-edition figural ceramic specialty bottles, stores just for outdoor furniture, kitchenware, and flags, and the Nohea Gallery for local artwork of all kinds.

Ward Warehouse was never intended to last throughout the ages. A 1969 newspaper article quoted a statement from Victoria Ward Ltd that said offices and high-rise structures were eventually planned along Ala Moana Boulevard. Closure of the shopping center came on July 31, 2017 followed by demolition that began in November.

Howard Hughes Corporation, by then the owner of the site, first announced that two “ultraluxury” towers would soon rise here, the Ward Village Gateway. One of these was to be the 

 with units offered for prices ranging from $1.3 million to $23 million; these were first put on sale in 2015. But in 2018 the entire project was dropped, even after Howard Hughes had spent $29 million on it, and 28 of the 125 apartments in the Cylinder had been sold. In 2019 Victoria Place was approved for construction on the Waikīkī end of the property. Next to it was the start of the new Victoria Ward Park which would eventually occupy what had been the center part of Ward Warehouse.

However, it wouldn’t be until 2025 that one of the familiar construction cranes would finally be erected on the rest of the former Ward Warehouse, signaling yet another of the Kaka‘ako condominiums to come: Kalae.

1 Ward ad 1 16x9

<title>Changing Kaka‘ako: Remembering Ward Warehouse</title>

Ward Warehouse was never meant to last — even the previous owners who built it, Victoria Ward Ltd, always intended for offices and high-rises to take its place. But it had a four-decade run from its 1975 opening to its 2017 demolition, featuring such businesses as Old Spaghetti Factory, Orson's, The Liquor Collection, Nohea Gallery and more. Here's a look back at the shopping center, including a glimpse of the neighborhood before Ward Warehouse came along and fishing, rather than shopping, was the area's industry.

Changing Kaka‘ako: Remembering Ward Warehouse

WEB square crop Hayley Lehman Headshot RGZ1636

Haley Lehman

Aloha Spirit

can now put food waste in their green compost carts after the City and County of Honolulu announced Tuesday that residential compost services will expand islandwide starting Oct. 1.

Here’s how it works: residents can include fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, bones, coffee grounds, eggs, eggshells, rice, bread, leftovers and spoiled food in their green compost carts. Bags are not allowed due to concerns about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (

freezing food scraps and waste until the night before or morning of collection day, 

layering food waste with green waste in the green cart, sprinkling baking soda or coffee grounds and keeping the lid closed to contain odors.

“Putting our food scraps and leftovers in our green carts is a simple step that we can all take to make a real and meaningful difference," Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said in a statement. "GROW (

) is an innovative program that just makes sense, and we are thrilled that our creative team at ENV (

 is bringing this wonderful idea to life.”

Hawaiian Earth Recycling was awarded the city contract to collect and process compost. According to the company's website, 

 is the largest producer of compost in Hawaiʻi and recycles more than 140,000 tons annually.

 $13.9 million toward green waste recycling services in 2026. 

Approximately 160,000 single-family homes are in the 

, according to ENV. Residents who are not in the three-cart curbside recycling program can drop off food scraps at the Hawaiian Earth Recycling facility in Wahiawā.

Henry Gabriel, recycling program branch chief for ENV, said in recent meetings with neighborhood boards that 

the GROW program aligns with the city’s goal of 95% landfill diversion by 2030.

2019 Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan Update

 is to “investigate the potential for different ways to process or collect food waste.” At the time, Cascadia Consulting Group found that paper, food waste, green waste, wood and plastic film and wrap made up 59.1% of the waste stream accepted by H-POWER and 

with food waste generating 20.1% of that waste.

The management plan also tied goals to the 

 to reduce waste by 70% by 2030 and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Environmental Protection Agency’s 

 of Oʻahu’s solid waste was diverted from the WGSL through its recycling and waste-to-energy programs in 2023. The ENV stated that food waste makes up 

 on Oʻahu each year, and Blangiardi said Tuesday that GROW could "reduce Oʻahu’s waste stream" by 20%.

ENV Deputy Director Daniel Brieck stated in the announcement: “Every pound of food scraps you include in your green compost cart is a pound that doesn’t end up in our landfill. Everything we compost instead of sending to H-POWER is a win because food scraps and wet materials rob energy from the burn process. Keeping them out of the waste stream helps H-POWER run more efficiently, and that benefits all of us.”

So far this year, ENV has launched the GROW program in April in Kailua, Hawaiʻi Kai, Mililani, Nānākuli, Waipahu and Kalihi.

In the six neighborhoods that piloted GROW over the last six months, about 15% of residents participated in the pilot, according to ENV Refuse Chief Josh Nagashima

Nagashima stated that “results from our pilot phase have been promising” with a “significant reduction in contamination so far.”

Darsha Lee, of Mililani, told Aloha State Daily that she has been putting food waste in the green bin when her own compost is too full.

“I think it’s a good program,” she said. “Our food waste is a huge thing and we shouldn’t be sending that to landfills.”

Donna Wong, of Kailua, said that she heard of the program at her neighborhood board meeting but never received additional information from the city. She did not participate in the compost program because she composts at home.

ʻi Kai, attended an informational meeting about the program and heard concerns about storing food waste.

I don’t have room in my freezer to store things,” he said. He added that the city didn’t clarify how the program would significantly reduce food waste in the landfill when food waste already decomposes.

GROW program

<title>City compost program grows islandwide</title>

Thousands of Oʻahu residents can now put food waste in their green compost carts, thanks to The City and County of Honolulu's expanded its GROW program.

City compost program grows islandwide

Real Estate

A former office building, located a short distance from Ala Moana Center, has been transformed — it now offers dozens of affordable rentals in Honolulu's urban core. 

JL Capital on Thursday celebrated the completion of Amana Lofts, an adaptive reuse project that turned what was once a five-story office building at 765 Amana St. into 64 affordable rentals. A dedication and blessing ceremony marked the end of the project.

The developer retained the building's existing concrete structure, but nearly everything else — including plumbing and electrical systems, windows, interior walls and finishes — were replaced or newly constructed, an announcement from JL Capital noted. 

BKF & Associates was the project architect and Island Structural Contracting was the general contractor.

Amana Lofts includes 32 studios, 20 one-bedroom and 12 two-bedroom residences, all of which are reserved for households earning up to 80% of the area median income. Income limits vary depending on household size; you can find the current income limits for the City and County of Honolulu 

Units span from 289 to 561 square feet, and include large windows, ceiling heights of more than 10 feet and appliances that include a refrigerator, range/oven, built-in microwave and garbage disposal, the announcement notes. Meanwhile, the building itself has a secured lobby, elevator, on-site laundry facilities, trash chutes on each floor, a bike rack and car share.

$1,875 to $2,014 for studios; $1,995 to $2,142 for one-bedroom residences; and $2,475 to $2,536 for two-bedroom residences, according to the announcement, which noted, too, that electricity, cable and internet are additional, and limited covered parking is available for rent.

“Amana Lofts demonstrates that there are creative ways to add housing in Honolulu without always starting from the ground up,” 

 said in the announcement. “We hope this project can serve as an example of how existing buildings can be reimagined to help address our community’s housing needs.”

According to the developer, affordable rental units will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Each application will be time-stamped when the developer or its agent receives the fully completed form. Applications will be reviewed for completeness and eligibility, and applications from qualified households will be submitted, in the order received, to the City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting for review and approval.

Lee told Aloha State Daily following the blessing ceremony Thursday that the company acquired the property in 2019 for close to $9 million with a conversion in mind.

"When we bought this property, it was always intended to do a conversion," he says. "Just given the location, we love the location, and we just saw a lot of potential in this property. So from the time we bought it, we always intended to turn this into [an] affordable rental project."

[{"type":"text","text":"Location is important."}]

“Where we build housing matters,” Lee said in the announcement. “Ala Moana is vibrant, accessible and connected. Creating affordable homes here gives residents the opportunity to live closer to jobs, transportation and the things they need every day. We believe that is an important part of addressing Honolulu’s housing needs.”

Lee told ASD that the total cost of the project, including the purchase price, was roughly $25 million.

JL Capital, a real estate and private equity firm founded in 2017, has completed or initiated a number of major projects in Honolulu's Ala Moana neighborhood and along the Kapi‘olani corridor in recent years.

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

Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa, a Marriott brand

 several other contiguous properties along Kapi‘olani Boulevard for a combined price of $36 million last fall.

Most recently, JL Capital announced that demolition preparation activities at the future site of its newest development, 

, located at 1538 Kapi‘olani Blvd., are expected to begin in October, following the relocation of Central Pacific Bank to the nearby Pan Am Building. 

The developers also have recently introduced new pricing on a number of residences. You can read 

The planned 39-story Muse Honolulu was designed by architecture firm Bohlin Cywinski Jackson and local partner Benjamin Woo Architects. 

Muse Honolulu will include 315 residences — a mix of penthouses, tower residences, urban lofts and two-story townhomes — and amenities across three levels.

Amana lofts studio 091026

<title>JL Capital completes Ala Moana affordable housing project</title>

Amana Lofts, an adaptive reuse project in Honolulu's urban core, has transformed a former five-story office building into 64 rental units.

JL Capital completes Ala Moana affordable housing project

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Jim Gurganious in Honolulu. "

This photo was taken from the ocean side of the Ala Wai Canal on Oct. 19, 2025, at 4:45 p.m. I found it striking because the rainbow's perfect emergence from the cloud line beautifully illustrates atmospheric moisture in action."

To submit your Hawai'i Skies photo, visit us 