Hawai'i Skies

My Favorite Local Saying

Cartoons

Daily Smile

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

Adopt a Pet

Daily Features

ASD icon blue inverse lighter

ASD Staff

Golden retriever and baby have a cry-off...

Smile 26 5 29

Daily Smile: Friday, May 29, 2026

Smile 26 5 28

Daily Smile: Thursday, May 28, 2026

This is Watson. His family threw him a surprise 9th birthday party. Invited all his stuffed friends and everything......

Smile 26 5 27

Daily Smile: Wednesday, May 27, 2026

"He found a tree branch. He thinks it belongs in the living room..."

Smile 26 5 26

Daily Smile: Tuesday, May 26, 2026

There are two types of people in the morning...

Smile 26 5 25

Daily Smile: Monday, May 25, 2026

Smile 26 5 24

Daily Smile: Sunday, May 24, 2026

Let's throw a Corgi into the mix and compare and contrast...

Smile 26 5 23

Daily Smile: Saturday, May 23, 2026

Smile 26 5 22

Daily Smile: Friday, May 22, 2026

Legend says they’re still looking for the ball...

Smile 26 5 21

Daily Smile: Thursday, May 21, 2026

Letters to the Editor

We respect the history of Kakaʻako and the cultural significance of the ʻāina, and we recognize the importance of treating this place, its history, and the people connected to it with care and respect.

That said, we were disappointed to see Waterfront Plaza in "

" portrayed in a manner that, in our view, does not fairly reflect the property, the people who work here, or the experience of the many tenants, visitors, and staff who have been part of this community over the years.

The article blends historical information with personal recollections, folklore, and a number of second- and third-hand accounts. We understand that stories about unusual experiences across Kaka'ako have circulated over the years, and we respect that individuals may have their own experiences and beliefs. However, there is an important distinction between documented history and personal accounts, hearsay, or folklore that has been passed from one person to another. Presenting those accounts together can leave readers with the impression that stories and personal recollections are established facts.

Waterfront Plaza is a place where people work, conduct business, visit, gather, and build community every day. Our tenants and their employees work hard to serve the public, and our staff work diligently to maintain a safe, welcoming, and professionally managed property. That part of the story deserves to be recognized as well.

We also believe that discussions about Kakaʻako should be approached with cultural awareness and respect for Hawaiian history and values. The history of the ʻāina, including the presence of iwi kūpuna and the traditional places associated with this area, deserves thoughtful and respectful treatment. That history carries a significance that goes far beyond the stories of the unexplained.

We are not interested in dismissing anyone’s personal experience, nor are we seeking to tell people what they should or should not believe. We simply believe readers deserve clarity about what is documented history, what is personal recollection, and what is folklore passed from one person to another.

Most importantly, we remain focused on our kuleana to the people who use and care for Waterfront Plaza every day — our tenants, their employees, our visitors, and our staff. We are proud of the work they do and of the community they have built here. 

I have personally had the privilege of working at Waterfront Plaza for 18 years. In that time, I witnessed firsthand the care, pride, aloha, and genuine commitment our staff bring to this place every day. I have seen the countless ways our team works to make sure our tenants, visitors, and guests feel welcomed, supported, and taken care of. There is another story here — one of people who care deeply about this property and the community that calls it home.

We hope that future coverage of Waterfront Plaza will reflect that same level of care, accuracy, balance, and respect.

It is unfortunate that, despite the meaningful work this property and our team do in the community, we find ourselves responding every few years to reporting that does not reflect the full story of who we are and what we contribute.

For example, our team has proudly participated in the Special Olympics for 17 years. More importantly than simply raising funds, we have helped build awareness, provide support, and champion an incredible organization and the athletes it serves. We have also hosted the Foodbank’s Fight for Hunger for more than 11 years, raising funds and awareness to help address hunger in our community.

Countless members of our management team have also served on various nonprofit boards and supported organizations throughout our community. We have worked with Voyager Public Schools in a number of ways, including fundraising and other initiatives that support its students and educational mission.

We also host an annual community cleanup and now partner with SALT to continue that effort each year, along with many other events and initiatives that bring people together and give back to our community.

These are the stories we believe are also part of Waterfront Plaza — stories of service, partnership, generosity, and people who genuinely care about making a positive difference in our community. 

Steven Sullivan, Asset Manager at The Shidler Group for Waterfront Plaza

Waterfront Plaza Rainbow Large

<title>Waterfront Plaza responds to "What Haunts Waterfront Plaza"</title>

Waterfront Plaza responds to "What Haunts Waterfront Plaza"

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

Widely regarded as the best shooter in the history of the sport, Golden State Warriors star guard Steph Curry has drained an NBA record 4,248 career 3-pointers, making his shots behind the arc at an efficient 42.2% clip. His career free throw percentage of 91.2 is also the highest in league history. 

Curry, 38, took home NBA MVP honors in 2015 and 2016. He has spent his entire career with the Warriors, winning four rings with the franchise that took him seventh overall in the 2009 NBA Draft. A two-year, $116 million extension he agreed to on Sept. 25 will take him through the 2028-2029 season, which will be his 20th season. 

Ahead of Year 18, Curry and the Warriors are stationed at BYU-Hawai‘i's Cannon Activities Center for training camp ahead of the upcoming 2026-2027 season. After a full week of practice, the Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers will meet for an exhibition game at the Stan Sheriff Center on Sunday, Oct. 1, at 1 p.m. 

During Golden State's first practice in the Islands on Tuesday, hundreds of fans lined up outside the team bus at BYU-Hawai‘i, many in Curry jerseys, hopeful to get a glimpse at the global hoops icon. 

Curry is certainly aware of the influence he has on fans worldwide, and he doesn't want to disappoint them. Two years ago, the Warriors held camp on the North Shore and also played an exhibition game at the Stan Sheriff Center. Curry mentioned wanting to hit a 3-pointer in front of Hawai‘i fans to show his appreciation. 

In the exhibition on Oct. 5, 2024, the most prolific shooter the game has ever seen went 0-for-4 in 14 minutes played. It's a fact he was reminded of after Tuesday's practice. Come Sunday, Curry hopes to make amends by doing what he does best. 

"I only played the first half, and I was out there chucking," Curry said. "I'll try to make up for it on Sunday. It's a cool vibe. We're here for a week, we get to play in front of a different fanbase, different arena and we appreciate the love we get out here for sure."

After Sunday's exhibition, the Warriors will return to the Bay Area and play an additional five preseason games. The 82-game regular season begins with a contest against the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 21. 

The trip to the North Shore for a handful of days is a welcome reprieve for a team that won't have much downtime once the grind of the regular season gets underway in a few weeks. 

"We're locked in on basketball all day, and practice is pretty much over. I want all the guys to do whatever they want. Have fun, go to the beach, play some golf. I believe that finding that balance is just fine. This is not the 1950s," Warriors head coach Steve Kerr says. "The North Shore is beautiful. It's kind of, for me, like old school Hawai‘i. I've got a bunch of incredible surfing photos in my hotel room, and I'm a bad surfer myself, but I do like to surf. It's wonderful. Hospitality everywhere we go. People are treating us so well. It's a wonderful place for us to visit."

Across town, the Clippers are holding training camp at UH-Mānoa's Gym II, the upstairs gym frequented by both University of Hawai‘i basketball teams in their own practices. In September, the Clippers were fined $30 million by the NBA and stripped of five first-round draft picks after an investigation found that the team circumvented salary cap rules by paying additional money to star forward Kawhi Leonard through falsified endorsement deals organized by the franchise. Team owner Steve Ballmer was also suspended for one year. 

Days after the NBA revealed their findings and handed down its ruling on the Clippers, Leonard was officially traded to the Toronto Raptors, marking a new era for the franchise as it headed to the Islands for camp. 

"I think our season is going to be surprising to a lot of people," Clippers guard Darius Garland said following the team's first practice in Mānoa. "I think we have a good chemistry so far. We haven't even hit the season yet, so I think that's going to take a little bit since everybody's been in the gym for at least two, three months now. We've been around each other, got the camaraderie going. ... We got a lot of competitors. We got a lot of dogs in this team that can really go."

The Clippers, who will be the de facto home team on Sunday, are also involved in a number of community activations in an effort to grow their Hawai‘i fanbase, including a team visit to a 

Kaiser Permanente clinic on the weekend. Throughout the week, members of the team also participated in a 

"Waking up, seeing the water in the morning, seeing the people here that are excited to have us, it's been a nice change of pace," Clippers guard Max Strus said. "It's beautiful out here, and I'm just excited to get it underway."

Steph Curry 100126

<title>Steph Curry vows to let it fly for Hawai‘i fans in Sunday exhibition</title>

Curry, the NBA's all-time 3-point leader, hopes to make his signature shot in front of the Islandsʻ supporters.

Steph Curry vows to let it fly for Hawai‘i fans in Sunday exhibition

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Crime & Courts

The woman charged with murder after allegedly fatally shooting a man in Kailua last weekend was turned in by her father the day of the event, according to a Honolulu police report.

Hilinaikailimakualopali Keeno, 24, was charged on Sept. 30 with second-degree murder, carrying a firearm in the commission of a felony and improperly keeping a pistol or revolver. She is being held pending a $1 million bail.

An HPD document — which was submitted on Tuesday, Sept. 29, to the Honolulu Circuit Court to establish probable cause to detain Keeno without a warrant — states that Keeno’s father brought her to the Kailua Police Station less than an hour after 

was declared dead of a gunshot wound to the neck in the Kailua Target parking lot.

The report states that HPD special duty officers, who were working security at the Kailua Fall Festival that day, were called to assist with a group of festivalgoers involved in an argument at about 8:26 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26.

Officers escorted the group out of the festival and watched them head toward the Target parking lot, only to hear another altercation begin among the group minutes later.

During this new altercation, a pop resembling a gunshot was heard, and officers saw two men — one of whom was Keeno’s brother — assaulting a third. Both assailants were placed under arrest for disorderly conduct, while officers discovered Malone on the ground, covered in blood.

[{"type":"text","text":"Malone was declared dead at the scene by 8:43 p.m."}]

At 9:39 p.m., Keeno was brought to the Kailua Police Station by her father, who told police she was involved in the incident and wanted to provide a statement in the presence of her attorney.

According to the HPD report, no interview was conducted with Keeno that night. Subsequently, HPD sought photographs and videos from the public to help piece together the event and identify the shooter.

On Sept. 28, another witness identified Keeno as the shooter, and HPD confirmed that Keeno has one firearm registered in her name, a Sig Sauer P365 handgun.

[{"type":"text","text":"Following this, Keeno was placed under arrest."}]

Keeno’s preliminary hearing, when she will plead guilty or not guilty to the charges, will take place Monday, Oct. 5. She remains in custody.

Hpd 16x9

<title>Woman charged in Kailua shooting turned in by father</title>

Hilinakailimakualopali Keeno faces a $1 million bail for a second-degree murder charge.

Woman charged in Kailua shooting turned in by father

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

The 11 months since Diana Birkett Rakow has taken the controls at Hawaiian Airlines has been full of change for the carrier.

Formerly the senior vice president of public affairs and sustainability at Alaska Airlines, she was 

 of Hawaiian in September 2025 and stepped into the role on Oct. 29, 2025.

Her appointment came nearly two years after 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 

As she approaches the one-year mark in the role, Birkett Rakow says that one of the biggest challenges has been “just navigating through the volume of change.”

“The flip side of that is that I think people have, certainly our teams have, just navigated through a lot of change with a ton of resilience and grace,” she told Aloha State Daily during a recent interview at Hawaiian Airlines' Honolulu headquarters. “And I appreciate our guests going on that journey with us and it’s really satisfying to get to a place where there is more seamlessness in the experience; there is more stability. It’s a dynamic industry and a dynamic world, so there’s always going to be continued change, but we have the opportunity now with the full-value proposition after our reservation systems came together, full-value proposition for our guests to really make sure that people understand that, appreciate it and are bringing more of their travel into our ecosystem.”

[{"type":"text","text":"In the last year:"}]

Birkett Rakow started in the CEO role the same day that Alaska Airlines received a 

 from the Federal Aviation Administration, a major milestone in the efforts to integrate the operations of the two airlines.

 called Atmos Rewards weeks before she stepped into the role, another milestone in the combination).

At the start of the 2026, Hawaiian Airlines and state officials announced the 

, which includes investments of more than $600 million over five years “to modernize airport spaces, aircraft cabins and technology for both guests and employees, expanding loyalty benefits for Hawai‘i residents and continuing our deep investment in community and sustainability statewide,” Birkett Rakow said at that time.

launched a unified Alaska Hawaiian mobile app

transitioned to a single passenger service system

 on April 22. Hawaiian also joined oneworld alliance, a global airline network that 

In March, Chef Dell Valdez was tapped as Hawaiian's new executive chef, bringing his "modern interpretation of Hawaiʻi’s diverse culinary identity to the airline’s First Class dining program while continuing to oversee the airline’s Featured Chef Series," an 

The airline also did away with complimentary meals in the main cabin of most domestic flights this summer, instead 

 with a menu curated by Maui-based chef Sheldon Simeon.

unveiled plans 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, the announcement says. The updates are part of the Kahu‘ewai investment plan.

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 notes.

In addition to the recent changes, Birkett Rakow says that particularly stormy year — with the Kona Low storms in March and a hurricane season that has brought storm-related damage and destruction to the Islands — has also been a challenge, not only for the airline, but for the community and the tourism industry.

“The flip side of that is it prompts good conversations about how do we continue to make this industry as resilient as it needs to be to power local jobs in the economy and support broader economic diversification and community," she says.

 serves as the central reservation technology that connects the digital tools and programs used by guests and employees, was one of four major integration milestones that also included the launch of 

 from the Federal Aviation Administration; and joint collective bargaining agreements for the airlines’ various unions.

“From a guest perspective, that was really the big unlock for people to experience us as one airline with two strong brands and a combined loyalty program,” Birkett Rakow says. “The integration went really smoothly and it’s been sort of great to hear people’s relief that they don’t have two confirmation codes; the system works really well.”

The combined labor contacts is the remaining key milestone in the Hawaiian and Alaska combination, she says, noting that’s “more of an employee-facing milestone, but it is one that we’re working toward with negotiations with all of our labor groups.”

Diana birkett rakow 100126

<title>Nearly a year into the role, Hawaiian Airlines CEO talks challenges, changes</title>

The 11 months since Diana Birkett Rakow has taken the helm of Hawaiian Airlines has been full of change for the carrier.

Nearly a year into the role, Hawaiian Airlines CEO talks challenges, changes

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

’s newest location near the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa opened today. This store marks the 

; it’s on the corner of University Avenue and Dole Street.

The University store — which is about 2,300 square feet — is CU Hawai

i’s second-largest location (behind its 

). The University store will be open daily from 6 a.m. to midnight.

Similar to the Downtown Honolulu store, the University store will feature CU Hawai

i’s ramyun library wall with in-store cookers, exclusive Korean and local snacks, customizable drinks, popular onigiri, and more.

i’s signature DIY smoothie machine and slushy machine. Smoothies come in flavors like strawberry banana, mixed berry, acai and mango banana kale. 

The University store will also feature new, exclusive products that aren’t offered in other CU Hawaiʻi stores, including CU Hawai

i socks and other merch, BTS figurines and Kendama.

To celebrate the University store’s opening, customers can enjoy free onigiri, sandwiches and product giveaways from Oct. 1 to 7. Prizes include CU goodie bags with treats, limited-edition collectible CU characters and more. For examples, customers with student ID can get free onigiri tomorrow, Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (or until sold out). On Saturday, Oct. 3, customers will receive a free CU goody bag with any purchase. From Oct. 1 to 7, customers can take advantage of a BOGO musubi offer (buy one, get one free).

[{"type":"text","text":"All giveaways are while supplies last (limit one free item per purchase)."}]

Customers can also take advantage of month-long specials at this location, including $1.99 triangle gimbap and $4.99 katsu sando with fountain drink (or ice cup) combo.

[{"type":"text","text":"Limited customer parking is available at this location."}]

CU Hawaii University blessing 100126

<title>CU Hawaiʻi opens new store by UH Mānoa</title>

The new store — on the corner of University Avenue and Dole Street — is the brand’s fifth location in Hawaiʻi. The University store is CU Hawaiʻi’s second-largest location; to celebrate its opening, customers can look forward to free onigiri, sandwiches and product giveaways from Oct. 1 to 7.

CU Hawaiʻi opens new store by UH Mānoa

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.