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Cutting the cheese with a dog on my head...

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Daily Smile: Tuesday, July 7, 2026

The Miami Marlins are searching for the dog that went viral after watching another pup enjoy a hot dog during Monday’s game. The team has posted a "wanted" flyer and is promising the overlooked pooch a dream day at the ballpark.

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Daily Smile: Monday, July 6, 2026

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Daily Smile: Sunday, July 5, 2026

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Daily Smile: Saturday, July 4, 2026

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Daily Smile: Friday, July 3, 2026

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Daily Smile: Thursday, July 2, 2026

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Daily Smile: Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Now, let's all enjoy watching Bowser the Bulldog play with the door-stopper thing...

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Daily Smile: Tuesday, June 30, 2026

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Daily Smile: Monday, June 29, 2026

This is Penny. She found the perfect stick today and is determined to retrieve it. Hasn’t moved an inch so far, but her human didn't raise a quitter.

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Daily Smile: Sunday, June 28, 2026

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Daily Smile: Saturday, June 27, 2026

When you thought you were getting a smart German Shepherd but instead you got one with one brain cell...

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Daily Smile: Friday, June 26, 2026

When your jam comes on and everyone knows what's about to go down...

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Daily Smile: Thursday, June 25, 2026

Your history professor said no dogs allowed in the class….

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Daily Smile: Wednesday, June 24, 2026

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Daily Smile: Tuesday, June 23, 2026

On today's episode of "Fat and Jobless"...

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Daily Smile: Monday, June 22, 2026

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Daily Smile: Sunday, June 21, 2026

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Daily Smile: Saturday, June 20, 2026

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

On Monday, EA Sports College Football 27, the latest installment in EA Sports' college football video game franchise, was released on Monday. 

All 138 NCAA FBS teams are in the game, including the University of Hawai‘i. Real-life players featured in the game are compensated for the use of their name, image and likeness (NIL). Each player featured in the game will receive at least $1,500 and a copy of the game. 

In the University of Hawai‘i's case, not each player on the roster is featured in the game. For the second year in a row, none of UH's true freshmen are featured in the game's initial roster. Although Division I football teams are allowed to have up to 105 players, rosters in EA Sports College Football 27 are limited to 85. 

EA Sports previously divulged the highest-rated players on each team prior to the game's release. 

 and Elijah Palmer are both rated 85 overall, tied for the highest on Hawai‘i's roster. 

While Hawai‘i true freshmen aren't yet in the game, others from the Islands on Power Four rosters are. Michigan true freshman and Kamehameha alumnus 

 is rated a 79 overall, while USC linebacker and Kahuku graduate Talanoa Ili is rated a 75. 

For the second straight year, Oregon center and Farrington alum Iapani Laloulu is the highest rated player with Hawai‘i ties at 93 overall. Not far behind is USC quarterback and Pālolo native 

, who is rated a 92. Maiava also appears on the deluxe version cover, marking the first time a player from Hawai‘i has appeared on a cover of the game. 

As a team, Hawai‘i is rated 67 overall, with a 66 rating given to its offense and a 69 given to its defense. 

, released in July 2025. UH's highest-rated redshirt freshman in EA Sports College Football 27 is running back 

In lieu of real players, EA Sports has filled in some of the gaps with aliases for certain players. UH's highest rated kicker in the game is the fictitious Penei Letoa, rated a 67 overall.  

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Hawaii FB EACFP 27

<title>Hawai‘i football sold short again in latest EA Sports release</title>

EA Sports College Football 27 was released on Monday, the latest in an annual installment of college football video games.

Hawai‘i football sold short again in latest EA Sports release

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

Everyone’s looking to save money and get the most bang for their buck. This series will show you where you can save while still savoring a good meal.

A 12-ounce prime rib for $30 sounds too good to be true, but if you dine at 8 p.m. or later at 

The $30 prime rib entree is available for dine-in only starting at 8 p.m. from Sundays to Thursdays. It’s available from 8 to 9 p.m., or until sold out; we’re told sometimes it sells out in 15 minutes, as limited quantities are available.

The $30 prime rib was originally a chef special that was featured at the restaurant in April. It extended to May since it was a customer favorite, and it’s still available due to popular demand.

The entree features a 12-ounce herb-crusted prime rib that

s served with Maui green beans and garlic mashed potatoes. This special is for dine-in only; takeout is not available.

Customers can still order off the eatery’s regular menu and dessert menu during this time. Popular options include the mixed-to-order tableside poke, organic taro hummus, tako and country bread, and garlic roasted wild shrimp.

Bestselling desserts include the bread pudding ($14) — featuring Maui Gold pineapple, macadamia nuts, housemade salted caramel and housemade vanilla cream — and the Waialua chocolate purse ($14), which is served with coffee caramel and housemade vanilla ice cream.

Restaurant reservations are recommended via 

Prime rib deal available from 8 to 9 p.m. Sundays to Thursdays

Merrimans prime rib 062726

<title>Budget Bites: $30 prime rib deal at Merriman’s Honolulu</title>

This special entree is available starting at 8 p.m. for dine-in only on Sundays to Thursdays at the eatery. It features a 12-ounce, herb-crusted prime rib served with Maui green beans and garlic mashed potatoes.

Budget Bites: $30 prime rib deal at Merriman’s Honolulu

<title>Daily Smile: Monday, July 6, 2026</title>

De Soto 2025

DeSoto Brown

Hawai‘i History

Columnists

As Aloha Tower moved into the middle years of the 20th century, tourism was increasing, and it was recognized that future infrastructure improvements were going to be necessary. Although travelers arriving in Hawai‘i by ship were gradually diminishing while those arriving by air were increasing, discussions in 1958 determined that Honolulu's main docks needed major reconstruction. Piers 8 through 11, at the base of Aloha Tower, should have facilities for passengers moved to a second level while cargo handling should be confined to the ground floors of the wharves. 

Unfortunately, this assessment did not take into account two trends that were already identified at the time — jet planes would be starting service to Hawai‘i within a year or two, and ocean cargoes would soon be shifting exclusively to standardized shipping containers, which Matson had begun using this same year. The latter would eventually require all of Honolulu's cargo movements to be relocated to Sand Island.

So even as visitors were moving away from ship travel in favor of faster and cheaper jet airplanes, in June 1963 a bid of over $5 million was accepted for the revamp of the pier complex. On July 11, 1963 the work started, and in June 1964 a controversial elevated traffic ramp's construction began. This structure was to allow access by vehicles to and from the second-story passenger area that filled in the former open space between Piers 8, 9 and 10. The ramp was criticized for how it would block the view of the harbor when looking down Bishop Street, since to keep the degree of its rise gradual, it would have to extend from a base some distance away at Pier 6.

Even worse, to many people, was how the base of Aloha Tower was completely obscured by the new addition, which also left the ground level here perpetually in shadow. Regardless of complaints, the finished project was dedicated on March 29, 1965.

The anticipated need for accommodating increased ocean travelers at Aloha Tower turned out to be incorrect. Their numbers consistently decreased, and in 1970 Matson ended its once-famous passenger service completely, to focus exclusively on cargo transport from then on. The enlarged dock facilities were unused most of the time.

By 1981 came the start of Aloha Tower's next transformation, which truthfully is still going on today. But this process has been so complex and troubled that it's impossible to even attempt to recount it in any detail here. We'll just focus on what happened starting with the closure of the Tower and its docks on November 1, 1993 in preparation for demolition and then new construction. The overall plan for the area was a massive, multi-stage development, which would start with a "festival marketplace" of the type that had already been successful in other US cities like the first one at Fanueil Hall in Boston from 1976, or Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Planned to follow this at Honolulu Harbor would be an office building, a 350 unit condominium, a maritime-specific office structure, a 350 room hotel, a "historic park" and an elevated bridge over Nimitz Highway to Fort Street. Needless to say, none of the latter ever came into existence.

Starting off the redevelopment process was the tearing-down of everything that had been constructed in the 1960s, along with the pier structures at Docks 8 and 9. On July 14, 1994, Aloha Tower stood entirely by itself for the first time ever, with the two-story concrete & steel wharf buildings at its base entirely removed. This was seen as a very positive step in the anticipated creation of what was to become Aloha Tower Marketplace. Intense work was necessary to meet the opening date of November 19, 1994, when about 50,000 people came to see the new $100 million shopping center. Consisting of a very attractive group of two story buildings with open walkways between them, the mix of tenants included retail stores, bars, restaurants and an open area dedicated to kiosks and pushcarts, with total tenants planned to number 200. The unique, scenic setting and the substantial number of Honolulu residents and visitors as potential customers seemed to indicate a bright future.

Except...the bright future never happened. The immediate problem was parking, which was limited and expensive. The rejection of having to pay to leave your car someplace, when lots of other places fairly nearby were free, pretty much doomed the Aloha Tower Marketplace. Within a few weeks came the first worried complaints from tenants, particularly from the pushcart owners. By May 1995 the developer, Aloha Tower Associates, was in arrears to various unpaid vendors as well as to the State of Hawaii, its landlord.

For years afterwards, the marketplace limped along through bankruptcies, lawsuits, failed proposals for parking improvements, different owners and managers, and dwindling tenants. A few of the latter did well, but many failed.

Finally in 2011, Hawai‘i Pacific University — which occupied numerous rented spaces in multiple downtown buildings, mostly along Fort Street — purchased the lease to Aloha Tower Marketplace along with a commercial investor. The following year the complex was 70% vacant, and by 2013 HPU had bought out its partner and had full control. Thereafter the center was redeveloped into student housing and various other school uses.

A handful of commercial tenants are present today, but in February 2020 the last of the original businesses from the 1994 opening finally closed, which was the controversial Hooters bar and restaurant.

And so we conclude in 2026, Aloha Tower's 100th birthday, anticipating that discussions for the future of the tower and its surroundings will be ongoing indefinitely (perhaps), with probably few actual changes to take place. We can say with certainty that someday the Skyline elevated train will be traveling along nearby Nimitz Highway with a station at Bishop Street, but its effects cannot be anticipated, and if anything can be learned from history, it would be unwise to try to guess them in advance.

(For Part 1 of Aloha Tower at 100 Years, click 

1 Aloha Tower 60s 16x9

<title>Aloha Tower at 100 years old, Part 2: It seemed like a good idea at the time ...</title>

In the early 1960s, the State of Hawai‘i invested millions in harbor upgrades that included modernizing Aloha Tower as a terminal for passenger liners. But jet planes soon replaced passengers liners, rendering the terminal obsolete. In the 1990s, those structure were torn down to create Aloha Marketplace, a shopping and dining destination that would never draw the anticipated crowds. ASD history writer DeSoto Brown brings us to the present day as Aloha Tower celebrates its centennial.

Aloha Tower at 100 years old, Part 2: It seemed like a good idea at the time ...

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Viewpoints

Aloha Spirit

The debate between the spelling and pronunciation of Molokaʻi or Molokai (with or without the glottal stop, or ʻokina, between the “a” and “i”) has been ongoing for decades.

Shortly after Aloha State Daily launched in January 2025, we decided to use diacritics in our reporting and across our website, setting out to do so accurately and consistently. 

The house style agreed upon at the time was "Molokai," based on this article from 

We chose to use the ʻokina and kahakō because, one, because our Content Management System allowed for it (some donʻt). But mostly, to preserve the culture, history and meaning of the Native Hawaiian language, people and places we write about daily.

Among our earliest articles was ASD Reporter Stephanie Salmons' 

, a professor of Hawaiian language and Hawaiian studies at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, who is also known as “the godfather of the Hawaiian language revitalization movement” in the 1980s.

According to past reporting, Kimura also was a producer for Ka Leo Hawai‘i, a 

 show that ran from 1972 to 1988, where he interviewed native ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi speakers. Those recordings can be heard at Kaniʻāina (

). Naturally, he was one of our go-tos on the Molokai question.

“Those speakers, who were born and raised on Molokaʻi, all pronounced the name of their island as Molokaʻi with the ʻokina letter,” Kimura recently told ASD by email. “Also, all the Native Hawaiian speakers not from Molokaʻi who interacted in conversation with them pronounced Molokaʻi with the ʻokina. … It is too bad the missionary alphabet did not know how to deal with that phonetic letter for the Hawaiian spelling back then.” 

For Hawaiian references, our newsroom primarily uses this site, 

, or a physical copy of the revised Hawaiian Dictionary co-authored by Mary Kawena Puku’i and Samuel H. Elbert in 1961, along with the revised and expanded edition of “Place Names of Hawai’i” by Puku’i, Elbert and Esther T. Mookini.

Those resources list the island as “Molokaʻi,” the latter book defining it as being “38 miles long, 10 miles wide, 261 square-miles in area, and in 1970, a population of 5,261.” Today, its population is between 7,000 to 7,500 people, per the most recent census data.

Merriam-Webster cites the geographical name as "Molokai," varying as “Molokaʻi." 

 has entries both ways but lists “Molokaʻi” first and most often, followed by “Molokai,” citing the revised Hawaiian dictionary by Henry H. Parker from 1922.

Peter T. Young of local planning and consulting firm 

opined that this debate dates back to 1778 when Captain Cook visited the Hawaiian Islands and attempted to turn an oral language into a written one, using 

Morotoi, or Morokoi (Molokai). See how the early writers spelled and pronounced certain words 

What seems to be the biggest point of contention; however, is over its meaning.

Molokaʻi (pronunciation: Moh-loh-kah-ee) translates to twisting or turning (“mola”) leader (alakaʻi).

Molokai (pronunciation: Moh-loh-kye or (Moh-Kye) means “twisting waters (kai)” or "gathering of ocean waters.”

Molokai native Miki'ala Pescaia shared with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ Ka Wai Ola magazine in June 2021: “When you put them together, what makes more sense 

 ‘Moloka'i’, the twisting leader, or ‘Molokai’, the twisting ocean waters? The late Harriet Ne 

 a historian, hula master and one of my father's teachers 

 said it should be 'Molokai,' referring to the waterspouts often seen off the island. Old maps show spelling variations, including Molokai, Morotoi and Molotoi, but they all have three syllables, not four as there would be when you say those words with an 'okina."

Current KWO Editor Puanani Akamine told ASD, “At OHA, we use the ʻokina mainly because that is how it is spelled in UH Hilo's online Hawaiian dictionary, 

. My grandmother was from Molokaʻi and a native speaker. She always pronounced it with an ʻokina, so that is my personal default, as well.”

asked Hālawa Valley resident Anakala Pilipo Solatorio to share why he uses “Molokai,” which he learned from his grandparents and ʻohana from the island. In the interview he notes, “My kūpunahine Lilia Hale also told me the same thing and went on to say that ʻMoloka'iʻ would refer to ʻAlaka'i,ʻ the Hawaiian value of leadership, which would then change the meaning ... to ‘twisted leader.’”

One Oʻahu-based Hawaiian language teacher didn't want to go on record with their thoughts for fear of backlash from the community. Some of the folks we asked from the Friendly Isle sided with “Molokai.”

 Executive Director Alice J. Ka'ahanui told ASD, “Personally, I choose to use ʻMolokaiʻ without the ʻokina because I was born and raised on Molokai and that is the way I was taught by our kūpuna. (It almost sounds like there is an 'okina because the ‘ai’ sounds like ‘eye’ with a heavy accent on ‘i’)."

She added that during the mid-to-late ’80s, that generation of college students started learning to use the ʻokina.

“I remember one person saying they learned the term ʻMolokaiʻ was incorrect because they likened the twisting and turning in the ocean to the way a toilet bowl turns. That cast a negative view of the word, and thinking back was probably used to encourage more people to pronounce it with the ʻokina.” Ka'ahanui continued. “To me, Moloka‘i just became a more contemporary pronunciation.”

“I also remember someone saying that when Mary Kawena Pukui was working on the dictionary, she didn't ask someone from Molokai for the pronunciation. It was someone on Hawaiʻi island that gave her the pronunciation.”

Kumu Pa’a Nui Lawrence Kalainia Kamani Aki of 

 is a 50th generation Hawaiian cultural practitioner, who teaches online and in-person workshops on the island.

“I live by the oral teaching of Na Kūpuna O Hālawa Valley, Molokai,” she told ASD by email. “I understand the University of Hawaiʻi standardizing the language. I have heard all the points of views of the younger generation and Na Kūpuna agreeing with the University of Hawaiʻi due to their degrees they have received from these Western education institutions.”

, also from Hālawa Valley, said that the pronunciation is not as important as the meaning, which he acknowledged references the ocean currents surrounding the island's southern shores.

pronunciations are correct and depends on which ʻohana you are speaking with.

Keldin Calairo-Nakagawa, lead singer of Hawaiian-reggae group 

told ASD this week that he uses both and that either way works.

ASD ghost stories columnist Lopaka Kapanui

 weighed in, saying, “According to natives of the island, and our dear friend whose ʻohana is from there, it's ‘Molokai,’ or 'rolling waters due to the Ka'iwi channel.'

 from the Mary Kawena Pukui Cultural Preservation Society, his answer broadened to, “Guess it depends.”

While “guess it depends” seems like the best answer for colloquial conversations, as a news organization where words are the backbone of our business and meaning matters not only to us but our readers, our inclination is to stick with Molokai.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"What’s yours?"}]

Molokai map

<title>Molokaʻi or Molokai, and why? ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi speakers, community share manaʻo</title>

Aloha State Daily revisits the Molokaʻi or Molokai debate over the spelling and pronunciation of the place name — with or without an ʻokina — initially for our own house style guide used across the website. Here’s what we learned from community members statewide.

Molokaʻi or Molokai, and why? ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi speakers, community share manaʻo

The Polynesian Bowl, one of the top high school football all-star games in the country, is set to hold the game on a new O‘ahu location. 

The game has been held on an annual basis on O‘ahu since 2017, with the exception of 2021, which was called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Aloha Stadium was the site from 2017 to 2020, while Kamehameha's 

Kunuiakea Stadium hosted from 2022 to 2025. 

In 2026, the University of Hawai‘i's Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex will host the game for the first time. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 16. It will also once again be televised nationally on NFL Network. 

"It's really exciting, because this is the best roster we've ever had. It continually gets better when you watch NFL games on Sundays, and you see how many Polynesian Bowl alumni are actually playing in those games," Polynesian Bowl Director of Football Rich Miano told Aloha State Daily. "You start to realize this game, what its origins were and where it is now in terms of players, in terms of it being at (UH-Mānoa) with the best venue in the state of Hawai‘i, things continue to get bigger and better as we continue to do this thing."

Come Jan. 16, an action-packed day is promised on the UH-Mānoa campus. The No. 2 

 will play Rockhurst at 11 a.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center, followed by 

Roberts Wesleyan at 7 p.m. The Polynesian Bowl is sandwiched between the two matches at 4 p.m., making for a potentially hectic day on lower campus. 

Since its inception in 2017, the game has attracted the best players in the country. Although the selection committee prioritizes players with Polynesian descent, as well as 25 of the best high school football players in Hawai‘i, the rest of the roster is filled with the rest of the country's best players. 

Past rosters have featured future NFL standouts in 

, and Travis Hunter, who went on to win the Heisman Trophy in 2024. 

The 2026 Polynesian Bowl roster can be viewed 

After arriving on Sunday, players will spend the week on O‘ahu for a week of daily practices and activations that includes a tour of Pearl Harbor, an afternoon at the Polynesian Cultural Center, community service at Shriner's Children's hospital and free time at 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Polynesian Bowl showcase"}]

While the Polynesian Bowl game is reserved for the country's best players, other high schoolers in Hawai‘i will get an opportunity to showcase their talents. On Saturday, Jan. 10, the Polynesian Bowl showcase will be held at Punahou's Alexander Field. Offensive lineman and defensive lineman will compete from 2:30 to 4 p.m., while skill players will go from 4 to 6 p.m. The showcase is free for players from Hawai‘i in the Class of 2026 and 2027, and players will also receive a free T-shirt and lunch. Players can register for the showcase through their Hawai‘i high school head coaches. 

Coaches from the NCAA Division II and III level, as well as from the NAIA and junior college ranks are invited to attend. Expenses will be covered for coaches who are there to evaluate and potentially offer scholarships and financial aid to student-athletes. 