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ASD Staff

Two dogs letting each other know they aren't a threat...

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Daily Smile: Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026

This is Hunter. He came very close to having an entire thought. Ended up being a false alarm...

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Daily Smile: Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026

This is a very fast tater tot. Please stay out of the way as he clearly has places to be...

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Daily Smile: Friday, Aug. 7, 2026

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Daily Smile: Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026

If there were ever a time to bet the mortgage on a dog, this is it...

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Daily Smile: Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026

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Daily Smile: Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026

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Daily Smile: Monday, Aug. 3, 2026

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Daily Smile: Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026

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Daily Smile: Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026

WEB square crop Hayley Lehman Headshot RGZ1636

Haley Lehman

Government & Politics

Aloha Spirit

 knocked out power for hundreds of thousands of Hawaiʻi residents, food banks and hunger-relief partners across Hawaiʻi stepped in to provide food. 

doubled its monthly average of food distributions in the wake of hurricanes Lala, Lowell, and Nolo over the past couple of months, the nonprofit's CEO and president Amy Miller told Aloha State Daily last week. Headquartered in Honolulu, the organization normally distributes between 200,000 to 225,000 pounds of food per month on Kauaʻi — and in September alone, distribution jumped to 619,578 pounds of food. On Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Foodbank distributed 4.4 million pounds of food in August and September.

Ahead of the storms, Hawaiʻi Foodbank sent seven shipping containers of Survivor Daily Rations, 24-hour emergency meal kits that do not require refrigeration, to Hawaiʻi Island, two to Maui and one to Molokai, according to Miller.

On Oʻahu, power outages hit residents the hardest, Miller said, noting that the City and County of Honolulu provided $200,000 to Hawaiʻi Foodbank in August to help source and transport food for distribution on Oʻahu after Hurricane Lala.

“So many of our households are already food insecure or just on the brink," she said. "Losing a full fridge of food is not something many families can weather."

Miller said that the food bank worked to distribute nonperishable food in the immediate aftermath of the storm and later dispersed items like bread, milk, eggs and produce to restock fridges.

For Hurricane Lowell, which struck Kauaʻi on Sept. 7-8, she added that it was “really scary” because it knocked out electricity to approximately 91% of the island, leaving residents unable to purchase food and gasoline.

“We had no power at our warehouse, and if we hadn’t got it back on the day that we did, we risked not being able to power our pallet jacks or forklift,” Miller said.

Hawaiʻi Foodbank works with more than 250 hunger-relief partners and serves more than 160,000 people each month on Oʻahu and Kauaʻi, according to its website.

Leelen Park, communications and public relations director for

on Hawaiʻi Island, told ASD that the food bank distributed nearly 1 million pounds of food in August. The food bank regularly serves about 60,000 people per month, and the emergency response to Hurricane Lala reached more than 30,000 people.

“With this storm, the majority of our island lost power and it really highlighted how fragile our infrastructure can be in the wake of a storm,” Park said.

For Park, Hurricane Lala showcased the devastation that a storm could cause, and gave people a better understanding of the need to prepare for future storms, like Hurricane Nolo at the time.

When Park directed traffic in front of their warehouse prior to Hurricane Nolo, he saw families who were scared and needed to prepare.

“Us being out there really gave them hope,” he said.

while the food bank typically distributes about 550,000 pounds of food per month, the organization distributed more than 600,000 pounds of food per month 

to residents on Maui, Molokai and Lānaʻi

n July, August and September of this year.

Saragosa said that there is a stigma against receiving help, but that help is for everyone.

“One of the contributing factors to the need following disasters as opposed to blue skies is there’s incredible food loss," she noted.

and helicopters flew in water and supplies, she recalled, 

 volunteered to deliver food. After Hāna Highway was cleared, additional teams from the food bank worked collaboratively to deliver fresh food and disaster supplies.

“It was a kākoʻo effort,” she said. “The need grows but so does our response, not just from us but the community.”

Maui Food Bank relies on local farmers, or the 

 for produce, Saragosa described. If farmers have a surplus, such as when restaurants or hotels close during and after storms, the organization will purchases the surplus.

“Maui Food Bank has stepped in multiple times during those situations to make sure they can still sell their produce, and [so] they don’t have to lose out financially,” she said.

Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center

 Waiʻanae District Comprehensive Health and Hospital Board Inc. 

partners with Hawaiʻi Foodbank and local farms. The organization hosts five weekly kūpuna pantries and distributes emergency food after power outages and storms.

Cassidy Keola, director of community impact and engagement at ʻElepaio Social Services, told ASD that ʻElepaio distributed about 337,000 pounds of food to more than 2,900 households over seven emergency food distributions following Hurricanes Lala and Lowell.

“People are super grateful and appreciative [of] these food distributions,” Keola said. “It’s definitely a community-led effort. A lot of the people that are coming through these lines; they’re our families, they’re our neighbors, they’re our aunties and uncles.”

Alicia Higa serves as executive director of the nonprofit, whose mission is "to 

strengthen West Oʻahu ʻohana through Indigenous food sovereignty and access to origin-story foods — restoring people's relationship with ʻāina and food, nourishing families and cultivating community resilience for generations to come." 

Food-relief organizations prepare for the future

Hawaiʻi Foodbank is already bolstering its supplies and coordinating with local farmers to prepare for future storms. 

Miller told ASD that it can take food one to three weeks to reach Hawaiʻi from the Mainland depending on where it’s coming from, highlighting “how vulnerable we are in the middle of the ocean.”

One concern for the food bank now is for the economic aftermath of the storms. 

published in September from the Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, found that total spending by visitors declined by 9.7% in August compared to August 2025, and the number of visitors dropped by 5.6%. 

With tourism down, people may lose their jobs which could impact the nonprofit's housing and power, per Miller.

Park noted that as the cost of living increases in the state, Hawaiʻi Food Basket more frequently hears of families choosing between paying for gas, food or medical expenses.

“This storm exacerbates all of that,” he said. “Almost half our island is food insecure, so having storms hit us makes matters a lot worse.”

Saragosa sees hope existing alongside anxiety when natural disasters reach the Islands.

For instance, Maui Food Bank set up a direct service market where Lahaina residents could choose what food they needed following the 2023 Maui wildfires. Saragosa said she saw families come together, talk story and heal. The market is still running today, and she calls it a “beacon of hope” for the Lahaina community.

“There’s a lot of fear about what’s coming next, what’s the next disaster, can I afford food, but there’s also a lot of hope,” she said, noting the food bank's role as the lead for food relief in partnership with local government, including Maui County Emergency Management Agency (MEMA).

“We’re going to bring this disaster hui together before the disaster happens,” she said.

Maui Food Bank is also visiting rural communities on Molokai and Hāna to examine their infrastructure and logistics, and prepare for future storms.

“We have to prepare now before it happens,” Saragosa said. “Because disaster doesn’t discriminate, neither should help."

Elepaio Social Services

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

The nonprofit's president and CEO shares more about the operations and ongoing partnerships at the food bank with warehouses, staff and support on both Oʻahu and Kauaʻi. Her top priority is to expand the organization’s mission of nourishing ʻohana and ending hunger.

Amy Miller 01

Amy Miller reflects on five years at Hawaiʻi Foodbank

The nonprofit's new "grocery-style food pantry on wheels" will bring food to rural and underserved communities across the Garden Island.

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Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i goes mobile

<title>ʻDisaster doesn't discriminate': Emergency food distributions increase due to storms</title>

Food banks across the Islands significantly grew distributions in the wake of Hurricane Lala, Hurricane Lowell, Tropical Storm Moke and Hurricane Nolo over past months. Aloha State Daily talks with local food banks and community-led organizations seeking solutions for food insecurity in the future with the help of statewide government agencies, local farmers and producers, and volunteers.

ʻDisaster doesn't discriminate': Emergency food distributions increase due to storms

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

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

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

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Rick Hamada

[{"type":"text","text":"Hawai‘i’s tourism industry is in trouble. "}]

Now, this is not breaking news. We have encounted over generations the apparent demise of our No. 1 economic engine. Time after time, we have emerged, at times even stronger, and business would continue, even flourish. 

However, our dependence on one industry would also continue. The exposure would continue. And our vulnerabilities would become more pronounced promoting uncertainty, anxiety and, yes, economic failures. 

I am not a tourism expert. I worked in the tourism industry when I was a younger and more adventurous man and I have been blessed to have hosted national and international tours with listenters 20-plus times over the years. But I do have eyes and I do have a degree of expectation and perspective when it comes to travelling and touring. I am sure you do to so instead of asking the “experts” I am asking you. 

[{"type":"text","text":"Why is Hawai‘i tourism in trouble? "}]

We first have to understand that our tourism is a product in the open market. Tourism is one of the most competative industries anywhere. Our product is the unique experience of Hawaiian culture and beauty in the Pacific. When selling a product, one of the most important aspects to a customer is value. 

When you’re considering a family vacation what is likely first on the list? You would think that it’s destination but leading the charge is price. Cost. Cash. Budget. Now, you may say it is destination first but I maintain that cost that is often the final deciding factor. 

OK, yes, some tourists don’t care about the cost. I want to go to Paris and I’m going. I want to go to Australia and I’m going. I want to go to Boise and I’m going. Well, two out of three and you get the picture. This percentile of traveler is comparatively low.

From the purveyor's perspective you base your business on one of two premises. 

One, you rely on volume. Your pricing and inventory determine profitability. I need to sell a thousand widgets a day at X amount of dollars, that covers my hard cost and what remains is profit. You don’t care who buys. As long as a thousand are sold, you’re good. 

Two, you rely on premium pricing to attract a specific demographic. You market your product as essential, desirable, exclusive, and assure the customer they will receive a premium return on their increased investment. It's not quantity, it's quality.

[{"type":"text","text":"There are some businesses that co-mingle these two different strategies."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"One that comes to mind is Macy's."}]

Macy's, especially here at home, has a certain cache, a reputation for upscale brands in virtually all they sell. Clothing and jewelry come to mind. But they are also known for their deeply discounted sale items. When the kids were young, we shopped at Macy's at Kāhala Mall for their clothing from infant to pre-teen years. It's not that we were loaded but the discounts on Polo, for example, were 30% to 50% off and more on some items. Cha-ching! 

[{"type":"text","text":"Hawai‘i marketed our tourism product in a similar way."}]

We would have travel organizations and agencies in the past that would market a discounted or budget experience in Hawai‘i. The state would rely upon great numbers of visitors to generate more of a volume-based revenue model. And it worked. For example, in 2019, we hosted about 10.4 million tourists. That's about 10 times the number of residents statewide. This number generated over $17.75 billion. From a marketing and sales perspective, this would define success.

[{"type":"text","text":"Then Covid hit."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Numbers plummeted, both in visitors and revenue."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"The industry and, well, life took a hit."}]

I'm in a fairly decent mood so I'm not going to continue down the Covid path. We all know because we all lived it.

[{"type":"text","text":"However, in the years to follow, recovery has been mixed."}]

The upside. Domestic travel increased dramatically. Many believe Hawai‘i is an exotic destination, albeit one safely within the United States.

The downside. International travel continues to produce flaccid numbers far below pre-pandemic times. 

According to a recent Civil Beat report, "there was once a time when about 1 in 4 tourists on Oʻahu was from Japan. In 2019, almost 1.5 million people — 24% of the total tourism traffic that year and more than any country outside the U.S. — came from the island nation. But that’s not the case anymore, according to data from the Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Over the last six years, the number of people traveling to Oʻahu from Japan dropped by roughly 50%. Last year, only about 1 in 8 tourists visiting the island was from Japan — a total of just over 715,000 people."

International tourists, especially Japanese, are the ideal customers. They spend more, they stay longer, and they'll come back. Unfortunately, that's not the case now.

"The number of foreign travelers coming to the Hawaiian islands crashed by 95%," Civil Beat reported, "falling from roughly 3 million in 2019 to just over 148,000 in 2021. The number of tourists from abroad remains about half of what it was before Covid-19. Visitors from countries including Korea, Canada and Australia still aren’t back to their pre-pandemic numbers."

[{"type":"text","text":"A post-COVID reality was the impact to locals after the pandemic."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Without tourists, we could again enjoy our home!"}]

Beaches were clear and open. Hiking trails were accessible. Locals reacquainted themselves with places like Waikīkī, the Ko'Olina lagoons, and tourist typical attractions. Once we got a taste of it, things changed. Overtourism was always a topic of discussion but this time it was more than just talk. Educational outreach to visitors on how to behave was implemented and the already-high rates for accommodations, car rentals and meals and restaurants went higher and higher. Interestingly, despite these changes, tourism numbers were holding steady for the first quarter of 2026.

[{"type":"text","text":"That swiftly changed."}]

Hawai‘i tourism is now having its worst year in recent memory, with storms, shorter stays, and higher costs worrying the industry. Residents and businesses have faced one severe weather event after another, and the tourism sector has taken a huge hit.

As a series of storms, powered by a strong El Niño, continued to skirt around the Islands, the number of visitors on any given day dropped dramatically. In March, the average daily visitor census was 

 compared with the year before. The decline widened to 

The state reported there was over $1 billion in damages suffered due to these storms. Coupled with the drop in tourism revenues the financial situation looks bleak.

I understand resiliency and that incredible quality which is found in our people, businesses and more.

[{"type":"text","text":"Yes, through time and incalculable efforts, we will overcome."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"But, at what price?"}]

I admire and commend the positivity held by those who were the most negatively affected by storms and more. You should be elevated, celebrated and advocated by all.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"italic"}],"text":" "}]