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Today's Hawai'i Skies was captured by ASD Reporter Christian Shimabuku in August at Kahuku. Shimabuku writes, "It was a great reminder that football is back and another reminder of how we’re #LuckyWeLiveHI."

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Hawaii Skies 004

<title>Hawai'i Skies: That pre-game glow</title>

Today's Hawai'i Skies was captured by ASD Reporter Christian Shimabuku in August at Kahuku. "It was a great reminder that football is back and another reminder of how we’re #LuckyWeLiveHI."

Hawai'i Skies: That pre-game glow

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Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

Crime & Courts

 an executive order aimed at improving traffic safety in a year rife with fatal car crashes.

On Friday, the Honolulu Police Department endorsed that order, issuing a statement declaring that the department "stands in strong support" for the governor's declaration.

“This executive order underscores what we’ve been saying for months: traffic safety is everyone’s kuleana,” said Interim Police Chief Rade Vanic in a statement. “Our officers are out every day engaging with the community and enforcing the law. We all share the road and the responsibility to keep it safe."

HPD reported that there have been 11 fatalities involving mopeds, e-bikes or motorbikes since January, 10 of which involved victims not wearing helmets. The department also reported issuing 2,188 citations to drivers using their cell phones while driving this year so far, an increase from the 2,090 issued in the same time period last year, and nearly 300 more citations for drivers not wearing seatbelts compared to last year as well.

On the other hand, HPD also reported far fewer speeding citations this year: 3,422 excessive speeding citations have been issued this year so far, compared to 4,125 in the same period of 2024.

The executive order advised the state Department of Transportation to develop several new policies, including new rules governing the use of e-bikes and, potentially, a tiered system making it more difficult for people with a history of dangerous driving to have their licenses removed.

The order also advised the DOT to investigate how to streamline the use of video footage submitted by the public to help investigate traffic incidents. HPD's statement on Friday advised residents that anyone with dash cam, cell phone or home security footage of a traffic incident is encouraged to share that footage with investigators, as they can provide critical leads, but those who do say may be required to verify their authenticity.

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<title>HPD endorses Green's traffic safety edict</title>

Governor's executive order long awaited by Honolulu law enforcement.

HPD endorses Green's traffic safety edict

U.S. Congress ended a busy week with a series of divisive energy proposals and a federal budget bill.

The Guaranteeing Reliability through the Interconnection of Dispatchable Power Act

, requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to update its approval process for grid connection requests for new power generation projects. Support for the measure was split along party lines, with Republicans touting it as a way to improve the reliability of the nation’s power grids, and Democrats decrying it as an attack on clean energy that makes it harder for green energy projects to be approved.

Bill passed the House 216-205. Hawai‘i Reps Jill Tokuda and Ed Case voted against.

The Promoting Cross-border Energy Infrastructure Act

 establishes a new process for approving or revoking permits to build and operate energy infrastructure across the U.S.-Canada or U.S.-Mexico borders.

This new process would only require people to obtain a certificate of crossing from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to develop oil- or natural-gas-related facilities, removing existing requirements for the U.S. State Department to sign off on such facilities. Wind or solar energy projects would still require State Department approval, leading again to opposition by Democrats, who argued that the bill is an effort to strangle clean energy efforts.

Republican supporters argued that the bill is needed to avoid situations like the Keystone X.L. pipeline, a proposed 327-mile transcontinental oil pipeline that President Donald Trump approved in 2017 but President Joe Biden shut down on his first day in office. Had there been fewer regulatory hurdles, supporters reasoned, construction could have started during Trump’s first term.

[{"type":"text","text":"Bill passed the House 224-203. Tokuda and Case voted against."}]

The National Coal Council Reestablishment Act

, as the name suggests, reestablishes the National Coal Council, a federal advisory committee that lapsed in 2021. However the bill also sets an exception that would make it impossible to lapse in the future: a requirement for federal advisory committees to be re-chartered every two years would not be applied to the Coal Council.

Democrats accused the bill of clearly and unfairly applying favoritism to coal companies. Republicans countered that coal is a reliable energy source necessary to maintain energy viability amid rising costs.

[{"type":"text","text":"Bill passed the House 217-209. Tokuda and Case voted against."}]

The Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act

 provides funds for various federal agencies and federal security details. Notable among its provisions are a series of cuts to healthcare spending, as outlined in Trump’s previous “Big Beautiful Bill,” which were the basis for Democrat opposition.

[{"type":"text","text":"Bill passed the House 217-212. Tokuda and Case voted against."}]

On the other side of Congress, the Senate unanimously passed 

The SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act

on Thursday, which reauthorizes various substance abuse treatment programs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the 2030 fiscal year.

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<title>CONGRESS WATCH: House split on fossil fuel bills</title>

Hawai‘i reps oppose energy bills.

CONGRESS WATCH: House split on fossil fuel bills

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Business & Tourism

Aloha Spirit

The newly opened Kahawai Chapel, located on the ground floor of 

Outrigger Reef Waikīkī Beach Resort, takes it name from the waters of Kawehewehe, a sacred site known for healing.

"With its location above the freshwater springs of Kawehewehe and its view of the vast Pacific, Kahawai Chapel is more than a wedding venue – it's a spiritual connection to Hawai‘i’s living history," said Luana Maitland, area director of cultural experiences at Outrigger Reef Waikīkī Beach Resort, in a statement. “The name Kahawai, meaning 'stream' in Hawaiian, evokes the life-giving flow of water and spirit that weaves through every ceremony here.”

Maitland named the chapel, which opened at 2169 Kālia Road on June 1, following a renovation for an undisclosed cost by Outrigger Resorts & Hotels. An opening reception was held June 19. Currently, it has two staff members.

“We wanted to be the first in Hawaiʻi to share the charm of Kahawai Chapel with everyone, so we decided to open it as soon as construction was completed,” said Takeshi Miyamoto, chapel general manager. “Unlike other chapels, we incorporate elements of Hawaiian ceremonies, which we call, Aloha Ceremonies. And we want to make it an even more special place for couples, their families and their guests, whether they are visiting Hawaiʻi for the first time or many times.”

ʻi Ltd., which partnered with Outrigger to operate the chapel. Parent company Tsukaki Lognote Japan Co. operates a wide range of businesses including special events, real estate, and clothing and manufacturing, she said.

“We are a Japanese company … we want to provide a one-of-a-kind wedding ceremony that can only be done at Kahawai Chapel, while fully understanding what our customers want,” Miyamoto said. “We wanted to value our collaboration with Outrigger Reef, which values Hawaiian traditions, culture and ʻohana. I want people who have their wedding here to experience the charm of Hawaiʻi and to fall in love with Hawaiʻi even more.”

Kahawai Chapel’s “Aloha Ceremony” is led by a Kahu, or minister, with offerings such as chants, mele and ti leaf lei binding ceremony.

Long-term, Miyamoto aims "to increase awareness so that Kahawai Chapel is recognized when people think of Hawaiʻi and [to] develop it into a chapel where weddings are held every day."

MKC Hawaiʻi and G70 Design designed the 4,000-square-foot space, including the chapel, guest room and bridal suites. It fits 40 seated guests and is available to book daily.

Waikiki Kahawai Chapel 06.23.25

<title>New oceanfront chapel opens in Waikīkī</title>

A new destination wedding venue called Kahawai Chapel, located at the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort, opened this month. Learn more about its unique offerings catered toward the visitor market, while rooted in Hawaiian culture, from chapel general manager Takeshi Miyamoto.

New oceanfront chapel opens in Waikīkī

<title>Hawai'i Skies</title>

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Hawai'i Skies

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Hawai'i Skies

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