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Government & Politics

 to reopen the federal government, with Senators Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz voting no.

 While voting in the Senate is still open, eight Democrats who had previously rejected reopening the government changed their votes, according to 

In a statement, Sen. Brain Schatz stated, 

“I voted no because this bill does not extend the Affordable Care Act subsidies, but we are not done with this fight. We are going to keep fighting to try to salvage this situation for the tens of millions of Americans who are going to see their health care costs double.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Previously:"}]

As of Saturday, Nov. 8, there have been 16 votes in the U.S. Senate on ending the federal shutdown that began Oct. 1.

Most of these votes have been to approve 

, "a bill making continuing appropriations and extensions for fiscal year 2026, and for other purposes."

House Bill 5371 is described as a "clean resolution," which authorizes current spending from the federal budget as-is, with no other additions or subtractions.

There have been other bills related to the shutdown, notably Democrat-authored 

, which is not a simple authorization to continue spending as-is, but which adds major budget items to the federal ledger as a condition for reopening the government. These add-ons include such things as making permanent Affordable Care Act tax subsidies that had been temporary and undoing portions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. 

Republicans defeated S.B. 2882, leaving 5371 as the only remaining path to ending the shutdown.

Democrats have consistently voted against the "clean resolution" in sufficient numbers to keep it from passing. Sixty votes are needed in the Senate to pass it.

Here's how U.S. senators Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz voted for each of these two bills to end the shutdown:

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Senators

<title>UPDATED: Congress Watch: All the times Hawai‘i's senators have voted on reopening…</title>

Here are each of the 13 times senators Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz have voted against reopening government under a "clean resolution" so far, as well as their votes for the Democrat-preferred alternative.

UPDATED: Congress Watch: All the times Hawai‘i's senators have voted on reopening government

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

Aloha Spirit

Tickets are now on sale to be part of the audience for live tapings of 

, a televised talent competition, launched by

formerly known as Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement. The show was created to showcase the next generation of local artists, musicians, dancers and creators, according to representatives of Hawaiian Council.

The winner of the competition takes home a $10,000 cash prize. The fan favorite, determined by online voting, will also receive a cash award.

The live tapings of auditions of talent from Hawaiʻi Island and Oʻahu, as well as the finale, will take place Nov. 9, 10 and 12, respectively, at Hawaiʻi Theatre. 

Patrick Makuakāne; Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, also known as Kumu Hina; and Lehua Kalima

. The show will be hosted by McKenna Maduli, with Shawn Kekoa Pimental serving as music producer. 

Guest judges will be helping with the auditions and finale. Alaka‘i Paleka will be the guest judge for auditions of Hawaiʻi Island talent on Sunday, Nov. 9, while 

 will be the guest judge of auditions of Oʻahu talent on Monday, Nov. 10. A surprise guest judge will assist with the finals on Wednesday, Nov. 12.  

"Hawaiʻi to the World" will premiere at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 16, on Hawaiʻi News Now, simulcast on K5 and KHNL. The episodes will air weekly following Sunday Night Football on these dates:

• Nov. 16: Kaua‘i Auditions with guest judge Jaedyn Pavao, Miss Aloha Hula 2025

• Nov. 23: Maui Auditions with guest judge Keali‘i Reichel

• Nov. 30: Hawai‘i Island Auditions with guest judge Alaka‘i Paleka

• Dec. 7: O‘ahu Auditions with guest judge Jake Shimabukuro

• Dec. 14: Finale with surprise guest judge

Hawaiian Council, which has headquarters in Kapolei, is a nonprofit that seeks to “enhance the cultural, economic, political and community development of Native Hawaiians,” according to its 

. It is also a Native Community Development Financial Institution certified by the U.S. Department of Treasury and a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development certified housing counseling agency.

Tickets for the live audience for auditions on Sunday, Nov. 9, and Monday, Nov. 10, are $20. Tickets for the live audience for the finale on Wednesday, Nov. 12 are $25. 

"Hawaiʻi to the World"

<title>"Hawaiʻi to the World": Hawaiian Council announces chance to be in show's live audience</title>

A new television show premieres this month that will feature Island talent competing for a $10,000 prize. Learn more about the chance to be part of the live audience for the finale and auditions of talent from Hawaiʻi Island and Oʻahu.

"Hawaiʻi to the World": Hawaiian Council announces chance to be in show's live audience

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

When coming up with a concept their business, choosing empanadas was a no-brainer for siblings Julieta and Lucas Garnil.

“Lucas started the business almost two years ago on his own,” says co-owner Julieta Garnil. “It took off fast, and before we knew it, he was selling [empanadas] at the local farmers markets — that’s really where it all began.”

, which is currently located in Kahuku, that’s when Julieta got involved with the business.

“First, I was just helping out, but soon, we turned into a dream team,” she says. “Here we are today, still growing and loving the ride.”

Making empanadas is an integral part of the Garnils’ history, according to Garnil.

“Empanadas runs deep in our family, tradition and culture,” she explains. “We use our mom’s recipe, which also comes from our grandma. Our dad passed along his chimichurri sauce recipe, which makes our empanadas so special and yummy.”

Meanwhile, the business’s name reflects Argentina’s most popular dance and music style, according to Garnil.

“It’s [tango] Argentina’s cultural pride — just like empanadas,” she says.

The business offers six flavors of empanadas ($6 each, or three for $15); meaty fillings include traditional beef, chicken breast and pork.

All empanadas are made from scratch with spices that are imported from Argentina, according to Garnil.

“Our most traditional — and bestseller — is the beef; it’s a classic,” she says. “Chicken is always a crowd favorite, too, and for our local Hawaiian friends, the pork is a must-try. People go crazy for it.”

Traditional beef consists of ground beef, boiled eggs, green olives, green onions, cumin, paprika, salt and pepper. Meanwhile, the pork flavor features ground pork, white onions, bell peppers, and Parmesan and provolone cheeses.

The biz also provides meatless options like spinach and cheese; grilled eggplant with cherry and sun-dried tomatoes, basil and cheese; and asparagus and mushroom.

“[Of the three] spinach and cheese is usually the winner,” Garnil says.

Spinach and cheese features a melty blend of organic spinach, mozzarella cheese, white onions, carrots and salt and pepper.

While empanadas are the business’s main focus, Garnil encourages customers to try the chimichurri fries ($5 small, $7 large). The crispy fries come topped with homemade chimichurri mayo.

Chimichurri sauce can also be added to any empanada order (additional $1). The business’s chimichurri sauce features a blend of spices, including Oregano, parsley, garlic, paprika, rosemary, salt, pepper, olive oil and vinegar.

“We recommend pouring it inside (the empanada) after your first bite,” Garnil says. “Trust us, it’s a flavor party.”

A combo of three empanadas and chimichurri fries ($20) is also available. The biz offers family packs ($65) — designed to feed four people — which include 12 empanadas of your choice and a large side of fries.

If you want something sweet after enjoying the savory empanadas, the biz offers desserts like alfajor with dulce de leche and coconut flakes (three for $10), white or dark chocolate-covered alfajor with dulce de leche ($4) and dulce de leche cones dipped in chocolate ($4).

(An alfajor is a popular South American dessert, comprising two crumbly cookies that are sandwiched together with a filling.)

The business’s trailer is open daily at Kahuku Sugar Mill from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can also find Tango Empanadas at the Kakaako farmers market from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays; the biz also offers catering for private events.

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Tango Empanadas owner 103025

<title>Tango Empanadas brings authentic Argentinian flavors to Oʻahu</title>

Owned by siblings Julieta and Lucas Garnil, Tango Empanadas offers made-from-scratch empanadas with a variety of meat and veggie fillings. The business’s Kahuku trailer is open daily, and you can also find the empanada biz at the Kakaʻako farmers market.

Tango Empanadas brings authentic Argentinian flavors to Oʻahu

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Real Estate

JL Capital has taken another step forward in the development of its latest luxury condo project, selecting Layton Construction as the general contractor for 

“Muse Honolulu is a one-of-a-kind project, architecturally ambitious, thoughtfully designed and rooted in elevating the experience of everyday living,” Tim Lee, CEO of JL Capital, said in an announcement Wednesday. “We are proud to partner with Layton Construction, whose commitment to craftsmanship and collaboration aligns perfectly with our goals for this iconic tower.”

 is a privately held general contractor headquartered in Salt Lake City with offices in Honolulu and Līhu‘e.

Located at 1538 Kapi‘olani Blvd., the planned 39-story Muse Honolulu was designed by architecture firm Bohlin Cywinski Jackson and local partner Benjamin Woo Architects, the announcement noted.

Muse Honolulu will include 315 residences — a mix of penthouses, tower residences, urban lofts and two-story townhomes — and amenities across three levels, the developer says. Those amenities include a rooftop sky lounge; a wellness spa with steam rooms, saunas, treatment rooms and a multi-level fitness center; and a recreation deck with a pool, hot and cold plunge, golf simulator, putting green, private dining rooms and more.

Owner-occupant sales for the luxury high-rise 

. Construction on this project is slated to start in 2026.

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

, an adaptive reuse project that will convert a five-story former office building at 

 into affordable rental apartments. A ground-up project at 

 will create another 37 affordable units.

 three contiguous properties along Kapi‘olani Boulevard for a combined price of $36 million.

"We see the Kapi‘olani corridor as one of Honolulu’s most dynamic areas of growth, connecting Ala Moana, Waikīkī and Downtown with access to retail, recreation and emerging transit infrastructure," 

about the developer's focus on the area. "It's a natural location for thoughtfully designed projects that align with the city’s long-term vision for a walkable, connected urban core. Our investments here are part of a long-term vision."

In June, it also was announced that JL Capital 

 in Tournet Hawai‘i Inc., a travel and transportation agency focused on the Korea-Hawai‘i market.

The Muse Honolulu Sales Gallery, located at 1388 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 101

, is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the week and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the weekend.

Muse Honolulu 1

<title>JL Capital chooses contractor for luxury condo project</title>

Construction on Muse Honolulu, a 39-story tower that will be located at 1538 Kapi‘olani Blvd., is slated to begin next year.

JL Capital chooses contractor for luxury condo project

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

A Maui landowner is now facing potentially millions of dollars in fines after allegedly mismanaging water resources.

Last week, the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Commission on Water Resource Management issued a 

 of alleged violations to property owner Maui Land & Pineapple Co.

Maui Land & Pineapple is already facing a legal battle on multiple fronts, having been sued in August by neighbors accusing MLP of having misused its water resources and exacerbating drought conditions.

The Commission’s notice warns that MLP has consistently been non-compliant with a 2019 order to install various infrastructure to the Honokōhau Ditch System, an irrigation system maintained by MLP. Most pertinently, those improvements include a remotely operable valve controlling the inflow and outflow of water between the ditch system and Honokōhau Stream.

The notice claims that, in 2021, the Commission had required MLP to complete installation of the valve and associated improvements within six months. While temporary modifications were reported after six months, permanent fixes never materialized.

At a Water Resource Management Commission meeting in September, MLP presented plans that “appeared to contemplate” installing a gate elsewhere within the ditch system than the Commission had previously ordered. 

According to MLP representatives, the Commission stated its expectation that MLP will submit its final engineering plans, construction schedules and supporting materials for review as soon as possible.

But with the ordered improvements not installed, MLP could face fines of up to $5,000 per day of non-compliance, the notice warns. In an absolute worst-case scenario, with maximum possible fines levied for each day since 2019, that could mean a total fine of nearly $11 million.

The missing valve is only one of the possible violations alleged in the notice. Because the valve was intended to prevent excess draining of the Honokōhau Stream into the ditch system, the Commission had also established flow standards: at least 13.3 cubic feet of water must pass through a certain point on the stream each second (or, about 8.6 million gallons per day).

If stream flows drop below that rate for three consecutive days, or for four days out of any seven-day period, MLP would once again be in violation.

The notice states that real-time monitors at the site found that 36 days between Jan. 1 and Aug. 14 fell below Commission standards, with many of those days between May and July, a particularly dry period on Maui.

“We are investigating each of those days to determine whether water was diverted offstream for other uses, including for the County, and if so, what steps could have been taken to ensure the interim instream flow standards were met,” read a statement by MLP on Tuesday.

 that it expects to install “a remotely monitored and operated diversion in Honokōhau Stream” this week. The system allows water to be retained within the stream until it exceeds minimum flow thresholds, and includes a backup gate to return water to the stream as needed.

MLP stated that the construction should continue through Friday, with additional system testing to take place next week.

In the meantime, legal actions between MLP and neighboring water users are still pending.

 against MLP by TY Management Corp. — owner and operator of the Kapalua Plantation Golf Course — and several area apartment owners associations accusing MLP of allowing water in the Honokōhau Ditch System to fall below usable levels has a hearing scheduled for Nov. 25, as does MLP’s own 

 against TY Management, which accused the latter of using excessive water to irrigate its golf courses.

, by TY Management and one of the owners’ associations from the first suit, accused MLP and its CEO of conspiring to seize control of the Kapalua Resort Association by illegal land annexations. No hearing has yet been scheduled in that case.

Maui

<title>Maui Land & Pineapple facing possible fines over water mismanagement</title>

State water commission issues notice of potential violations regarding landowner's stewardship of Maui irrigation system.

Maui Land & Pineapple facing possible fines over water mismanagement

Business & Tourism

Hawaii History

Kāhala Mall — the first enclosed, air-conditioned shopping center in the Islands — celebrates its 55th anniversary in October.

“Celebrating 55 years really means the world to us, and we truly couldn’t have done it without the incredible partnerships we’ve built with our merchants, the loyalty of our customers and the unwavering support of this amazing community,” 

Ezy Paeste said in statement. “Over the years, we’ve witnessed so many special moments unfold here — teens landing their first jobs, couples on their first dates, families and friends turning visits into lasting traditions. Some folks have been coming here for generations, and now we’re seeing their children and grandchildren strolling through the same halls. It’s been an absolute honor to be part of those memories and to grow alongside this community through the years.”

Now home to nearly 100 retailers, restaurants and service providers, the East Honolulu retail hub opened in 1970. But its origins date back even earlier.

What was then called the Wai‘alae Shopping Center opened in November 1954 by Bishop Estate, according to a timeline included in a recent announcement from the mall. It featured a Piggly Wiggly grocery store, later Star Market, and Longs Drugs, and had the state's first Woolworth variety store and Wai‘alae Bowl.

In 1957, Kāhala Barber Shop, which is still in operation today, opened in phase 2. The next year, Liberty House opened in a 70,000-square-foot space.

[{"type":"text","text":"Here are some more timeline tidbits:"}]

 formed the Kāhala Center Co. to redevelop the open-air Wai‘alae Shopping Center into the state's first fully enclosed, air-conditioned shopping mall.

: Construction begins and the existing anchor stores — Longs Drugs, Liberty House and Star Market — remain opened. The H-1 freeway is also under construction at the same time.

: Kāhala Mall officially opens, with anchor tenants that include JC Penney, Longs Drugs, Liberty House, Star Market and other early merchants like Yum Yum Tree, Zales, Kāhala Barber and Reyn's.

: Compleat Kitchen opens in 1976 and Calista by Cotton Cargo opens in 1979. Both shops are still open today.

: Consolidated Theatres opens its eight-screen complex, which underwent a complete renovation in 2020-21, during the Covid-19 pandemic.

: California Pizza Kitchen opens its first restaurant in the Islands — and the first outside of California.

Pizza Hut (1986), Jeans Warehouse (1987), The Paperie (1991), Marsha Nadalin Salon & Spa (1993), Sanrio Surprises, GNC (1996), 

, American Savings Bank (1997), GameStop, Pictures Plus (1998), Panda Express (1999) and Chili’s (2000).

: Starbucks opens its first Hawai‘i location at Kāhala Mall.

: Flash flooding on March 31 damages about 60 of the mall's 90 businesses but the mall quickly reopens.

: Whole Foods Market opens its first Hawai‘i location in the space formerly occupied by Piggly Wiggly and Star Market.

: Kāhala Mall spans 414,000 square feet with nearly 100 tenants. Thirty merchants have operated there for a decade or more.

commemorative merchant flags featuring photographs of longstanding tenants will be displayed throughout the center, the announcement noted.

According to the mall, popular gift-with-purchase promotions will showcase the colors and design of the Kahala Mall carpet, a recognizable feature of the center for decades. You can receive these limited-edition gifts in September and throughout the holiday season.

Follow @kahalamall on social media to see photos of the Center's early days and through the years. Customers also can share their own memories of Kahala Mall by tagging #KahalaMall55 for a chance to win Kahala Mall gift cards and a grand staycation at the Kahala Hotel & Resort.

Kahala Mall is located at 4211 Waialae Ave., and open from 

Old Longs Drugs

<title>55 years of Kāhala Mall</title>

The first enclosed, air-conditioned shopping center in the Islands celebrates its 55th anniversary in October.

55 years of Kāhala Mall

Christine Hitt

 and has written for many publications, including 

. She is a Kamehameha Schools and University of Hawaiʻi graduate.

<title>Christine Hitt</title>

Maui-born kapa maker turns traditional clothing into "pieces that people can wear every day.”

Christine Hitt

Latest from Christine Hitt

Community Voices: Kapa, ready to wear

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