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Will Caron

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Amanda Pump and Michael Young, Child & Family Service

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Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya Kapanui

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Stephanie Salmons

Government & Politics

Why did the pedestrian cross the road? Because a newly opened bridge in Kaka‘ako makes it easier and safer to do so.

The $17.8 million elevated walkway, located on Ala Moana Boulevard between Ward Avenue and Kamake‘e Street, opened Thursday, a little more than three years after 

It spans six lanes of traffic, more easily and safely connecting Kaka‘ako to Ala Moana Beach Park and Kewalo Basin, the state Department of Transportation said in a May 22 announcement.

When construction started in May 2022, the DOT gave an estimated completion date of October 2023.

A department spokesperson told Aloha State Daily in an email Friday that unforeseen site conditions, mainly on the makai side of the street, led to a revised completion schedule.

These challenges included a communications line that was in a different location from as-built plans and reinforcing an old box culvert not in initial plans, and others, they said. A concrete shortage in 2022 also affected the time frame.

DOT Director Ed Sniffen said in the announcement Thursday that the bridge has been "eagerly anticipated by many."

"Our partners in this project have done a fantastic job of building a walkway that will not only serve as a pedestrian and bike safety measure but as an aesthetic addition to the corridor."

The spokesperson said the pedestrian bridge bridge reduces the potential of "vehicle-pedestrian conflict" for those crossing the busy roadway to reach Ala Moana Beach Park and Kewalo Basin

"One of HDOT's goals recently has been to improve pedestrian safety, especially on roads more than six lanes wide," the spokesperson said, noting that a pedestrian bridge can reduce the number of people using the street crosswalks and therefore the potential for vehicle-pedestrian collisions.

That stretch of Ala Moana Boulevard sees an average of about 49,000 vehicles per day, according to traffic counts from the DOT, which can be 

 An estimated 2,100 pedestrians and bicyclists are expected to use the walkway daily, the DOT said.

According to the DOT, the project was funded through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development, or BUILD, discretionary grant program and state highway funds — 80% of which was covered by federal funding and 20%, or about $4 million, was covered by the state — with other contributions from Victoria Ward Limited for land, design and environmental fees.

The bridge connects to Ward Village's Victoria Ward Park Makai, which 

. It's the first phase of the park named in honor of Victoria Ward, born in 1846. Ward Village is Howard Hughes' 60-acre master-planned community located between Downtown Honolulu and Waikīkī.

"Creating a walkable, connected neighborhood is central to our vision for Ward Village, which is why the new elevated walkway is such a meaningful addition," Ward Village said in a statement emailed to Aloha State Daily Friday. "In partnership with the state DOT and the Federal Highway Administration, the project enhances safe, direct access from mauka to makai, linking residents and visitors to nearby parks, open spaces and the waterfront. We look forward to expanding the neighborhood experience with upcoming improvements to Victoria Ward Park and other public spaces next year."

04 Elevated Walkway Courtesy of Ward Village

<title>Pedestrian bridge crossing Ala Moana Boulevard in Kaka‘ako is now open</title>

The $17.8 million elevated walkway, located between Ward Avenue and Kamake‘e Street, opened May 22, a little more than three years after construction on it started.

Pedestrian bridge crossing Ala Moana Boulevard in Kaka‘ako is now open

Real Estate

With an asking price of $8.9 million, this oceanfront home at 221 Portlock Road is currently the highest priced property in East Honolulu's Portlock neighborhood.

Set on a sandy beach, the property boasts 7,461 square feet of living spaces. A five-bedroom main home has five full- and one half-bathrooms. An oceanfront primary suite with a lānai can be found on each level, 

. There's a studio apartment above the three-car garage, as well.

Listing agent Kim Leslein Soares with Hawai‘i Life told Aloha State Daily in an email that the home's "open floor plan, high ceilings, timeless finishes and tropical landscaping" makes it unique.

According to the listing, the home features cathedral ceilings, travertine floors, a grand circular staircase and an open-concept layout, along with a high-end kitchen, gated grounds and direct beach access. Eight-foot pocket sliding doors open to a pool and spa, with ocean views.

"You could not build a new property today with the same degree [or] caliber of craftsmanship and finishes for the asking price, including the land," Soares said, noting, too, that it would take years to build something similar because of planning and permitting.

Soares says the ideal buyer is "anyone who appreciates the open coastline views from an outstanding custom haven, a beautiful sandy beachfront and miraculous watercolor sunsets!"

[{"type":"text","text":"Take note that there are homeowner association fees."}]

Maunalua Bay Beach Ohana No. 29, which Soares says covers the area between the beach and the house, has "minimal annual dues" that cover property taxes and insurance, and the Portlock Community Association has annual dues of $120, which Soares says is not mandatory but "highly encouraged."

As of Friday, there were only four single-family homes for sale in Portlock, according to the HiCentral MLS.

The lowest-priced listing is a five-bedroom, four-bath home at 243 Portlock Road, which has an asking price of $3.88 million. You can 

Portlock can be found along Maunalua Bay, in Hawai‘i Kai, adjacent to the Triangle and Koko Kai neighborhoods.

57 print Styron Photo 221 Portlock Rd 1864

<title>For sale — oceanfront home in Portlock is a 'custom haven'</title>

The home features cathedral ceilings, travertine floors, a grand circular staircase and an open-concept layout, along with a high-end kitchen, gated grounds and direct beach access.

For sale — oceanfront home in Portlock is a 'custom haven'

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

For the University of Hawai‘i football team, the show goes on and the mission continues. 

 at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex marked the 15th and final allotted spring practice for the Rainbow Warriors. The next time the 'Bows can practice as a team is a month in advance of their Aug. 23 season opener against Stanford. 

In between their last spring practice and their first fall practice, the 'Bows will aim to make progress in the weight room during the team's offseason strength and conditioning program. 

"It's an advantage to get done and really get stronger and get bigger. We want to make sure that we're able to impose our will on teams, whether we're away or they come inside here. And so we're gonna get bigger, stronger, faster, from now all the way to July," head coach Timmy Chang said following Sunday's event. "The football growth has to continue. Our football knowledge, our fundamentals got to get better. ... It was a good starting point, and these guys know what they got to do to reach our goal."

The work in the weight room will proceed for the Rainbow Warriors, despite the departure of head strength and conditioning coach Ryan Ishihara midway through spring ball. 

"We're ready to hire our next guy coming in," Chang said, noting that associate head coach and linebackers coach Chris Brown will continue to be a presence for the team during workouts. 

"For me, it's the mindset part. It's that motivation and inspiration part," Brown said earlier in the week when asked about his involvement in the team's workouts. "The way they do things, that's what I oversee. How they do it, with what kind of energy, what kind of fire? For instance, if they go walking into the weight room before their workouts and I can hear a pin drop, I'm sending their (behinds) back outside, and I'm making them start a chant, and they can scream their way back in there. And I want to hear loud screaming and noise and bring some fire."

Hawai‘i exited camp with a handful of openings in its football staff, both on and off the field. Cade Socha entered spring practice as the team's new quarterbacks coach but didn't participate in the 15 sessions. Meanwhile, director of recruiting Ella Devenny is no longer listed on the coaching staff, while director of player personnel Silas Clapham departed to become the University of Washington's director of college scouting. 

While Chang will look to make additions to his coaching staff, his roster of 112 will have to be whittled down to 105 by the time the 2025 season begins, per NCAA rules. 

"At the end of the day, it's a different game than it's been in the past. We're not going to be able to keep everybody in that sense. The roster is going down to 105 and so tough decisions will be made, but at the end of the day, it's the best 105. We have to go out there and represent our state," Chang said.

Sunday's 11-on-11 period was a showcase in skill for both UH's offensive and defensive units. Incumbent starting quarterback Micah Alejado hit Stanford transfer Jackson Harris for a perfectly placed touchdown throw that traveled approximately 50 yards in the rain. Meanwhile, the Rainbow Warrior 

 forced a handful of turnovers, led by Elijah Palmer's two interceptions. 

When asked about the team's urgency in the upcoming offseason, Palmer is optimistic the process will lead to more victories. 

"It's to do the things to put us in position to win, really, that's what it is. It's to win. That's our main goal," Palmer said. "That's our main objective, regardless...doing what we need to do for not only us, but the brothers next to us."

Five and a half months may seem like a ways away, but for the Rainbow Warriors, each day leading up to Aug. 23 will be precious. 

"This is going to be a summer of strain," wide receivers coach Jared Ursua said. "We got to push. We got to continue to move the needle in everything that we do. We about getting 1% better every single day. So, today is done. Tomorrow, we wake up, we tap the weights, we get better."

UH football 031025

<title>For Hawai‘i football, the mission continues following spring practice</title>

Kickoff for UH's 2025 season is set for Aug. 23 against Stanford.

For Hawai‘i football, the mission continues following spring practice

Jerry Clay Clay Partnering IQ5 A1553 1 CP

Gerald S. Clay is a veteran Hawaiʻi attorney with decades of experience practicing law, as well as developing 

, dispute prevention and alternative dispute resolution techniques. During his career, Clay founded Honolulu’s Clay Iwamura Pulice & Nervell law firm, served as adjunct professor at University of Hawaiʻi William S. Richardson School of Law, co-authored of “Before You Sue” (an introduction to mediation), and served as president of The Mediation Center of the Pacific. Over the past three decades, Clay has woven 

 into his law practice, successfully applying the 

 process to legislative initiatives, commercial business endeavors, not-for-profit operations, agency actions and construction projects. Today, Clay is a passionate pioneer, inspired by 

 ability to better society. He is 100% dedicated to doing so by establishing 

across the business world and legal industry.

<title>Gerald “Jerry” Clay</title>