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Donalyn Dela Cruz

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Kealoha Fox

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Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

Food & Dining

Three restaurants in Hawai‘i are vying for a place on the list of Best New Restaurants in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. The awards aim to rank the 10 best in several areas of travel and lifestyle.

Among the field of 20 restaurants opened in the past 18 months 

— chosen by a panel of food and travel experts — are:

 once a day until noon eastern (that’s 7 a.m. in the Islands) Monday, Dec. 22. Winners are set to be announced on Friday, Jan. 2.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

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<title>Three Hawai‘i eateries among those nominated for Best New Restaurant</title>

You can vote for your favorite in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Awards until Dec. 22.

Three Hawai‘i eateries among those nominated for Best New Restaurant

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Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

Aloha Spirit

 a new talent competition launched by Hawaiian Council, has a winner: 

. The finale of the show brought contestants from four islands together to compete for the grand prize: $10,000. A fan favorite, chosen by popular vote, also received a cash prize.

The finale aired after Friday Night Football on Sunday, Dec. 14, on Hawaiʻi News Now, simulcast on K5 and KHNL.

In the finale, Tario, who represented Oʻahu, competed against four other contestants: Kaua‘i’s two finalists, 

Kumu Hula Troy Allen Lazaro with Hālau Ka Pā Hula o Hīnano

; Maui’s finalist, the Island/reggae band, 

; and Hawaiʻi Island’s finalist, singer and songwriter, 

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

 and a special guest judge. The show was hosted by McKenna Maduli with Shawn Kekoa Pimental as music producer.

During an earlier episode where artists competed to represent Oʻahu, Tario as Laritza wowed judges with a performance of “Oli Aloha” and excerpts from Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor. The pianist won that competition, earning a spot in the finale.

Tario is a cultural practioner and a graduate of Kamehameha Schools and The Juilliard School in New York City. The classically trained pianist is also a drag queen. The artist’s film credits include “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and HBO Max’s “Generations,” as well as an appearance as a model for a national commerical of Ulta Beauty, among other projects. Tario has also performed as a guest artist for 

Tario started studying at The Julliard School as a teenager. At the time, the pianist was the only Hawaiian admitted into the pre-college division, Tario told Aloha State Daily.

, is a conservatory-style music program for students between the ages of 8 and 18 who work with faculty, many of whom are part of The Juilliard School.

“During my time in New York, it was mostly classical music that I learned up there,” Tario said. “Just having your culture always kind of there with you, but also because I'm studying all of this western music, I kind of had to —  not suppress it — but it wasn't very prevalent in my life then. I've always wanted to mix my culture — and also my passion and music.”

In the finale, Tario as Laritza performed an excerpt of the score for the documentary film, 

 which focuses on Pua Case and her daughters as they protest the construction of telescopes at Mauna Kea. Tario performed the track "Haʻina ʻia mai ana ka puana" with an oli chanted over it that shares the birth of the Hawaiian Islands.

“That particular piece, it came from the documentary, but also the vinyl album that I released along with it, through Lōʻihi Records,” Tario said. “A lot of my music, I would say, it stems from place — and especially with having it be tied to such an important movement within our culture and people — I definitely wanted to showcase a little bit of that. And just emphasize the fight to protect sacred wahi pana, like Mauna Kea — it's not over yet. And what better way to show it then on television?”

The pianist just released a second album, “He Kaikamahine O Kekahi Moku.”

What does Tario want listeners to take away from performances? 

“Especially for the young māhū community, I would love to just be an inspiration and just say that whatever art form that they do: just bring yourself in it, bring our culture, and just lead with an open heart,” Tario said.

T.J. Keanu Tario

<title>“Hawaiʻi to the World” has a winner</title>

The winner of “Hawaiʻi to the World” is an Oʻahu-based artist, who is also a cultural practioner and a graduate of Kamehameha Schools and The Juilliard School. Learn more about the winner of this new talent competition.

“Hawaiʻi to the World” has a winner

Real Estate

Situated above the Pacific Ocean along Hawai‘i Island’s Hāmākua Coast, the aptly named Hāmākua Hotel is for sale with a $10 million asking price.

 is located about 20 minutes north of Hilo on 3.4 fee simple acres at 28-3514 Hawai‘i Belt Road in Honomū. According to 

, it’s the only permitted hotel along the 55-mile Hāmākua coastline.

The hotel operated as a bed-and-breakfast called Palms Cliff House for 25 years, 

. It was acquired by Eric and Lori Lochtefeld during the Covid-19 pandemic and, for a few years, was used as their home and to host private retreats, the site states. But an anniversary trip to Italy in the summer of 2023 inspired the couple to transform the property into a luxury hotel “with a focus on great culinary and storytelling.”

The property underwent a $2.5 million renovation completed in 2024, which added an infinity-edge pool and spa barn, upgraded guest rooms and modernized infrastructure, the listing notes. Meanwhile, “an exclusive option to acquire 22 contiguous acres unlocks the ability to create a 25.5-acre oceanfront estate with nearly one mile of coastline.”

Kevin Aucello, principal with Powell & Aucello, a Honolulu-based hotel brokerage and consulting firm, has listed the property. In an email to Aloha State Daily, he says that now the hotel is operating smoothly, the owner “understands that new ownership and fresh ideas will help the property continue evolving while also giving him the flexibility to pursue other interests.”

It's not often that a property of this nature becomes available.

“Oceanfront, fee-simple hotels in Hawai‘i almost never come to market — especially those nestled on a bluff overlooking the Pacific, a setting that makes this offering even more exceptional,” Aucello says. “Being the only permitted hotel along this coastline further underscores its rarity.”

When asked about the visitor demand for hotels like this on Hawai‘i Island, Aucello answers the question with one of his own: “Who wouldn’t want to stay in a boutique hotel that feels like it belongs in ‘Architectural Digest’ — a place perched above the Pacific, where every meal feels intentional, personal and deeply connected to Hawai‘i?

“Travelers today aren’t just looking for a bed, they’re looking for moments,” he continued. “And when a hotel pairs incredible design with cuisine that honors local ingredients and the island’s food culture, it creates the kind of memories people come back for year after year.”

Aucello says that demand for boutique hotels that offer “this level of authenticity, setting and culinary craft,” has long outpaced the supply on the Big island.

“Guests are drawn to properties that feel rooted in place — where the views, the architecture and even the meals tell a story,” he says. “Those are the hotels that consistently outperform and build loyal followings.”

And from an investor’s perspective, Aucello says interest is just as strong.

“Boutique hotels are a rare niche with high barriers to entry and limited inventory,” he continued. “But what truly sets this segment apart is the type of buyer it attracts. These opportunities don’t typically draw private equity or institutional money — they resonate with hoteliers who have an entrepreneurial spirit, people who love the craft of hospitality and want to shape something unique and meaningful.”

According to Aucello, the property’s 2024 renovation and reopening as Hāmākua Hotel created a “turnkey opportunity with immediate operating momentum.”

“It’s an ideal investment for an individual, couple or entrepreneurial group looking to own a truly distinctive luxury boutique hotel — one that blends lifestyle appeal with strong guest demand,” he says. “It’s also a small enough operation that a new owner can immediately infuse their personality, creative ideas and vision into the guest experience, something rarely possible in larger hospitality assets.

“At the same time, the property is perfectly suited for a small luxury brand seeking to expand its presence in Hawai‘i, offering a rare combination of oceanfront positioning, thoughtful design and personalized hospitality that aligns with experiential luxury.”

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

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<title>Hāmākua Hotel for sale</title>

The eight-room luxury boutique hotel is located about 20 minutes north of Hilo on 3.4 fee simple acres in Honomū.

Hāmākua Hotel for sale

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Keliʻi Akina, Ph.D.

Government & Politics

Last weekend, separate fires in Hilo claimed the lives of two people, displaced nearly three dozen other residents and razed at least five buildings.

Even amid ongoing investigations and debris cleanup, Hawaiʻi County lawmakers should be taking steps to help business and property owners get back on their feet — and they can use the many lessons learned following the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires in Lahaina as a guide.

It is most important that policymakers quickly look for ways to free people from the burdensome regulations that will hinder their recovery efforts.

Numerous state and county regulations have bogged down Lahaina’s reconstruction. State and county officials have tried to waive or amend some of them, but it feels like watching a game of whack-a-mole: Whenever they update one regulation, they find another that’s slowing down the process.

It’s possible that the same fate could befall rebuilding in Hilo if county officials don’t act.

Consider the old Puʻuʻeo Poi Factory, which caught flame on the morning of Saturday, Nov. 29. The factory stopped making poi back in 2017 and was converted into 23 rental units.

Rebuilding that property could be challenging, given that it’s in a state special management area — a zone designed to regulate development near the coastline. The owners of many Lahaina properties located in the SMA zone there are still battling for their right to rebuild what existed before the fires.

And then there are the buildings at the intersection of Kino‘ole and Haili streets that were destroyed in a second fire that broke out early Sunday morning. They were not within the SMA boundary, but their mixed-use construction, with shops on the first floor and residences on the second, could prove tricky to rebuild under the county’s current zoning code.

Furthermore, the simple process of getting a permit for any rebuilding work could take months, and the associated fees will likely cost tens of thousands of dollars.

State and county lawmakers have addressed some of these barriers as they relate to Lahaina’s rebuilding, but recovery has still been slow. Earlier this week, Maui 

 the completion of the 100th rebuilt structure — more than two years after the fires. The blazes are estimated to have destroyed approximately 2,200 buildings, an overwhelming majority of which were homes.

Although the scope of the Lahaina and Hilo fires differs, the lesson is the same: Inflexible regulations can severely delay or even prevent rebuilding.

Hilo remains one of the last affordable places in the state, and a vibrant culture of entrepreneurship has animated the town in the past several years.

It would be a shame to see these fires stunt its spirit, which is all the more reason for lawmakers to act sooner than later.

I hope Hawaiʻi County officials will learn lessons from Lahaina and simply let folks rebuild.

Reprinted with permission from the Dec. 8, 2025 "Presidentʻs Corner" of 

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<title>Community Voices: Lessons from Lahaina could help Hilo recover</title>

Although the scope of the Lahaina and Hilo fires differs, the lesson is the same: Inflexible regulations can severely delay or even prevent rebuilding. Hawai‘i County could act now to identify and work around those barriers.

Community Voices: Lessons from Lahaina could help Hilo recover

It's the end of an era for Hawaiian Airlines.

 that Alaska Airlines would acquire Hawaiian Airlines — and just over a year after 

 — the last Hawaiian Airlines flight to the use the HA call signal arrived in Honolulu early this morning from American Samoa.

The move comes after Alaska Airlines on Wednesday received a single operating certificate, or SOC, from the Federal Aviation Administration. It’s a major milestone in the continued efforts to integrate the operations of the two airlines.

The distinct Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines brands remain, but this means the airlines are now operating under a single call sign, AS, which pilots and dispatchers use to communicate with air traffic control, Alaska Airlines explained in an 

According to that announcement, this is an FAA regulatory requirement that “marks the successful integration of training, policies, procedures and manuals across both airlines.”

Alex Da Silva, regional communications director — Hawai‘i for Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines

, told Aloha State Daily it was a smooth transition, and that there are no material changes for guests.

“The most notable change is that we are assigning new HA flight numbers to avoid duplication with AS flight numbers, but the HA code preceding the flight numbers will remain in place until we reach a single passenger service system in late April.”

Once the airlines transition to a single passenger service system — the main technology guests use to plan trips, book tickets and on the day of travel — all flights will use an AS code, the announcement notes, but adds that travelers can still view and book Hawaiian Airline flights, which will be branded across its digital channels with an image of the Pualani aircraft tails.

The adoption of a single passenger service system next spring is the next big milestone in the merger and integration process, Da Silva says, noting that’ll be followed by the combination of collective bargaining agreements with the airlines’ unionized teams in about 12 to 18 months.

Another key milestone, however, was marked at the start of the month with the transition from HawaiianMiles to a joint loyalty program offered by both Hawaiian and Alaska airlines, 

“We're very pleased with the transition of HawaiianMiles to Atmos Rewards and excited for our members to experience the full benefits of the program,” Da Silva told ASD. “At the same time, we recognize there is a learning curve as our members familiarize themselves with the features of the new program. We remain engaged with our members and always appreciate their feedback, and we are honoring several legacy HawaiianMiles benefits through the end of the year.”

Additionally, with the single operating certificate secured, Wednesday also marked the changing of the guards, so to speak, at Hawaiian Airlines, with several Honolulu-based leadership roles formally taking effect.

Diana Birkett Rakow, formerly the executive vice president of public affairs and sustainability at Alaska Airlines, became CEO of Hawaiian Airlines Wednesday. The first woman to hold that position, she succeeds 

, who has held the position since the acquisition was completed in 

Jim Landers, Hawaiian Airlines senior vice president for technical operations, is now head of Hawai‘i operations and Shelly Parker, Horizon Air’s vice president of station operations and inflight is now head of Hawai‘i guest operations, Wednesday's announcement noted. Read more about the 

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Alaska Hawaiian Airlines 1920

<title>Alaska, Hawaiian airlines reach merger milestone</title>

Alaska Airlines on Wednesday received a single operating certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration, allowing it to operate alongside Hawaiian Airlines as two separate brands.

Alaska, Hawaiian airlines reach merger milestone

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

If you’ve been stuck at the intersection of Kalākaua Avenue and Kapiʻolani Boulevard recently, you probably noticed this sign.

Aloha State Daily was told that Chick-fil-A just began construction on this new location with the goal of opening later this year. This space was the former spot of Honolulu Coffee’s flagship store and Experience Center, which closed last October. The coffee business announced its closure was to focus on a new, improved facility — located at 2643 S. King St. — that’s dedicated to bakery and café offerings.

Chick-fil-A commercial sitework will include (but is not limited to) landscaping and other parking lot improvements, according to the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Planning and Permitting, which states the estimated value of work is $1 million.

This location is a notable one, as it was the former space of Kau Kau Corner (1940s), Coco’s Coffee House (1960s) and Hard Rock Café (1987).

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<title>Chick-fil-A confirms new Kapiʻolani Boulevard location – Aloha State Daily</title>

A new store is coming to Kapiʻolani Boulevard

It’s official: Another Chick-fil-A is coming

Mathew Hoffmann scaled

Mathew Hoffmann serves as legal counsel on the Appellate Advocacy Team at Alliance Defending Freedom, where he represents ADF clients before state and federal appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. Previously, he served in ADF’s Center for Free Speech and Center for Academic Freedom. He has represented clients in free expression cases across the country and has argued before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Seventh and Ninth Circuits and the Alabama Supreme Court.

<title>Mathew Hoffmann</title>

Mathew Hoffmann

Mathew Hoffmann is legal counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, which represents satire site The Babylon Bee in its lawsuit challenging Hawaiʻi’s law that criminalizes the distribution of “materially deceptive media” that may risk harming “the reputation or electoral prospects” of politicians. He argues the law violates the First Amendment by targeting speech, including political memes, humor and satire.

Mathew Hoffmann

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