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A. Kam Napier

Government & Politics

 Gov. Josh Green’s press conference on Tuesday, held at the Hawai‘i State Capitol, in which he and other lawmakers and community leaders called for anti-ICE legislation here in the Islands. The event was hosted by the ACLU of Hawai‘i, the Legal Clinic of Hawai‘i and the Hawai‘i Coalition for Immigrant Rights, attended by Green, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, House Speaker Nadine Nakamura and other lawmakers. It was held as a vigil for Alex Pretti, who had been shot and killed by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis Saturday.

This is Official Hawai‘i — state government policy leaders — and it’s very upset about Minneapolis, where now two activists have been killed while interfering with federal law enforcement. In their telling, it’s ICE that is out of control, and Hawai‘i has to do something to keep things like that from happening here.

Except the laws they’re proposing would recreate the very conditions that fostered a battleground in Minneapolis. If passed, they would increase, not decrease, the likelihood of danger for everyone involved — arrestees, protestors, ICE agents, bystanders. Everyone.

Let’s back up a second. If you’re upset about Minneapolis, do you ever wonder why you aren’t upset about cities in Texas, Florida, or Tennessee, where ICE is also detaining, arresting and deporting illegal immigrants?

[{"type":"text","text":"What made Minneapolis different?"}]

Specific decisions by Minnesota politicians and lawmakers to withhold local law enforcement support. This forced ICE to conduct its arrests in public, while these same politicians gave fiery speeches denouncing ICE as unbridled fascists. Officials there even withheld the local police support that would’ve kept order as the fired-up activists took the most confrontational approach possible short of open insurrection.

[{"type":"text","text":"If you don’t believe me, maybe you’ll believe the cops there:"}]

Minnesota cops beg Walz, pols to let them work with ICE, say they could have prevented shootings

In cities where local authorities help, there is no mayhem in the streets.

So what is Hawai‘i doing? Holding press conferences decrying ICE while proposing the same kind of adversarial legislation.

 article, so to keep it brief, a package of House and Senate Bills would do such things as prohibit local law enforcement agencies from entering into an agreement with ICE to carry out immigration enforcement on ICE’s behalf; prohibit ICE from interviewing people while in local custody (even though this is the safest place to do it); prohibit local cops from inquiring about a person’s immigration status; limit information sharing between state and county agencies and ICE; and more.

Green has promised to fast-track this legislation. Maybe, instead, legislators should be thoughtful and deliberate. I’d prefer they legislate about reality not distortions.

What distortions? Take a look at our photo, above, of Gov. Green and his supporters from Tuesday’s press conference. What do you see? Earnest, sincere, worried faces, to be sure.

[{"type":"text","text":"One also sees claims and assertions on signs."}]

“PEOPLE MURDERED BY ICE … AND PEOPLE KILLED BY TRUMP’S IMMIGRATION AND DEPORTATION PRISONS:”

There follows a list of at least 30 visible names, which I started looking up, at random. And first of all, I should say, this sign is not an expose of secret knowledge. You can find the notices of “

” at ICE’s own website, as required by Congress. Here’s what I found:

 Duarte illegally entered the U.S. the first time 1976 in Arizona. He was charged with such crimes as burglary, theft and drug possession between 1984 and 2000. He was convicted in 2005 of sex crimes against children and sentenced by the Superior Court of Arizona 20 years in prison. That’s where ICE found him in January 2025, in an Arizona prison, before moving him to an ICE detention center in preparation for deportation. There his poor health was observed, and he was sent, not to any prison, but to Phoenix Specialty Hospital — a real hospital — where he was treated for six months before dying of natural causes.

 Assuming he is the same man is Roberto Carlos Montoya Valdez, he never made it to an ICE facility nor was he murdered. When ICE raided an LA Home Depot, he 

, unpursued, straight into the 210 Freeway in Monrovia, where he was hit by a car.

 A citizen of Vietnam, he was originally granted lawful permanent resident status in the U.S. in 1999, lost that status following a drug crime conviction. Last June, he was detained at Immigration Processing Center in Texas. An LPN there noted his multiple medical conditions, told him to take his insulin every day for diabetes. Phan would not take his insulin. Health care workers there also noted his high cholesterol and prescribed a medication for that, too. He wouldn’t take it. He was found having a seizure and transferred to a hospital where his own next of kin signed a do-not-resuscitate order for him, opting for hospice care instead. Phan died in the hospital when staff withdrew life support for that transfer.

. Vietnamese citizen, originally granted Legal Permanent Resident status in the U.S. in 1983. Convicted of murder in Orange County, Calif., in 1991. By the time he was detained at the El Paso Processing Center last February, he had a host of health problems and he was quickly transferred to the University Medical Center for evaluation, then the Long-Term Acute Care Hospital — a physician-owned hospital — where he stayed for many months, being treated for dementia until he died in the hospital of this condition.

I’m four names in and I’m not finding “PEOPLE KILLED BY TRUMP’S IMMIGRATION AND DEPORTATION PRISONS.” I’m finding people who ICE treated promptly and moved to real hospitals when their health conditions were serious. The records don’t say who paid for their care. I’m assuming that once the federal government assumed responsibility for them, taxpayers paid for everything.

The first three names on the sign have red asterisks, so I assume these are the ones that — iron-clad, all-caps, unequivocally — fall under the “PEOPLE MURDERED BY ICE” heading. Renee Good. Keith Porter. Geraldo Campos. The sign must’ve been made before Alex Pretti’s shooting. Renee Good’s case is familiar to all, and everyone has made up their mind as to murder vs. justifiable homicide vs manslaughter. The other two?

 Killed by an off-duty ICE agent on New Year’s Eve in Carson, Calif., when the agent investigated sounds of gunfire near his apartment and found Porter holding a rifle and shot him. Doesn’t seem related to any question of Porter’s citizenship, or any ICE operation. And as for the circumstances, I’ll just share some California reporting from 

Advocates say Porter had been firing the gun into the air as a way of observing the holiday 

 a practice routinely condemned by law enforcement officials.

"Yes, it was illegal, but at the end of the day, it's an American tradition," said organizer Najee Ali, the director of Project Islamic Hope.

[{"type":"text","text":"I can’t even. Really?"}]

 Cuban, here illegally since 1996, with past convictions in the U.S. for weapons charges, sexual abuse of a child; petit larceny; DUI and drug crimes. Died Jan. 3 in the Camp East Montana ICE facility following some kind of altercation with guards. His death has been 

, it’s unclear where things stand with an investigation to determine if it was murder. Department of Homeland Security says Campos was belligerent and attempting suicide and needed to be restrained, his death accidental. Other detainees claim he was suffocated by guards in the encounter.

And if that’s true, and they were in the wrong, throw the book at them. Just like we would any guard at any Hawai‘i prison that did such a thing. But I wouldn’t take this sign’s word for it, it so far proving to be less than fair and honest.

Green and Hawai‘i lawmakers are not responsible for every word of every sign that might appear in their vicinity. But no sign at this particular event was there by accident. This was a stage-managed event, designed for publicity. In the largest sense, Green, the Hawai‘i lawmakers, and the nonprofits leading the Make Hawai‘i Minneapolis campaign are standing up for these claims as if they were incontrovertible facts. They are just so certain 

 and they’re intent on rushing legislation with fierce urgency. They're doing so with what looks a fairly obvious mix of good, if poorly thought-out, intentions and cynical, politicized grandstanding.

Under such circumstances, maybe stop and think before blindly passing any of these bills.

A. Kam Napier is editor in chief of Aloha State Daily. His opinions in Pipikaula Corner are his own and not reflective of the ASD team.

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20260127 101533 16x9

<title>Pipikaula Corner: Hawai‘i’s proposed anti-ICE laws mimic Minneapolis in the worst ways</title>

On Tuesday, Gov. Green and Hawai‘i lawmakers stood in front of some wild allegations about ICE, and they're about to rush legislation as if every horror story on display were true.

Pipikaula Corner: Hawai‘i’s proposed anti-ICE laws mimic Minneapolis in the worst ways

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Water rates could increase in West Maui, and residents are encouraged to give their two cents at a public hearing on Monday.

In April of 2025, Hawai‘i Water Service Co. Inc., informed the state Public Utilities Commission that it intends to raise water prices in order to meet increased operating expenses.

HWSC General Manager Geoff Fulks recently told customers in a letter Monday that the company needs to make capital improvements to its water and wastewater systems in the Kapalua service area in order to remain in compliance with Department of Health regulations.

In order to defray those costs, HWSC has requested that the PUC approve a $2.2 million revenue increase, which amounts to a 59% increase from current revenue rates. This increase would be accompanied by expense pass-throughs charging customers additional fees to cover the cost of purchasing power and water.

[{"type":"text","text":"The increase would be the first since 2009."}]

According to Fulks’ letter, the new water purchasing charge would amount to an additional $6.18 per 1,000 gallons used, while the power purchasing charge would be $0.19 per 1,000 gallons used.

However, HWSC would also offer a pair of tax credits to customers of about $1.90 per month for water and $2.13 per month for wastewater.

Residents are encouraged to attend a public hearing at 6 p.m. Monday at Maui Preparatory Academy to comment on the rate increase. People can also participate in the meeting remotely and submit comments 

Maui

<title>West Maui water prices may rise</title>

Kapalua residents could see higher water bills as Public Utilities Commission mulls rate hike

West Maui water prices may rise

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

[{"type":"text","text":"Super Bowl Sunday is coming up Feb. 8 at 1:30 p.m."}]

Whether you’re rooting for the Seattle Seahawks or the New England Patriots on Super Bowl Sunday, cheer on your favorite team while feasting on these delicious specials:

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Aloha Mamacita"}]

: Aloha Mamacita is offering a variety of drink and food deals for dine-in and takeout.

[{"type":"text","text":"Drink deals include:"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Food deals include:"}]

: Happy hour will be available from 12 to 6 p.m. (it’s normally only from 3 to 6 p.m.). Take advantage of discounts on cocktails, draft beers, wines and seltzers, and small plates like grilled shishito peppers, spicy meatball, Tuscan hummus, portobello fries and more. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Big City Diner"}]

: Big City Diner’s Super Bowl pūpū platter ($99.99) includes guava barbecue baby back rib bones, spicy guava barbecue chicken wings with bleu cheese dressing, panko breaded calamari with wasabi aioli dipping sauce, roasted garlic bread with cheddar and Jack cheese, and Japanese panko breaded fish with tartar sauce and fresh lemon. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Dell’s Kitchen & Bakery"}]

Customers can enjoy a Super Bowl wings platter ($60), yakisoba noodles ($55), garlic chili chicken ($60) and chicken karaage ($55).

: Pick-up Feb. 8; last day to preorder is Feb. 4 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Kaimukī Shokudo"}]

: Kaimukī Shokudo’s Super Bowl pans are available for preorder; preorders must be two days in advance.

: 2270 Kalākaua Ave. 19th floor, Honolulu 

: Enjoy food and drink specials while watching the game. Tables with a $500 food and beverage minimum for parties up to 10 guests will be available.

Guests can look forward to fan favorites like sliders ($17) and nachos ($20). SKY Waikīkī’s happy hour menu will also be available. Drink specials include buckets of Modelo (five for $30) and buckets of NUTRL (five for $25). Walk-ins are welcome.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Souza’s Fish House"}]

: Choose from a variety of sashimi bentos, sashimi platters or poke by the pound. Choose from:

: Tanioka’s Seafoods & Catering is offering a variety of platters available for pre-orders. Choose from:

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"The LookOut Food & Drink"}]

: Guests are invited to The LookOut Food & Drink’s football watch party. Enjoy Game Day drink deals like pitchers of beer ($20), Corona buckets ($20) and Sun Cruiser buckets ($30). The LookOut’s multiple viewing areas will accommodate guests watching the game; reservations are recommended, but walk-in seating dining and bar seating will be available. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"The Pizza Press Pearl City"}]

: Enjoy a variety of food and drink specials. Drink specials include $5 Jameson, $5 Fireballs and $5 select draft beers, $25 buckets of beers and $20 draft pitchers.

Food specials include two pizzas and 10 chicken wings ($49). 

: The steakhouse is offering a Super Bowl set ($32) that includes any beer from the eatery’s menu and a Super Bowl special burger. 

Super Bowl 2026 Sky Waikiki 013026

<title>Where to eat on Super Bowl Sunday 2026</title>

No matter what team you’re cheering for, we’ve got dining options for the big game.

Where to eat on Super Bowl Sunday 2026

 — known for its Brooklyn-style and deep-dish Detroit pizzas in a casual environment — announced via 

 that the restaurant would be temporarily closed to “give its place a facelift.”

The eatery reopened last November with a renovated interior space and a few new dishes on the menu.

The restaurant’s bar area is refurbished and boasts a modern look (the former window that gave a customers a glimpse into the kitchen is gone).

The eatery also added new appetizers and salads to the menu, along with more desserts.

New appetizers include Mamma’s meatballs ($14) and garlic knots ($9); both come with Mamo marinara sauce.

The meatballs are made in-house and include three per order. Not only are they generous in size, but they’re also tender and flavorful — not dry in the least, thanks to the ample amount of marinara.

Of the two salads — the pepperoni wedge ($15) and the Big A-- salad ($15) — the latter is more popular. It features Waipoli baby romaine and red cabbage with shaved carrots, Grana Padano, croutons and Jersey girl vin, which is red wine vinegar-based dressing with extra-virgin olive oil and Grana Padano cheese.

Pepperoni lovers will adore the eatery's twist on the classic wedge, as the iceberg lettuce is topped with a generous amount of pepperoni, Italian breadcrumbs, cherry tomatoes and Ms. In’s Ranch. Besides the pepperoni, the crunchy, buttery Italian breadcrumbs make this salad a must-have.

The eatery still serves select New York-style pizzas by the slice, including classic cheese ($5), pepperoni ($5.50), ‘shroom ($5.50), and garlic bomb ($5.50).

Pizza Mamo’s deep-dish Detroit-style (square-shaped) pizzas are only available as whole pies ($25-$33); choose from cheese, pepperoni, sausage pesto or honey creeper.

New desserts include various flavors of Double Fat Ice Cream ($10), including real dark chocolate, brown sugar vanilla and a rotating flavor of the month. If you want something to-go, though, go for the soft, chewy brown butter chocolate cookies ($3.50) that are baked in-house.

If you see the cookies, be sure to snag one — we’re told they’re a fan favorite and tend to sell out.

Open 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 2-8 p.m. Sundays 

Pizza Mamo new food 012926

<title>Pizza Mamo updates its interior and menu</title>

Last October, the Chinatown eatery announced via social media that it was temporarily closing to “give its place a facelift.” The restaurant reopened around mid November with a refurbished bar area — and a few new dishes on the menu.

Pizza Mamo updates its interior and menu

ASD icon blue inverse lighter

ASD Staff

Daily Smile

[{"type":"text","text":"\"This is the largest stick Daisy has ever selected to bring home...\""}]

Smile 26 1 28

<title>Daily Smile: Wednesday, January 28, 2026</title>

"This is the largest stick Daisy has ever selected to bring home..."

Daily Smile: Wednesday, January 28, 2026

IMG 1445

Rick Hamada

Protesters on O‘ahu rallied against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on this past Sunday over two shooting deaths in Minnesota that happened just weeks apart.

Organizers called the demonstration at the intersection of Atkinson Drive and Ala Moana Boulevard an “emergency protest,” and demanded justice for 

Alex Pretti, 37, a U.S. citizen who was shot and killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis

 agents tried to disarm him, and he resisted, and an officer fired defensive shots out of fear for his life and the safety of other agents.

It is the most incendiary news cycle since the nation was roused by the death George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement. With the passing of time and developments in this story, there was so much that emerged that revealed more truth. We are witnessing a variation on a theme in Minnesota but what is a common thread is the sweeping emotional narrative leading to a greater division in our country.

[{"type":"text","text":"First things first."}]

There is no joy surrounding the Pretti or Good stories. I lament the loss of life, the impact to their families and friends and the continuing divisions plaguing our country. We have been treated to personalized stories of each including backgrounds, families, occupations and more. 

I am not decrying the access to media those close to Pretti and Good have used to share their messages. As anyone of us who has experienced such grievous loss can attest that it is a painful and regretful experience. And to lose a loved one at the hands of law enforcement is not something I can relate to because that has never happened to me. But empathetically speaking, I can imagine their losses were exacerbated learning their deaths were at the hands of ICE agents.

[{"type":"text","text":"The as of now, unsolved questions are how and why. "}]

But there are so very many who have reached their own conclusions and this is on both sides. I am of the mind to opine on what we do know and hold accusations and assumptions until there is a verifiable explanation and conclusion by verifiable sources.

However I do maintain there is voluminous reporting and social media posts that present one side to the overall story of ICE. I hope to provide another side to what is for so many the accepted overall narrative regarding ICE, its operations and news coverage. 

[{"type":"text","text":"Some key points."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"\"ICE agents are untrained.\""}]

"The basic training for an ICE agent - ICE-D is a 13-week Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) integrated basic training program that consists of both FLETC and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) training. FLETC training includes three written examinations. You are required to obtain a 70% or better on all FLETC written examinations. ICE training includes four written examinations. You are required to obtain a 70% or better on all ICE written examinations," per the 

. There are requirements for speaking Spanish, physical conditioning and more. 

DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a written statement that ICE officer candidates receive extensive training over eight weeks in courses that include conflict management and de-escalation. She said many of the candidates are military veterans, and about 85% have previous law enforcement experience. “All ICE candidates are subject to months of rigorous training and selection at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, where they are trained in everything from de-escalation tactics to firearms to driving training. Homeland Security Investigations candidates receive more than 100 days of specialized training," she 

I understand there will be those who take exception to the aforementioned retort to ICE officers "are not trained." There are counter arguments from those in various spaces that will denounce the quality of training. As I mentioned before, I would rather base my opinion on what is verifiable. With the two pieces of official data from the DHS, the statements can be vetted for accuracy. I have not seen any discrediting of this training protocol except news reports citing politicians and academia for their opinions.  

[{"type":"text","text":"\"ICE should be eliminated.\""}]

More Americans now support abolishing ICE than keeping it.

found that 46% want to eliminate ICE, compared to 43% who support preserving it.

Polling data is some of the most easily manipulated information anywhere. It's the pool of those polled, it's the phrasing of the question, and both are areas where it's controllable to reach a specific conclusion. Case in point; political polling during an election year. Candidates will often cite their own "internal" polling for a specific result. It's literally a selfie in a snapshot of time where emotions will supersede a true preponderance of questions posed. As an example, where is the margin of error in the above cited poll numbers where there is only a 3% difference? Exactly.

 "ICE is targeting minorities and even children in separating families."

The mission of ICE is to protect America from cross-border crime and illegal immigration that threaten national security and public safety through 

criminal investigations and enforcing immigration laws, combating threats like terrorism, trafficking, and illicit movement of people and goods, and upholding immigration integrity.

ICE accomplishes this by enforcing over 400 federal statutes, with key functions including immigration enforcement, investigations and removals, focusing on criminals, national security threats and maintaining lawful immigration.

[{"type":"text","text":"\"ICE is too rough with enforcement.\""}]

I would counter that agitators among genuine protesters are too rough with ICE agents/officers.

Now, before you start rolling your eyes and yelling at your screen, simply consider the following.

I began this column referring to local protests being staged on Ala Moana Boulevard near the harbor. According to reports, hundreds attended, and you know what happened? 

No confrontations, no traffic snarling or blockages, no illegal and classless behavior to law enforcement.

[{"type":"text","text":"But you know what else happened? "}]

Those who have grievances regarding the Minnesota stories and who oppose ICE and DHS successfully protested. Their peaceful congregation, respect for motorists, bikers and pedestrians, and law enforcement countered the actions in other parts of the Mainland. And their message was delivered and received via local news coverage and more.

Side note: Kudos to Hawai‘i News Now's A‘ali‘i Dukolow for his well chronicled and well balanced story pertaining to a controversial and multi-layered story.

I know there are those that are saddened to being outraged at what is taking place in our country. You have every right to believe what you believe, to speak out on what you believe and even proselytize others to believe what you believe. But we don't have the right to escalate, to assault, to berate and spew hatred to ICE or any other law enforcement officers.

[{"type":"text","text":"Commit crimes, no."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Final thought regarding protesting and not inflaming."}]

When you are taking to the streets either here or there ask yourself one question.

[{"type":"text","text":"Am I making my kids proud? "}]

[{"type":"text","text":"This is a rule of thumb all sides should embrace."}]

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Protest i Stock 2230731637

<title>Hamada: Something important happened at Honolulu's anti-ICE protest</title>

No violence at all. What we see happening on the Mainland isn't the way things need to be.

Hamada: Something important happened at Honolulu's anti-ICE protest

Maxx Ramos

Maxx Ramos grew up on Oʻahu and currently works in tech. She is a lifelong learner who is passionate about social justice, storytelling and art.

<title>Maxx Ramos</title>

Hawaii History

A personal essay discovering how parts of Hawaiʻi’s past — houses and the land they sit on — are preserved, and a recommendation to the state for its future.

Maxx Ramos

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Community Voices: Who decides what is historic?

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