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The Kini Room is open in this redesigned Waikīkī resort
The Kini Room is the new signature restaurant at renovated Ka La‘i Waikīkī Beach, LXR Hotels & Resorts. The 86-seat open-air space features a refined dining experience inspired by global culinary traditions and modern Hawaiʻi. Customer favorites so far include the lemongrass lamb shank, double rainbow roll, and Kini Kini Pie — along with the eatery’s daily sunset happy hour.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 28, 2026
HCAN rings in 30 years with fundraiser, renewed future plans
Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network turns 30 this year and recently celebrated champions for children in the community and its work to provide local keiki and families what they need to succeed in the Islands at a decades-themed fundraising gala. At the event, HCAN Executive Director John-Paul Chaisson-Cárdenas also shared the organization’s path forward into the next decade.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosSeptember 28, 2026
Brown Butter Delights is a new porch bakery
Business owner Kristy Caldwell has always loved baking, and started Brown Butter Delights in 2024. Her goal was to create familiar treats, but to use brown butter to give them “something extra.”
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 28, 2026
Third Hui Kapili cohort launches
Hui Kapili began in 2024 and works to address the state's construction labor shortage and foster sustainable growth in the industry. The 11 companies selected for the third cohort represent a range of construction-related specialties across the Islands.
Stephanie SalmonsSeptember 28, 2026
Community Voices: Dear Mr. Paxton, pay your taxes
Paxton owns some property on Maui, according to reporting from a university affiliated news organization in Texas and Maui County property records. And the trust that manages his island home hasn’t paid his taxes.
Tom YamachikaSeptember 27, 2026
Side Street Inn’s new location is open
The eatery, known for its local comfort food and generous portions, closed its Kapahulu location in April. Side Street Inn’s new location is on Beach Walk in Waikīkī; customers can take advantage of a kamaʻāina discount and validated parking.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 27, 2026
Hawai‘i football out of sync in lifeless loss to rival Wyoming
The Rainbow Warriors lost the Paniolo Trophy with a 27-10 defeat to the Cowboys on Saturday.
Christian ShimabukuSeptember 27, 2026
Filmmakers reflect on bringing Hawaiʻi to New York
The recent Pacific Island Film Festival, held in New York City, included stories filmed in Hawaiʻi, which reached audiences almost 5,000 miles from where the cameras rolled.
Katie HellandSeptember 26, 2026
$830,000 in debt forgiveness available for Hawai‘i residents after settlement
Multi-state settlement with Credit Acceptance Corp. offers Hawai‘i borrowers a piece of a $694 million pie
Michael BrestovanskySeptember 26, 2026
Hawai‘i football looks to hold on to Paniolo Trophy against Wyoming
The Rainbow Warriors and Cowboys look to vault themselves back into Mountain West Conference contention in their annual rivalry game.
Christian ShimabukuSeptember 26, 2026
Punahou School senior earns Congressional Award Gold Medal
Jessica Lee, a senior at Punahou, was awarded the highest honor presented to young people by the U.S. Congress in August for her achievement in voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness and leadership.
Haley LehmanSeptember 26, 2026
Oakberry Hawaiʻi is opening its newest location with free acai bowls
The acai bowl business is celebrating its grand opening on Sept. 26 at Waiānuenue at Kapaʻakea in Mōʻiliʻili. The store — which opens at 10 a.m. — is the first business to open at newly revitalized Waiānuenue at Kapaʻakea (formerly known as Varsity Center). The first 100 customers will get free acai bowls; customers can also enjoy 50% off for the remainder of grand opening day.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 25, 2026
These Hawai‘i coffee shops, distilleries are nominated for 10Best lists
The USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Awards aim to rank the 10 best in several areas of travel and lifestyle. Nominees are chosen with the help of a panel of experts but the final 10 will be determined by voters.
Stephanie SalmonsSeptember 25, 2026
Community Voices: Getting into tax court
The moral of the story is this: if you have, or think you may have, a dispute with the Tax Department over taxes, get yourself a good tax practitioner who knows the rules and traps so you can skirt the edges and avoid falling into the pitfalls. And then, of course, lawmakers need to take a look at these rules and change them to get rid of the unfairness.
Tom YamachikaSeptember 25, 2026
Community Voices: How Honolulu can learn from Auckland
In Auckland, New Zealand, for example, officials in 2016 authorized up to three dwellings per lot in residential areas and taller apartment buildings in certain transit areas. Homebuilding there boomed as a result, and the city issued 112,000 permits for new dwellings in the six years after the sweeping reforms were enacted, increasing the housing stock by 20%.
Keliʻi AkinaSeptember 25, 2026
Zarina Dessert Studio’s viral fruit desserts are now in Kapolei
The online dessert shop’s fruit-shaped confections are now available at HI Cravings’ Co-Op in Kapolei. The fruit desserts feature a white chocolate crunchy shell with a ganache filling inside; popular flavors include mango, pina colada, pistachio, banana and coffee caramel.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 25, 2026
Cae’s Smash and Grindz is a new smashburger biz
The business, which pops up at events across Oʻahu, celebrated its grand opening in July. Cae’s Smash and Grindz is known for its smashburgers with ube buns; the business’s bacon and mushroom smash is its bestseller and most popular dish.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 25, 2026
Storms and war, make for gloomy economic forecast, UHERO reports
State's economic future uncertain as interest rates and fuel costs soar.
Michael BrestovanskySeptember 25, 2026
Preseason practices underway for Hawai‘i women's basketball under new head coach
The Rainbow Wahine and their first-time head coach Khalilah Mitchell are entering a new era and conference ahead of the 2026-2027 season.
Christian ShimabukuSeptember 25, 2026
UPDATED: Chinatown Cultural Plaza to be razed, redeveloped
The center, owned by the Taiwan government, will be demolished and redeveloped after a years-long push by the City and County of Honolulu to improve the site. Over the past 50 years, Chinatown Cultural Plaza has “carried forward our unique cultural traditions and preserved the shared memories of Honolulu,” said the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Honolulu. Its tenants received end of lease termination notices and must vacate the premises by the end of March 2027.
Haley LehmanSeptember 25, 2026
Mele for Maui gets encore broadcast on Hawaiʻi News Now
Did you miss the free concert featuring Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra’s first performance on Maui in a decade last weekend? This Sunday, you can catch the encore broadcast of the event, which features guest artists, such as Keola Beamer, Amy Hānaiali‘i and John Cruz, on Hawaiʻi News Now.
Katie HellandSeptember 25, 2026
Kanaka Maoli author talks story at Native Books
Tori Eldridge is a Broadway dancer turned fifth-degree black belt who decided to become a novelist when she turned 50 years old. This week, she explores her latest books, which are set in Hawaiʻi, and hosts a 90-minute writing workshop as part of a stop at Native Books in Chinatown on Sunday, Sept. 27.
Katie HellandSeptember 25, 2026
Hamada: There are times when a visit to the stream of consciousness
ASD columnist Rick Hamada shares woes about more impending storms along with Honolulu horror stories, hidden gems and small town issues. He even shares recommendations for new music by a young Phuket artist and TV shows highlighting talent.
Rick HamadaSeptember 25, 2026
Hawaiʻi Republican Party should put Hawaiʻi first, not the national brand
Can my kids afford to stay? Who will care for my mother? ASD opinion columnist Sterling Higa on why Hawaiʻi Republicans should start with the questions local families ask.
Sterling HigaSeptember 25, 2026