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Maui fire settlement back in court over lawyers' fees
Attorneys challenge $4 billion settlement to victims of the 2023 wildfires
Michael BrestovanskySeptember 16, 2026

Hoʻolauleʻa, Mid-Autumn Festival, and more: Your guide to the weekend on Oʻahu
Listen to live music at Hoʻolauʻleʻa in Waikīkī, watch a sea turtle crafted from recycled cardboard float across the stage at Hawaiʻi Theatre, or create a lantern at the Mid-Autumn Festival in Chinatown. Ready to make plans for the weekend? Aloha State Daily has you covered!
Katie HellandSeptember 16, 2026

Pritchett Cartoon: AI panic ...
John PritchettSeptember 16, 2026

Kohanaiki has closed more than $100M in sales this year
The 450-acre private club and residential community is located on Hawai‘i Island's Kona Coast.
Stephanie SalmonsSeptember 16, 2026

Saint Louis football makes coaching change
Leonard Lau will immediately take over as interim head coach for the Crusaders after Tupu Alualu was let go by the school on Monday.
Christian ShimabukuSeptember 15, 2026

Jessica’s Restaurant is now open in Kapolei
The business, known for its local-style Filipino comfort foods, recently moved from ʻAiea to Kapolei. Jessica’s Restaurant has added Italian dishes — ranging from chicken fettucine alfredo to garlic shrimp linguine — to its menu, and plans to eventually open until 2 a.m.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 15, 2026

Pipikaula Corner: Hawai‘i's tourism hypocrisy
An awful lot of us think tourists do nothing here but "extract" and "exploit" the Islands and their people. But guess what we do the minute we have two weeks off?
A. Kam NapierSeptember 15, 2026

Neighbors is a new bakeshop pop-up in Honolulu
Owned by Sean Miguel and Mehana Coen, Neighbors Bakeshop opened in July and pops up at events across Oʻahu. The biz specializes in cookies and cinnamon rolls; you can catch Neighbors at fishcake in Kakaʻako every other Wednesday.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 15, 2026

Community Voices: A Fair Tax
Legislators are already gearing for the next legislative session — including new tax policies. This week, Tom Yamachika, president of the Tax Foundation of Hawai‘i, writes about how they could bring more fairness to taxes in Hawai‘i, along with insights into why "fair taxes" can be so difficult to define.
Tom YamachikaSeptember 15, 2026

Community Voices: Building a more free and prosperous Hawai‘i — together
Grassroot Institute of Hawai‘i just celebrated its 25th anniversary. President and CEO Keli‘i Akina, Ph.D., reflects on the organization's successes at building consensus around positive policy changes for Hawai‘i.
Keliʻi AkinaSeptember 15, 2026

Bill passed by City Council would allow farmers markets in underutilized parks
The Honolulu City Council passed a bill on Wednesday that would allow the Department of Parks and Recreation to permit nonprofit organizations to host farmers markets and food distribution events in underutilized public parks.
Haley LehmanSeptember 15, 2026

Hawaiʻi’s $300,000 transit-oriented development trip should go to Japan
Lawmakers and state staff have $300,000 to fly somewhere and study development around rail stations. ASD opinion columnist Sterling Higa on why the trip is worth taking, why Singapore and Vienna are the wrong models, and why Hawaiʻi should book Tokyo and stay long enough to make a friend.
Sterling HigaSeptember 15, 2026

At Lahaina bakery Papi's ‘Ohana, every pastry is a blessing
Behind every fresh cinnamon roll is days of work and love at this family-run business. Lahaina-based Papi’s ʻOhana, known for its huge, warm cinnamon rolls, celebrated its fourth anniversary this summer. Aloha State Daily recently caught up with chef David and Linda Escobar, who tell us more about the bakery’s early days, how it got its name, and what lies ahead for 2027.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 15, 2026

National Voter Registration Day Tuesday, Sep. 15
Get ready for the 2026 Elections at elections.hawaii.gov!
September 15, 2026

This week only: CANstuction sculptures on display in Downtown Honolulu
This year's theme "CANtennial: Design of the Decades!" honors AIA Hawai‘i's 100th anniversary. You can find the sculptures at the Downtown Honolulu branch of Central Pacific Bank, located within Central Pacific Plaza.
Stephanie SalmonsSeptember 15, 2026

Legislation may be key to future of Satoru Abe sculpture at Aloha Stadium
The fate of a sculpture by Satoru Abe, a Guggenheim Fellow and well-known sculptor, painter and printmaker who died in 2025, was a subject of debate last week at the Hawaiʻi State Foundation on Culture and the Arts’ general board meeting. Commissioners discussed options to move or decommission the artwork.
Katie HellandSeptember 15, 2026

Kale’s Hale is offering $10 bentos for the next three months
The Kalihi-based restaurant — known for its all-you-can-eat Hawaiian fusion yakiniku experience — recently started offering $10 bentos starting at 10 a.m., according to chef/owner Kale Afong. Sometimes, the restaurant opens from 7 a.m. to start selling bentos. The $10 deal will be available for the next three months.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 14, 2026

Late gamble pays off as Hawai‘i football earns first victory of 2026 season
A late fourth down touchdown ultimately sealed UH's 29-19 win over New Mexico State, its first victory of the year.
Christian ShimabukuSeptember 13, 2026

2026 NFL season kicks off for Hawai‘i's best
Over 20 players with ties to the Islands are on active NFL rosters to begin the season.
Christian ShimabukuSeptember 12, 2026

Hawaiʻi remembers 9/11: annual day of remembrance honors fallen and first responders
Hawaiʻi leaders and residents honored the 2,977 victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, including people with connections to Hawaiʻi, during a ceremony at the Honolulu Hale on Friday evening.
Haley LehmanSeptember 12, 2026

WWE to hold tryouts prior to October live shows
The pro wrestling organization will hold a pair of live shows at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center in October. Prior to those, it will host tryouts for prospective athletes, who must register online by Sept. 15 before showing up.
Christian ShimabukuSeptember 12, 2026

Kaua‘i recovery makes progress as schools reopen
Nearly 75% of power outages restored after Lowell.
Michael BrestovanskySeptember 12, 2026

Retailers say fines for illegal peddling are too low
The Honolulu City Council is considering a bill that would increase the fines for unlawful peddling on Oʻahu.
Haley LehmanSeptember 12, 2026
Chinatown 808's Mid-Autumn Festival returns
Also known as the Moon Festival, Chinatown 808’s Annual Mid-Autumn Festival includes a parade, lantern-making contest, and more than 30 food or craft vendors, plus activities for keiki and live entertainment. The festival is an opportunity to celebrate the moon and exchange wishes for good fortune.
Katie HellandSeptember 12, 2026