Latest News
News
New Kamana Kitchen 3 opens in Kailua
The eatery — which has locations in downtown Honolulu and Kapahulu — recently opened in Kailua Shopping Center. The biz prides itself on serving authentic Indian cuisine using traditional recipes. Customer favorites range from butter chicken and mango lassi to tandoori chicken.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaFebruary 24, 2026
Kaula Lūʻau launches in Ko Olina this week
A new immersive cultural performance that is a partnership between Hawaiian Council and Ko Olina Resort will debut on Friday, Feb. 27, in West Oʻahu. Kūhiō Lewis, president and CEO of Hawaiian Council, shares how the idea for the production started with a lunch meeting.
Katie HellandFebruary 24, 2026
Kaiser strike ends after nearly one month
Registered nurses and health care professionals at Moanalua Medical Center will return to work Tuesday after stalled negotiations resume.
Michael BrestovanskyFebruary 24, 2026
Maui United Way seeks community input for strategic plan
The organization has launched a survey for Maui County residents to help inform its next steps. The deadline is March 6, and it takes 5-10 minutes to complete. Aloha State Daily caught up with CEO Jeeyun Lee about the purpose of this outreach method and ongoing priorities for the year ahead.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosFebruary 24, 2026
James Beard Foundation collaboration dinner coming to Waikīkī
Beachhouse at the Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa, and Azure Restaurant at The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort, are featuring dinner menus from a sold-out James Beard Foundation event last month in New York City. These “Modern-Day Lūʻau” experiences will be available in Honolulu for a limited time.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaFebruary 24, 2026
Community Voices: Reviving Hawaiʻi’s extreme sport
Tom Pōhaku Stone, a waterman, cultural practitioner and educator, brought back heʻe hōlua, or land sledding, and is considered to be Hawaiʻi’s foremost expert in the sport. For the last 30 years, Stone has ridden his papa hōlua (sled) on ancient hōlua slides and grassy hills across the pae‘āina.
Puanani Fernandez-AkamineFebruary 23, 2026
Community Voices: Use that hoarded tuition and fees now
If this special fund – almost $429 million as of June 2025 – cannot be deployed now by The University of Hawaiʻi, lawmakers will try to beat it out of the taxpayers, now.
Tom YamachikaFebruary 23, 2026
Hawai‘i cornerback Caleb "C-Bo" Brown is back like he never left
Brown played for the Rainbow Warriors from 2023 to 2024 before transferring to Virginia Tech in 2025. In 2026, he's back where his heart belongs.
Christian ShimabukuFebruary 23, 2026
New Vietnamese cafe opens in Kakaʻako
Rollin’ Rolls Cafe opened recently in the former space of Hibachi Honolulu, next to Mad Pie in Kakaʻako. The biz offers a variety of spring and summer rolls, banh mi sandwiches and Vietnamese coffees.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaFebruary 23, 2026
The week ahead in Hawai‘i sports: UH women's basketball closes out home slate
The Rainbow Wahine have won 10 of their last 11 games heading into their final pair of home games.
Christian ShimabukuFebruary 23, 2026
Hawai‘i men's basketball triumphs over UC Santa Barbara on AC Carter night
The Rainbow Warriors prevailed over the Gauchos in overtime in front of a season-high crowd.
Christian ShimabukuFebruary 22, 2026
Hawai‘i baseball wins on Les Murakami Hall of Fame night
The Rainbow Warriors honored their legendary coach before improving to 5-1 for the 2026 season on Friday night.
Christian ShimabukuFebruary 21, 2026
Mauna Kea leases could get 10-year extension under proposed bill
Bill progressing in the state Legislature could allow the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority to extend Mauna Kea master lease by 10 years.
Michael BrestovanskyFebruary 21, 2026
Executive Vineyards 2026 is coming this March
The annual fundraising event for the Shidler College of Business Alumni Association will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort. Here’s a sneak peek of the restaurant line-up.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaFebruary 21, 2026
Pipikaula Corner: State government is the hazard
The Legislature said it was going to tackle Hawai‘i's affordability crisis. In killing tax relief on our grocery purchases, it's doing the opposite. Meanwhile, it's commandeering hundreds of millions to pay its own workers hazard pay for the Covid years.
A. Kam NapierFebruary 21, 2026
State Archives receive century-old Portuguese immigration records
The Portuguese Consulate in San Francisco gifted the state scans of immigration data from between 1878 and 1934.
Michael BrestovanskyFebruary 21, 2026
New Korean grocery store open in Honolulu
You Me Mart just soft opened on Ke‘eaumoku Street. The business is located in the same space as French-Korean bakery TOUS les JOURS, in the former Ross space.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaFebruary 21, 2026
Rail construction to cause extended traffic adjustments along Dillingham Boulevard, Kamehameha Highway
The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation and Tutor Perini Corp. will implement a revised traffic plan for the roadways, beginning with a section of road between Middle Street and Pu‘uhale Road.
Stephanie SalmonsFebruary 21, 2026
New weekday dinner buffet at Prince Waikīkī
100 Sails Restaurant & Bar just launched a new chef selection dinner buffet, available from 5 to 9 p.m. Mondays to Wednesdays. This buffet costs $62 per adult; instead of action stations like prime rib or sushi handrolls, it features specialty items like roasted beef tri tip, guava barbecue pork ribs, mushroom risotto and more.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaFebruary 20, 2026
Honolulu’s Rachel Chai talks caregiving
Chai, a mother of two, has more than a decade of experience as a caregiver, most recently with Griswold Home Care for Oʻahu. She was recently named a recipient of the company’s winter caregiver scholarship for National Caregivers Day, which will go toward her master’s degree in social work.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosFebruary 20, 2026
AI music regulations, a state symphony, and more in these bills to watch
Aloha State Daily rounded up some bills that lawmakers are considering this legislative session. Those measures include proposed laws that could bring musical performances to patrons of the public library system and students in public schools. There is also an initiative to designate the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra as the State of Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra.
Katie HellandFebruary 20, 2026
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel debuts $180M renovation
The hotel says this is the “most extensive transformation in the property’s 60-year history.”
Stephanie SalmonsFebruary 20, 2026
Tax on groceries to stay, for now
One proposal to scale back the General Excise Tax on groceries and nonprescription drugs has died in the Legislature although another still stands.
Michael BrestovanskyFebruary 20, 2026
New seafood restaurant opens at Pier 38
Located in the former space of Nami Kaze Hawaiʻi at Pier 38, Thirty Eight restaurant just opened to the public for dinner. The menu focuses on fresh seafood; customers can enjoy dishes like hamachi crudo, poke crackers, shrimp toast, and a fried whole moi.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaFebruary 19, 2026