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News from October 28, 2025

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Game Of Thrones Actor Isaac Hempstead Wright Ties The Knot, See Dreamy Photos
Technology

Game Of Thrones Actor Isaac Hempstead Wright Ties The Knot, See Dreamy Photos

Game of Thrones star Isaac Hempstead Wright, best known for his role as Bran Stark, has officially tied the knot, and fans are swooning over the romantic photos he shared from the celebration. (Image: IMDb) The 26-year-old actor announced his marriage to his longtime partner, affectionately referred to as “M,” via Instagram, giving followers a glimpse into their private London wedding. (Image: Instagram) The wedding was a low-key affair held in London, attended by close friends and family. Isaac posted several candid shots from the day, including one of the couple beaming with joy as guests showered them with flower petals. (Image: Instagram) Another heartwarming image shows the newlyweds being lifted into the air by loved ones, capturing the celebratory spirit of the occasion. (Image: Instagram) In his caption, Isaac wrote: “The best person I have ever met, the best day of my life, the best friends and family we could ever ask for. What a day, what a life—I love you M.” The actor chose not to reveal his partner’s full name, maintaining a sense of privacy while still sharing his happiness with the world. (Image: Instagram) Isaac looked dapper in a tailored suit by designer Paul Smith, which he personally thanked in his post. The couple’s style was understated yet elegant, perfectly matching the intimate tone of the ceremony. (Image: Instagram) The photos reflect a blend of classic charm and modern romance, with soft lighting, natural smiles, and genuine emotion throughout. (Image: Instagram) From his early days as the boy who fell from a tower in Westeros to becoming the ruler of the realm, Isaac Hempstead Wright has grown up in front of millions. His wedding marks a new chapter—one filled with love, privacy, and personal joy. The actor’s decision to share these moments with fans while keeping key details private speaks to his grounded nature and respect for both his career and personal life. (Image: Instagram) The wedding announcement sparked a wave of congratulations from Isaac’s Game of Thrones co-stars. Sophie Turner, Gwendoline Christie, and Lena Headey were among those who commented with heartfelt messages and emojis, celebrating the milestone with their former castmate. (Image: Instagram) Fans also chimed in, dubbing the couple the “King and Queen of the Seven Kingdoms” in reference to Isaac’s iconic role as Bran Stark, who ascended to the Iron Throne in the series finale. (Image: Instagram)

News18,Priyanka Das,Sujata.singh
What Is One of the Best Tech Stocks to Buy Right Now?
Technology

What Is One of the Best Tech Stocks to Buy Right Now?

The tech sector is doing well this year, with the Nasdaq-100 index up 21%, ahead of the S&P 500's 15% return. That growth has made tech stocks expensive. Overall, the Nasdaq-100 is trading at 39 times earnings. There are exceptions, with Alphabet (GOOG +3.60%)(GOOGL +3.62%) being one of the biggest examples. The company that owns Google is trading at 28 times earnings, and with its recent moves, it's looking like one of the best tech stocks to buy right now. Alphabet is winning the AI race The fear for Alphabet was that artificial intelligence (AI), particularly chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude, would cut into its search business. But Alphabet is usually able to take a leading position in major tech markets. It has the world's top search engine (Google), browser (Chrome), and mobile operating system (Android). Alphabet has quickly turned AI into a point of strength, as well. Its AI Overviews feature has 2 billion monthly users, and the Google Gemini app has 450 million monthly active users, as reported on the company's second-quarter earnings call. In addition, Google and AI company Anthropic just announced an exciting partnership agreement. The cloud partnership gives Anthropic access to up to 1 million of Google's custom-designed Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), and it's reportedly worth tens of billions of dollars. It's another sizable source of revenue for Alphabet, which produced $73 billion in free cash flow last year. The deal also reinforces Google as one of the top providers of AI infrastructure, in addition to its other AI products. Statista is projecting that the AI market will grow by 37% per year through 2031. Alphabet will likely remain at the forefront of AI technology, and combined with its other businesses, it's well positioned to outperform the market.

Lyle Daly
Opinion | How Hamas Damaged The Palestinian Cause: Tragic Betrayal Of A Just Struggle
Technology

Opinion | How Hamas Damaged The Palestinian Cause: Tragic Betrayal Of A Just Struggle

For decades, the Palestinian struggle for statehood has been one of the most compelling human rights causes of the modern era—a people seeking freedom, dignity, and sovereignty in their homeland. But in recent years, and especially after the October 7, 2023, event, the global perception of this cause has been deeply tarnished. The main reason for this erosion of sympathy lies in the actions and ideology of Hamas, a group whose pursuit of power has not only devastated Gaza but has also undermined the moral and diplomatic foundations of the Palestinian movement itself. From Resistance to Extremism Hamas was founded in 1987 during the First Intifada, emerging as an offshoot of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood. Initially, it claimed to represent “armed resistance” against Israeli occupation, a rhetoric that resonated with many Palestinians weary of displacement and oppression. However, over time, Hamas’s actions revealed a much darker agenda rooted in extremism, intolerance, and the rejection of peaceful coexistence. Instead of building a political framework or a vision for a viable Palestinian state, Hamas invested its energy in militarisation. Its charter, steeped in theocratic language, rejected the very idea of Israel’s existence. This not only alienated potential international allies but also placed Hamas outside the global consensus that supports a two-State solution—the very foundation of legitimate Palestinian diplomacy. October 7: A Turning Point The October 7, 2023 attack, in which Hamas militants crossed into Israel, killing civilians and taking hostages, was a moral and strategic disaster. For Palestinians, it reversed decades of diplomatic progress and destroyed international sympathy painstakingly built over years. Global public opinion, which had increasingly recognised the injustices of occupation and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, suddenly shifted. Hamas’s brutality targeting civilians, children, and families blurred the line between resistance and terrorism in the eyes of the world. Western governments, previously divided on Israel’s actions, rallied almost unanimously behind Tel Aviv’s right to self-defence. The result: Gaza became the epicentre of destruction, with thousands of innocent Palestinians paying the price for Hamas’s recklessness. Hamas’s greatest betrayal lies in how it has hijacked the Palestinian cause for its own ideological survival. Instead of focusing on governance, development, or diplomacy, Hamas turned Gaza into a fortress of fear. Billions in international aid meant for reconstruction and welfare were diverted to build tunnels, stockpile weapons, and maintain a private militia. In the name of “resistance”, Hamas suppressed dissent, silenced civil society, and persecuted its political rivals, particularly members of Fatah and the Palestinian Authority. The result has been the creation of a divided Palestine Gaza under Hamas’s authoritarian control and the West Bank under a weakened Palestinian Authority. This division has crippled any unified Palestinian strategy and allowed Israel to argue that there is “no credible partner for peace”. Before Hamas’s rise, the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) under great Leader Yasser Arafat had managed to gain recognition as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. It secured observer status at the United Nations, established diplomatic missions worldwide, and helped the global community understand that the Palestinian issue was one of justice and human rights. Hamas reversed that narrative. Its violence gave Israel and its allies justification to brand the entire Palestinian struggle as extremist. Western nations that once pressured Israel to curb settlements and negotiate peace now focus almost exclusively on counter-terrorism. Even Arab states, once the bedrock of Palestinian solidarity, have grown wary, prioritising their own national interests and peace deals with Israel over the stagnant Palestinian issue. Perhaps the most tragic outcome of Hamas’s actions is the human cost. Gaza’s civilian population has borne unimaginable suffering, displacement, starvation, and death while Hamas’s leadership often operates from tunnels or foreign capitals. Their strategy thrives on perpetual conflict, knowing that civilian casualties bring global outrage against Israel. In doing so, Hamas effectively uses Palestinians as human shields, weaponising their suffering for political leverage. The group’s obsession with martyrdom and confrontation has left little room for pragmatism or compassion. Every rocket fired, every militant act, distances Palestinians further from the dream of statehood. Ball Is In Hamas’s Court On Gaza Peace Plan Now that a new Gaza peace plan is taking shape, the world watches to see whether Hamas will choose diplomacy over destruction. The opportunity for a lasting truce, perhaps the first real one in years, depends largely on the group’s willingness to move beyond its militant reflexes. Israel, Egypt, Qatar, and the US have all indicated cautious optimism, but peace cannot be imposed; it must be embraced. If Hamas truly claims to represent the aspirations of the Palestinian people, then it must prioritise rebuilding Gaza’s shattered society over fuelling endless warfare. The coming days will reveal whether Hamas seeks a future built on negotiation and nationhood or whether it remains trapped in a cycle of violence that only prolongs Palestinian suffering and postpones peace once again. The world must recognise that supporting Palestine does not mean supporting Hamas. True solidarity lies in empowering those Palestinians who seek peace, reform, and self-determination through diplomacy, not destruction. For the Palestinian cause to regain its lost moral ground, it must separate itself decisively and permanently from the ideology of Hamas. The international community, meanwhile, must stop treating Hamas’s violence as synonymous with Palestinian identity. The two are not the same. The aspirations of millions of ordinary Palestinians for dignity, education, and freedom cannot be reduced to the ambitions of a militant elite. Hamas claims to fight for Palestine, but its every action has weakened it. It has turned sympathy into suspicion, solidarity into fatigue, and tragedy into propaganda. If there is to be a future for Palestine—a free, secure, and sovereign one—it will only come from leaders who choose the pen over the gun, dialogue over dogma, and hope over hatred. (The author is a community leader. He writes on a wide range of issues, including, Sufism, Public Policy, Geopolitics and Information Warfare. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.)

Dr Shujaat Ali Quadri,News18
Iyer recovering well from spleen injury, says India's Suryakumar
Technology

Iyer recovering well from spleen injury, says India's Suryakumar

India batsman Shreyas Iyer is in stable condition and recovering well from a spleen injury, Twenty20 captain Suryakumar Yadav said on Tuesday. Iyer suffered a lacerated spleen during India's victory over Australia in the third one-day international on Saturday when he fell awkwardly in taking a catch. The 30-year-old was admitted to hospital and Indian media reported that his condition was life-threatening. "We spoke to him," Suryakumar told reporters before India's five-match Twenty20 series against Australia beginning in Canberra on Wednesday. "When we got to know about his injury, I called him. Then I realised Shreyas doesn't have his phone on him and I called our physio, Kamlesh Jain, who told us he's stable. "He's looking good (now). We've been in touch for two days, he's replying. If he's able to reply on the phone, then he's stable." Suryakumar said all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who was ruled out of the final ODI with a quadriceps injury, was fit. "He's doing fine, he did a bit of running and batting in the nets yesterday. Today he wanted to take a break as it was optional practice, but we came to the ground because we had a team meeting," Suryakumar said. "We're regrouping after the Asia Cup ... the team looks good and the atmosphere is good. We had fun on the ground in the last two days, so we're looking forward to this series."

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Hawaii braces for suspension of SNAP
Technology

Hawaii braces for suspension of SNAP

Organizations devoted to helping financially strapped Hawaii families were scrambling Monday after the federal Food and Nutrition Service told states that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — or SNAP — will be suspended beginning Saturday because of the federal government shutdown. The suspension affects over 160,000 SNAP recipients across the islands, or more than 80,000 households, according to the state Department of Human As long as the shutdown continues, no additional SNAP funding will be added to Electronic Benefit Transfer cards needed to make SNAP purchases — although participants can still spend any remaining October funds in November. “All November 2025 SNAP benefit allotments are suspended effective Nov. 1, 2025, and will remain suspended until sufficient federal funding is appropriated or the agency issues updated direction,” DHS said Monday. Non-profit organizations are already struggling after severe cuts to federal non-profit funding since January. Aloha United Way’s 211 phone lines normally receive about 130 calls a day from people seeking help, but had already hit that threshold before noon on Monday. Jennifer Pecher, vice president of AUW’s 211 community response programs, expects 211 call volume to jump even higher as October ends and November begins, when rent and mortgages come due at the same time that an unknown number of Hawaii-based federal employees continue to work without pay. Also this week, the estimated 23,000 Hawaii residents who receive their health coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplace should receive notices of how much their premiums will rise, according to the state Department of Health. They are scheduled to face an average 12% increase in 2026, according to the Health Department. But if enhanced federal premium tax credits are not renewed, many residents could see their net monthly costs roughly double, depending on income and plan type, the Health Department said. The shutdown continues to drag out as Democrats and Republicans in Congress argue over the future of healthcare for millions of Americans, who also face Republican proposals to change Medicare and Medicaid eligibility requirements. Locally, at AUW, Pecher said, “We are bracing for “We’re closely monitoring when all these federal impacts are hitting the community,” she said. “We all know non-profits are bearing the brunt. So people need help, but there are fewer resources. It’s going to all converge. And we anticipate a huge surge” in calls for assistance. In a statement Monday, Gov. Josh Green said, “We stand with the thousands of Hawai‘i residents who rely on these benefits.” On Wednesday, Green said that DHS will provide information about “the Hawai‘i Relief Program” designed to “provide eligible families with dependent children the opportunity to receive payment support for housing and utilities.” The Pantry, a Kalihi-based food bank, held its second food giveaway Monday specifically for families directly affected by the shutdown. The number of participants doubled from Oct. 20 to 300 in just three-and-a-half hours Monday, said Robin Bremer-Sherley, The Pantry’s programs manager. “We did have some moving client stories,” she said. “A new emotion we felt today was anger. They’re supposed to be working for this awesome federal government and instead they’re being told, ‘You have to go to work and not get paid.’ It’s just a really, really rough situation.” The new demand on The Pantry means some food shelves are empty. “We’re not seeing any extra anything,” Bremer-Sherley said. “I can tell we definitely have less leftover at the end of the day. So we are being really scrappy to stretch what we have.” Now, with Monday’s announcement that SNAP funding will be suspended beginning Saturday, Bremer--Sherley said, “that’s on the minds of everybody right now. The Pantry, and all island-wide food banks, are just Band-Aids on a systemic problem.” Also on Monday, U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda joined 214 House Democrats in a letter calling on U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to use $5 billion in SNAP contingency funds created by Congress to ensure food for millions of American families. “Thousands of Hawai‘i households will soon face an impossible question — how to put food on the table with no certainty that their federal SNAP benefits will come through next month,” Tokuda said in a statement. “SNAP contingency funds exist for emergencies like this, yet 42 million Americans, from keiki to kupuna, risk going hungry. That is unconscionable. “USDA already confirmed SNAP has multi-year contingency funds to keep operating through a shutdown,” Tokuda said. “Now the Trump administration claims their hands are tied, and that guidance has vanished. As this Republican shutdown approaches its second month, the administration has a choice: either continue to use food as a political weapon or use the legal authority given to them by Congress to stop this crisis and keep families fed. I urge Secretary Rollins and the administration to do the right thing and fulfill their responsibility to the American people.”

Dan Nakaso
City offers more $10K grants to rail-affected businesses
Technology

City offers more $10K grants to rail-affected businesses

A new round of city-subsidized relief is being offered to eligible businesses impacted by construction of the more than $10-billion Skyline rail project’s Dillingham Boulevard corridor, Honolulu officials say. The city’s Transit Construction Mitigation Fund, or TCMF, grant online portal is now open and accepting applications for 40 individual grants totaling $10,000 each, the city said. The city will provide grants to applying businesses located from 2312 and 2339 Kamehameha Highway, near Marukai Hawaii in Kalihi, down Dillingham Boulevard, to the North King Street intersection in Iwilei, the city said. For the current fiscal year, TCMF grants of $10,000 per applicant will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to available funding, the city said. Grant applications must be submitted by 4 p.m. Nov. 6. For those interested in applying for a grant, including eligibility requirements and the TCMF application process, visit revitalizeoahu.org/tcmf-info. The application portal will also allow applicants to translate the application into multiple languages, the city said. “These past few years have been especially tough for businesses that remained committed to operating along Dillingham Boulevard,” Mayor Rick Blangiardi said in a statement. “This grant program is about doing right by those entrepreneurs — helping them stay afloat, stay open, and stay part of our growing community. If you are eligible, please apply.” The city’s TCMF ordinance, as amended, includes the key eligibility requirements for small businesses. The business must: >> Be majority owned by city residents. >> Be a business that services customers primarily at the business’s physical location, which is a permanent building, structure or unit, within block of active rail construction for Skyline — currently the Dillingham Boulevard construction corridor. >> Generate $1 million or less in annual revenue. >> Have been opened for business at least 12 months prior to the start of any rail project construction within the transit construction mitigation zone. “Per, the city’s administrative rules businesses must also meet the 10% revenue decline requirement,” Scott Humber, the mayor’s communications director, told the Honolulu Star- Advertiser. He noted monies to pay for these grants were earmarked by the Honolulu City Council for the current fiscal year, which began July 1. “The City Council appropriated $450,000 for FY26,” Humber said. “The funding for the (TCMF) is from the city’s general fund.” Originally signed into law by Blangiardi in 2024, this grant funding program — established under 2023 measure, Bill 40 — has awarded only a few grants out of the dozens of applications received by the city thus far, city officials assert. The last time TCMF grants were awarded was earlier this year. “Five awards of $10,000 have been paid,” Ryan Wilson, a city spokesperson, previously told the Star- Advertiser. Wilson noted the city had received 34 applications submitted by local businesses. Of those, 15 applications were deemed ineligible. And 19 applications were returned for revision. The total dollar amount spent on this program so far includes $50,000 for the five $10,000 awards; $13,585 for the program’s one-year payment toward its information management system; and $967.94 to publish legal notices regarding administrative rules hearings on this city-run program, the city said. But modifications to the city’s financial relief program for small businesses negatively affected by rail construction to Kaka-ako also occurred earlier this year. In March, Council members Radiant Cordero and Tyler Dos Santos-Tam offered new legislation to revamp the ailing program. By June 4, the Honolulu City Council voted unanimously to pass Bill 31, which increases the maximum allowed annual revenue for affected small businesses to $1 million, up from $750,000, under the TCMF program. Bill 31, as adopted, removed the program’s number of employees limit, previously locked at 15 or fewer workers; and require the applicant business to have opened at least 12 months prior to the start of any rail project construction within the transit construction mitigation zone in which the business is physically located, as determined by the city Department of Budget and Fiscal Services director. Previously, a grant applicant’s business had to be open for business at their current physical location before Jan. 1, 2022. Andrew Min, of family--owned Min Plastics & Supply Inc. at 921 Kaamahu Place in Iwilei, said his business did not apply to the city’s grant program for a number of reasons — among them, the 75-year-old company’s proximity to the rail line’s route on nearby Dillingham Boulevard. “I think we are on the opposite side of the street,” Min told the Star-Advertiser previously. “So the grant covers the area adjacent to Dillingham, like one block off, so we’re on the part that’s not covered.” He also noted his family’s company also generates more than $1 million in revenue each year. Still, Min said rail construction along nearby Dillingham Boulevard does impact his family’s company. “It’s definitely increased the frustration with customers coming in and out because access coming in, they have to go around through Costco, turn around and come back,” he said previously, adding access to the company’s street address can only be gained via Dillingham. “And only from the eastbound direction because there’s no left turn in the westbound direction.” Min said the city could think about using budgeted funds to redo the routing of traffic along Dillingham Boulevard “to allow better access.”

Ian Bauer
Column: Call special session to address crisis
Technology

Column: Call special session to address crisis

A leader’s character is measured by the moral courage they exhibit when facing immense pressure. Hawaii is now facing a profound crisis, and the time for gentle diplomacy has passed. The state needs Gov. Josh Green to demonstrate that courage by immediately calling a special session of the state Legislature. Faced with looming federal budget cuts, Gov. Green and the Legislature should have used last session to lay out a comprehensive fiscal plan, including measures to raise revenue progressively. The threat to our most vulnerable residents is no longer speculative — it is an impending disaster poised to deliver a devastating double blow, stemming from federal inaction and questionable state fiscal decisions. The first, external blow is a looming $3.5 billion cut in federal funding. This isn’t just a budget reduction; it’s a direct threat to real lives: an estimated 3,400 job losses, 62,000 people losing health care, and 94,000 children, veterans and elders facing hunger as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits disappear. Rural hospital closures and insurance premium spikes of up to 158% are very real risks. The second, self-inflicted blow is the administration’s own policy. In 2024, the governor signed House Bill 2404, the “largest income tax cut in our state’s history,” sacrificing an estimated $5 billion in future state revenue. How can this massive state tax cut be justified when federal funding for essential safety-net programs is being decimated? This reckless gamble places the entire burden of the funding gap squarely on the backs of our most vulnerable citizens. The Legislature and the governor’s own party are ready to act. The Democratic Party of Hawaii’s State Central Committee passed a resolution on Oct. 11, overwhelmingly urging the Legislature to convene a special session no later than Nov. 30. Any delay in action is compounding the uncertainty and hardship across the islands. The call for a special session centers on two immediate and critical threats: enacting “no secret police” protections, and safeguarding reproductive and transgender health care. >> Enacting “no secret police” protections. Our communities are living with a chilling uncertainty regarding unidentifiable masked individuals operating under the color of law. This erosion of trust chills access to public services. Hawaii must mandate that any officer acting under the color of law be visibly identifiable (face unobscured, badge displayed) and that their apparel and vehicles bear conspicuous agency markings, similar to measures adopted in California. A special session must also enforce the protection of sensitive places and establish rules for data minimization and privacy. >> Stabilizing reproductive and transgender health care. Recent federal actions have restricted Medicaid reimbursements, creating gaps in contraception, abortion and medically necessary care for transgender people. These cuts disproportionately harm working-class families and rural residents. Other states, including Washington, Colorado and New Mexico, are already taking emergency action. Hawaii retains the clear authority to appropriate state funds to sustain these essential health services. The special session must be used to stabilize core services, ensure affordability and coverage, and strengthen privacy and safety to minimize cross-jurisdictional conflicts. The governor was elected with a substantial 63.2% mandate in 2022. That power is meaningless if not used decisively in a time of crisis. Inaction is consent to harm. The people of Hawaii have made their will clear. The administration must use its mandate, call the special session, and act now to protect the community. Justin Hughey is on the Democratic Party of Hawaii’s state central committee, education caucus representative.

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Wahiawa sex offender to receive sentence in federal child porn case
Technology

Wahiawa sex offender to receive sentence in federal child porn case

A sex offender from Wahiawa will be sentenced today for preying on a minor girl in Phoenix and sharing child sexual abuse material with other pedophiles. In October 2024, Homeland Security Investigations in Phoenix got a tip that Richard Alan Chaney, 40, was talking to a 13-year-old girl using Instagram’s direct messaging function to solicit photos and create child pornography. On Aug. 26, 2024, HSI Honolulu received “extracted Instagram messages from HSI Phoenix” between “Minor Victims 1” and Instagram user “hmnnmnmmnm” which HSI agents later confirmed to be Chaney’s account, according to federal court records. Chaney allegedly sent the messages, soliciting and receiving child exploitative material, to the girl between Oct. 24 and Nov. 21, 2023. On Oct. 21, 2024, federal agents executed a search warrant on two phones belonging to Chaney. During the search of the forensic extraction of Chaney’s mobile phone, HSI Honolulu agents found 262 files comprised of 121 images and 141 videos depicting child sexual abuse. “Among these, were three videos and eight image files in which male or female toddlers were involved,” in the sexual abuse, according to federal court documents. HSI agents also found about 1.57 Terabytes of data within 2,698 folders containing 118,384 files with child pornography that Chaney acquired from other pedophiles online. Chaney entered into a plea agreement April 25 and pleaded guilty to a single charge of distribution of child pornography. He was indicted by a federal grand jury Jan. 2 with receipt, possession and distribution of child pornography. In October of 2010, Cheney was sentenced to nine years in prison in California for sexually assaulting two girls, ages 14 and 17, who he met on MySpace.com and Stickam.com. He had been living in Costa Mesa, and pleaded guilty to one felony count involving sexual abuse of a minor under 16 and contacting a child with the intent to distribute pornography; and sexual abuse of a minor who was unconscious, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s office. In addition to his nine year sentence, Chaney was required to register as a sex offender, the Orange County DA said in a news release at the time. His attorney in Hawaii, Assistant Federal Public Defender Jacquelyn T. Esser, has painted a picture of a broken man whose childhood was plagued by methamphetamine addled parents that spiraled into a life of chaos. Chaney is asking a federal judge to sentence him to 151 months in prison “followed by a substantial term of supervised release with appropriate treatment conditions.” Chaney’s childhood was “marked by instability, poverty, parental substance abuse, and emotional neglect,” wrote Esser. “Both parents struggled with methamphetamine addiction from his early years, and his mother was also an alcoholic. Their addictions led to frequent fighting, inconsistent employment, and poverty. Though the family while he was growing up was never unhoused, they moved frequently and often went without basic necessities,” Esser wrote, noting that Chaney moved to California in his 20’s. “Drawn to the skateboard and music scene where he hoped to find identity and belonging. Instead, he found instability, substance use, and unhealthy relationships. It was during this dark period he was convicted of a sex offense and incarcerated.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Nammar is prosecuting the case. After completing his state prison time and parole in California, Chaney returned to Wahiawa and got involved with a church that helps the homeless. Through that ministry and its pastor, Chaney reconnected with his parents. After caring for his mother during a long, bedridden illness, her passing, coupled with the loss of his father, left him lost and he fell back into his illegal behavior, court records show. In a letter to U.S. District Judge Micah W.J. Smith, Chaney apologized to his victims for his “atrocious “I was not in a good place mentally and spiritually … I feel disgust and shame with myself knowing that because I shared those videos its like I was agreeing with the horrendous actions that happen to them,” Chaney wrote. “For this, and more, I am truly sorry.”

Peter Boylan
Stephen Tsai: Financial constraints make all this new stadium talk cheap
Technology

Stephen Tsai: Financial constraints make all this new stadium talk cheap

Some of the best times for my father-in-law, bless his soul, were playing cards or craps with his brothers and friends. They would smoke cigarettes, drink beer and refer to each other as a “jackass” while laughing and laughing some more. One evening, he had a particularly good roll, during which his son-in-law interjected: “Way to go, Jackass!” Apparently, there are things we think and feel but should never say aloud. Read the room, as the strategists say. It is a lesson that should be followed when it comes to anything related to the plans for Aloha Stadium and its replacement on the same Halawa property. Another farewell event to Aloha Stadium? Discussion on how a Canvas Stadium or Snapdragon Stadium could be built here? Plans to hold rugby and other events at the new Halawa Stadium in 2029? Such talk should be met with this: The only thing most sports fans care about is the return of football games to a real Division I-quality stadium. The original signers of the Declaration of Entertainment — notably Gov. John Burns — lobbied for a stadium designed with UH football in mind. The Pro Bowl, concerts, Pearl City High School graduations, Robbie Knievel’s jumps, motocross races, monster truck events and the Great Aloha Run’s finish line were bonuses. It’s been nearly five years since it was determined Aloha Stadium would be shuttered for spectator-attended events because of safety concerns. There was imminent fear the “Rust Palace” would disintegrate from old age, like the termite-eaten floors of a haunted house. As we’ve learned, the stadium is not exactly self destructive. It will take more than nine months of Lex Brodie’s-styled, chip-chip-chip chipping to raze the 50-year-old facility. That’s what makes it infuriating to know that the property still hosts fairs, the swap meet and, this past weekend, another farewell activity. Sports fans don’t want to hear how the show ended for football but must go on for other events. We’re all reasonable. We understand the new stadium, whenever it is completed, will be the best it can be given the circumstances. Stanford Carr is a masterful developer. If there were a fantasy developer league, Carr would be the first drafted. But given the budget (and he’s willing to pony up millions from his own checking account), the available land and requirements, there are limits to what even he can build. We understand Gov. Josh Green’s position. The leader of the 50th state needs to assure the basics: food, shelter, medical availability and, of course, a football venue. Squeezing a stadium, affordable housing and entertainment district onto a state-owned property checks items on the to-do list. And we’re appreciative of lawmakers who are mindful and protective of how our taxes are redistributed. But we don’t need more tributes to Aloha Stadium’s past. Was Saturday’s event the third or fourth farewell? We don’t need a fact-finding group to travel to Fort Collins to determine whether a stadium similar to Colorado State’s Canvas Stadium could be built in Halawa. A group, which visited two weeks ago, found that CSU’s on-campus facility serves as a complex featuring stadium-seating meeting rooms and offices for the Rams. Canvas Stadium is useful whether there is an event or not. The Rams also do not have to share the surrounding area with housing complexes or businesses. As for San Diego State’s Snapdragon Stadium, which took two years from groundbreaking to opening ceremony, it was constructed with materials and labor that might be out of the new Aloha Stadium’s price range. Snapdragon is situated on 135 acres that SDSU purchased in 2020. While talk of Aloha Stadium’s future usefulness is supposed to provide hope and optimism, there is a growing feeling of comfort with the on-campus Ching Complex as the home venue for UH football games. Sure Ching’s bleacher “seats” are too narrow for a plate-lunch populace. And unlike college football fans across the country, UH’s do not like to stand for an entire game. (At UH basketball games, fans rise for the opening tip and then sit when the ball’s been tipped instead of waiting for the first basket.) With Ching, UH gets to keep money from parking, concessions and advertising. Unlike Aloha Stadium, there is an off ramp that leads directly into UH’s lower campus. Fans have figured out that the Ching structure and neighboring Les Murakami Stadium have clean and automated restrooms. They also learned that they can get musubi and affordable beer at the McCully 7-Eleven during halftime. And with the discontinuation of pay-per-view, all UH games are available at no additional charge. To mix and mix metaphors, could the bird in hand (Ching Complex) be a better option than the pie in the sky (new Halawa stadium)? The reaction probably would be this: Dead. Silence.

Stephen Tsai
Girls volleyball Top 10: ‘Iolani No. 1, Kamehameha gets a vote
Technology

Girls volleyball Top 10: ‘Iolani No. 1, Kamehameha gets a vote

The second-to-last Star-Advertiser Girls Volleyball Top 10 of the season has no surprises. Well, maybe one. The coaches and media panel voted ‘Iolani No. 1 again. For a change, however, No. 2 Kamehameha received one first-place vote. ‘Iolani beat Kamehameha in four matchups this fall, but Kamehameha has a history of peaking at the state championships. The Division I bracket of the New City Nissan/HHSAA State Championships presented by Hawaii Army National Guard resumes on Thursday. The D-II bracket begins on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser Girls Volleyball Top 10 Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 Rank School (1st) (record) Pts LW 1. ‘Iolani (6) (24-7, 8-1 reg. season, 3-0 R2) 69 1 > next: vs. Mililani, Thursday, Oct. 30, 5 p.m., Moanalua HS 2. Kamehameha (1) (31-9, 5-4 reg. season, 2-2 R2) 64 2 > next: vs. No. 10 Kapolei, Monday, Oct. 27, 5 p.m. > next: vs. Kamehameha-Hawaii, Thursday, Oct. 30, 7 p.m., McKinley HS 3. Kahuku (29-2, 9-1 reg. season, 3-0 OIA playoffs) 55 5 > won at No. 3 Moanalua 24-26, 25-20, 24-26, 25-19, 15-12 > next: vs. Campbell, Thursday, Oct. 30, 5 p.m., McKinley HS 4. Moanalua (22-6, 9-1 reg. season, 2-1 OIA playoffs) 48 3 > lost to No. 5 Kahuku 24-26, 25-20, 24-26, 25-19, 15-12 > next: vs. Hilo, Monday, Oct. 27, 5 p.m. > next: Kamehameha-Maui, Thursday, Oct. 30, 7 p.m., Moanalua HS 5. Punahou (17-12, 4-5 reg. season, 0-2 R2) 43 4 6. Mid-Pacific (16-13, 1-8 reg. season, 1-2 R2) 32 6 7. Mililani (23-13, 7-2 reg. season, 2-1 OIA playoffs) 26 7 > def. Campbell 14-25, 25-20, 25-13, 25-22 > next: at Konawaena, Monday, Oct. 27, 3 p.m. > next: ‘Iolani, Thursday, Oct. 30, 5 p.m., Moanalua HS. 8. KS-Hawaii (34-7, 16-0 reg. season, 2-0 BIIF playoffs) 23 8 > def. Konawaena 20-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-19 > next: Kamehameha, Thursday, Oct. 30, 7 p.m., McKinley HS 9. KS-Maui (15-6, 11-1 reg. season, 2-0 MIL playoffs) 13 9 > won at Maui 25-23, 25-11, 25-23 > def. King Kekaulike 25-20, 21-25, 27-25, 19-25, 18-16 > next: vs. Moanalua, Thursday, Oct. 30, 7 p.m., Moanalua HS 10. Kapolei (27-5, 8-2 reg. season, 3-1 OIA playoffs) 5 10 > def. Farrington 29-27, 25-16, 25-16 > won at Pearl City 25-12, 20-25, 25-12, 25-16 > next: at Kamehameha, Monday, Oct. 27 Also receiving votes: Seabury Hall 4, Parker 2, University 1. Seabury Hall (25-5, 15-0 reg. season, 0-0 MIL D-II playoffs) > next: vs. Maui Prep, MIL D-II playoffs, Thursday, Oct. 23 > next: HHSAA D-II, Wednesday, Oct. 29 Parker (16-0, 14-0 reg. season, 2-0 BIIF D-II playoffs) > def. Pahoa 25-22, 22-25, 25-13, 25-19 > def. Hawaii Prep 25-13, 25-18, 20-25, 26-28, 15-6 > next: HHSAA D-II, Wednesday, Oct. 29 University (18-7, 11-1 ILH D-II reg. season, 0-0 HHSAA D-II) > next: HHSAA D-II, Wednesday, Oct. 29 Kalaheo (12-16, 6-4 reg. season, 1-2 OIA playoffs) > def. Waialua 25-20, 25-14, 25-22 > lost to Campbell 25-15, 29-27, 25-22 > lost at Pearl City 25-15, 25-22, 22-25, 25-20 Hawaii Baptist (15-16, 10-2 ILH D-II reg. season, 0-0 HHSAA D-II) > next: bye > next: HHSAA D-II, Oct. 29 King Kekaulike (10-5, 9-3 reg. season, 1-1 MIL playoffs, 0-0 HHSAA D-II) > next: HHSAA, Oct. 27 Campbell (19-12, 9-2 reg. season, 1-2 playoffs) > lost to No. 5 Kahuku 25-19, 25-19, 22-25, 25-19 > lost to No. 7 Mililani 14-25, 25-20, 25-13, 25-22 > next: HHSAA, Oct. 27 Baldwin (6-7, 6-6 reg. season, 0-1 MIL playoffs) Kapaa (18-4, 12-0 KIF) > next: bye > next: HHSAA D-II, Wednesday, Oct. 29 Leilehua 14-2-1 (8-1 OIA D-II reg. season, 1-1 OIA D-II playoffs) > def. Waipahu 22-25, 20-25, 25-18, 25-18, 16-14 > lost to Roosevelt 8-25, 26-24, 25-17, 25-27, 15-4 > next: vs. TBD, HHSAA D-II, Oct. 29 Roosevelt (12-3-1 OIA D-II reg. season, 2-0 OIA D-II playoffs) > def. Kailua 25-20, 22-25, 25-18, 27-26 > def. Leilehua 8-25, 26-24, 25-17, 25-27, 15-4 > next: vs. TBD, HHSAA D-II, Oct. 30

Paul Honda
Editorial: State must act to fill fed aid gaps
Technology

Editorial: State must act to fill fed aid gaps

A growing number of Hawaii’s children and families have slipped into poverty since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation finds: child poverty rose to 12% in 2022-2024, from 9% in 2019-2021. Distressingly, that number is poised to rise as federal offices escalate cuts and withhold funding that might otherwise buffer the neediest against poverty’s penalties of hunger, homelessness and poor health. This poses a challenge that must be addressed by all in Hawaii. The state, with community support, must act to prevent lasting damage to families, foster stability and resilience, and set the stage for further economic improvement, benefiting all households. Look to recent history here for valuable lessons. “The choices made during economic contractions don’t just affect budgets; they shape the long-term well-being of communities,” Hawaii Appleseed’s Will Caron observed, in a 2019 report on Hawaii’s response to “the Great Recession,” which battered state revenues between 2009 and 2012. To cope, the state slashed mental health services, nonprofits’ social service contracts, Medicaid and disability supports, and school days — but Appleseed cites data showing that this increased homelessness and State Hospital placements, reduced aid and recovery services, and caused daunting drops in stability and security for low-income families. Additionally, between 2008 and 2015, fully 47% of neighbor island homes sold went to out-of-state investors — and by 2016, as prices continued rising, Hawaii had the nation’s highest rate of homelessness. Then came COVID-19, which plunged everything even lower. Hawaii’s low-income families are hit hardest by economic setbacks. In June, the Casey Foundation’s annual KIDS COUNT Data Book ranked this state among the worst in the nation for families’ economic well-being, with high rates of housing and job insecurity. This cannot be sustained. To avoid a tipping point at which families flee the islands en masse to meet basic needs, or crime and violence flare because of the destabilizing conditions, full-court support for statewide efforts to fill the gaps is necessary. Safety-net programs must be prioritized, as must the nonprofits and agencies delivering them. This benefits all families, stabilizing communities and improving our common security. Access to adequate, nutritional food threatens to become a crisis-level problem within days, with federal warnings that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits won’t be paid out for November. Thankfully, the state and multiple nonprofits are poised to help: Free meals for qualifying families in public schools began statewide this year, and donations to food banks are up, though much more is needed. The state has set up a temporary assistance fund, the Hawaii Relief Program, drawn from federal welfare funds to aid households with children on housing and utility payments, compensating for lost food aid; more details are expected Wednesday. And the Legislature has established a $300 million “contingency fund” that can be tapped, though its use has yet to be determined. Residents can certainly help by pitching in, with donations to food banks and programs that provide meals to Hawaii’s youth or seniors, and by volunteering for outreach and service programs. To counter the effects of poverty on vulnerable populations under these circumstances, locally rooted programs are more important than ever. These are nonprofits such as the Palama Settlement, with its after-school and senior programs, and assistance with navigating searches for jobs, health care, food aid or housing; and the Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii, which pairs students with mentors, provides a safe place for youth with working parents to hang out and offers meals to kids and their families. Support these organizations, help where possible, and remember that the families in need, if not yours, are your neighbors. If now-threatened federal aid such as tax credits, food help and housing subsidies were to disappear, the Casey Foundation projects, more than 1 in 4 Hawaii youths — 28% — would live in poverty.

None
Letter: Can Trump extend streak and end Ukraine war?
Technology

Letter: Can Trump extend streak and end Ukraine war?

Fact-checking shows that President Trump’s claim to have ended eight wars should be taken with a grain of salt. Similarly, his claim that multiple wars would have never happened had he been president at the time is pure speculation. However, there is no denying that his influence was a key factor in getting Hamas and Israel to end the conflagration in Gaza. But can he do it again in Ukraine? Vladimir Putin perceives that he has the advantage on the battlefield, and he’s shown little interest in stopping the fighting. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continues his quest to acquire long-range weapons to strike deep into Russia. Since conditions do not seem right for peacemaking in Ukraine, perhaps our president should next apply his peacemaking skills to our Congress and end the war of the budget that has closed our government. >> Contact: 529-4831 (phone), letters@staradvertiser.com, staradvertiser.com/editorial/submit-letter

None
Football Top 10: OIA playoffs start, ILH winds down
Technology

Football Top 10: OIA playoffs start, ILH winds down

Every field thunder dome. The OIA returns with the opening round of playoffs this week. The ILH takes one more step toward finality. Kahuku enters its battle with Campbell as the No. 1 team in the Star-Advertiser Football Top 10 this week. Kahuku (6-3 overall, 4-0 OIA Open Division) collected all 12 first-place votes from coaches and media. Saint Louis remains at No. 2 as it heads into its first home game at Kalaepohaku in 15 years this weekend. The Crusaders are 2-1 in league play and need to beat Punahou and force a tiebreaker game with Kamehameha for the ILH Open title and a state-tournament berth. If Punahou wins, Kamehameha becomes the outright ILH Open champion. ILH Division I champion Damien picked up a few more votes but remains outside the Top 10. Star-Advertiser Football Top 10 Fared Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025 Rank School (1st) (record) Pts LW 1. Kahuku (12) (6-3, 4-0 OIA Open, 0-0 playoffs) 120 1 > next: vs. (OIA Open 4) Campbell, Friday, Oct. 31, 5 p.m., John Kauinana Stadium 2. Saint Louis (5-2, 2-1 ILH Open) 108 2 > next: vs. Punahou, Saturday, Nov. 1, 3 p.m. 3. Mililani (7-2, 4-1 OIA Open, 0-0 playoffs) 91 3 > next: vs. (OIA Open 3) Kapolei, Friday, Oct. 31, 7:30 p.m. 4. Kamehameha (4-4, 3-1 ILH Open) 81 4 > def. Punahou, 24-10 > next: bye 5. Kapolei (6-4, 3-2 OIA Open, 0-0 playoffs) 73 5 > next: at (OIA Open 2) Mililani, Friday, Oct. 31, 7:30 p.m. 6. Campbell (6-2, 2-2 OIA Open, 0-0 playoffs) 58 6 > next: at (OIA Open 1) Kahuku, Friday, Oct. 31, 5 p.m., John Kauinana Stadium 7. Kailua (6-3, 5-1 OIA D-I) 37 8 > next: vs. (OIA D-I 4) Waipahu, Saturday, Nov. 1, 1:30 p.m. 8. Punahou (2-6, 0-3 ILH Open) 32 7 > lost at Kamehameha, 24-10 > next: at Saint Louis, Saturday, Nov. 1, 3 p.m. 9. Konawaena (8-2, 8-0 BIIF, 0-0 playoffs) 24 10 > won at Hilo, 50-6 > next: vs. Kealakehe, Saturday, Nov. 1, 6 p.m. 10. Kapaa (6-1, 4-0 KIF) 21 9 > won, Kauai, 20-6 > next: at Waimea, Saturday, Nov. 1, 6:30 p.m. Also receiving votes: Damien 5, Kamehameha-Maui 5, Waipahu 4, Leilehua 1.

Paul Honda
Letter: Taxpayers paying big for Skyline rides, math says
Technology

Letter: Taxpayers paying big for Skyline rides, math says

In Wednesday’s Star-Advertiser, the director of the city Department of Transportation Services was quoted as saying in November 2024 that the annual operating cost of Skyline was $76 million (“Honolulu’s transit fare box policy under Council scrutiny,” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 22). The city also publishes ridership figures, which have been fairly steady at about 100,000 rides per month, or 1.2 million rides per year. Divide one by the other and you see that the average cost of a single ride is about $63. The passenger pays less than $3 of this — sometimes quite a lot less, depending on the type of ticket. So we taxpayers are subsidizing Skyline riders at the rate of at least $60 for each ride. Food for thought. Edward Conklin >> Contact: 529-4831 (phone), letters@staradvertiser.com, staradvertiser.com/editorial/submit-letter

None
Hegseth makes pit stop in Hawaii on way to Asia
Technology

Hegseth makes pit stop in Hawaii on way to Asia

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stopped briefly in Hawaii on Monday as he made his way to Asia as part of a Pacific tour to meet with officials, alongside President Donald Trump’s first trip to Asia in his second term. A spokesperson for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said that his time Monday morning in Hawaii was brief as his plane stopped for fuel. Video published by Hawaii News Now showed Hegseth, along with his wife and several of his children, getting off the plane and mingling with a group of people during their short stay on the island. Hegseth’s tour includes stops in Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam and South Korea. Japan is fresh off the election of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the country’s first woman to serve in the role and a firebrand conservative known for her hawkish approach to China. Hegseth is expected to meet with Takaichi’s new defense team during the visit. During an earlier visit to Hawaii in March, Hegseth made a speech at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Waikiki in which he proclaimed that the “America First” vision of foreign policy that Trump wants him to pursue “will require even greater attention to the partnerships that matter the most. And our alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific matter a great deal to the United States. They matter because the Indo-Pacific is the region of consequence.” The Pacific tour takes place as the Trump administration is increasingly sending military forces to the Caribbean, where warships are assembling off the coast of Venezuela, a country where the administration has said that it seeks to see “regime change.” U.S. forces in the Caribbean have been engaged in a lethal — and controversial — campaign against alleged drug traffickers that has killed dozens of people. The strikes have targeted people on boats that administration officials say were “narco- terrorists,” but that in many cases families and government officials in Colombia and Venezuela say were But even as the administration devotes more forces to its growing operations in Latin America — including an aircraft carrier currently making its way there — officials say the Pacific remains a high priority as Washington and Beijing compete for influence and power, and as the U.S. and its allies seek to ensure navigation rights along key trade routes. According to the Pentagon, Hegseth will be traveling the region through Nov. 4.

Kevin Knodell
Kokua Line: Where can federal workers get relief?
Technology

Kokua Line: Where can federal workers get relief?

Question: Please list help for federal workers who are forced to work without pay — we can’t file for unemployment. I have so many bills on autopay and zero money coming in. Answer: We’ve heard from numerous readers who say the pain of this shutdown is not fully understood by the American public because so many federal services are still available, provided by excepted workers, also known as essential workers, who are working full time without pay. As you said and as Kokua Line has previously reported, they are not eligible to file for unemployment compensation because they are not considered unemployed. Furloughed employees, kept home by the shutdown that started Oct. 1, are eligible to file; they are a different category. A Shutdown Assistance Map at 808ne.ws/47yiakj can help both types of federal employees find assistance during the shutdown. The searchable map lists national and local resources by categories, including financial assistance, utilities and food. For example, the Hawaii map lists 0% APR loans offered by Navy Federal Credit Union; special personal loans from Bank of Hawaii for federal employees and contractors; information about interest-free payment plans for electric (Hawaiian Electric) and water bills (Board of Water Supply); and information about the Hawaii Foodbank and Aloha Diaper Bank, among other resources. Each brief map posts links to the primary source of the information, for specifics about how to seek that particular resource. Hawaii businesses or agencies that have help to offer can add their listings to the map directly. In the national section, there’s information from military relief societies, nationwide financial institutions and other resources. Another place to check is the website of the Federal Employee Education & Assistance Fund, a nonprofit organization that provides emergency financial assistance for civilian federal employees. This group is offering $150 shutdown grants to eligible employees affected by the shutdown, and also has links to other resources. See feea.org for details. Hawaii, with a high percentage of federal employees and contractors, is the state most affected by the government shutdown, according to a recent analysis by Wallet Hub, which put the islands at No. 2 for shutdown impacts, after the District of Columbia, which is not a state. It was a very scary moment when my sister’s sit-down walker went forward and she went backwards and hit her head on the pavement at Waioli Kitchen & Bake Shop in Manoa. She had been resting on the seat. A big mahalo to the two ladies and the staff and medical personnel at the restaurant who came to our rescue and helped lift her up, put her in a chair and comforted her. Also a big mahalo to the ambulance personnel who checked her out and assured us that she was OK to go back to her assisted living facility. She is doing well and enjoying herself! — Grateful Sister (Four-wheeled walkers, commonly known as rollator walkers, many of which have a small resting seat, are generally recommended for people who need a walker only for balance, not to bear weight, according to an article in Elder Care, published by the University of Arizona’s Center on Aging. Standard walkers are generally recommended for people with unstable gaits who need to lean heavily on the walker, while two-wheeled (rolling) walkers are generally recommended for people with unstable gaits who don’t need to bear substantial weight on the walker. For safety and mobility, it’s important for people to use the correct assistive device. To read the full article, which includes the pros and cons of each type of walker, go to 808ne.ws/42VLz6A.) Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 2-200, Honolulu, HI 96813; call 808-529-4773; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.

Christine Donnelly
Alaska, Hawaiian airlines combining under a single operating certificate
Technology

Alaska, Hawaiian airlines combining under a single operating certificate

The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to issue a single operating certificate to Alaska Airlines on Wednesday — a pivotal step in its merger with Hawaiian Airlines, which will mark the milestone with the appointment of a new CEO and several other major transitions to its Honolulu-based leadership team. Diana Birkett Rakow, who is currently serving as Alaska Airlines’ executive vice president of public affairs and sustainability, will become on Wednesday the first woman to serve as CEO of Hawaiian Airlines. She replaces Joe Sprague, who became CEO of Hawaiian Airlines in September 2024, and is retiring but will remain on Hawaiian Airlines’ board. Jim Landers will head Hawaii operations, and Shelly Parker will oversee guest operations. The certificate allows Alaska and Hawaiian to operate as separate brands under one system, part of a broader integration plan following Alaska’s $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Holdings in September 2024. Sprague said Alaska’s leadership chose to retain a full regional headquarters in Honolulu, including a CEO role, to reinforce its commitment to the Hawaiian brand. “When we say ‘The brand is here to stay,’… we are putting actual action behind that commitment.” Both Sprague and Birkett Rakow emphasized that the Hawaiian brand is deeply rooted in local identity, values like travel pono, and community care — causing Alaska to treat it distinctly different than from previous integrations with Horizon and Virgin America. What’s next? The single operating certificate, a major FAA regulatory requirement, was achieved in just over a year and marks the integration of training, policies, procedures and manuals across both airlines. It also allows Alaska to move forward with other ongoing integration initiatives, including combining scheduling and passenger service systems for the carriers, as well as integrating flight crew, airport and maintenance teams for both carriers under joint collective bargaining agreements With the issuance of the single operating certificate, Alaska and Hawaiian airlines pilots and dispatchers will use a single call sign —AS —behind the scenes to communicate with air traffic control. Hawaiian Airlines flights will still show the HA designator; however, Hawaiian’s frequent flyers should note that while Hawaiian has attempted to maintain similar flight numbers, in many cases, it has assigned completely new flight numbers to avoid duplication between the brands. Hawaiian is targeting April 22 to complete integration of its passenger service system. As of last week, all new bookings for flights after that date are being made on the shared system. “Employees will be able to serve and support (customers) regardless of where your ticket was booked,” Birkett Rakow said. She added that Atmos Rewards, the combined loyalty program, kicked off Oct. 1. New credit card sign-ups surpassed the year-end goal within a matter of weeks. Birkett Rakow said in the spring that Hawaiian Airlines will become part of the oneworld Alliance, which provides more seamless access to a full suite of global airline partners. Since the merger, Hawaiian has eliminated hundreds of non-contract jobs, including 252 Hawaii-based roles announced in July, and 42 announced three months after the merger, and 31 at the six-month mark. However, union hiring has driven a net increase of 646 Hawaii-based employees over the past year, according to spokesperson Alex Da Silva. Hawaiian now employs 7,300 people systemwide, with nearly 6,600 based in Hawaii. No further workforce reductions are planned for 2025, though some roles may be phased out next year as integration milestones are met. Sprague said joint labor contracts for pilots, flight attendants, maintenance technicians, airport agents and dispatchers must be renegotiated to reflect the new operating structure. Existing contracts remain in effect until new agreements are reached. Sustainability Alaska Air Group aims to generate $1 billion in incremental profit from the Hawaiian acquisition by 2027 under its “Alaska Accelerate” strategy. Hawaiian posted a $1 million pretax profit in the second quarter — its first since 2019. But pretax expenses to operate Hawaiian exceeded revenue by $42 million in the three months ended Sept. 30, and contributed to reduced income for Alaska Air Group, which reported a $73 million profit in the quarter that compared with a year-earlier profit of $236 million. Aviation historian Peter Forman said the second- quarter results showed that Alaska’s strategy is possible, but that challenges remain. He said leisure travel should improve as the economy improves, and the move to a single operating certificate will allow the carriers to maximize profits by becoming more flexible and more efficient. Forman said that Alaska achieving the certificate within 13 months shows “just how on top of their game that they are. There are a lot of hoops to jump through, but they managed to put it together in as short a time as they could.” But sustainability is about more than profits for the combined carriers. Sprague said Birkett Rakow is an industry expert in sustainability and her selection to lead the Honolulu team, while continuing to oversee Alaska’s sustainability efforts, reflects that Alaska is listening to the Hawaii community and understands its values. During the past eight years at Alaska, Birkett Rakow has led the company’s sustainability and corporate impact efforts, government affairs, communications, and community and cultural relations. She also has had oversight of sales and customer engagement in Hawaii and Alaska, and the airline’s venture investment arm, Alaska Star Ventures. Prior to joining Alaska, Birkett Rakow held senior executive roles at Group Health and Kaiser Permanente, and as a health policy adviser for the U.S. Senate Finance Committee. She said, “The reality is that sustainability is all about long-term viability and resilience and that’s what we are trying to create here with the combination of our airlines to make sure that we are here for the long term to take care of our communities and meet people’s needs.” Birkett Rakow said Hawaiian and Alaska have moved to a shared strategy for net zero carbon emissions in 2040 and next year plan to publish shared sustainability goals for 2030. “We are keeping the commitment to regenerative tourism and local sourcing that Hawaiian Airlines has had so that can continue into the future,” she said. “I think we have a lot to learn from a place like Hawaii that experiences and relies on the land and natural resources so significantly … and recognizes that those things are fragile and we need to work to protect them.”

Allison Schaefers
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