Happy
Honolulu
Thursday, May 14th, 2026
Good morning, Honolulu. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 14th of May.
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Char’s Bar Hawai‘i built by entrepreneurs Charissa Vallesteros and Rochelle Cariaga grew from a 2019 tweet with no plan during tough pandemic times into a local mobile bar brand that won Mobile Bar of the Year awards in 2024 and 2025 and now serves high-profile events on Oʻahu. Hawaii Business
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ The annual POP Fishing, Marine and Seafood Expo will return to Pier 38 on June 13th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., offering major savings on gear, live demos, ono food and a popular keiki ice dig contest — drawing ocean lovers and families together. Honolulu Magazine
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ In Honolulu, DBEDT released a new report detailing Hawaii’s economic ties with Japan across tourism, housing, defense, education and agriculture + the report will be examined at the upcoming Hawaii Japan Sister Summit on May 20-21. Hawaii Free Press
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Fifth graders at Island Pacific Academy will open a colonial America exhibit for public museum tours on Friday, May 15 from 11 a.m. to noon. The immersive event celebrates the 250th anniversary of Independence Day and features reenactments plus interactive activities; RSVP is required due to limited space. Hawaii News Now
- ➤ Hailey from Kaimuki High School won the 2026 Hawaii State Champion title by beating 20 students on May 13 + she will represent the islands at the national Civics Bee this fall. KITV
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ OHA will provide over $1M in disaster relief grants to Native Hawaiians whose homes sustained major damage from the March Kona Low storms, with applications opening Saturday, May 16 at 9 a.m. online and in designated locations on Oahu+Maui+Moloka‘i. KITV
- ➤ Lawmakers passed a bill last week that will allow Young Brothers Ltd. to raise interisland cargo rates automatically by inflation. The change follows a 26% rate hike approved in November and could lead to higher charges for cargo moving through Honolulu Harbor. Hawaii Tribune-Herald
- ➤ The Honolulu Board of Water Supply advises families to store at least one gallon of water per person per day for up to two weeks as hurricane season nears — lessons from recent Kona low storms highlight the need to be prepared for potential disruptions. KITV
LIFESTYLE NEWS
- ➤ A new series highlights Honolulu’s favorite curry spots including Kaimukī Shokudo, Kamana Kitchen, and others—where dishes like washugyu beef curry and palak paneer deliver authentic flavor. Residents can explore these eateries to sample a taste of global cuisine. Honolulu Magazine
- ➤ This weekend in Honolulu, enjoy creative poke dishes at Frolic’s Poke Fest in Kapolei on Saturday, May 16 from 4 to 8 p.m. or adopt a kitten during Hawaiian Humane Society open houses on May 16 at Mō‘ili‘ili Campus and May 17 at Kosasa Family Campus. Honolulu Magazine
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ The University of Hawaiʻi honored its men’s volleyball national champions on Wednesday at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center in Mānoa. Gov. Josh Green, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi, and UH president Wendy Hensel attended the free, livestreamed celebration that marked the team’s NCAA win. Hawaii News Now
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The more complete the despair, the more complete the awakening.
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Reveal the authorAbout Happy Honolulu
Welcome to the Happy Honolulu, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Honolulu, Hawaii community. If you like the Happy Honolulu, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Honolulu.
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