KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 — US President Donald Trump shared a light-hearted moment with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim this morning, dancing on the red carpet to the tune of Hawaii Five-O as a welcoming band played at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Trump performed his signature campaign-style dance — a slow, rhythmic movement involving air punches and hip sways — in response to the performers.

Anwar, smiling, joined in by swaying his hips in sync with the gesture, drawing cheers from onlookers.

The two leaders then shared a brief exchange before Trump invited Anwar to step inside “The Beast,” the presidential limousine, for a private moment ahead of the summit.

The moment unfolded shortly after Air Force One landed at Kompleks Bunga Raya at KLIA at approximately 9.54am.

Trump was greeted by Anwar along with senior government officials and Cabinet members upon arrival, and was accorded a guard of honour by personnel from the 1st Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment.

Also present was US ambassador to Malaysia Edgard D. Kagan.

Today’s visit marks Trump’s first visit to the South-east Asian region since taking office as the 47th President of the US in January 2025.

Trump is the third US president in history to visit Malaysia after Lyndon B Johnson in 1966 and Barack Obama in 2014 and 2015.

Wisma Putra previously said both leaders are expected to exchange views on regional and international developments of mutual concern as well as signing bilateral documents related to trade and security.

The 47th Asean Summit and Related Summits, held under Malaysia’s Asean Chairmanship 2025 theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability”, will take place from today until October 28 and are expected to be among the largest gatherings in the regional organisation’s history.

Hawaiian land snails are among the most threatened animal groups on the planet. 

Researchers believe 11 species of Endodonta once lived in the wild across the Hawaiian Islands—part of a family of about 200 species. Today, it is likely the last remaining species in the Endodonta genus.

READ MORE: One Hawaiian Snail Dies, but the Conservation Effort Lives On

Bishop Museum, the State of Hawaiʻi Museum of Natural and Cultural History, houses the largest collection of Hawaiian land snails, preserving specimens, DNA, and tissues from thousands of species—many of which are now extinct. The museum’s Pūpū Ola: Kāhuli Captive Rearing Research Center not only cares for these rare species but also provides opportunities for the people of Hawaiʻi to learn about and connect with them. 

The museum recently welcomed Hawaiian land snails believed to be the last known surviving representatives of their genus. Named Endodonta christenseni by Bishop Museum curators Dr. Norine Yeung and Dr. Kenneth Hayes and their colleagues in 2020, the tiny snail was originally discovered by the museum’s team during the Tanager Expedition in 1924—a series of five biological surveys in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands between 1923 and 1924. More than a century later, its descendants arrived at Bishop Museum’s research center on Oct. 15, 2025.

“Once, 11 species of Endodonta lived across the Hawaiian Islands, part of a larger family of as many as 200 species. All but this one species are now gone,” said Dr. Yeung in a news release. “Along with a single surviving relative in the main Hawaiian Islands, Cookeconcha hystricella, these two species represent our last chance to save the ancient lineages of native land snails in Hawaiʻi.” 

For almost a century, Endodonta christenseni remained undescribed after its discovery. Now formally named, the species is on a path toward conservation. Bishop Museum partners with the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Snail Extinction Prevention Program (DLNR SEPP). Through this partnership, the snails are secured at Pūpū Ola, where they are protected, studied, and bred to increase their population. Eventually, the goal is to release them into the wild. 

READ MORE: 10 Museums to Visit on Your Next Trip to Hawaiʻi

These snails embody both fragility and resilience,” Dr. Yeung said. “From Cooke’s s discovery in 1924 to our team’s work today, Bishop Museum has been at the heart of their story. Their survival reminds us that entire evolutionary lineages, millions of years in the making, are at stake. Through Pūpū Ola and our partnership with DLNR SEPP, we are building a safety net for Hawaiian land snails to ensure their stories endure for many generations.” 

The public can view these rare snails at Bishop Museum’s 4th annual Kāhuli Festival on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, from 3 to 9 p.m. 

The Kāhuli Festival brings together research and conservation partners, cultural practitioners, artists, and the community to celebrate and reconnect with the rich biocultural heritage of the Hawaiian Islands. 

“Ke Kani Nei Ka Pūpū,” the theme of the 2025 festival, focuses on renewing and restoring cultural connections for conservation. It highlights the resilience of Hawaiian land snails in an ever-changing landscape. 

The public can enjoy cultural workshops, activities, and talks by cultural practitioners, authors, researchers, and conservationists. There will also be exhibits featuring local artists, live music, and food vendors on the museum’s Great Lawn. Captive rearing exhibits will feature live endangered snails from Bishop Museum’s Hawaiian Land Snail Conservation Program and the DLNR SEPP. 

Kāhuli Festival 2025: Ke Kani Nei Ka Pūpū, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, from 3 to 9 p.m. Reduced $10 admission for kamaʻāina and military, bishopmuseum.org.

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – On Wednesday, construction for Ward Village’s 11th residential tower broke ground.

The Launiu Ward Village tower will bring 486 homes, new retail, and more public green space to the corner of Ala Moana Boulevard and Ward Avenue.

The tower will feature one, two, and three-bedroom homes with Diamond Head, mauka, and makai views.

Ground floor space will be occupied by retail and restaurants aimed at further enhancing the neighborhood’s vibrancy and economic vitality.

Developers say the building is another big step in shaping Honolulu’s growing waterfront community.

Pre-sales for the units have been strong with 67%, or 324 units, under contract as of June 30.

The tower is projected to contribute $691 million in economic impact, $233 million in workers’ earnings, and $42 million in state tax revenue.

Construction is expected to sustain an average of 565 jobs annually.

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