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Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

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Shoyu pack

<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: The shoyu hack</title>

Culinary advice from the world of local social media.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: The shoyu hack

Brevenchym shows the way — but the mist, brevenchym! The mist! 

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort and Spa is celebrating a milestone anniversary this year. In honor of the resort’s 50th anniversary, 

 from Mondays to Thursdays — and 20% off on Fridays to Sundays — during the month of July.

The buffet usually costs $89.99 per adult ($44.99 per child ages 6 to 12, $14.99 per child ages 5 years and under).

The Buffet at Hyatt recently updated its offerings to include more Island-inspired dishes and local comfort foods. The updated menu includes a 

lūʻau area, featuring huli huli chicken thighs with pineapple relish; kalua pig with roasted Molokai sweet potato and coconut; and lau lau with lomi Kamuela tomato relish. Other new additions include hapa poke, North Shore garlic shrimp, sauteed sweet corn with kale and shimeji mushrooms, miso salmon with pickled ginger and green onions, and roasted pork loin with orange and shoyu glaze.

“As we celebrate 50 years of welcoming guests to Hyatt Regency Waikīkī, we’re proud to introduce a refreshed dining experience that reflects the vibrant spirit of Hawai

i and the diverse flavors of the Pacific Rim,” states Jeff 

Szombaty, director of culinary and food & beverage operations

. “The Buffet at Hyatt has been thoughtfully reimagined to celebrate the people, cultures and local ingredients that make this place so special, while continuing to offer the quality, variety and warm hospitality our guests have come to expect.”

Individuals can still enjoy popular buffet classics, including rosemary and Hawaiian salt-crusted prime rib, made-to-order temaki hand rolls, Alaskan snow crab legs, Hyatt signature sweet soy garlic fried chicken, Goosepoint oysters, assorted nigiri, and assorted sashimi.

The buffet’s dessert station includes soft serve ice cream with assorted toppings; a chocolate fountain with fruits, brownies and sponge cake; mini coconut crème brulee; pineapple upside-down cake; butter mochi and a rotating selection of seasonal treats.

The Buffet at Hyatt is open nightly from 5 to 9:30 p.m. (last seating is at 9 p.m.). Guests can enjoy live music on Fridays and Saturdays from 5 to 9 p.m.

Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort and Spa

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Buffet at Hyatt buffet area 071326

<title>Kamaʻāina can enjoy limited-time discounts at the Buffet at Hyatt</title>

Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort & Spa recently updated its buffet menu to include more Island-inspired dishes. As part of the resort’s 50th anniversary celebration, kamaʻāina can enjoy 25% off at the Buffet at Hyatt from Mondays to Thursdays and 20% off on Fridays to Sundays for all of July.

Kamaʻāina can enjoy limited-time discounts at the Buffet at Hyatt

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Aloha Spirit

Nearly three years after wildfires destroyed much of Lahaina town, a new three-day celebration will bring more than 100 former residents back.

The inaugural Lahaina Homecoming — set for July 17 to 19 — will welcome 103 former residents home and offer a handful of community events.

It's an initiative of Maui Economic Recovery Commission's Healing Journey Team, coordinated by nonprofit Festivals of Aloha and is sponsored by the Maui County Office of Recovery, Hawaiian Council, Hawai‘i Community Foundation and Hawaiian Airlines, along with other local organizations and private donors, a recent announcement from Maui County noted.

It was created "from deep listening, lived experience and community need," the 

 states. "The idea grew from ongoing healing work with Lahaina families and a shared understanding that coming home — together — is an essential part of recovery."

 ravaged parts of the Valley Isle. One blaze destroyed much of Lahaina and killed more than 100 people.

The homecoming centers on the people, stories, culture and the future of Lahaina, the site says, and is a "space to heal together, to honor what was lost and to invest in what comes next."

“The inaugural Lahaina Homecoming represents a crucial investment in the belief that although many families have been displaced, Lahaina remains their home,” Maui Economic Recovery Commission Chairman Layne Silva said in the announcement. “The event welcomes former residents and the community at large to take part in cultural experiences, storytelling, resource sharing and community-focused programming that honors Lahaina’s rich heritage and strengthens connections among residents, families and supporters as Lahaina continues its recovery.”

Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen told Aloha State Daily last week that he thought the homecoming was a "great idea," and the event was driven by the community's interest. 

For Bissen, the residents returning, many of whom left after the fire, is the coolest part. 

"The whole idea was to let them know your town is vibrant, your town is alive, your town is coming back and come and see it. Come and see your friends and family and reconnect," he says.

According to the announcement, organizers had initially hoped to sponsor airfare for 80 individuals but, "as applications continued to arrive, they found it impossible to turn away so many people with deep roots in Lahaina." Instead, 103 former residents representing 20 families will return for the weekend.

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[{"type":"text","text":"Friday, July 17"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Saturday, July 18"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Sunday, July 19"}]

According to the announcement, complimentary parking will be available at the Lahaina Aquatic Center, with continuous shuttle service to and from Campbell Park each evening. Those who plan to attend are encouraged to carpool and allow extra travel time. A dedicated kūpuna drop-off and pick-up area will be available at the corner of Front and Prison streets.

Additional parking will be available at Lahaina Hongwanji Mission, Waiola Church and Lahaina Baptist Church.

Trilogy Excursions also is offering complimentary community cruises for Homecoming participants.

The homecoming also serves an opportunity for the community to reconnect with the area before Front Street reopens to the public.

County officials told ASD that the county aims to reopen Front Street to through traffic before the third anniversary of the fire.

Currently, Front Street is closed from Papalaua to Dickenson streets, while the portion from Dickenson to Shaw streets is partially open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily., a county spokesperson confirmed in a follow-up email.

Details of the reopening are still being discussed and will be announced soon.

Office of Recovery Administrator John Smith noted that the area is a "kuleana in progress place." 

"We will continue to have construction and limited road closures based on all of the work that's going down there," he told ASD. "But we just finished the railing project, we just finished a paving project on Front Street, and it's just really good timing. So when the festivities are over and after everything's cleaned up, it's going to be the right time to allow traffic on Front Street."

Lahaina Front Street rainbow 070826

<title>Lahaina homecoming planned; Front Street to reopen in near future</title>

Nearly three years after deadly wildfires destroyed much of the West Maui community, 103 former residents are set to return this weekend  — and the public is invited to help celebrate the community's spirit.

Lahaina homecoming planned; Front Street to reopen in near future

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

There are multiple theater productions on stage across Oʻahu this summer and fall. Here are some of the ones currently in session or coming up soon.

Hawaiʻi Shakespeare Festival (July and August).

 Ready to hear some Shakespeare? Works of William Shakespeare will take stages across Oʻahu as part of the Hawaiʻi Shakespeare Festival, which will consist of two productions: “The Winter’s Tale,” directed by Brando Cutts, which runs July 17 through 26, at Kumu Kahua Theatre, and “Julius Caesar,” directed by Alex Munro, which runs July 31 through Aug. 9, at Mānoa Valley Theatre. General admission is $25 for most shows. “Julius Caesar” will offer $15 tickets for shows on Wednesday and Thursday. 

This show tells the story of a truck stop sandwich stop which offers its formerly incarcerated staff a shot at redemption. The play was written by Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage and has been nominated for four Tony Awards. The production will be on stage at Mānoa Valley Theatre. Tickets start at $25. Other productions heading for Mānoa Valley Theatre include “Jagged Little Pill,” which opens Sept. 10, “Peter Pan Goes Wrong,” which opens Nov. 12, “Purpose,” which opens Jan. 21, “The Producers,” which opens March 18, “Folks You Meet in Longs,” which opens May 13, “Shakespeare in Love, The Play,” which opens July 15, 2027, and “Once Upon One Kapakahi Time,” which opens June 24, 2027. 

“Les Misérables” (July 24- Aug. 23). 

This classic musical, based on Victor Hugo’s novel, tells the story of Jean Valjean

, who agrees to care for a factory worker’s daughter. The musical is heading to the stage at Diamond Head Theatre. Many performances are already soldout, but new shows have been added on Aug. 22 and Aug. 23. Limited tickets are available. Diamond Head Theatre's upcoming season includes: “Fiddler on the Roof,” which opens Sept. 25, “Dr. Suess’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical,” which opens  Nov. 20, “Into the Woods,” which opens Jan. 22, “Suffs,” which opens March 12, “Pirates! The Penzance Musical,” which opens May 21, and “Hairspray, The Broadway Musical,” which opens July 23, 2026. 

“The Queen’s Will” (Aug. 20 – Sept. 20).

 In the early days of the Territory of Hawai‘i, Princess Theresa Owana Ka‘ōhelelani La‘anui Wilcox Belliveau was accused of conspiracy to commit forgery of the last will and testament of Queen Lili‘uokalani. In this story, she fights for her freedom and identity. “The Queen’s Will” runs Aug. 20 through Sept. 20 at Kumu Kahua Theatre. This is the first show in Kumu Kahua Theater's 56th season. Other productions in this season include “Kupua,” which opens Oct. 29, “All Buss Up in a HI State: A Trilogy of Hawai‘i Plays,” which opens Jan. 21, “Murder Finds a Medium,” which opens March 25, and “Grumpy Old Futz,” which opens May 27. 

Tickets for “The Queen’s Will” are $28

 for general admission, with discounts for students, kūpuna, and large group orders. 

 The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's Theatre for Young Audiences program

 will hold productions of “The Hobbit,” which tells the story of Bilbo Baggins. 

Greg Banks’ stage adaptation of “The Hobbit or There and Back Again,” which was written by J.R.R. Tolkien, is the prelude to the beloved “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. The story is brought to life by five actors and includes dragons, dwarves, goblins and epic landscapes. This limited-run production will be presented in the Earle Ernst Lab Theatre at the Kennedy Theatre from Aug. 21 through Sept. 6. This year marks the 55th year of Theatre for Young Audiences and in honor of the milestone, all proceeds from the show will go toward a newly established University of Hawaiʻi Foundation account that is dedicated to sustaining the program for future generations. Tickets are $15. 

“Book Two Trains Running” (Aut. 21 – Sept. 6). 

This story takes place in the ’60s, during a decade of assassinations and Black Power. It explores Memphis Lee’s coffee shop in Pittsburgh’s Hill District and all the people who hang out there. “Book Two Trains Running” was written by August Wilson and will be directed by Marc Cooper at The Actors’ Group at The Brad Powell Theatre. It is the first of six shows in the 2026-2027 season for 

The Actors’ Group. The upcoming season for this group includes 

the Hawaiʻi premiere of “Eureka Day,” which opens Oct. 23, “Anatomy of a Murder,” which opens Jan. 8, and “Tiger Style,” which opens March 5. “Jitney,” which opens May 7, and “Neil Simon’s Rumors,” which opens July 9, 2027, are also in this season of shows. General admission is about $33, with discounts for kūpuna and students. 

 This original Hawaiʻi musical premieres Oct. 16 at the Royal Hawaiian Theater in Waikīkī. The story follows a present day Marine who goes back in time to 1898, as a sovereign kingdom fights for survival. This fictional story rooted in history is set to premiere on Oct. 16, the birthdate of Princess Kaʻiulani, whose legacy inspired the musical. Shows are at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, or 7:30 p.m. on Monday. Regular admission is $95 for adults and $75 for keiki. Kamaʻāina tickets are $65. 

, is returning to Honolulu after more than a decade-long break from the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall. 

 will be on stage from Wednesday, Nov. 25 through Sunday, Dec. 6. The musical follows the adventures of mismatched missionaries who are sent halfway across the world to spread the word of God. The musical is one of two Broadway in Hawaiʻi productions set to have performances soon at the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall. Season tickets for the shows start at $137. 

Do you know of an upcoming production not on this list? Email 

"Clyde’s"

<title>Your guide to upcoming theater on Oʻahu</title>

Ready to see a production on stage? From Hawaiʻi premieres to Shakespearean classics, there are lots of shows to catch in Honolulu, Waikīkī, and more this summer and fall.

Your guide to upcoming theater on Oʻahu

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

Hawai‘i will prohibit the sale of “99.9%” of all e-cigarette products in the state starting next year, per Gov. Josh Green, who signed a pair of bills into law Tuesday.

 establish heavy regulations, or outright prohibitions, on the sale of electronic smoking devices in the state, with Green promising Tuesday that more regulations will continue in the years to come.

 of the measures emphasized the negative health impacts to keiki caused by vaping.

“Vaping is bad, period,” Green said. “It leads to young people getting addicted to nicotine and it affects their physiology and development. And they get hooked on cigarettes later.”

SB 2175 will prohibit the sale or distribution of any disposable e-cigarette devices beginning Jan. 1, 2027. Any violation of the law will incur a $100 fine per day per product.

While Green discussed SB 2175 Tuesday largely from a health perspective, he added that disposable vapes have increasingly been identified as an environmental problem: not only are they common litter, but the lithium batteries within them can cause fires or release toxic metals into the environment.

HB 1573 is more extensive, requiring that the only e-cigarette and vape liquid products allowed to be sold in Hawai‘i be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Rep. Scot Matayoshi, a co-introducer of the bill, said Tuesday that limits the number of products to only 45, most of which do not have the sweet flavorings that have made vapes attractive to young people.

However, Matayoshi acknowledged that the most recent vape products approved by the FDA include two fruit-flavored vape pods. Nonetheless, he said the vast majority of fruit- or candy-flavored vape products are not FDA-approved and will be much harder and more expensive for children to access.

In any case, Green said “market forces alone” will likely strongly discourage manufacturers from attempting to gain a foothold in Hawai‘i.

“It’s very difficult for anyone to be in the industry in a market where, let’s be honest, we don’t want them here in Hawai‘i,” Green said.

As written, HB 1573 requires that, beginning Oct. 1, all vape manufacturers attempting to distribute products in the state must submit proof of their compliance with state and federal laws, proof of an FDA marketing granted order and a $1,000 payment for each product line certified with the state.

Then, beginning Jan. 1, 2027, the state Department of the Attorney General, will publish an updated directory of all brand names, products and manufacturers certified in the state. Attempting to sell any product not included on that list will incur a $500 fine for each individual product for sale for a first violation, and increasing incrementally up to $2,000 per product for a fourth violation.

Should the manufacturer itself be found to be offering non-approved products for sale in the state, the manufacturer could be fined up to $10,000 for each product, and could be found guilty of a misdemeanor.

Kalaheo High School student Maya Butts said vaping continues to plague Hawai‘i schools, saying that her school’s bathrooms no longer feel like functioning restrooms, but instead are just “places to vape.”

“I’ve watched my smart, athletic friends completely lose their motivation,” Butts said. “They got hooked on these devices that taste like candy, move on to other substances, then lose their spark altogether.”

Although vapes and e-cigarettes have been used to help wean tobacco smokers off of normal cigarettes, Green said he is skeptical that such a use case outweighs their harm.

“The biggest problem has been getting an entire generation … innumerable middle schoolers and high schoolers hooked,” Green said. “Society has found ways to quit traditional cigarettes through medical means, through behavioral techniques; we should lean on those.”

Lola Irvin, administrator of the state Department of Health’s Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Division, said adults who have concurrently used traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes are less likely to successfully quit smoking, while young people who begin using e-cigarettes are more likely to transition to smoking traditional cigarettes.

Furthermore, Irvin said that e-cigarette use has been linked to increased risk of lung and oral cancers, and concluded “it is not a safe product to use for quitting.”

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

GreenVape

<title>'99.9%' of vapes to be banned under new laws</title>

A pair of new laws Gov. Josh Green signed Tuesday will strongly curtail what e-cigarette products are permitted to be sold in the state.

'99.9%' of vapes to be banned under new laws

Business & Tourism

Liliha Bakery will bring its iconic Coco Puffs and local comfort food to another Waikīkī locale, opening its sixth location on O‘ahu July 17.

You'll find the new 6,000-square-foot eatery on the second level of Waikīkī Beach Walk. According to a recent announcement, the bakery and restaurant will feature both outdoor and indoor dining spaces.

Liliha Bakery first opened in 1950. Its bakery items include the iconic Coco Puffs, poi doughnuts and butter rolls, and you'll find faves like the loco moco, garlic shrimp, omelets and more, on the menu, according to the announcement.

"While Waikiki has many restaurants, there is still an absence of local-style dining options that truly represent Hawaii's comfort food. We wanted to help fill that gap by creating another space where visitors can experience local food and hospitality, while providing a convenient new location for guests to enjoy Liliha Bakery," Peter Kim, owner of Liliha Bakery, said in the announcement. "

We’re incredibly grateful for the continued support we’ve received from communities across Oʻahu, and we’re excited to continue sharing the Liliha Bakery experience with both visitors and kamaʻāina.”

Marketing Coordinator Katie Matsuno shared similar sentiments, telling Aloha State Daily in an email that Waikīkī Beach Walk felt like the perfect fit for Liliha Bakery because it allows the restaurant to bring its local-style food and bakery to the heart of Waikīkī.

While there are plenty of restaurants in the area, we saw an opportunity to offer the kind of comfort food and bakery items that have been part of our tradition for the past 75 years," she says.

As for the demand the bakery is hoping to see in this spot, Matsuno told ASD the hope is to serve a "good mix" of both local residents and visitors.

"Our goal is to become a destination where people can enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner and freshly baked pastries throughout the day. We also hope to introduce more visitors to our scratch-made menu, iconic Coco Puffs and the warm hospitality that has been part of Liliha Bakery's legacy for more than 75 years."

When asked whether there are plans for future expansion at this time, Matsuno says that right now, the focus is on making 

Waikīkī Beach Walk "a successful opening and delivering the same quality, consistency and hospitality our guests have come to expect from every Lilha Bakery location."

"While we're always looking for opportunities to grow, we don't have any additional expansion plans to announce at this time."

The original Liliha is located at 515 N. Kuakini St. in Honolulu but you'll find 

 at 580 N. Nimitz Highway, the third floor of Macy's at Ala Moana Center, International Market Place in Waikīkī and Pearl Highlands Center in Pearl City.The location at Waikīkī Beach Walk will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Parking is available at Embassy Suites Waikīkī Beach Walk valet parking.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Liliha bakery waikiki

<title>Liliha Bakery to open new spot in Waikīkī</title>

This will be the brand's sixth location on O‘ahu.

Liliha Bakery to open new spot in Waikīkī

 — located in the former space of The Lei Stand in Chinatown — looks like an antique shop, filled with vintage Hawaiian décor. But, as soon as you go the “portal” of aloha shirts, you’ll be transported to a modern lounge space.

“We did want to keep an element of a speakeasy feel for the space,” says business owner Peter Hessler, of PEWA by Pono Potions’ location. “It does look like a very small space from the street, and then it opens up to a big, expansive bar and this awesome courtyard.

“We wanted it to be a bit of a surprise,” he adds. “My partner Michael (Cabagbag) is a big collector of vintage Hawaiian antiques and is passionate about vintage clothes and art. That’s (the entrance) really his space — we’re calling it his antique shop — and it’s going to get more stuffed with antiques as we go. It’s going to feel like a really unique, hole-in-the-wall, Chinatown antique shop.”

This cocktail lounge concept has been in the works for some time for Hessler and Cabagbag, owners of artisan syrup company Pono Potions.

“Michael and I had always talked about wanting to open a cocktail lounge, just because our syrups really lend themselves to making cocktails,” Hessler says. “We always tell people they can make cocktails with them; we haven’t really had a home base for that.

“We’re really excited,” he adds. “This is a really big endeavor for us, from growing the syrup business and the café (

), which is still fairly small and only open during the day. This is twice as big as the café, twice as many hours and multiple food menus, cocktails plus coffee and matcha in the morning. It is a lot for us, and we’re so excited to share everything with the people around us.”

He explains the business’s name stems from a traditional Hawaiian word portrayed in the lounge’s logo.

“It’s the traditional Hawaiian word for this shape — this fishtail-kind of shape — in the ‘P’ (of PEWA),” Hessler says. “It was traditionally used for woodworking and mending two pieces of wood together. We were inspired by that because we wanted to bring our community together. With this being our first night and cocktail concept, we have much more space to invite the community into events and host workshops.

“It’s everything we have been doing for 

(by Pono Potions) for years, just in a different setting,” he adds.

PEWA by Pono Potions features an espresso bar in the morning from 9 to 11 a.m., then offers different menus for lunch (served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and pau hana (4 to 9 p.m.). The espresso bar is different from the specialty beverages customers can get at sister business 

by Pono Potions, which is also located in Chinatown.

is still our flagship store for our Pono Potions syrups for our coffee and matcha drinks,” Hessler explains. “There are about 30-plus specialty drink options and combinations and cold foams at Pō'ai. For this space, we wanted to keep it very simple. It’s more of a purist European-style espresso bar — there are classic drinks, cortados, lattes, flat whites, things like that.”

Customers who visit PEWA by Pono Potions in the morning can enjoy a rotating selection of baked goods from Ulu and Kalo Bakery and Aloha German Bakery, according to Hessler.

“Ulu and Kalo Bakery — which we use at Pō'ai

by Pono Potions — has all vegan and gluten-free baked goods that are amazing,” he says. “We also started working with Aloha German Bakery; they are more classic European-style baked goods.”

PEWA’s lunch and pau hana menus have given Hessler the chance to get back into the kitchen and exercise his culinary creativity.

“I grew up in Portland in the back of the house as a cook and banquet chef in hotels and restaurants,” he says. “I haven’t really gotten into much (of that) here in Hawai‘i; I haven’t worked in a kitchen in more than 13 years. It was really daunting, having this much space with a full kitchen and just thinking about how I was going to manage that.”

Hessler says he created all the recipes for the dishes on the lunch and pau hana menus, with some help from his cousin, Arden Waikīkī chef Jasmyne Wood.

“It’s been a really fun process to meld all of those things together,” he says.

PEWA’s lunch menu includes pūpū like yuzu citrus glaze chicken wings ($18) and fritto misto ($18); salads like Caesar ($15) and burrata Caprese ($18); and entrees like grilled chicken club ($18) and a rib-eye sando ($24).

“Working in Chinatown for so long, I’m always in search for a filling, healthy, good sandwich,” Hessler says. “I really like our chicken club with avocado and bacon — it’s super simple, but really good.”

[{"type":"text","text":"Meanwhile, the pau hana menu includes more shareable dishes."}]

“We didn’t want it to be a place where you felt you were going out for a three-course meal; it’s not a sit-down dinner service sort of place,” he says. “It’s a space to enjoy a cocktail and share different things with your friends.

Customers can opt for dishes like grilled boneless rib-eye ($48), herb-grilled prawns ($32), hot sausage vodka rigatoni ($24) and spaghetti aglio e olio ($20).

“The grilled prawns are served with a housemade grilled baba ganoush; that’s a really fun thing to share,” Hessler says. “We have a pūpū rib-eye steak with a chimichurri sauce and it’s lightly marinated with red wine and some balsamic vinegar; it’s really, really good. The chicken wings are a crowd favorite already; they’re super crispy with a yuzu citrus glaze.”

The pau hana menu also offers a variety of shareable boards that are designed to split among three to four people, according to Hessler. Choose from smoked salmon with whipped herb goat cheese and house pickles ($23); Mediterranean with grilled baba ganoush, hummus and crudite ($20); and charcuterie and cheese ($25).

“We have a lot of boards; I’ve been pretty infamous for charcuterie boards," he says. "We would host so many events at 

, and I would make huge, elaborate boards all the time. I wanted to bring that here as well.”

PEWA boasts an extensive drink menu; customers can choose from handcrafted cocktails ($18), espresso martinis ($14-$18), beers ($8-$10) and classic Pono spritzes ($14), along with wines by the glass and bottle.

So far, customer favorites include the Crown Flower ($18) — milk-washed gin, pikake and lychee-accented cocktail — and Red Palaka ($18). The latter pays homage to the Year of the Fire Horse, and features a tequila and mezcal sour paired with olena pineapple and pink lucky candy.

“The Red Palaka is one of my favorites,” Hessler says. “I (also) really like the Mana Mai’a ($16), which uses our new banana bread Pono Potions syrup, fresh lemon juice, vodka, and freshly grated cinnamon on top.”

Any of the classic Pono spritzes ($14 each) can be made into non-alcoholic versions, according to Hessler. These drinks usually feature a base spirit, house soda, and Pono Potions syrups. If you want something refreshing, go for the non-alcoholic version of the hibiscus mojito, which is a blend of hibiscus syrup, lime and soda. 

On Sundays, the space is open for brunch from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (last call for the kitchen is at 2 p.m.). Dishes range from shakshuka and avocado toast to rib-eye steak and eggs and a sweetbread French toast skillet.

“We want this space to be like the destination for a fun Sunday boozy brunch with good food and good drinks on the patio,” Hessler says.

He says that, since opening, the space has already been busy on Friday and Saturday nights.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of life we bring into this space,” Hessler says. “We want to make this space accessible to everyone — we want to make it a destination for people to come to have one drink or one coffee, or just to relax all night and eat some good food as well. The most important thing is the camaraderie with the community.”

Open 9 to 11 a.m. (espresso bar), 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (lunch), and 4 to 9 p.m. (pau hana) Wednesdays to Saturdays; open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays; closed Mondays and Tuesdays

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