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Adopt a Pet

Meet Kinako, "a 29-pound, 3-year-old terrier mix, with a heart full of love just waiting to be shared," says the

"This sweet boy was brought to us in November 2024 after his owner could no longer care for him. Now, Kinako is hoping for a fresh start with a gentle, patient family, who can show him that the world isn’t such a scary place. With the right people by his side, he’ll gain the confidence to explore, play and shower his family with unconditional love."

Kinako is waiting to meet you at Hawaiian Humane Society’s Mōʻiliʻili Campus, open daily from 11 a.m to 6 p.m. 

Kinako 4 4 2025

<title>Adopt-A-Pet April 4, 2025: Kinako canʻt wait to ʻshower his new family with unconditional…</title>

"He may be a little shy at first, but with patience and kindness, he blossoms into a playful, goofy companion, who will steal your heart," says the Hawaiian Humane Society.

Adopt-A-Pet April 4, 2025: Kinako canʻt wait to ʻshower his new family with unconditional loveʻ

Meet Kinako, "a 29-pound, 3-year-old terrier mix, with a heart full of love just waiting to be shared," says the Hawaiian Humane Society. "This sweet boy was brought to us in November 2024 after his owner could no longer care for him. Now, Kinako is hoping for a fresh start with a gentle, patient family, who can show him that the world isn’t such a scary place. With the right people by his side, he’ll gain the confidence to explore, play and shower his family with unconditional love." Kinako is waiting to meet you at Hawaiian Humane Society’s Mōʻiliʻili Campus, open daily from 11 a.m to 6 p.m. 

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Government & Politics

Business & Tourism

There’s much ado about DoHo these days — and even more in the works.

 a plan to revitalize Downtown Honolulu — or DoHo, as some call it — passing a bill to extend the current Fort Street Improvement District into a broader Downtown Honolulu Improvement District.

Mayor Rick Blangiardi signed that measure, 

The Downtown BID will be funded through special assessments on non-residential property owners and is “designed to deliver consistent cleaning, safety enhancements, maintenance and beautification services within the city’s urban core,” the city said in an announcement at that time.

It’ll operate through a public-private partnership model with an estimated $1.9 million annual budget that will supplement services beyond the city’s “baseline responsibilities,” the announcement noted.

According to the city, supplemental services under the BID model may include:

But also doing its part to draw more people Downtown is 

, a nonprofit “whose whole purpose is to bring community engagements, events and just bring life to Downtown, trying to make it a better place and make it a place where people can gather,” chairman 

Westley Starnes, a project analyst for Downtown-based developer Avalon Group, 

Activate DoHo really got its start this year, Starnes says, but the initiatives and ideas behind it began last year with a run club — a group of young professionals Downtown who “got together and just wanted to do something.”

 meets at 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays at Fort Street Mall and the Robert W. Wilcox Mini Park for a 1.5-mile run followed by a pau hana Downtown.

“What we saw with that was it actually worked really well,” Starnes told ASD. “The interest was there. People wanted to do it. People kept coming out.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Routes go through Downtown."}]

"You're running up Fort Street Mall, you're running past all the places, you're seeing all the people that you see in Downtown," Starnes says. "It's really a cool thing for the area."

Expanding upon that, Activate DoHo also has a weekly DoHo Yoga Club, at 5:30 p.m. every Monday on the sixth-floor garden deck at Topa Financial Center.

It’s free to participate in the DoHo Run Club — just show up — but the yoga club is $15 per session. You can 

But one of the group’s newest initiatives is taking place this month: the DoHo Night Market is set for 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, at Fort Street Mall and Robert W. Wilcox Mini Park.

Starnes says the night market will have live entertainment and performances by students from local schools, food vendors, tables and games for families, security on site and more.

“[We] want to show that Downtown isn’t all what you hear,” he says. “It really is a good place and it can be a safe place, so really [we’re] hoping to change this perception that we all hear about, we all see and to show the beauty of Downtown. That’s what we’re looking to do with the night market."

Admission is free. More info about the Night Market can be 

According to Starnes the inaugural night market is the “first of many,” with the organization looking to first host these quarterly and, eventually, monthly.

The night market coincides with the grand opening of 

 on the second level of Pickles at Forté, Avalon’s air conditioned, indoor pickleball and social club that opened in January on the ground floor of 1032 Fort Street Mall.

Starnes says that Activate DoHo currently has four board members and “a lot of volunteers,” but they’re looking for more.

“It’s just a group of people that is connected to Downtown. We're looking for young professionals that care about this place and want to make it a better place,” he says. “[We are] always looking for more volunteers, more people to help, more people to get behind the vision — and we’re growing fast.”

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Fort Street Mall 110525

<title>Destination DoHo</title>

Here's what's happening in Downtown Honolulu, as the city and nonprofits work to improve the area and draw more people.

Destination DoHo

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

Waikīkī Yacht Club held its inaugural Royal Regatta. The event, held at Ala Moana Beach Park and the 

was a celebration of Hawaiian culture and was inspired by King David Kalākaua, who held an annual birthday regatta beginning in 1875. 

"It was really fun," organizer Malia Zimmerman said. "By the time all the paddlers in the community got to our Royal Regatta, they were ready to have fun. We had a really intense year in terms of races. And for our 

 team, we just finished the Na Wahine and then the men's team finished the Molokai Hoe. It was really good timing to kind of wrap up the season in a fun way."

Self-described as "a festive showcase of aloha," the event began 

anoe races were then held across a bevy of divisions, from keiki to teams comprised of paddlers 60 and over. Music by the Royal Hawaiian Band and hula performances were among the entertainment throughout the event. 

"The joy on everyone's faces, that was very fulfilling to see, the paddlers and the sailors have so much fun and have fun together and do it at the same time as being able to honor a king who was so joyful," Zimmerman said. "I think that really brought the whole program together. I've never seen paddlers so happy."

Zimmerman and other organizers are planning to hold the event again in the future, planning it around Nov. 16, 

"We are planning to ask the parks department if we can have the date next year, around his birthday, which is Nov. 16, so somewhere between late October, early November, we will hopefully be able to fit on the park schedule and do this event again and make it an annual event," Zimmerman said. "We're really excited about doing that, and we have so many people that have already suggested other additional races and cultural events that we can have, and eventually maybe expanding it into a full day or two days over the weekend to have an event that honors the king.

"We had just so many good donors and so many sponsors that really believed in this program and saw the vision for it. Just building this vision so people can see exactly what it could be and what it was this year and what it could potentially be, we were just so lucky that so many people came together and believed in this vision for this event and saw what it can be in the future, and want it to keep flourishing."

Royal Regatta 103125

<title>Inaugural Royal Regatta a success</title>

The event was a celebration of Hawaiian culture and had activities throughout the day.

Inaugural Royal Regatta a success

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

Aloha Spirit

s is hosting its first Battle of the Bands and Comedians. The fourth round of competition takes place at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 

. Aloha State Daily is the media sponsor for the series.

Over the past few weeks, a panel of judges have been selecting one band and one comedian from each round to advance directly to the finals. On Nov. 21, five bands and five comedians will compete in the finals at The Gatsby in Kakaʻako.

The second-place finishers for each of the first four rounds of competition get a chance to qualify for the finals as a wildcard, if they are voted in by fans. Their names will be listed on the 

 from Nov. 10 -16. During that time, fans can vote for the band and comedian they want to see compete in the finals.

The third round took place on Saturday, Nov. 1, at Lava Sports Bar & Grill in Kailua

. The comedians were Ian Shippen, Kanoa Morse and Pepper Lamb. Tehani and Ian Shippen advanced to the finals.

bands in the fourth round on Sunday, Nov. 9, include 

Cajun Peaches, The Issentials and Take One

. The comedians include Mutiyaa Vision, Andrew Joyce and Jack Schwab.

Tehani

<title>Battle of the Bands and Comedians: tickets on sale for next round</title>

HI93 FM Hawaiʻi’s Local Hits is hosting a battle of the bands and comedians. The fourth round of competition is this Sunday, Nov. 9.  In just a few weeks, five bands and five comedians will come together for the finals of the competition, held Friday, Nov. 21, at The Gatsby in Kakaʻako.

Battle of the Bands and Comedians: tickets on sale for next round

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Flights to and from Honolulu could be reduced as the Federal Aviation Administration plans to reduce air traffic by 10%.

, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford announced Wednesday that the FAA will cut back on flights across 40 “high-volume” markets to pre-empt potential safety concerns as the federal government shutdown has left air traffic controllers without pay for more than a month.

The Associated Press reported that the month and increasingly short staff has put pressure on air traffic controllers, many of whom have called out of work, causing further staffing shortages. This has led to a range of major flight delays across several mainland airports, where the FAA warned flights could be delayed by up to seven hours from Wednesday into Thursday.

Hawaiian Airlines spokesman Alex Da Silva told Aloha State Daily last week that it had seen “no impacts to [their] operations” related to the ongoing shutdown.

The cuts will begin on Friday. The specific airports selected for the cuts have not yet been announced, and Bedford said a list of impacted airports will be released Thursday.  

, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport had the 22nd-most aircraft movements in the U.S. last year, with 334,695 aircraft flying in or out of the airport in 2024. It ranked 32nd in total commercial passengers — nearly 22 million last year — and 14th in cargo, with more than 600,000 metric tons of cargo moving through the airport in 2024.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Honolulu airport

<title>FAA warns of cuts to flights as shutdown continues</title>

Flights to and from 40 unspecified "high-volume" markets coming this Friday, warns the FAA.

FAA warns of cuts to flights as shutdown continues

Lopaka and Tanya Kapanui

Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya Kapanui

Hawaii History

Columnists

Located about two miles from Downtown Honolulu, the neighborhood of Mo‘ili‘ili was once primarily agricultural. Rice paddies and lo‘i kalo occupied most of the land, with houses and small businesses scattered about. By the 1960s, apartment buildings, grocery stores, and small shopping centers attracted more people seeking a quieter life while still wanting to remain close to Honolulu. The Mo‘ili‘ili community was tightly knit and soon became known as the floral capital of Honolulu as demand for lei and daily flower bouquets grew.

One gathering place for the Mo‘ili‘ili community was the Kamo‘ili‘ili Church, whose congregation was predominantly Hawaiian. Construction for the simple stone church began in 1850 and was completed three years later. Although the building was restored around 1900 and renamed Rice Memorial Chapel, many in the community continued to call it Kamo‘ili‘ili Church.

In addition to Sunday services, the hallowed building saw weddings, funerals, celebrations, and community meetings throughout its life. For a time, it even served as a Masonic hall to the Cosmopolitan Lodge of the Prince Hall Lodge of African American Freemasons in Hawaii.

A woman I know recalls time spent there as a child, waiting for her parents. With no babysitter at the time, she would have to stay in a small room by herself, where she was left to play, color, or find something else to keep herself busy. In a separate room, her father and the rest of his Prince Hall brothers would have their lodge meetings. In another room was her mother, who would attend the meetings of the Order of the Eastern Star with the other wives of Masonic husbands.

One evening, as a girl, she noticed a Hawaiian man looking in the window from outside. He had dark hair and a beard, thick eyebrows and full lips, and he wasn’t wearing a shirt. The man’s intense gaze was frightening as he pointed to the screen covering the window, indicating that he wanted her to open it. Without speaking, she shook her head, “No.”

Despite her refusal to cooperate, the hook holding the screen popped off on its own, and the man pulled the screen back. My friend said she remembers hearing a blood-curdling scream before realizing it was coming from her. She ran into the men’s lodge meeting and found the masons in a state of upset and confusion. They had apparently seen a Hawaiian man peering in at them from a window high up on the far wall. No outsider could bear witness to a solemn masonic ceremony, so the men went outside to chase the stranger away. They never found anyone hanging around outside, but did note that the window he peered into was nine feet off the ground with no crate, stone, or foothold to climb on.

As time marched on, the church fell into disuse and then disrepair, and was condemned by the city. While the building sat empty, the graveyard, too, had gone untended. In 1968, plans for a new high-rise were announced, and the land beneath the century-old cemetery was chosen for development. Newspapers cited weeds covering gravestones, some of which were broken or leaning awkwardly. Trash had gathered near several plots, more than one tomb was cracked and crumbling, and several markers had already disappeared.

Although the last burial was in the 1950s, letters to newspapers expressed mourning for the loss of history and lament for the irreversible change. One writer posed a warning to other congregations that they may not be exempt from such bittersweet progress in the future.

Work to remove gravestones began in August 1968. Reverend Abraham Akaka of Kawaiaha‘o Church acknowledged the tension between history and progress. He reminded those gathered that every civilization advances by giving up some of its past, saying that growth often demands “selling something of the soul.”

Over the following weeks, workers uncovered the remains of 466 people. Of those remains, 206 were identified, while the rest will forever be unknown. Some graves held the bones of parents and children, while others contained only ashes. The remains were placed in small containers and reburied at Kawaiahaʻo Church in a shared resting place marked by a plaque listing the known names. Above the memorial hangs the bell that once rang from the steeple at Kamoʻiliʻili Church.

[{"type":"text","text":"But that wasn’t the end of it."}]

In November, Reverend Akaka returned to the site to perform special purification rites. The special blessing was requested because workers were reluctant to enter the area. Using an ‘umeke, a Hawaiian calabash, dating back to the days of Kamehameha I, the Reverend sprinkled the ground with water from the well at Kawaiaha‘o Church while reciting his prayers. It is rumored that more bones were found during construction, including one skeleton measuring nearly nine feet long, near what is now the pool area.

Completed in 1971, the Contessa condominium stands on the old church and cemetery grounds. It boasts 37 floors, 144 units, a sauna, and a swimming pool in the vibrant Mo‘ili‘ili neighborhood. Almost from the beginning, tenants complained of hauntings in the building. One woman enlisted the help of Kahuna nui Emma de Fries to bless her apartment and the entire building after constant construction noise bothered her, even when no one else could hear it. 

More than two decades later, my mentor, Glen Grant, shared another story about the Contessa. A plumber was called to an apartment to fix a kitchen drain. The woman who lived there told him to put his ear to the sink. Although he was hesitant, he crouched and listened and heard voices speaking Hawaiian.

“They’re asking what will be done with their bones,” he said, backing away.

He hurried to the elevator and watched in shock as the doors opened before he touched the button. He stepped in and, as the doors began to close, a hand covered with red mud slid between them, opening them again automatically. Standing there was a tall woman, her body caked in red clay. She smiled and waved as the doors shut once more.

Without warning, the elevator dropped several floors before coming to a sudden stop. Shaken, the plumber took the stairs and never returned to the building.

For more than 50 years, people have passed through the Contessa’s lobby unaware of the hundreds of people that were once buried beneath their feet, and what may still be waiting below the surface.

Before the gates to Kawaiahaʻo Church’s graveyard were locked to the public, I used to stop there during my Ghosts of Old Honolulu tour. One night, as our group stood before the Kamoʻiliʻili Church memorial, an older man asked if he could speak. He said he had worked on the construction crew that built the Contessa.

“I was one of the men digging the foundation for the pool,” he said. “We uncovered a skeleton, about nine feet long. Even I knew we shouldn’t have disturbed it. Reverend Akaka came, blessed the burial, and blessed us. We covered the bones right where they were. They’re still there.”

Contessa condominium

<title>The bones beneath the Contessa</title>

The Contessa condominium in Mo‘ili‘ili stands where Kamo‘ili‘ili Church and its mainly Hawaiian graveyard had served the community since 1850. The remains of nearly 500 people were moved for the condo, but workers and residents over the years have reported chilling tales of the spirits that remain.

The bones beneath the Contessa

Want to plan your weekend? Aloha State Daily did some research, so you don’t have to. From live music to markets featuring local businesses, here are a few of the events happening on Oʻahu this weekend:

 Enjoy an evening of contemporary dance, art and music from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Capitol Modern. 

 will take over the galleries, courtyard garden and lobby with live performances. The group is celebrating 35 years of performances in the community. All ages are welcome. Free. Registration is recommended. 

The business accelerator Mana Up recently announced its 

 of companies. Mana Up will hold its in-person 

 market on Nov. 6 at Bloomingdale’s in Ala Moana Center

. To go with the showcase, Cohort 10 and alumni brands released limited-edition products and exclusive discounts on 

Enjoy island and reggae music at One Love, a music festival at the Wai Kai Event Lawn on Nov. 7 and Nov. 8. The featured headliner is K’Nova. Other entertainers include Spawnbreezie, Sons of Zion, Ooklah the Moc, Three Plus and more. 

This three-day marketplace from Hawaiʻi’s Finest features local fashion, art, food, crafts and lifestyle brands. General admission is $6. VIP tickets are $70 and come with additional access hours and exclusive sales, among other perks. Keiki who are four years old or younger enter for free. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"SATURDAY, NOV. 8"}]

Hawai’i’s Nisei soldiers of World War II

. Immediately following the attack on Pearl Harbor, many Selective Service boards 

rejected Americans of Japanese ancestry from military service

. “Defining Courage” tells the story of the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the Military Intelligence Service and the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion, segregated Japanese American units which included many soldiers born and raised in Hawai’i. There will be shows Nov. 8 and 9 at President William McKinley High School on O’ahu and Nov. 10 at H.P. Baldwin High School on Maui. 

 will head back to the water for the first time in more than a decade at sunrise on Saturday, Nov. 8, at Ke’ehi Lagoon Beach Park. 

The event starts at 6 a.m. with a ceremony 

 and its return to the water. At 7 a.m. there will be a paddle out. From 8 a.m. until noon there will be talk story and oral history sessions with master canoe carvers and koa canoe stewards. This event is free and open to the public. Get more information and 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"SUNDAY, NOV. 9"}]

 HI93 FM Hawaiʻi’s Local Hits is hosting its 

. Aloha State Daily is the media sponsor for this event. The fourth round of competition takes place at 7 p.m. at 

Moani Waikīkī. The featured bands are Cajun Peaches, The Issentials and Take One. The comedians are Mutiyaa Vision, Andrew Joyce and Jack Schwab. Stop by the judges table to pick up a free Aloha State Daily sticker. 

 Enjoy free music and activities from 9 a.m. through 1 p.m. at ‘Iolani Palace with featured entertainment from Hālau Unuhiʻa, Waipuna, and Kamahaʻo Haumea-Thronas. There will also be a workshop on how to make kupe’e. Sign ups for activities start at 8:30 a.m. at the Kīnaʻu Gate on Richards Street

.  A valid Hawai’i driver’s license or proof of residency is required for each ticket. Self-led audio tours are available to the first 500 guests. 

 The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa will play San Diego State university at 6 p.m. at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex. The game is sold out, but it will be 

 to Spectrum and Hawaiian Telcom customers. Tailgating starts at 2 p.m., and fans are invited to join the Warrior Walk at 3:15 p.m. when the football team walks through the tailgate area. The pregame concert from Hawaiʻi’s Finest starts at 4:30 p.m. and features 

<title>A Night at the Museum, battle of the bands, and more: Friday, Nov. 7- Sunday, Nov. 9</title>

Looking for fun weekend plans? Watch Prince Kūhiōʻs 40-foot racing canoe return to the water after a decade on land or check out Capitol Modern’s First Friday event, where dancers from Iona Contemporary Dance Theatre bring the museum's galleries, courtyard and lobby to life. It is also a Kamaʻāina Sunday for ʻIolani Palace, which means free entry for Hawaiʻi residents.  

Adopt-A-Pet April 4, 2025: Kinako canʻt wait to ʻshower his new family with unconditional loveʻ

ASD Staff

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Adopt-A-Pet April 4, 2025: Kinako canʻt wait to ʻshower his new family with unconditional loveʻ

Authors

ASD Staff

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