ASD Staff

Adopt a Pet

Meet Sweetie Pie, "a 1-year-old bundle of love" who is waiting to find her forever home. She lives up to her name and is as sweet as they come, says the 

According to MHS, Sweetie Pie "got a little lost in Haiku, but luckily, found [her] way to some kind people [that] kept [her] safe." 

Sweetie Pie can be a little shy at first, "but if you’ve got some treats and a gentle touch, [she’ll] be wiggling [her] way into your heart in no time!" 

She absolutely loves snuggling up in bed, playing with other gentle pups and just being around people. If you’re looking for a soft, loving companion who loves cuddles, 

Sweetie Pie 2

<title>Adopt-A-Pet April 9, 2025: Meet this Sweetie Pie from Maui Humane Society</title>

Sweetie Pie is up for adoption at Maui Humane Society. This snuggly dog lives up to her name.

Adopt-A-Pet April 9, 2025: Meet this Sweetie Pie from Maui Humane Society

Meet Sweetie Pie, "a 1-year-old bundle of love" who is waiting to find her forever home. She lives up to her name and is as sweet as they come, says the Maui Humane Society. According to MHS, Sweetie Pie "got a little lost in Haiku, but luckily, found [her] way to some kind people [that] kept [her] safe."  Sweetie Pie can be a little shy at first, "but if you’ve got some treats and a gentle touch, [she’ll] be wiggling [her] way into your heart in no time!"  She absolutely loves snuggling up in bed, playing with other gentle pups and just being around people. If you’re looking for a soft, loving companion who loves cuddles, adopt Sweetie Pie today!

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Entertainment

Arts & Culture

Molokai has a movie theater again. It is the first one in more than 15 years. The Mango Theater opened on Thursday, April 3, with a showing of “Moana 2,” shared Brad Ellis who owns the theater along with wife, Grace Chen-Ellis. So far, at least 400 people have watched movies in the new theater.

The last theater, located in Maunaloa and owned by Molokai Ranch closed in 2008, as previously reported by The Molokai Dispatch.

[{"text":"“It’s been terrific,” he said. ","type":"text"}]

Previously, residents of Molokai had to get on a plane to see movies in a theater.

The duo bought the building that holds the theater in 2017 and began restoring it. 

“One of the shop owners across the street said: 

Well, we don't know, probably retail space.’ And she said, 

 in a one-screen, 45-seat theater that opened this month. Today, the building that houses the theater is called the RWH Chen Building. 

The opening movie, “Moana 2,” ran for two weeks. That film played four nights each week. 

“It went great,” Ellis said. “Our staff is learning as we go, and every day they got better at handling the crowds as they come in right before the movie. Everybody left a smile on their face — so that's what it's all about.”

The journey to opening the doors of a theater on Molokai started right before the pandemic. In 2019, the owners of the building hired an architect and consultant but the Covid-19 pandemic and 

“It's absolutely great watching the families come in ... and all leaving, as I said before, with smiles on their face," he said. "It

Some movie-goers remember days when movie tickets were just a quarter, he said with a laugh.

The theater offers a variety of snacks, including classics such as popcorn, candy, hot dogs and ice cream. There is also hurricane popcorn, which is flavored with shoyu, sugar, butter, nori seaweed and kakimochi.

[{"text":"“Nachos is the big hit so far,” Ellis said. ","type":"text"}]

The duo also owns Molokai Pizza Cafe. At the moment, four to five employees are dedicated to the theater “and then we get an extra helping hand from the folks who normally work over at the pizza cafe,” depending on how many people show up for each movie, he said. 

“Although the audience size is hard to predict,” he added. “You can buy tickets in advance on the website, and we thought that is what most people would do but a lot of people just show up at the door, so we've got a lot of sales at the theater itself.”

The next movie will be “Captain America: Brave New World.” Ticket sales launched on Sunday evening and within 10 minutes, about a third of the seats had been sold, Ellis said. That movie will run for three days.  

[{"text":"“We expect those shows will be sold out,” he added. ","type":"text"}]

The theater has 40 regular seats and an ʻohana bench, which has a table and seats up to five people. 

“That’s very popular,” Ellis said. “It's particularly nice for families with little kids and things like that.”

He declined to share the cost of the buildout. When asked about starting a theater when some on the Mainland and neighbor islands have closed, Ellis was optimistic.

“We're a unique market here,” he said. “People are really looking for some sort of additional activity to do in the evening and whatnot.”

The Mango Theater

<title>The Mango Theater opens on Molokai</title>

Molokai still has no stop lights, but starting this month one thing residents will have is a movie theater. Previously, fans of the big screen had to board planes and fly to neighbor islands to catch highly anticipated releases of new films.

The Mango Theater opens on Molokai

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

I can’t believe it’s already been a year since 

 opened. I vividly remember going to the media preview — and how busy the conveyor belt sushi restaurant was during opening weekend.

The eatery is celebrating its first anniversary with two weekend deals. From April 19 to 20, the restaurant’s popular wagyu sushi will be available for $15 instead of $30. Customers can also take advantage of aburi toro sushi at half price (it’ll be $6 instead of $12). This is one of my favorite nigiri, as the flame-seared toro still retains its fattiness and rich, buttery flavor, but has a slightly charred exterior and smoky aftertaste.

It’s important to note that these discounts are available for dine-in only. Customers who dine in on April 19 and 20 will also be able to participate in a lottery; the grand prize is a pair of lunch invitations to the eatery’s sister restaurant, Sushi Ginza Onodera Hawaiʻi, which is known for its omakase. 

Customers who dine in for at least 30 minutes will be granted one spin from the lottery wheel, and all winning coupons will be redeemable starting from May.

The following weekend, the eatery is offering discounted bluefin tuna nigiri from April 25 to 28. Customers can enjoy akami ($3, regular price $6), chutoro ($4.50, regular price $8.50) and otoro ($6, regular price $12) nigiri from April 25 to 28. This is an especially good deal for the more luxe pieces of chutoro (medium-fatty tuna) and otoro (the fattiest part of the tuna belly).

[{"text":"There will also be a bluefin cutting show at 6:15 p.m. on April 28.","type":"text"}]

Kaiten Sushi Ginza Onodera toro 041525

<title>Save the date for this $3 sushi deal</title>

Kaiten Sushi Ginza Onodera Hawaiʻi is celebrating its one-year anniversary with sushi specials.

Save the date for this $3 sushi deal

Lopaka and Tanya Kapanui

Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya Kapanui

Hawaii History

Columnists

Fans of the television show Magnum P.I. might remember the contentious relationship between the fun-loving private investigator, Thomas Magnum, and the by-the-book caretaker of Robin’s Nest, Jonathan Higgins. In season 7, episode 8, the quarrelsome pair, completely fed up with one another, engaged in a battle of wills that escalated throughout the episode and eventually found the men trapped in an elevator. While stuck in their predicament, Magnum seemed to finally put the puzzle pieces together and accused Higgins of being the secretive Robin Masters. 

For those of us who were watching, the climax grew as Magnum listed out loud all his clues, and we wondered if we were finally going to find out exactly who Robin Masters was. But the argument was interrupted by a warning siren. The building they were trapped in was going to be demolished, and they had just minutes to escape.

While the premise of the show was entirely fictional, the demolition was not. The old Kaiser Hospital in Waikīkī was built in 1958. Although the facility boasted state-of-the-art technology against the backdrop of amazing sunsets, the patients’ needs quickly outgrew the hospital’s walls, and in 1986 was set to be demolished. After public anticipation grew due to several delays, the implosion created a huge spectacle. There were watch parties in the surrounding hotels and condominiums, and people lined up along Magic Island and Ala Moana Boulevard to catch a glimpse of the falling 9-story building. The production crew of Magnum P.I. was on hand to film the demolition to use for a future episode entitled “Paper War!” 

Just after 10:00 a.m., the countdown began, but with only 30 seconds left, the project was stopped. Honolulu Police reported that someone saw a person skateboarding on the seventh floor of the building. After searching the building, nobody was found, and the countdown resumed. The sounds of the crumbling building were nearly drowned out by the roar of the crowd while the giant cloud of dust settled over everything nearby, including the bright red Ferrari made famous on Magnum P.I.

A brand new luxury hotel was later built in the old hospital’s place. In 1990, the Hawaii Prince Hotel welcomed its first guests, and in 1994, I applied for a security position there. While waiting for my interview, I sat outside the Human Resources office in the basement, watching a large door swing back and forth as cooks and wait staff hurriedly made their way in and out of the kitchen. The staff was so busy that no one took notice of the old, barefoot Hawaiian man dressed in a hospital gown, slowly making his way down the hallway toward the elevator doors. 

Before I could ask the other people in the waiting area if they saw the same thing I did, a woman stuck her head out the door and called my name in a pleasant voice.

[{"text":"“Come right in, please. We’re ready to see you.” ","type":"text"}]

The woman led me to a tiny office, where the hotel’s head of security sat behind a desk that seemed too small for him. 

Introductions were made, but before we started the interview, I said, “You may want to call one of your security staff. I just saw an old Hawaiian man wandering down the hallway in a hospital gown. A bunch of waiters and cooks just walked right past him.” 

The woman and the head of security looked at each other for a second and then back at me. 

“Hold on for a second. We’ll be right back,” the woman said before the pair made a quick exit.

I barely had a moment to surmise what was happening when the woman returned to the cramped office and held the door open, “Thank you for coming, but the position you’re applying for has already been filled.” 

With that, I was directed out of the office and met by a younger security guard who led me back to the main entrance on Ala Moana Boulevard.

[{"text":"“What happened? Did I do something wrong?” I asked.","type":"text"}]

[{"text":"“Officially, we don’t have ghosts,” the young guard said.","type":"text"}]

Although the name has changed, this particular establishment has developed a reputation for having its share of hauntings. Did it have anything to do with the fact that it was built over the old Kaiser Hospital? One can only speculate.

(Editor's note: Kaiser Permanente has a short video history of the Kaiser Permanente Ala Moana Medical Center 

Prince Waikiki

<title>A Haunting at a Princely Hotel</title>

Hospitals, and the places where they once stood, can be a source of strange experiences. Here, our columnists share a firsthand account.

A Haunting at a Princely Hotel

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Real Estate

An oceanfront estate in Kāhala has hit market with a $45 million price tag.

The property, listed by Coldwell Banker Realty independent agent Tracy Allen, can be found at 4505 Kāhala Ave.

According to the brokerage on Monday, the single-level home spans nearly 10,000 square feet and has six bedrooms and six full- and two half-bathrooms.

Among other features, the home has an open floor plan, Burma Teak finishes, floor-to-ceiling glass walls that "pocket away to reveal unobstructed panoramic ocean views," a chef's kitchen with high-end appliances, a resort-style pool and spa and gated entry, as well as an oceanfront lānai with a sunken wet bar, built-in barbecue and lounging areas, the brokerage said.

"This extraordinary estate represents the epitome of luxury living in one of Hawai‘i’s most exclusive neighborhoods,” Allen said in an announcement Monday. “Whether you are looking for a private sanctuary or a grand venue for entertaining, look no further than this home.”

In an email to Aloha State Daily, Allen says the home's "remarkable size and a thoughtfully designed floor plan," set the listing apart from other luxury listings in Kāhala and on O‘ahu.

"This residence offers grand proportions on every level," she continued. "The home itself is just shy of 10,000 square feet under roof and connects to the 'heart of the home,' which is the expansive oceanfront lānai spanning approximately 5,200 square feet. The 1.3-acre level parcel offers vast manicured lawn areas and 171 linear feet of ocean frontage — a rarity!"

Allen says she loves the seaside lānai, "as it's such an extension of the residence and where one would spend most days lounging, working and entertaining all within a single day."

"I have yet to see a home in all of Hawai‘i with a covered oceanfront lānai of this size. It's really amazing and so comfortable and cozy all at the same time."

Allen says there's no other residence in the Kāhala neighborhood that offers a single-level floor plan of this scale and size.

[{"text":"\"This is a one-of-a-kind legacy estate and offering,\" she says.","type":"text"}]

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ASD Staff

More in Adopt a Pet

Adopt-a-Pet April 17, 2025: Kalohe, the big-smiled Terrier mix

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