ASD Staff

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

[{"text":"We can't argue, it the best way to make Portuguese sausage.","type":"text"}]

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<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: "Burn dat buggah!"</title>

Alex_farnham has a very particular drive-through order in today's social media find.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: "Burn dat buggah!"

We can't argue, it the best way to make Portuguese sausage. 

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

Rick Nomura admits there aren't many Punahou graduates who go straight to community college, but in doing so, it was just the beginning for him in becoming a trailblazer for one of the country's top collegiate baseball programs. 

Despite having a solid high school career with the Buffanblu, Nomura was often overlooked during the college recruiting process. He eventually latched on at Alvin Community College, the same school that produced MLB legend Nolan Ryan. Play well at Alvin, located in the baseball hotbed of Texas, and more schools will notice. 

Nomura made the most of his opportunity at Alvin, hitting .388 as a regular starter. In 54 games as a sophomore, he racked up 71 hits, 13 doubles, 10 triples, 43 RBI and nine stolen bases with a home run. The offers that eluded him in high school came in short order. Power conference schools such as Baylor, Michigan and West Virginia came calling. 

Among the rest of his offers, a charismatic assistant coach at the University of Arkansas named Tony Vitello was in heavy pursuit of Nomura, telling him he liked the spirited way in which he played. After more conversations with head coach Dave Van Horn, Nomura was sold on the Razorbacks. 

Rick Nomura's father, Ron, was a longtime assistant coach at the University of Hawai‘i, a tenure that included the program's lone run to the College World Series in 1980. Ron had badly wanted Rick to play for the Rainbow Warriors, but Rick ultimately followed his heart to Fayetteville.

"The rest is history," Rick Nomura said in a recent interview with Aloha State Daily. 

During his recruiting visit, Nomura was shocked to meet another person of Japanese descent in Caroline DeBriyn, a Kaimukī native and wife of former Arkansas coach Norm DeBriyn. Nomura ended up becoming a hānai son to Caroline during his time in Arkansas.

"They bring me in, and this Japanese lady shows up," Nomura recalled. "Then they took me to like, the only Japanese restaurant in Arkansas. And I was like, these guys are trying so hard. It was really good, but I wanted to eat, like, brisket."

A two-year starter at Arkansas from 2015 to 2016, Nomura became the first player from the Islands to suit up for the Razorbacks. Nomura was intrigued by the fact that Van Horn had coached another O‘ahu native, Shane Komine, back when Van Horn was the head coach at Nebraska. 

Nomura also says he appreciated the fact that Van Horn was a man of his word. Eager to stand out among the other elite talents a school like Arkansas brings in annually, Nomura asked Van Horn how he could earn playing time upon arriving to campus. Van Horn told Nomura that it took him 4.4 seconds to turn a double play, and that if he could get that number to under 4, then he would see the field. 

Taking advantage of Arkansas' world-class facilities, Nomura began to grind in solitude. He was often dumping buckets of baseballs into a FungoMan machine that spits out ground balls without the need for anyone else to be there. Nomura estimated he was taking 500 ground balls a day in addition to weightlifting, band work and hitting to make sure that part of his game wasn't falling behind. He eventually was able to turn a double play in 3.8 seconds. On opening day, he looked at the lineup and saw himself hitting fifth while playing second base. Future MLB All-Star Andrew Benintendi was batting third. 

"I'm willing to hurt my arm to get the reward to be the starting guy on day one. I just made sure I stretched a lot. Just tried to keep myself in the best shape I could," Nomura said. "And it paid off to see that my name on day one was at second base. But it was also a very awesome moment that a coach like that kept his word."

The memories for Nomura in his first year were countless: Fishing with his teammates, playing in front of thousands of fans each home game and playing at the College World Series in Omaha 35 years after his father coached in it. Nomura turned down a sizable signing bonus during the 2015 MLB Draft and returned to Arkansas for a his senior year, starting for another year and adding to his legacy. In total, he racked up 109 hits with a .285 batting average and eight home runs. 

In the decade since, the Hogs have made serious inroads recruiting the state of Hawai‘i's best and currently have three players from the Islands in Baldwin alums Wehiwa and Kuhio Aloy, as well as former Punahou standout Nolan Souza. Another is on the way in ‘Iolani's Judah Ota, one of the state's top Class of 2026 prospects. 

Nomura's legacy at the University of Arkansas continues to live on through the players from Hawai‘i he steers towards the program. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nomura sent Van Horn a video of Souza taking batting practice at Mililani District Park, where balls were constantly being swatted into the trees. Souza and Ota were also star players for the Hawai‘i Tigers, a local baseball organization ran by Reid, Rick and Ron Nomura.

When Wehiwa Aloy entered the transfer portal after a superb freshman year at Sacramento State, Arkansas offered him. The Aloy family reached out to Nomura to pick his brain about his experience with the Hogs, and he only had positive things to say. On Wednesday, Wehiwa Aloy was named one of three finalists for the Golden Spikes Award, given to the top amateur baseball player in America. Meanwhile, Kuhio Aloy has emerged as one of the nation's breakout players, slugging 13 home runs while hitting .335. Before suffering a season-ending injury, Souza had started 28 games for the Hogs in 2025. 

"You have all the facilities to get better, and now it's even better than what it was when I was there. The next part is the people at Arkansas are very similar to Hawai‘i people. That southern hospitality where they're very welcoming," Nomura said. "The campus was good. The nice part for my parents was to know that I was going to be OK academically. They have probably one of the best academic centers in the country right now."

Nomura, who is currently a finance insurance agent, wasn't able to make it back to Arkansas' Baum-Walker Stadium for a game until 2025. Despite his busy schedule, he told his family he had to carve out the time to see the three Hawai‘i boys on the team. 

To his surprise, Nomura was immediately recognized by a fan at the airport and was stopped for a picture. Section 101 at Baum-Walker Stadium was previously known for paying tribute to Nomura and his Island roots, with inflatable palm trees being swung. Section 101 is now known as Nomura Island. 

The first 1,000 fans at Arkansas' May 3 game against No. 1 Texas received a free aloha shirt, with Nomura serving as the model for the promotion. The Razorbacks went on to defeat the Longhorns 13-8 that day. Nomura says among the many chicken skin moments throughout the day was hearing local reggae being blasted on the Baum-Walker speakers. Dozens of fans walked up to Nomura and his family, thanking him for starting the wave of Hawai‘i talent.

This weekend, Nomura is traveling with the Hawai‘i Tigers for their annual three-week summer trip to Ohio, where they test themselves against some of the nation's top travel teams and players. He says he's considering a quick detour to Omaha if the Razorbacks make the College World Series. 

As the highest-ranked team remaining in the NCAA baseball tournament, No. 3 Arkansas is hosting No. 14 Tennessee in a best-of-three Super Regional. The Volunteers are the defending national champions and are coached by none other than Vitello, the man who helped bring Nomura to Arkansas. 

Arkansas has never won a national championship in baseball despite making 11 appearances in the College World Series. Buoyed by the Aloy brothers, 2025 could be the year for the Razorbacks. 

Like a true ballplayer, Nomura is superstitious and declined to give a prediction for Super Regionals, acknowledging how intense the series will be for both teams. With former coaches on both teams, he says he won't reach out to either until the series is over. However, there's no question where his allegiances are. 

"It was just a great experience for me," Nomura said of his time at Arkansas. "It ended up being the best decision of my life, besides marrying my wife."

Rick and Kyanna Nomura are expecting a baby girl and made the announcement with an Arkansas baby T-shirt. 

"Can’t wait to meet our little Razorback, WOO PIG SOOIE!" Nomura said on his personal Instagram. 

Rick Nomura 2 060625

<title>Rick Nomura blazes trail from Hawai‘i to Arkansas</title>

Nomura was the first player from the Islands to play baseball for the University of Arkansas, a gift that keeps on giving for the Razorbacks.

Rick Nomura blazes trail from Hawai‘i to Arkansas

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

Father’s Day is coming up on Sunday, June 15. Whether dad prefers steak, a buffet or seafood, check out these options:

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Air Park Karaoke Lounge"}]

: 510 Pi‘ikoi St. (second floor), Honolulu

: In honor of Father’s Day, the business is offering 50% off any room rental on any Thursday during June when you bring your dad (or, if you’re a dad, when you bring your kids). The karaoke lounge recently launched its first zero-proof menu. Signature mocktails include Pink Passion, Melona Bliss, Lychee Dream and Tornado Twist. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Artizen by MW"}]

: This Artizen Feast ($295) is designed to feed six people. It includes Caesar salad, corn and bacon hush puppies, smoked brisket, Andouille sausage, fried butterfish, coleslaw, corn on the cob, cornbread with garlic butter, roasted potatoes and a peanut butter s’mores candy bar for dessert. Preorder deadline is June 12. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Buffet at Hyatt"}]

: Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort and Spa, 2424 Kalākaua Ave., Honolulu

: The Buffet at Hyatt is offering a Father

’s Day brunch ($105 per person) and a Father’s Day dinner ($105 per person). Children ages 5 years and under eat free; children ages 6 to 12 years enjoy 50% off admission. Buffet highlights include rosemary and Hawaiian salt-crusted prime rib with au just and horseradish cream; grilled rack of lamb with mint yogurt; Alaskan snow crab legs; Goosepoint oysters; ‘ahi poke; made-to-order temaki handrolls; crab meat frittata; roasted Hawaiian kampachi with ponzu; pipikaula poke; a chocolate fountain; Oreo cheesecake with caramel drizzle and more. 

: June 15; brunch (seatings 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.) and dinner (seatings at 5 and 7 p.m.)

: Enjoy a variety of specials during Father’s Day weekend, including a smoked beer-brined Cornish hen finished with the eatery’s dry rub and served with cornbread and two sides ($27); burger and beer special with one side and a 16-ounce beer ($22); and Lagerita, which is a margarita made in a 32-ounce mug and topped with a Modelo ($15). The burger and beer special features a Three Little Pigs burger, a combo of a beef patty with spicy pork sausage and pulled pork, topped with two strips of bacon in a brioche bun. The eatery will also have a Father’s Day raffle for a mug filled with goodies for Dad; customers must spend $75 at Dixie Grill during the first two weeks of June to be eligible. The winner will be announced on June 15. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Hy’s Steak House"}]

: This Father’s Day brunch buffet ($150 per guest, $75 for children ages 6 to 12 years, free admission for children ages 5 years and under) includes everything from Hy’s signature Caesar salad, dynamite ‘ahi poke and oysters on the half shell to smoked salmon eggs Benedict, Hy’s slow-roasted prime rib, marinated flank steak, steamed snow crab and banana fosters flambe for dessert. Note: a 1.5 hour dining time will be enforced. 

: June 15, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. (last seating at 1 p.m.) 

: Royal Hawaiian Center, 2233 Kalākaua Ave., Building B Level 2, Honolulu

: Enjoy a limited-time selection of Father’s Day desserts, including a Father’s Day beer roll ($17.50) — an airy chocolate roll cake shaped like a beer mug — and Father’s Day Beard bear puff ($6.50). The latter features a decorated chocolate cream puff with a bearded bear motif. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"MW Restaurant"}]

: This MW Feast ($695) is designed to feed 6 to 8 people. It includes ‘ahi poke nachos, crab cakes, truffle mushroom arancini, ginger chicken salad, seafood boil (lobster, shrimp and clams, sausage, corn and potatoes), Brandt Brand prime rib with au jus and wasabi sour cream, roasted vegetables, and an 8-inch Hibiki Japanese whiskey “dream cake.” Pre-order deadline is June 12. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Quiora Waikīkī"}]

: The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikīkī Beach, 383 Kālaimoku St., Honolulu 

: This Father’s Day brunch buffet ($125 per guest, $63 for children ages 6-12 years, free admission for keiki ages 5 years and under) includes slow-roasted prime rib, crispy Mountain View Farms pork belly, smoked baby back ribs, Pacific oysters, king crab tails, snow crab claws, doughnut ice cream sandwiches, apple banana croissant bread pudding with crème anglaise and more. Guests can enjoy a two-hour dining period. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Sushi You"}]

: 1296 S. Beretania St. Ste. 103, Honolulu 

: Sushi You is usually closed on Sundays, but will be open on Father’s Day and offering its omakase ($110 per person). The omakase features around 13 courses, including chutoro ‘ahi nachos, octopus carpaccio, smoked salmon with lotus root, assorted sashimi and a variety of nigiri. The eatery is BYOB. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Wolfgang’s Steakhouse"}]

: Royal Hawaiian Center, 2301 Kalākaua Ave., Honolulu 

: This Waikīkī steakhouse is offering a Father’s Day Prime Rib-eye dinner. The prix fixe ($150 per person) Father’s Day menu includes a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, Wolfgang’s signature extra thick slice of bacon, a 24-26 ounce Prime bone-in rib-eye steak, and sides of mashed potatoes and creamed spinach. 

Fathers Day part 1 Dixie Grill 060525

<title>Where to go on Father’s Day 2025 – part 1</title>

Treat dad to unforgettable dining experiences.

Where to go on Father’s Day 2025 – part 1

Orange creamsicle. Banana split. Jack Daniels Chocolate. Blueberry Poptart. These are just of the few unique flavors you’ll find at recently opened 

 in Koko Marina Center. The shop took over the former Bubbies Ice Cream space, which was recently home to Moena Sweets.

The dessert shop is celebrating its grand opening on Saturday, June 7, from 12 to 9 p.m., according to Trang Hammond, who owns the business with her husband, Ryan. The grand opening event is designed for the community to enjoy, with support from other local businesses. Keiki can enjoy free glitter tattoos from 12 to 3 p.m. Attendees will also have the chance to win gift cards from Moena Café, Boba’s Crystals and custom crocheted ice cream pint totes.

“I have some friends in the community that do art,” business owner Trang Hammond says. “We’ll have custom-made artwork just for the grand opening. The first 25 people in line will get free ice cream, no questions asked. The grand prize is free ice cream for a whole year.”

The business, known for its premium ice cream that’s handmade in small batches by Ryan, originally opened in 2014 in San Diego. The Hammonds sold it once they moved to Hawai

“We wanted to have an owner that was there in San Diego to take care of it, but after Covid-19, they weren’t able to sustain it,” she says. “We had wanted to open an ice cream shop here — Hammond’s was available again; the person we sold it to closed it, so we reopened it. Basically, it’s full circle; we’re re-doing everything that we did.”

The shop is especially known for its ice cream flights, complete with mini waffle cones, which are made in house. Flights include two to six mini scoops of ice cream.

“Ryan came up with the idea to do flights because we have so many flavors,” Hammond says. “He, of course, has the beer flights when he goes to breweries. The idea was, how can we create an experience where you can try a bunch — like sample — but still experience the ice cream cone in each. I executed a tray that has the mini waffle cones in it, but Ryan came up with the idea that it should be a flight.

“The flights allow our customers to experience a bunch and have fun with it,” she adds. “I like the flights because people sit down. They don’t just walk and get ice cream; it gets people to really interact. I feel like we really need that nowadays.”

Customers can still try samples of ice cream — which is necessary with about 20 flavors to choose from — and popular choices include dragon fruit cream, Jack Daniel's Chocolate, banana pudding and mango sorbet.

“The Jack Daniel's chocolate has Jack Daniels just for the taste,” Hamnond says. “It’s really interesting; all the sorbets are really good. All of our sorbettos and sorbets are oatmilk-based.”

For our flight, we got cookies and cream, orange creamsicle, mango sorbet, blueberry poptart, caramel praline and dragon fruit cream. The orange creamsicle and mango sorbets were especially refreshing. If you’re looking for a more traditional flavor, though, the cookies and cream is a winner. I wouldn’t hesitate to drive 30 minutes to this shop just to get it again. The caramel praline is another unique flavor that we enjoyed because of its delightful crunch.

During our visit, the shop ran out of Vietnamese caramel coffee — which I highly recommend getting if you’re a coffee lover.

If you decide on a single scoop instead of a flight, you can still get a split scoop to try more than one flavor. The shop also offers affogatos ($6.25) and ice cream floats ($5.50).

i Kai; our children go to school here,” Hammond says. “It was about creating a space for the community, but we’re also realizing that there was a need to have a handmade product.

“Our logo is a sun coming out of a cloud,” she adds. “There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel; that’s what our logo represents.”

7190 Kalaniana‘ole Hwy. Ste. D-103, Honolulu 

Hammonds Ice Cream ice cream flight 060325

<title>Hammond’s Gourmet Ice Cream is celebrating its grand opening this Saturday</title>

The Hawaiʻi Kai ice cream shop offers housemade flavors — and adorable waffle cone ice cream flights.

Hammond’s Gourmet Ice Cream is celebrating its grand opening this Saturday

Lopaka and Tanya Kapanui

Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya Kapanui

Hawaii History

Columnists

Imagine wandering through Nu‘uanu Valley in the late 1700s; no framed houses or churches, no golf club, no paved roads. Try to picture what it must have looked like: a lush rainforest that gives way to sweeping lo‘i kalo, the irrigated terraces where Hawaiians farmed taro, and kauhale, groups of traditional Hawaiian homes. Cool streams teeming with ‘o‘opu (goby fish) and ‘ōpae (freshwater shrimp) wove through the land. Before any paved road connected Honolulu to the Windward side of O‘ahu, footpaths traversed the valley and beyond.

In 1795, the valley saw one of the greatest battles in Hawai‘i history, Kaleleaka‘anae, the Battle of Nu‘uanu, when O‘ahu chief Kalanikupule and his 9,000 warriors attempted to defend their reign against Kamehameha and his invading army of 12,000 warriors from Hawai‘i Island. From the beaches of Waikīkī toward the top of the valley, the violent clash of armies fought desperately to conquer the opposing side. This single, bloody battle was the defining moment in Kamehameha’s attempt at bringing the Hawaiian Islands under one rule.

After the fighting was done and the bodies were buried, after the lo‘i were repaired and replanted, life returned to normal for most people. But the imprint of violence, desperation, and death remained on the land, with much of it culminating on this quiet stretch of road.

Nu‘uanu Pali Drive is the site of numerous tragedies, including the infamous murder of Therese Wilder by a pair of escaped convicts in 1948. But that’s not all.

Old Hawai‘i newspapers show that between 1949 and 1957, there were nearly 200 accidents on this two-mile stretch of pavement, with dozens of injuries and several deaths. Although this treacherous drive was known for its sharp, nearly 90-degree turns, speeders weren’t deterred and were soon caught in the clutches of the “death curve” and Morgan’s Corner.

After the Department of Transportation smoothed out the sharpest bends and built the Pali Highway, car crashes became less frequent, but the weight in the air never lifted. Morgan’s Corner and Judd Trail, both tucked along Nu‘uanu Pali Drive, soon gained a reputation for being haunted. A homicide in the 1980s and a suicide in the 1990s only deepened the sense of unease, feeding the legends that still cling to that area. To this day, thrill seekers flock to that lonely road in search of those chicken skin moments and perhaps hoping to glimpse a ghost.

Aside from the hauntings and eerie feelings along the Nu‘uanu Pali Drive, there are other things, more ancient and more spiritual.

A few years ago, I met author and paranormal enthusiast David Weatherly. David has a breadth of knowledge and a calm, cool energy about him, which makes conversations fun and enlightening. While showing him around the island, I shared some history of Hawai‘i and stories about haunted locations. I drove up Nu‘uanu Pali Drive and parked on the wrong side of the road in front of the Board of Water Supply building. There, I began to explain the Battle of Nu‘uanu and the history of the night marchers. As if on cue, a strange mist appeared before us in the middle of the road. Really strange.

It hovered in front of us like a large, floating sphere. Its lower tendrils drifted upward, then curled inward, folding back into its center as if breathing in itself.

[{"type":"text","text":"“That’s an interesting kind of fog,” David mused."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"“I don’t think that’s fog,” I replied."}]

As it approached us, the mist became thicker, almost more solid-looking. Instinctively, we sat still and said nothing. The ghostly sphere seemed to move with intent as it slowly passed us, constantly churning in a slow, unnatural loop. We watched through the car mirrors as it glided into the forest and then back out again, continuing along the roadway, never dissipating, still in the shape of an odd, floating ball. We wouldn’t talk about it for the rest of the drive until we got to Zippy’s.

Then, all David had to say while nodding and chewing on his food was, “Night marchers. Had to be.”

Another witness to strange things on that lonely road is a now-retired Honolulu Police Officer and respected friend.

On a rainy November night in 2019, I received a phone call a little after midnight. It was my friend, the police officer I’ll call “M.” There was a bit of hesitation in his voice as he asked me if I could come out and bless his car.

[{"type":"text","text":"“Tonight?” I asked."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"He replied, “Yeah, right now, if can.”"}]

Without pause, I told M that I’d be right there. Since we were both up, my wife came with me, and we met him at the top of Nu‘uanu Pali Drive, where he was parked. M was supervising traffic while a construction crew worked on repaving the Pali Highway. When we arrived, M was waiting outside his car. We shook hands, and he immediately began to explain that just before calling me, he was sitting in his car and was amazed to see an army of pueo (Hawaiian short-eared owls) fly by, heading ma kai (toward the ocean) on Nu‘uanu Pali Drive. Shortly after, night marchers quietly followed the path set by the pueo.

M said he was so stunned by what he saw that he hadn’t immediately noticed the lone pueo flying around in his car, which he said was impossible since his windows were rolled up. That’s when he jumped out of his car and called me.

Though the road has changed, its history continues to linger. From ancient legends to modern tragedies, Nuʻuanu Pali Drive still carries the weight of its past as the stories of hauntings pass from one generation to the next, reminders that some places remember.

Nuuanu Pali Drive Mauka 2

<title>Beware Nu‘uanu Pali Drive</title>

Lush and beautiful as it may be, Nu‘uanu Valley also has a dark side as the site of the battle that defined King Kamehameha's Hawai‘i and as the home to infamously haunted Morgan's Corner.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: "Burn dat buggah!"

ASD Staff

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Hawai‘i Scene on Social: "Burn dat buggah!"

Authors

ASD Staff

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