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ASD Staff

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

[{"text":"This guy went to public school, guaranteed.","type":"text"}]

I Stock 494559465

<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Why you do not wanna get into a fight with a local guy</title>

da_local_haole offers words to keep living by in today's social media find.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Why you do not wanna get into a fight with a local guy

This guy went to public school, guaranteed. 

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Aloha Spirit

“Be the change you wish to see in the world?” by Mohandas K. Gandhi. You may recognize him from Instagram as 

, known for taking care of the island of O

ahu, Zucker is a graduate of Kalani High School and the University of Hawai

 Manoa Shidler College of Business. He works for 

 as a brand marketing specialist for multiple Lexus and Subaru dealerships across the island.

He told Aloha State Daily that he started doing neighborhood trash cleanups during the Covid-19 pandemic but didn

’t create content until about a year ago

“Being at home and having time to reflect, I thought, 

God is good for so many blessings in my life,’ first of all, just our lives here in Hawai

 being born and raised here and have a loving family, so it came from a place of gratitude,” he said. “The park by my house had a lot of trash, so that

Within the last year, TrashCleanupsHawaii

 has highlighted various cleanups around different neighborhoods. Now, he says, the 

goal is to inspire people to get involved.

The cleanups are based around his schedule, usually Wednesdays after work and/or Saturday mornings. “I go by myself, sometimes for only 5 to 10 minutes, but it’s always surprising how much you can get done. I try to open it up to group cleanups once a month."

Zucker keeps a running list of places that may need a good sweep, though he generally stays close to home between town and Central O’ahu.

On social media, he has collaborated with other local influencers like 

, and says followers continue to reach out and show support.

“I’m trying my best to manage it. I aim to make the messages positive and inspiring, centered on service and doing good, and not using it to be popular or be famous, but using it for good purposes."

ASD asked him about the strangest items he's discovered while cleaning up. 

“I find a lot of random things out there,” Zucker said with a laugh. “I found money once, that was cool. Parking tickets, knives and machetes. Needles are not fun to find. Poop in a cup.”

But one of the most memorable items he picked up was a breakup letter in in Waipahu.

His advice for someone on the fence about volunteering in their community? “Just do it. What holds me back sometimes is not knowing anyone. At the end of the day, it’s always a group of like-minded people who want to take care of Hawai’i, take care of the world. It’s a positive environment, you just gotta go out there and do it.”

Zucker said another personal goal is to support nonprofits either financially or through service, to be able to recommend group cleanups especially to others. He enjoys volunteering with Kāko

i Foodbank, and the Institute for Human Services. He also recently highlighted 

, a nonprofit that shares other nonprofit

“There’s a lot of great nonprofits out there and if you’re inspired, you should find one that resonates with you … or just grab a bag, some gloves and get started wherever [you] are. Everyone has trash bags at home and you can get gloves from the store for like $4.”

Prior to TrashCleanupsHawaii, he and his girlfriend also launched a community group, called, 

, which brings food and hygiene care packages to those in need. “We’re trying to share the love and aloha, be a positive force and take care of Hawai’i.”

Looking ahead, Zucker said he plans to continue making videos, reaching out to influencers, and "just keep sharing the message to inspire people.”

My faith. I think listening to God and following His lessons of humility, service and sharing love to others always pushes me to be more giving or to do more in service, often more than I would want to, but I am compelled to because life is good, God is good, and God will provide."

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Cobalt Zucker

<title>Faith inspires Cobalt Zucker to do good in his neighborhood</title>

Zucker, the face behind @trashcleanupshawaii, started cleaning up around his Oʻahu neighborhood during Covid. Now, through social media, his goal is to inspire others to do the same.

Faith inspires Cobalt Zucker to do good in his neighborhood

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

The Honolulu City Council has approved a plan to revitalize Downtown Honolulu.

The Council on Wednesday voted to pass a bill expanding the current Fort Street Improvement District into a Downtown Honolulu Business Improvement District, which would encompass more than 2,000 parcels in the area.

The proposal has been under discussion throughout the summer, with advocates for the district holding meetings in August to gauge public interest.

By Wednesday, public support for the district had become unanimous, with Downtown stakeholders praising the proposal and excited to get to work. Victor Lim, chair of the Fort Street Mall BID, said the council “can rest assured that we’ll do what’s right to make this work.”

Andrew Pereira, public affairs director for the Pacific Resource Partnership — located within the BID’s boundaries — specifically called out the Aug. 8 acid attack wherein Marquis Johnson threw acid on a stranger unprovoked, blinding the victim in one eye. Such an incident, Pereira wrote, highlights an “urgent need’ for additional measures to deter crime.

Despite this, the BID does not include Chinatown. The district’s boundaries enclose the space between S. Nimitz Highway, Richards Street, Beretania Street and Nu‘uanu Avenue, as well as the block between Mililani and Halekauwila Streets.

Previous discussions about the district have suggested that the BID could be expanded in the future to include Chinatown. However, some Chinatown business owners have raised concerns throughout the bill’s passage that Chinatown’s exclusion from the BID will end up pushing homeless people and criminal activities into the nearest communities not protected by a BID.

On the other hand, the United Chinese Society of Hawai‘i wrote to the council that they are hopeful that the BID will “provide ancillary benefits” to Chinatown and the rest of the surrounding area.

With the bill passed, the district will officially begin July 1, 2026. The proposed first-year budget for the district is $1.9 million, $1.77 of which would be collected via assessments on member businesses.

Those assessments would be levied annually at a rate of $0.75 for every $1,000 of a parcel’s assessed value: ergo, a parcel valued at $100,000 would pay an assessment of $75.

Residential parcels, land owned by the city, state or federal governments, and land exempt from real property taxes are not subject to assessments.

About $1 million out of those assessments will be spent on hiring “Information and Safety Officers,” who will patrol the public areas of the district seven days a week in order to supplement existing security by the Honolulu Police Department and private security. The officers will not have arresting authority, but would be present to contact HPD in the event of criminal activity.

The remainder of the budget will be spent on cleaning crews and other management expenses.

The bill also establishes the BID’s 20-member board, 12 of whom will be elected by the membership, with the remainder of seats filled by representatives of the mayor’s office, HPD, the Downtown councilmember, Downtown neighborhood board and various city agencies.

With the passage of the bill on third and final reading, it now goes before the mayor, who has 10 business days to veto it, or else it will become law with or without his signature.

Fortstmall 16x9

<title>Council approves Downtown Improvement District</title>

City Council passes bill establishing Downtown Business Improvement District.

Council approves Downtown Improvement District

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

Hawaii History

Mysteries of Hawaiʻi has been named No. 1 on USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for 

. The company, run by the husband-and-wife duo Lopaka and Tanya Kapanui, has taken the 

Mysteries of Hawaiʻi was founded in 1997 and offers tours and storytelling events in Waikīkī and Honolulu. The pair are also 

“This recognition means so much to us, and it shows that our business is not just about ghost stories,” said Lopaka Kapanui in a written statement. “It’s about making connections with every person we meet along the way. Storytelling builds bridges, reminding us that we’re all connected through shared history and human experience.”

among the top five ghost tours in the nation

 for six consecutive years. The list of top ghost tours is selected by USA Today's 

Kapanui will also be a headliner in a special performance with the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, Oct. 18. The 

 is called “Hapa Halloween: Mysteries of Hawaiʻi in Concert,” and takes place at Hawaiʻi Theatre. Attendees can also arrive an hour before the concert for a costume contest and trick of treating.

“The really cool thing about the concert is when I spoke to the conductor, I told him that a lot of times stories that I write are inspired by music,” Kapanui told Aloha State Daily earlier this year. “There's a story I wrote about Princess Kaʻiulani that was inspired by Claude Debussy — his composition called ʻArabesque.’ And then I told him, there's a night marcher story that's kind of brutal, but that was inspired by a group in the 70s called ʻThree Dog Night,’ and the title of the song is ʻMama Told Me (Not to Come).’ It's about these people who go on a night marchers trail and are told not to go, and it's kind of brutal.”

“Hapa Halloween: Mysteries of Hawaiʻi in Concert” will be the first in this season’s HapaSymphony series, which features local performers as headliners, alongside classical musicians. Previously, HSO has performed alongside 

, among others, as part of its programming. For the upcoming concert, the orchestra will be led by Conductor 

, who is also its composer in residence. 

Lopaka Kapanui

<title>Ghost tour company ranks No. 1 in nation</title>

Lopaka and Tanya Kapanui run this ghost tour company, which was just named the best in the nation by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. The company has been named No. 1 on the list for three years in a row.

Ghost tour company ranks No. 1 in nation

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

Baldwin High School alumnus and former Ball State men's volleyball head coach Donan Cruz was named the newest member of the University of Hawai‘i men's volleyball team's coaching staff on Wednesday. 

Cruz was hired following the departure of former associate head coach 

Cruz, who was born in Guam, has been familiar with the University of Hawai‘i men's volleyball program for quite some time, catching the 'Bows on television from afar in the mid-1990s as the program was skyrocketing in popularity under star player Yuval Katz. 

"I was born in Guam and even there, you turn on Channel 5, and some of my best moments was watching Yuval Katz serve a ball. That was one of the things that really inspired me," Cruz said. 

After moving with his family to Maui, Cruz went on to graduate from Baldwin High School and worked his way up the coaching ranks. He was most recently the head coach for Ball State University in Indiana, coaching the Cardinals from 2022 to 2025. In his first season, the Cardinals defeated Hawai‘i twice in the regular season before falling to the 'Bows in the NCAA national semifinals. UH eventually went on to repeat as national champions. 

In June, Cruz stepped down from Ball State, choosing to focus on his responsibilities as an assistant with the USA U21 national team. The opportunity to coach in his home state was an unexpected one, albeit one he was able to capitalize on promptly. 

"The coaching profession kind of changes every day, and the NCAA landscape changes every day. The opportunity to kind of take a step back and get some fresh air and work with the U 21 national team was kind of exactly what I needed. I don't think I could have told you this was going to be anything that I even could have imagined even 30 days ago. So, to be standing here is pretty surreal," Cruz said while speaking to local media on Wednesday.

Prior to Ball State, Cruz was the head coach at NAIA school Grand View from 2012 to 2021, winning national titles in 2018 and 2021. His career record as a head coach is 292-91. He has also coached the USA men's national U21 team, most recently working with current Rainbow Warriors Tread Rosenthal, Kainoa Wade and Trevell Jordan. 

Hawai‘i head coach Charlie Wade and Cruz have coached against each other in recent years, with Ball State making the trip to the Stan Sheriff Center in 2023 and 2025 and the Rainbow Warriors flying up to Muncie, Ind. in 2022 and 2024. Cruz went 2-5 against the Rainbow Warriors during his time with the Cardinals, but each matchup allowed him to build more professional rapport with Wade. 

"How many guys on the planet that can bring (what Cruz does) to the table with that level of of coaching experience? He checked all the boxes," Wade said on Wednesday morning, "and we're stoked to have him here."

Cruz was able to take in a recent practice with the Rainbow Warriors and is set to immerse himself immediately. 

"Being a head coach, I think one of the most important things you walk away with is just understanding how critical a cohesive staff is," he said. "The opportunity to come here and work with Charlie, learn some things and and then kind of share my experiences, it's obviously a different conference I'm coming from, so understanding the strengths and weaknesses of volleyball across the country, and be able to help raise the level of volleyball here is great. 

"Charlie's been an amazing person for me, and ever since I was at Grand View, and that was like a time when small schools don't really get opportunities to play Division I schools, and he was gracious enough to kind of work with me on that."

The Rainbow Warriors are currently in fall training and will officially begin their 2026 season in January. 

"This is a special group," Cruz said. "It's only one day, one hour, that I was able to watch practice, but seeing the caliber of the team, those are the kind of things as a coach that you leave the gym and want to go in the office, watch film and just kind of dive into the things that are the nuts and bolts on the court."

Donan Cruz 100125

<title>Baldwin graduate Donan Cruz named new assistant coach for Hawai‘i men's volleyball team</title>

Cruz was hired following former associate head coach Milan Zarkovic's departure to UCLA in September.

Baldwin graduate Donan Cruz named new assistant coach for Hawai‘i men's volleyball team

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

— it’s located on South Pauahi Street — 

for about two months, but the business’s hot sauce has been around for nearly three years. You can actually spot the business’s 

 sauces on season 28 of popular talk show “Hot Ones,” according to Tamaris “T” Surdock, business owner of both Hawaiian Hot T’s and Aloha Sauced.

“We started out as a hot sauce company because there’s not a lot of spicy options on island,” he says. “We wanted more Island-style flavors; we use passionfruit, we use guava. We just got voted Hawai

i’s favorite hot sauce company, and our No. 1 sauce — a pineapple sweet chili teriyaki — just won best new product of the year last year.

“A lot of people wanted to try our sauces; we got to the point where we were like, ‘We should start making food for people to put it on,” he adds.

Surdock recalls reaching out to “Hot Ones” about two years ago, but it was during a hot sauce festival in New York last year when Hawaiian Hot T's indirectly connected with them.

“We ended up meeting some people from the hot sauce supplier for ‘Hot Ones,’” he says. “We ended up dropping off some samples at their store after. They liked our POG sauce — POG is traditionally passionfruit, orange and guava, but ours is passionfruit, orange and ghost pepper. They were like, ‘This is so fruity, but we want it spicier.’

“We made a spicier version and sent it to them,” he adds. “They were like, ‘This is really good; we want it for Season 28. The season just dropped.”

Aloha Sauced is open for both dine-in and takeout. Its

 menu consists of chicken wings, build-your-own bowls, and gourmet hot dogs called monster dogs. There are 20-plus different sauces to choose from; flavors range from more traditional options like blue cheese and garlic aioli, to Sop Brah (avocado, cilantro lime, soursop) and Killa Kurry (truffle, coconut and chipotle curry).

Majah Flavah — a combo of pineapple, sweet chili, teriyaki and toasted sesame — is the most popular flavor, according to Surdock.

“It’s so good; it’s like you can replace your shoyu, teriyaki and Sriracha all with one sauce,” he says. “It’s good on edamame, in stir-fries and poke.”

Surdock says the biz decided to focus on chicken wings to make it easier for people to try the various sauces.

“There are so many different sauces — we have 10 that we bottle, but we have 25 total for the restaurant,” he says. “We sell out of chicken wings pretty quickly.”

Customers can choose from five- ($12), 10- ($19) or 20-piece chicken wings ($32). The business offers one sauce per five wings, and customers can choose from traditional, boneless or gluten-free cauliflower wings.

“The 10-piece is pretty popular and people can get two flavors,” Surdock says. “Majah Flavah is our most popular, but basil pesto parm is a really good mild option.”

The biz even offers a Volcano wing hot sauce challenge — which, so far, no one has been able to conquer. Participants must be 18 years or older and sign a waiver before trying the challenge, which is to eat 12 chicken wings in in five minutes without using any dipping sauces, napkins or drinks, according to Surdock. He says the challenger will also have to endure a five-minute afterburn before using napkins, ranch sauce or drinks.

“It’s our hottest hot sauce,” he says. “We add in some extra peppers so it’s really hot. Whoever beats it will go on the Wall of Fame, will get their money back, get a free five-piece (chicken wings) and get a free shirt. But no one’s beat it.”

The build-your-own bowls features a base — brown rice, white rice, mixed greens, fries (additional $2) or fried rice (additional $2) — with your choice of protein (chicken, ground beef or kalua pork) and toppings (five are included). Toppings range from black beans and roasted garlic to sour cream, cheese, roasted salsa and corn.

“Everyone wants a Chipotle here; we can do something similar, where you can build your own bowls — you pick your base, protein and veggies, and you can put any of our sauces on top,” Surdock says.

One of the most popular combos is a base of mixed greens with 12-hour slow-cooked kalua pork, topped with salsa, sour cream, guacamole, lettuce, black beans, corn and onions.

If you prefer gourmet hot dogs, opt for the monster dog ($14), bird dog ($14) or chopped cheese ($15). 

“We didn’t want to do burgers; everyone does burgers,” Surdock says. “We took a burger and reimagined it. I think our bird dog is a hidden gem. Most people don’t know what a bird dog is, but it’s chicken tenders in a hot dog bun. It’s like a fried chicken sandwich, but you eat it like a hot dog instead of a burger.”

The monster dog includes two toppings, two sauces and one side. Instead of a traditional hot dog bun, it features Texas toast folded in half. The Southwest-style fajitas monster dog is currently a featured special that includes an all-beef hot dog with cheese, sour cream, guacamole, onions and salsa.

The business is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., but opens early on Sundays for football games, according to Surdock.

“That’s the one day we open for breakfast,” he says. “We have a breakfast bowl, and it’s BYOB. People can come in with their own drinks, as long as they order food from us.”

Besides Aloha Sauced, you can find Hawaiian Hot T’s sauces at Aloha Stadium on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays; and at Down to Earth at Pearlridge Center.

Open daily, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (open Sunday mornings for football)

Aloha Sauce owner 093025

<title>Sauce boss: Aloha Sauced is open in downtown Honolulu</title>

The business, which started out as a hot sauce company, is known for sauces like Majah Flavah, Maui Owie, and BBQ Bruddah. Its sauces are currently being featured in season 28 of the popular talk show “Hot Ones.”

Sauce boss: Aloha Sauced is open in downtown Honolulu

Lopaka and Tanya Kapanui

Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya Kapanui

Columnists

The Mānoa Falls Trail is one of Oʻahu’s most beloved hikes, leading through lush rainforest to a 150-foot waterfall at the back of Mānoa Valley. Managed by the state’s Nā Ala Hele trail system since 1988, the path is maintained as part of the Honolulu Mauka Trail System, which links multiple routes across the ridges and valleys above Honolulu. In recent years, the trail underwent significant improvements to better accommodate the many visitors who explore the valley each day.

While a popular attraction, the trail has also seen its share of challenges. The Honolulu Fire Department regularly responds to rescues for lost or injured hikers, with some requiring helicopter evacuations. In rare but serious cases, hikers have suffered fatal accidents near the waterfall itself. Temporary closures are also not uncommon, especially after heavy rain or storm damage, when fallen trees and slippery terrain make conditions dangerous.

By day, the Mānoa Falls Trail feels like a living postcard. Its lush forest and idyllic scenery draw countless visitors to its famous water cascade. But as with many places in Hawaiʻi, the beauty of the landscape holds a deeper layer of stories passed down through generations. Long after the hikers have gone home and the valley quiets under the canopy of trees, Mānoa takes on an entirely different presence that locals whisper about with caution, and visitors sometimes stumble upon when they least expect it. It is in these hushed moments, after dark, that the trail reveals its other side.

One weekend night in the early 1970s, Vance went on a double date with a friend. His girlfriend was beside him in the front seat, while the second couple sat in the back. On a whim, the group decided to drive up toward Mānoa Falls. They reached the chain that blocked cars from going farther and parked beneath the trees. It was late, and the valley was wrapped in silence and heavy darkness. The two couples sat for a while talking inside the car. That was when Vance noticed something strange: two eyes, suspended in the air in front of them.

At first, he didn’t understand what he was looking at. But the longer he stared, the more dread crept in.

[{"type":"text","text":"Grabbing his date’s arm, he blurted out, “Look! Eyes!”"}]

She followed his gaze and screamed, as did his friend’s date when she looked up. In the back seat, Vance’s friend kept his head down, refusing to see for himself.

“No! No! I’m not looking!” he shouted when Vance demanded to know if he could see it too.

The hair rose on Vance’s neck, chicken skin running down his arms. In a rush of panic, he started the engine, threw the car in reverse, and sped down the road, not slowing until they were safely back in the residential streets of the valley.

Years later, Vance shared the story with a younger co-worker who had graduated from Roosevelt High School. The co-worker grew animated and hurried off to fetch an old yearbook. Flipping through the pages, he pointed out a photograph of students standing at the same chain that blocked the Mānoa Falls trail. In the picture, clear as day, were a pair of eyes. This time, they were not high up in the trees, but close to the ground. It wasn’t a trick of light or imagination. That picture, he said, is still in that old Roosevelt High School yearbook. Vance was shaken all over again.

His unease deepened when, on a tour years later, he listened to storyteller Glen Grant describe disembodied eyes seen across the island with warnings not to follow, for they beckoned people to the other side. Standing there listening to Glen’s stories, Vance’s wife turned to him, eyes wide, and whispered, “That’s exactly what you’ve been telling me all these years.”

Those strange encounters in the 1970s weren’t the last time someone would see something unusual there. Just a few years ago, while the trail was officially closed for maintenance, four friends decided to visit at night, hoping to capture evidence of something paranormal on video. They had already made stops at Morgan’s Corner and Tantalus Drive when one of them suggested the Mānoa Falls Trail.

[{"type":"text","text":"It was a moonless night, so he joked, “Guarantee get night marchers!”"}]

The group’s excitement overrode any hesitation that an individual might have had. Around midnight, they parked in the middle of the dark road, headlights shining on the closed gate. One man stayed behind in the car to take a call from his girlfriend, while the other three stepped out with their phones set to record. A cool breeze moved through the valley, carrying the damp scent of mud and rotting vegetation. Mosquitoes buzzed in their ears. One man held an EMF meter, but its lights stayed still and dark.

[{"type":"text","text":"Then came the first sign that something wasn’t right."}]

“Aw man, my phone died!” one of them shouted, and seconds later another man’s phone went black.

Confused, they huddled by the car, trying to make sense of the sudden power loss, while the fourth man inside continued his call without interruption. Out of the corner of his eye, one of the men caught movement by the trail. His blood went cold; not from thoughts of ghosts but of feral pigs. He grabbed a flashlight from the car, but the beam was weak, and the shadows at the gate were impenetrable. Uneasy, he climbed back inside the car and called to his friends, who had moved closer to the gate.

Several long minutes passed before the pair suddenly ran back and jumped into the vehicle. The driver started the engine and tore down the rough road, potholes rattling the tires, not slowing until they reached the residential neighborhood.

After they’d finally calmed down, the two men explained what happened. As they approached the gate, they saw a pair of white lights floating about four feet off the ground. They looked like two eyes. It was weird and confusing, and neither of them could figure out what they were looking at—two lights, about the same distance apart as a pair of eyes on someone’s face. But there was no face, no head, no body. The lights slowly seemed to drift closer toward them, and when they got about a foot in front of the gate, they blinked. That’s when the men took off running. I asked if they got it on video, but they did not.

“I wasn’t aiming the camera right at the lights, so all I got was bushes and then the blurry road as we were running back to the car. But seriously, we saw what we saw.”

I then asked if they would ever return to try to get whatever they saw on video, and he laughed and said, “Maybe. Probably not for a long time, but maybe.”

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