ASD icon blue inverse lighter

ASD Staff

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

[{"text":"It's the thought that counts.","type":"text"}]

I Stock 184655693

<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Introducing the "loose" shaka</title>

In today's social media find, krystilez demonstrates a shaka so minimal it barely exists.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Introducing the "loose" shaka

Lopaka and Tanya Kapanui

Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya Kapanui

Hawaii History

Columnists

For thousands of years, this stretch of the Nu‘uanu ahupua‘a lay at the edge of a tidal flat, where the sea mingled with fresh water from upland streams, creating a low, marshy basin. In those ancient days, the area was called Kou, where people would gather to watch ali‘i play games like kōnane and ‘ulu maika.

When foreigners began arriving, they found the naturally deep channel created by Nu‘uanu Stream accommodated their large ships. The port’s popularity grew as Pacific trade increased, leading to the rapid development of the surrounding community. As foreign ships began crowding Honolulu Harbor in the 19th century, the Kingdom’s need for a modern port was clear, and dredging began, carving deeper channels into the harbor floor. The displaced sand, coral rubble, and sediment were spread over the marshy land, burying the tidal basin with layers of man-made fill. What had once been an intertidal landscape was transformed into dry, level ground ready for a new wave of the growing city.

Beneath this fill, however, the old lagoon did not entirely disappear, and archaeologists continue to uncover a past that had been buried for nearly a century.

When the Harbor Court site was excavated in the early 1990s, crews found traditional Hawaiian artifacts, including ornaments and tools made of bone, shell, and stone, indicating that the area was inhabited as early as A.D. 1000-1200. Other layers produced artifacts such as ceramics and bottle glass, introduced in the late 1700s by merchants and sailors.  

One deposit pulled from the excavation site revealed a line of post molds believed to be the remains of the wooden palisade, the protective wall of upright posts, that once surrounded Kamehameha’s compound, mere steps away from the ancient Pakaka heiau. For centuries, this heiau was a gathering place for kāhuna to learn and train in their respective arts. In one description, it is said that the walls of the heiau were adorned all around with the heads of men offered in sacrifice.

And, as is common throughout Honolulu’s older districts, they uncovered ancient burials. The quiet presence of iwi kūpuna confirmed that this ground had been lived upon, worked upon, and returned to for generations, long before Harbor Court was ever imagined.

By the time engineers prepared the site for building, the land had shared numerous tales of ancient life and buried history. The construction itself was not uneventful. Workers and foremen spoke of soft pockets beneath the surface that caused piles to drop farther than expected, disappearing into unseen spaces below. Others spoke of whispers in their ears while they worked, soft voices that were lost in the construction racket but real enough to make the workers pause and rub the chicken skin away.

Tenants and office staff have their own stories that they’ve shared over the years. Some spoke of odd shifts in perception and visual distortions, such as shimmering in the corner of their vision. Others reported sudden drops in pressure, dimming hallway lights, and objects floating across the room on their own. The most common spooky theme, though, is the seemingly haunted elevators.

A few months ago, I received a call from former newscaster Diane Ako. She had recently visited friends located on a high floor in the luxury condo/office building, and after her meeting, she caught the service elevator to leave. As she took note of the doors at both the front and back of the car and the moving blankets lining the walls, Diane stepped in, pressed the L button, and headed for the lobby.

Although no other buttons on the panel were lit, the elevator car stopped at the 28th floor, and the rear doors opened onto a short hallway. The dingy, off-white hall was dimly lit and seemed abandoned. Then, in typical “haunted house” fashion, the lights flickered and the doors slid closed. The elevator finally made its way down to the lobby as the blankets on the walls fluttered, adding to the creepy effect.

The ride seemed much longer than it should have been, and Diane called her friend that she’d just left to explain her strange experience in the elevator.

Her description was met with a chuckle, and her friend asked, “Did you catch the far one?”

Apparently, this is a common occurrence for building regulars, and maintenance workers can’t find anything wrong.

Some think it might be ghosts, others believe it’s because the tower was built over old burials. Although strange events occur frequently, especially with the elevators, many still find it unsettling. Life goes on at Harbor Court. But far beneath the tower’s foundation, the buried landscape continues to cradle old stories, waiting for whoever cares to listen.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Harbor Court Large

<title>Ups and downs of haunted Harbor Court</title>

Long ago, the land under Harbor Court in Downtown Honolulu hosted a heiau and generations of Native Hawaiians. Layers of landfill and modern architecture may have covered the area, but they can't erase the lingering traces of the past.

Ups and downs of haunted Harbor Court

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

Thanksgiving is coming up on Thursday, Nov. 27. Whether you’re dining out or looking for an at-home feast, check out the following options:

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Diamond Head Market & Grill"}]

: Diamond Head Market & Grill’s Thanksgiving Day plate special ($36.95) includes in-house roasted turkey with fresh herb gravy, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, wild mushroom-brioche stuffing, candied sweet potatoes, cranberry orange compote, local vegetables, a diner roll and pumpkin pecan crunch. No substitutions; pre-payment is required and limited quantities are available.

Pumpkin crunch ($44) is also available from the bakery in 9-inch round sizes; they’re available for pick-up until Nov. 29. 

: Pick-up from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 27 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Dixie Grill"}]

: These ready-to-eat Thanksgiving meals are designed to feed eight to 12 people ($250 for set, $150 for turkey only). Meals include a smoked Cajun-seasoned turkey, cornbread stuffing with turkey gravy, and choice of coleslaw, mac salad or green salad with dressing. The restaurant is also offering whole pies for sale; choices include key lime pie ($40) or buttermilk or peach cobbler ($35). Deadline to order is Nov. 22. 

: Pick-up times are Nov. 26 (3 to 8 p.m.), Nov. 27 (8 a.m. to 1 p.m.) or Nov. 28 (12 to 5 p.m.). 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Fig & Ginger Honolulu"}]

: Fig & Ginger Honolulu’s graze & gather board ($130) is designed to feed four to six people. It includes four cheeses, three meats, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, dried fruits, nuts, edible maple leaves (made from rice paper), maple cream cookies and assorted crackers. Fig & Ginger Honolulu’s foliage of gratitude ($65) is designed to feed four to six people and includes two cheeses, two meats, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, edible maple leaves (made from rice paper), and assorted crackers. 

: The resort’s Ilima Terrace will feature a Thanksgiving buffet ($129 per adult, $64.50 per child). 

The buffet includes prime rib, turkey, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, stuffing, baked green bean casserole, baked yams with marshmallows, charcuterie, a sushi station, a dim sum station, desserts like pumpkin and pecan pies, mango crunch bars, pumpkin spice crème brulee and more. Reservations are required.

The resort is also offering a chef-prepared Thanksgiving takeout feast ($119). It’s designed to serve four people and includes turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, yams, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls and pumpkin pie. 

https://www.hyatt.com/grand-hyatt/en-US/kauai-grand-hyatt-kauai-resort-and-spa/dining

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Istanbul Hawaiʻi"}]

i’s Thanksgiving spread costs $120 per guest (with a $55 wine or arak pairing). The feast includes a choice of Kula lavender honey turkey breast with saffron rice, golden broth and spiced butter; winter pirzola featuring dry-aged lamb chop, Hamakua mushroom demi-glace and black garlic; and Mediterranean sea bass with saffron tarator and Kula lemon extra-virgin olive oil; and sides like date butter and pide, spiced whipped potatoes, orange blossom-glazed winter greens and carrots, charred bone gravy, and savory cherry and pomegranate pudding. The meal concludes with a seasonal dessert selection. 

: This menu is available for the winter season.

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

Kunia Chinese Restaurant is offering several turkey packages. Choose from:

Turkey orders must be placed by Tuesday, Nov. 25. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Liliha Bakery"}]

: Liliha Bakery is offering a variety of pies (pumpkin, apple, custard and pumpkin chiffon), pumpkin maple cupcakes, decorated Thanksgiving cupcakes, butter rolls, corn bread, Liliha jelly and Liliha Chantilly for Thanksgiving. All of these items will be available at Liliha Bakery’s Original, Nimitz, Pearl Highlands and Ala Moana locations (the Waikīkī location will have limited items). 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Merriman’s Honolulu"}]

: The Thanksgiving meal at Merriman’s Honolulu costs $135 per person ($45 for children ages 12 years and younger). It includes:

: Ruth’s Chris Steak House will offer a traditional three-course turkey feast ($55, dine-in only) consisting of oven-roasted turkey, sausage and herb stuffing, homemade turkey gravy, cranberry relish, a choice of side and dessert.

The restaurant is also offering Thanksgiving at Your Table, a take-home feast that’s designed to serve four guests ($210; preorders by Nov. 24 required). The feast includes a choice of starter (steak house salad or Caesar salad), entrée (oven-roasted turkey with sausage and herb stuffing, homemade turkey gravy and cranberry relish), choice of side (au gratin potatoes, creamed spinach, sweet potato casserole or brussels sprouts) and four pumpkin cheesecakes for dessert. 

: Starting at 11 a.m. Nov. 27 for dine-in; pick-up for the take-home meal is from noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 26 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"SERA Restaurant & Bar"}]

: Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa, 1390 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Honolulu 

: SERA will serve a family-style Thanksgiving menu ($75 per person). The holiday feast will include starters like a house salad, farm vegetables and pomegranate sherry vinaigrette; main dishes like herb-roasted turkey with giblet gravy and hibiscus cranberry chutney, Yukon gold smashed potato with romesco sauce, quinoa and wild rice with celery, apple and toasted macadamia nuts, roasted broccoli and long bean casserole; and desserts like pumpkin tartelette with chocolate and coconut haupia cream and baklava with pistachio and pink peppercorn. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"The Pint & Cork (Maui)"}]

: The Pint & Cork will offer Thanksgiving plates ($35 per person) comprising sage and rosemary roasted turkey, sausage and macadamia nut stuffing, turkey gravy, whipped gold potatoes, fresh cranberry-lychee sauce and a green bean and rainbow carrot medley. Customers can add a slice of pumpkin pie (additional $3). 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Vintage Books Hawaiʻi"}]

i’s Thanksgiving supper club ($80 per person) features a three-course menu. Feast on loco moco arancini (short rib arancini with herbed mushroom gravy and cured egg), Cornish game hen (mango chutney, kiri mochi, roasted parsnips and rutabaga) and pumpkin gateau basque (cake slice with caramelized apples and candied walnuts). 

: This Thanksgiving supper club menu is available until Nov. 30. 

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

: Wolfgang’s Steakhouse, with locations in Waikīkī and on Maui, is serving a special Thanksgiving meal ($64.95 per person). It includes a choice of lobster bisque or Caesar salad; roast turkey with gravy, stuffing and mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and green beans; and pumpkin cheesecake for dessert. 

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Thanksgiving part 3 Fig and Ginger Honolulu 111725

<title>Where to go for Thanksgiving 2025 – part 3</title>

More dine-in and takeout experiences for a stress-free holiday.

Where to go for Thanksgiving 2025 – part 3

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

Aloha Spirit

Aloha State Daily has you covered! We rounded up some ways to enjoy Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"FRIDAY, NOV. 21"}]

HI93 Local Break: Battle of the Bands and Comedians - Finale.

 HI93 FM Hawaiʻi’s Local Hits is hosting the finale for its 

. Aloha State Daily is a media sponsor for this event. The final competition takes place at 7 p.m. at The Gatsby Hawai’i. The featured bands are Tehani, The Reppahz, The Issentials and Johnny The Third. The comedians are Josh Staples, Joe Braskey, Jack Schwab and Ian Shippen. Four finalists were selected by judges. The fifth contestant in each competition was chosen by popular vote. Grand Prize winners take home $1,000 and studio time for bands or a chance to headline shows for comedians, plus on-air time on HI93 with The HI Guys: Steezy and Pu'unui. 

ʻUkulele Guild of Hawaiʻi: The Hawaiian ʻUkulele Experience. 

 brings together local, national and international ‘ukulele builders, players and collectors. Check out workshops, view one-of-a-kind instruments and meet other ‘ukulele enthusiasts. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 21, and Saturday, Nov. 22, and from 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Nov. 23. Free with museum admission. 

 and Leah Kilpatrick Rigg currently have their work on display as part of the Lo’i Gallery on the first floor of 

. Browne spoke with Aloha State Daily a few weeks ago about how 

these projects keep old surfboards out of the landfill

 and give them new life as art. The gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"SATURDAY, NOV. 22"}]

 All Nippon Airways (ANA) ‘Aha Mele festival will celebrate music, culture and environmental stewardship from Wednesday, Nov. 19, to Saturday, Nov. 22. As part of the events, pianist 

 will join Shutaro Matsui and Kento Tsubosak

a for a performance at the Blue Note Hawai’i on Wednesday, Nov. 19. 

 During the festival, ANA employees will also plant 

, which were historically used to craft ‘ukulele. On Saturday, Nov. 22, there will be an ANA ‘Aha Mele Concert, which features Tsujii, Matsui and Tsubosaka, who will join Fumiaki Miura and 

 in performing at Tom Moffatt Waikīkī Shell. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the concert starts at 6 p.m. 

A setback inspired Lauren Okano, the artist behind the exhibit “Kintsugi

Joy,” to create a series of paintings. The paintings focus on the Japanese art of kintsugi, or mending broken pottery with gold. The exhibit runs Nov. 18 through Dec. 14

in the second floor Courtyard Gallery at Downtown Art Center in the Chinatown Gateway Plaza. The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. 

 This holiday craft fair includes more than 80 vendors and takes place at 

, a privately owned space that is open to the public and maintained by Lanikai Association, according to its website. This year, the craft fair will run from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. The craft fair is a fundraiser to help Lanikai Association maintain the park and beach rights of way. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"SUNDAY, NOV. 23"}]

Travel this four-mile stretch starting at Awāwāmalu, also known as Sandy Beach Park, along the Kaiwi Coast past Hālona Blow Hole and Hanauma Bay to the Hui Nalu Canoe Club on the shores of Maunalua Bay

. Limited to 3,000 participants. In-person registration is $75, if space allows. The event starts at 6:30 a.m. with a Hawaiian oli as the sun rises over the Kaiwi Channel. The race benefits Hui Nalu, Livable Maunalua Hui, Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center, Exploring the History of Maunalua and Hawai’i Kai Lions Club. 

 can also participate in the run or walk this year, although they are not permitted on the buses.

The Issentials

<title>Music, art and Kaiwi Coast Run & Walk: Friday, Nov. 21, Saturday, Nov. 22, and Sunday,…</title>

This weekend, enjoy live music from local bands and laugh with up-and-coming comedians at the finale for HI93 Break: Battle of the Bands and Comedians. There are also several art exhibits on display, including one that features mosaics and another focused on kintsugi, or the Japanese art of mending broken pottery with gold.

Music, art and Kaiwi Coast Run & Walk: Friday, Nov. 21, Saturday, Nov. 22, and Sunday, Nov. 23

Honolulu Kitchen is popular for its deep-fried mini manapua. While the original location is in Waipahu, Honolulu Kitchen Little Corner Cafe opened this past year in 

While its steamed and deep-fried mini manapua are still customer favorites, the cafe offers an extensive menu.

Both steamed and deep-fried manapua feature a variety of sweet and savory fillings. Savory options include char siu — the most popular flavor — kalua pork, barbecue chicken and curry chicken. Sweet fillings include custard, ube cream cheese and Azuki bean.

[{"type":"text","text":"Ube cream cheese is especially popular because of its vibrant color."}]

Besides manapua, you’ll find a variety of dim sum and snacks like gyoza, spring rolls, wontons and more.

The homemade dumplings ($11.95) are a customer favorite, but if you prefer some heat, go for the spicy garlic wontons ($11.95). 

The char siu look cheong fun ($7.50), which features steamed rice noodle rolls, is a unique option. The noodles boast a nice chew, and we liked how we could adequately taste the char siu.

The café’s assorted dim sum selection includes pork hash ($1.60), shrimp dumplings ($1.60), half moon ($1.85) and mini sticky rice ($1.95). While these snacks aren’t as popular as the mini manapua, they’re still a nice option, and we’re told the sticky rice is a customer favorite.

If you want a sweet treat, opt for the café’s acai bowl ($14.95), which is topped with blueberries, strawberries, bananas, granola and a honey drizzle. The acai is refreshing, but not overly sweet. 

 The café’s drink menu is extensive, ranging from fruit teas($6.50) and milk teas ($5.95) to smoothies ($6.95-$11.95).

The most popular smoothie flavors include strawberry banana ($6.95), passion fruit mango ($6.95), dragon fruit mango ($7.95), matcha green ($7.95) and lychee strawberry ($6.95).

[{"type":"text","text":"Limited customer parking stalls are available in front of the cafe."}]

Open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays-Fridays, 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturdays, 2-9 p.m. Sundays, closed Tuesdays

Honolulu Kitchen ube manapua 103125

<title>You can now find this deep-fried manapua in Honolulu</title>

Honolulu Kitchen Little Corner Cafe opened earlier this year in Mōʻiliʻili. The café offers steamed and deep-fried manapua, along with dim sum and smoothies.

You can now find this deep-fried manapua in Honolulu

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"100 Sails Restaurant & Bar"}]

: Prince Waikīkī, 100 Holomoana St., third floor, Honolulu 

: The restaurant is offering Thanksgiving brunch ($109 per adult, $54.50 for children ages 6 to 10 years old) and Thanksgiving dinner ($107 per adult, $53.50 for children ages 6 to 10 years old) buffets. The brunch buffet includes snow crab legs, kalua Benedict, ‘ahi poke, sashimi, charred black cod, shrimp cocktail, roasted turkey leg and turkey breast, Yukon gold mashed potato, holiday stuffing, temaki sushi, slow-roasted prime rib, waffle and omelet stations, and desserts like Prince bread pudding, pumpkin chocolate haupia crunch pie, pumpkin custard brulee and vanilla rum cake.

[{"type":"text","text":"The dinner buffet includes many of the same dishes."}]

The restaurant is also offering a gourmet takeout feast ($350, designed to serve four to six people) for those who want to celebrate Thanksgiving at home. Pickup is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 100 Sails Restaurant & Bar.

Takeout menu highlights include oven-roasted Tom turkey with giblet gravy, Portuguese sausage and bread stuffing, whipped Molokai sweet potatoes, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, butter corn and local green beans, cranberry-pineapple relish, fresh-baked pumpkin pie and more. 

: Brunch 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; dinner 5 to 9:30 p.m. Nov. 27

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

: Arden Waikīkī’s Thanksgiving set menu ($100 per person, optional wine pairing for $40) includes butternut squash soup; roasted turkey breast with mushroom stuffing, gravy and cranberry sauce; roasted brussels sprouts; mashed potatoes; and pumpkin cheesecake. These dishes are also available a la carte. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"C4 Table by Colin Hazama"}]

: This Thanksgiving feast ($350) is designed to feed four to six people. It includes:

: Pick-up from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 26 

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

: This Thanksgiving dinner buffet costs $95 per person ($39 for children ages 3 to 12 years). It includes assorted poke, Island-style potato macaroni salad, slow-roasted turkey, dry rub baby back ribs, crab-crusted fresh island catch, warmed snow crab legs, stuffing, butternut squash soup, potato gruyere au gratin, Kiawe slow-roasted prime rib, pecan, apple and pumpkin pies and more.

M.A.C. 24/7 is also offering a fully cooked Thanksgiving feast ($275 per package). Each package is designed to feed eight to 10 people. The package includes traditional slow-roasted turkey, candied sweet yams with marshmallow brulee, Grand Marnier citrus cranberry sauce, apple and Maui onion sausage stuffing, green beans and brussels sprouts with smoked bacon, mashed potatoes, housemade turkey gravy, fresh baked rolls with butter and pumpkin pie. 

: Thanksgiving buffet from 4-8:30 p.m. Nov. 27; pick-up for Thanksgiving package is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 27

: Located on Kauai, Kōloa Landing Resort’s Thanksgiving dinner costs $95 per adult ($40 for children between five and 12 years old). Children under five years have free admission. The menu includes slow-roasted prime rib, Hawaiian guava-glazed ham, spicy ‘ahi poke, sushi, chef Sam Choy’s sweet potato, garlic fried rice, shiitake crusted mahi mahi, roasted turkey with macadamia nut stuffing, gravy, housemade cranberry sauce, pumpkin crunch, ube cheesecake, classic custard pie and more. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Oh My Grill"}]

: Oh My Grill’s Big Oh Platter ($165) is a new offering for the 2025 holiday season. While the platter is available all year, its components may change next year.

The platter is designed to serve up to 10 people and includes 20 pieces of garlic shrimp, 20 pieces of mochiko chicken, eight pieces of gau gee, six pieces of barbecue chicken, six pieces of teri beef and three pieces of New York steak. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Pagoda Hawaiʻi"}]

: The festive turkey feast to-go ($325) is designed for parties of six to eight people. It includes:

Online orders accepted until Nov. 20 or while supplies last 

: Drive-thru pick-up between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 27 

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

: Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort and Spa, 

: The Thanksgiving dinner buffet costs $110 per person (50% off for children ages 6 to 12 years; children under 5 years and older have free admission). Buffet highlights include rosemary and Hawaiian salt crusted prime rib, herb roasted turkey, Cedar Plank roasted king salmon, hot and chilled Alaskan snow crab legs, ‘ahi poke, roasted brussels sprouts mac nut amandine, roasted Molokai sweet potatoes, ‘ahi sashimi, nigiri sushi, crispy five-spice roasted lechon, truffled honey butter Korean fried chicken, kalbi shortribs, mini crème brulee, pumpkin spiced cheesecake and a chocolate fountain with assorted fruits, brownies and sponge cake. 

Thanksgiving part 2 C4 Table 103025

<title>Where to go for Thanksgiving 2025 – part 2</title>

Celebrate turkey day with these dine-in and takeout experiences.

Where to go for Thanksgiving 2025 – part 2

While the food court and the grand rotunda with its Wyland mural were still under construction, a US Army retiree and his family were shopping at the Pearl Harbor Navy Exchange, also known as the NEX. His adult daughter recalls walking through an aisle that was stacked with diapers and other baby products when, without warning, a stack of diapers fell behind her. Puzzled, she walked back and returned the diapers to the shelf. She only walked a few steps when she heard them fall again.

The woman admits that she never jumps to “supernatural” as a reason for anything and assumed the shelf was crooked. As she stacked the diapers once again, she tried shaking the shelving unit to test its balance, but the shelf was solid. Looking closer, she noticed there was a wall behind the packages, so there was no way someone could push them from the other side. As she walked away, she heard the packages fall again. She glanced back at the baby diapers on the floor and decided they’d just have to remain on the floor until someone else came along.

The sprawling center of commerce built for military families sits upon land that is layered with stories of the ancient past. The building rests on the slopes of Āliamanu and Āliapaʻakai, places bound to the legends of the goddess Pele and her sister Hiʻiaka. It is said that on this hillside, Hiʻiaka lost her bird companion from Kaua‘i, hence the name Āliamanu. Nearby, Pele left her salt at Āliapaʻakai, the crystalline offering still remembered in the name, also referred to as “Salt Lake.”

Long before the Navy Exchange, the surrounding area was a landscape of abundance, encircled by fishponds that sustained Hawaiian communities for generations. These loko iʻa, carefully engineered and tended, were not only sources of food but living symbols of balance between people and sea. The ponds once stretched across what is now Pearl Harbor and its uplands, and their traces linger in the names of streets and roads.

When the modern building was constructed, much of this history was buried beneath concrete and asphalt. Yet, for many who work in the building, there is sometimes the sense of something older pressing through, the sound of crying, the echo of chants, the feeling of being watched, and the shifting of shadows where none should be. Employees and visitors alike have spoken of cold breezes that move through sealed rooms, or figures glimpsed in quiet corners. In this way, the Navy Exchange stands as more than a marketplace. It is a threshold where the commerce of today meets the presence of yesterday.

One late night after the shoppers were long gone, the overnight employees remained to restock the shelves. One three-person crew brought a pallet of goods out from the warehouse, headed toward the sports section. Suddenly, a sound stopped them in their tracks. Arnold, the man who shared this story, said that all three of them heard the unmistakable sound of a baby crying. One man scoffed, saying it had to be a toy, and they continued on their way.

The small crew began unloading boxes and stacking items on shelves and hooks when they heard the sound again. Arnold and one of the men decided they were going to find the source of the cry and headed toward the toy section, leaving the third man by himself. After several minutes, the pair headed back to the sports section without success.

“I admit,” Arnold said, “We were a little jumpy now because we didn’t find anything that would have made a crying sound.”

But as they turned down the aisle where the third man was working, they watched a gray shadow move toward their coworker. By the time Arnold lifted his hand to point it out, the shadow moved right through their friend and disappeared into the shelf behind him with a thud. Arnold said the man never saw it, but he started coughing, unable to stop.

He went on break and said he wasn’t feeling well after that. Arnold never knew what happened to the man. They didn’t often work together, and he heard a few weeks later that the man quit for health reasons. He never found out exactly why.

Navy Exchange Building

<title>Ghosts of the past at the Navy Exchange</title>

The building rests on the slopes of Āliamanu and Āliapaʻakai, places bound to the legends of the goddess Pele and her sister Hiʻiaka. Shoppers and staff alike have shared eerie tales of what they've seen and felt here.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Introducing the "loose" shaka

ASD Staff

More in Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

Gotta catch ‘em all — at Ala Moana Center: voices from Pokémon GO’s “Wild Area: Global” event

Starbucks holiday launch draws crowds for limited-edition cups

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Dreams do come true

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Going big

Most read

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Introducing the "loose" shaka

Authors

ASD Staff

More in Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

Gotta catch ‘em all — at Ala Moana Center: voices from Pokémon GO’s “Wild Area: Global” event

Starbucks holiday launch draws crowds for limited-edition cups

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Dreams do come true

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Going big

Most read