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Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

[{"text":"No need post bail, when cell phones exist in jail.","type":"text"}]

Firefly funny illustration of a bald man in prison giving advice on a cell phone 125937

<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: A comedy crime saga in two parts</title>

Today's social posts come from howsdisguy: Part one and two of talking story with your roughboy philosopher relative.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: A comedy crime saga in two parts

No need post bail, when cell phones exist in jail.  

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Real Estate

Business & Tourism

Kamehameha Schools has sold its remaining interest in the Royal Hawaiian hotel, selling the lease fee landholdings under the iconic pink oceanfront resort to Japan-based Daisho Co. for $510 million.

The transaction closed Nov. 6, KS said in an 

According to KS, the property will continue to be held and operated under its current long-term ground lease to 

Daisho Co. is a private, family-owned company with hospitality holdings in Asia and the Pacific, KS noted. This is the company’s first commercial venture in the Islands.

, KS says it manages its portfolio as one that “evolves to meet the needs of the trust and the Native Hawaiian community.”

“In a globally competitive market, Ke Kula ‘o Kamehameha must manage Pauahi’s portfolio with care and strategy, mindful of how best to position our ‘āina to serve the evolving needs of our lāhui, both today and for generations to come,” the announcement states. “This means sometimes acquiring ‘āina, sometimes restoring it, and at times, when conditions call for change, releasing lands so their value can further the mission in new ways.”

KS sold the buildings and improvements at the neighboring Royal Hawaiian Center in 2014 — you can read more 

 — but said in the Nov. 7 announcement it is “not presently considering a sale” of its remaining interest in the lands underneath the shopping center.

Crystal Rose, chair of the KS Board of Trustees, said in the announcement that the trust only sells land “after much deep and agonizing consideration.”

“Our kuleana is to steward a dynamic portfolio that best serves our trust. At the same time, we know that our lands carry historical significance, especially this one, which our founder and generations of ali‘i before her had nurtured,” she says.

KS CEO Jack Wong said in the announcement that in the coming months, KS will meet with its school communities, alumni and lāhui to discuss and better explain its changing role as a landowner.

Dubbed the “Pink Palace of the Pacific,” what’s now called the Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort, Waikīkī, opened nearly a century ago on Feb. 1, 1927, and was built for $4 million by the Matson Navigation Co., as a “luxurious resort for Matson passengers,” a 

Following the Dec. 7, 1941, bombing of Pearl Harbor, the U.S. Navy recreation and morale office leased the Royal Hawaiian, “transforming the resort into a major rest and relaxation center for Navy personnel,” the site reads. “The resort was restored to its pre-war elegance in 1947.”

KS is one of the largest landowners in the state, according to the 

, ranking third behind the state and federal government with more than 373,000 acres.

In August 2024, KS announced it would pay a total of $872.5 million as part of a $4 billion global settlement in the wake of the 2023 Maui wildfires. Read more about that 

It’s also gearing up for another legal battle: Virginia-based nonprofit Students for Fair Admissions recently filed a 

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Royal hawaiian unsplash

<title>Kamehameha Schools sells land under Royal Hawaiian for $510M</title>

Japan-based Daisho Co. is now the fee-simple owner. The property, however, will continue to be held and operated under its current long-term ground lease to Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts, KS says.

Kamehameha Schools sells land under Royal Hawaiian for $510M

It’s not news that Ward Village — Howard Hughes' 60-acre master-planned community located between Downtown Honolulu and Waikīkī — is steadily progressing with its redevelopment in Kaka‘ako.

This year alone, the developer has opened two parks, welcomed residents to its newest residential tower and broke ground on another.

But pre-sales of units within Ward Village’s newest towers have driven condo sales in the third quarter.

 notes that developer has contracted to sell 216 condo units in Hawai‘i, which represents $1.4 billion in pre-sales. 

That includes 208 units in Melia and ‘Ilima, luxury towers planned at the current site of Ward Centre, which were 57% pre-sold by Sept. 30, the end of the quarter.

The 33-story ‘Ilima Ward Village will have 148 homes while Melia Ward Village, its 35-story companion, will offer 221 residences. 

Together, those towers generated $280 million in penthouse pre-sales, an announcement from Ward Village noted. 

The Launiu, Ward Village’s 11th residential tower, which broke ground 

, was a little more than two-thirds pre-sold by the end of Q3.

Ward Village has sold out its first eight mixed-use residential towers: Waiea, Anaha, Ae‘o, Ke Kilohana, ‘A‘ali‘i, Kō‘ula, Victoria Place and Ulana Ward Village.

New residential buildings under construction or in development at Ward Village include The Park Ward Village, Kalae, The Launiu Ward Village, Melia Ward Village and ‘Ilima Ward Village.

The developer says 2,070 residences have been sold or pre-sold that across the community’s six newest towers, including 100% of the newly opened Ulana Ward Village, 97% of The Park Ward Village

, 93% of Kalae and 68% of The Launiu Ward Village.

The success of Ward Village underscores the enduring value of a long-range strategy that prioritizes quality, sustainability, and community connectivity in the heart of Honolulu,” said 

Doug Johnstone, president of Hawai‘i Region and National Condominium Development for Howard Hughes Communities

, in a statement. “By delivering homes across diverse market segments, activating vibrant public spaces, and cultivating a dynamic retail environment, Ward Village has created a thriving community that supports housing production, job growth, and Hawai‘i’s broader economy.”

Also in Ward Village, Ka La‘i o Kukuluāe‘o Park 

 and the makai phase of Victoria Ward Park 

, located between residential towers Victoria Place, which 

, and is bordered by Auahi Street on one side and Ala Moana Boulevard on the other.

Additionally, a $17.8 million elevated walkway connecting Victoria Ward Park Makai to Ala Moana Beach Park and Kewalo Basin 

01 Ward Village Aerial courtesy of Ward Village

<title>Ward Village tops $1.4 billion in pre-sales</title>

The developer says that 2,070 residences in its six newest towers have been sold or pre-sold.

Ward Village tops $1.4 billion in pre-sales

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

Aloha Spirit

Tickets are now on sale to be part of the audience for live tapings of 

, a televised talent competition, launched by

formerly known as Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement. The show was created to showcase the next generation of local artists, musicians, dancers and creators, according to representatives of Hawaiian Council.

The winner of the competition takes home a $10,000 cash prize. The fan favorite, determined by online voting, will also receive a cash award.

The live tapings of auditions of talent from Hawaiʻi Island and Oʻahu, as well as the finale, will take place Nov. 9, 10 and 12, respectively, at Hawaiʻi Theatre. 

Patrick Makuakāne; Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, also known as Kumu Hina; and Lehua Kalima

. The show will be hosted by McKenna Maduli, with Shawn Kekoa Pimental serving as music producer. 

Guest judges will be helping with the auditions and finale. Alaka‘i Paleka will be the guest judge for auditions of Hawaiʻi Island talent on Sunday, Nov. 9, while 

 will be the guest judge of auditions of Oʻahu talent on Monday, Nov. 10. A surprise guest judge will assist with the finals on Wednesday, Nov. 12.  

"Hawaiʻi to the World" will premiere at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 16, on Hawaiʻi News Now, simulcast on K5 and KHNL. The episodes will air weekly following Sunday Night Football on these dates:

• Nov. 16: Kaua‘i Auditions with guest judge Jaedyn Pavao, Miss Aloha Hula 2025

• Nov. 23: Maui Auditions with guest judge Keali‘i Reichel

• Nov. 30: Hawai‘i Island Auditions with guest judge Alaka‘i Paleka

• Dec. 7: O‘ahu Auditions with guest judge Jake Shimabukuro

• Dec. 14: Finale with surprise guest judge

Hawaiian Council, which has headquarters in Kapolei, is a nonprofit that seeks to “enhance the cultural, economic, political and community development of Native Hawaiians,” according to its 

. It is also a Native Community Development Financial Institution certified by the U.S. Department of Treasury and a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development certified housing counseling agency.

Tickets for the live audience for auditions on Sunday, Nov. 9, and Monday, Nov. 10, are $20. Tickets for the live audience for the finale on Wednesday, Nov. 12 are $25. 

"Hawaiʻi to the World"

<title>"Hawaiʻi to the World": Hawaiian Council announces chance to be in show's live audience</title>

A new television show premieres this month that will feature Island talent competing for a $10,000 prize. Learn more about the chance to be part of the live audience for the finale and auditions of talent from Hawaiʻi Island and Oʻahu.

"Hawaiʻi to the World": Hawaiian Council announces chance to be in show's live audience

A new park is now open in Kaka‘ako, adding nearly 26,000 square feet — a little more than a half acre — of green space to the neighborhood.

Howard Hughes' 60-acre master-planned community located between Downtown Honolulu and Waikīkī —

Here, you'll find newly landscaped open space with pedestrian paths and park seating, as well as an interactive play structure, Biki Bike station and water refilling station, the developer said in an announcement Wednesday. 

Located adjacent to the developer's soon-to-open residence, Ulana Ward Village, 

 is bordered  by Pohukaina Street, Kamani Street, and the forthcoming Auahi Street realignment, the announcement noted.

“Ka La‘i Park will play a meaningful role in the day-to-day life of our community,”

Doug Johnstone, president of the Hawaiʻi region and national condominium development for Howard Hughes, said in a statement.

 “Together with the upcoming opening of our workforce housing project, Ulana Ward Village, just next door, and the completion of Victoria Ward Park Mauka later this year, these milestones advance our commitment to cultivating an integrated, connected neighborhood.”

Construction on Kai Laʻi Park began in February and was substantially completed in July, the announcement says. The park was developed with Hawaiian Dredging Construction, Architects Hawaiʻi Ltd., PBR Hawaiʻi & Associates, and Wilson Okamoto Corp.

According to the developer, Ka Laʻi Kukuluāeʻo means “the calm of Kukuluāeʻo,” and "reflects the area’s history as coastal wetlands and recalls the native Hawaiian stilt waterbird once found here." In fact, seven cast-bronze stilt sculptures by artist Dan Ostermiller were previously commissioned for the nearby Victoria Ward Park as part of Ward Village’s place-based public art program, the announcement noted. 

etween residential towers Victoria Place, which 

 are set to move into Ulana Ward Village in November, Wednesday's announcement notes, nearly three years after Ward Village broke ground the 41-story

. Ulana will have 697 workforce units and the development is fully sold, representatives for Ward Village confirmed to Aloha State Daily.

Ward Village has sold out its first seven mixed-use residential towers: 

Waiea, Anaha, Ae‘o, Ke Kilohana, ʻAʻaliʻi, Kō‘ula, and Victoria Place.

In addition to Ulana, new residential buildings under construction or in development at Ward Village include The Park Ward Village

 Kalae, The Launiu Ward Village, Melia Ward Village, and ‘Ilima Ward Village, which is being developed in partnership with Discovery Land Co.

Howard Hughes recently announced record sales at Melia Ward Village and ‘Ilima Ward Village, which are planned for the current site of Ward Centre.

"The two towers, designed by renowned architecture firm 

 in penthouse sales, with a single residence selling in excess of 

 from Howard Hughes noted. As of Sept. 1, ‘Ilima and Melia were 41% and 52% pre-sold, respectively, the developer said.

33-story ‘Ilima Ward Village will have 148 residences while Melia Ward Village, its 35-story companion, will offer 221 residences and a "full suite of amenities," according to that announcement.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

04 Ka Lai o Kukuluaeo Park

<title>New park opens in Ward Village</title>

At Ka La‘i o Kukuluāe‘o Park, you'll find newly landscaped open space with pedestrian paths and park seating, as well as an interactive play structure, Biki Bike station and water refilling station.

New park opens in Ward Village

Government & Politics

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve will close for two weeks in September so its public parking lots can be repaved.

The repaving work is scheduled from Monday, Sept. 8, through Tuesday, Sept. 23, weather permitting.

The closure allows a city contractor to repave and restripe the two main public parking lots with about 280 stalls, an announcement Tuesday from the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Parks and Recreation noted.

DPR spokesperson Nathan Serota told Aloha State Daily in an email Tuesday that the parking lot is "very popular and fills up every day the nature preserve is open to the public."

Seal Pros LLC will complete the work and the repaving contract is nearly $840,000. Serota says that money will come from the Hanauma Bay Special Fund, which is funded by entry fees from tourists.

"The main roadway and commercial lot were repaved within the past 10 years, so these public lots were due," Serota said.

According to DPR, the main road was repaved in October 2019 while the commercial parking lot was repaved in September 2017

The lava flows that created the Hanauma Bay region began began about 

, while the bay itself was created about 32,000 years ago "in a violent series of explosions" that occurred after a volcanic vent opened underwater.

Today, DPR maintains the land portion of the preserve, while the state Department of Land and Natural Resources oversees the ocean.

Once a favorite fishing spot for Hawaiian royalty, the 

 that Hanauma Bay was designated as Hawai‘i's first Marine Life Conservation District in 1967.

The number of visitors peaked in the 1970s and 1980s at an estimated 10,000 people per day, but a management plan put into place in 1990 helped mitigate the impact, the site notes. In 2019 — before the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 closed the preserve for nearly eight months — an average of nearly 3,000 people attended each day.

The city says that more than 400,000 people visited Hanauma Bay in 2024, with daily attendance around 1,400. Of those, a little more than 28,000 were adult residents. You can find last year's attendance numbers 

Serota says September is historically a slower month for tourism and that's reflected in Hanauma Bay attendance numbers.

The beach at Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve also is closed today, July 30, because of unusual currents caused from Tuesday's tsunami event, DPR said today on its 

following a magnitude 8.8 earthquake off the coast of Kamchatka, Russia. Waves hit the Islands just after 7 p.m. last night, causing some flooding.

The National Weather Service’s tsunami advisory for Hawai‘i was canceled this morning.

While the risk of damaging tsunami waves has passed, residents are still advised that strong currents, sea level fluctuations and other lingering effects can still be dangerous for swimmers and boaters. Residents should therefore use caution when approaching the coasts.

Hanauma bay

<title>Parking lot repaving will close Hanauma Bay for two weeks</title>

More than 400,000 people visited Hanauma Bay in 2024, with daily attendance around 1,400, according to the City & County of Honolulu's Department of Parks and Recreation.

Parking lot repaving will close Hanauma Bay for two weeks

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

Regular customers at the former MARA Restaurant & Bar, located in Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa on Kapi‘olani Boulevard, were probably confused when the eatery’s rebranding and change in management was official at the end of May.

 — still features the same interior décor and concept, in terms of offering Mediterranean cuisine. The eatery is still open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and is operated by DB Restaurant Group (the same group behind DB Grill, Café Duck Butt and CINO).

[{"type":"text","text":"SERA Chef Arnold Corpuz was most recently at CINO."}]

The restaurant’s name has several meanings, including “fiery and bright” and it’s also part of the phrase “que sera, sera,” meaning “whatever will be, will be” in Spanish.

The menu is influenced by diverse Mediterranean flavors while incorporating locally sourced ingredients. It’s designed to transport guests to the Mediterranean coast — dishes highlight fresh seafood, seasonal ingredients and housemade pastas.

We got a first taste of SERA during a media preview in April and returned once the restaurant officially launched at the end of May.

For diners who loved MARA’s menu — here’s some good news. Some of the most popular dishes from MARA Restaurant & Bar are still on the menu, including the popular tasting trio ($35), which is one of my favorite dishes. It’s a combo of hummus, tzatziki and burrata, served with hearth-baked pita. The creamy burrata is my go-to, but the flavorful hummus with crispy chickpeas on top is a must-try.

The Kefalograviera cheese saganaki ($24) — known for its impressive presentation on a sizzling skillet — is another dish that remains on the menu. It’s served with seasonal vegetables, but the hot cheese skillet — boasting a golden-brown exterior and molten, melting interior — is the star of the show.

The grilled Spanish octopus ($33) with ‘nduja, gigande beans and gremolata continues to be a customer favorite. The octopus is flavorful, not too rubbery, and there's an ample amount of it to share. 

Choose from salads like Caesar ($22), Greek salad ($20) and beet and citrus ($28). I love a traditional Caesar salad, and this new menu option — complete with Parmigiano-Reggiano, garlic breadcrumbs and boquerones (white anchovies) — doesn’t disappoint. We especially enjoyed the crunch from the breadcrumbs and the garlicky anchovy dressing. If you want something familiar from MARA’s previous menu, opt for the beet and citrus salad, a refreshing combo with chunky beets, creamy Di Stefano burrata and an aged balsamic drizzle.

Onto the entrée portion of the menu — seafood, pastas and meats. The biggest menu change would be in the seafood section; before, you could choose your preferred seafood and preparation. Now, the choices are more streamlined and feature dishes like whole Mediterranean branzino (market price), scallops ($44), seafood paella ($76) and whole Kona kampachi (market price).

We recommend the Kona kampachi (market price) if you’re sharing dinner family-style. The fish is served on a skillet with salsa verde and a charred lemon. We’re told Kona kampachi was on the eatery’s previous menu, but now, it’s a whole size with garlic butter poured on. During the time of our visit, the market price is $90.

These scallops come with sweet potato hummus and bok choy ($44). They’re plump, juicy and a nice option if you’re looking for something lighter as your entrée.

The seafood paella ($76) is one of the newer dishes with Mediterranean flair. It includes monchong, shrimp, mussels, clam and saffron. The saffron flavor is prevalent — as it should be in a paella — and this dish is sure to please seafood fanatics.

Spaghetti and meatballs might seem basic, but this combo is anything but. The meatball is love at first bite. It’s a savory mix of veal, pork and beef that’s full of moisture, so you won’t have to worry about it being dry.

The porcini rubbed prime rib is one of SERA's new entrees and comes highly recommended by our server. It’s served with natural jus and horseradish crème. It’s a huge portion, ideal for sharing among a group. The meat itself is tender, but the umami dry rub will keep you coming back for more.

New side dishes include creamy potato puree with a poached egg on top ($22) and asparagus with olive tapenade and lemon ($15). The potato puree is video-worthy because of the poached egg on top.

The dessert menu is also revamped, but it still includes one of my favorite dishes — housemade Greek yogurt ($6). You can get it plain, or choose between two topping combos — baklava and honey, or sour cherry, olive oil and sea salt. While the latter is a more unique combo, you can’t go wrong with flaky pieces of baklava. This Greek yogurt isn’t super tart, and the honey drizzle gives it a sweeter aftertaste.

Other dessert options include a rotating lineup of sorbets, pavlova with yuzu strawberry meringue, cheese kunefe with kataifi and orange blossom syrup, and budino. The latter is a new dessert, featuring a rich, chocolate pudding with whipped cream and cacao nibs on top.

Bonus: SERA is currently offering free valet for restaurant customers, so parking just got that much easier.

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