ASD Staff

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

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

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

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

Kveekz on Instagram is today's social media find, celebrating some pleasant surprises.

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Hawai‘i Scene on Social: "A good day in Hawai‘i"

<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Surfer gets dropped</title>

Glad jackakrop19 is doing OK after this big wave wipeout at Jaws, on Maui's north shore.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Surfer gets dropped

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Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Entertainment

Arts & Culture

Looking for some weekend fun? Aloha State Daily compiled this list of summer activities to entertain keiki and their families.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Friday, June 20"}]

Keiki can enjoy foam machines starting at 1 p.m. at 

n Kapolei. Access to bubbles is included with admission. Kamaʻāina tickets are $37.99. 

Broadway in Hawaiʻi is presenting the musical “Six,” which explores the lives of the six wives of Henry VIII. The musical won the 

for Best Original Score. The shows run through June 29 at Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall. There are 16 performances. Tickets start at $50. 

Enjoy alternative, rap, rhythm and blues, and reggae music at 3rd Space by Harbors Vintage, located at 1269 S. Beretania St., in Honolulu. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The event starts at 6 p.m. Featured headliners include Royce Fisherman, Joby!, Byeadd, Steven Kou, PK Dreamz, and Omnimadit. Tickets are $22. 

4.    “The Princess and the Iso Peanut.” 

Mānoa Valley Theater presents “The Princess and the Iso Peanut,” which explores what happens when a fairytale princess falls in love with a Japanese prince. This adaptation of the “The Princess and the Pea” is based on a book by Lisa Matsumoto. It is directed by Pat Fujioka with music directed by Roslyn Catracchia, and choreography by Ka'ohi Yojo Daniels and Ahnya Chang.

Tickets range from $25 - $47. Shows run Thursday to Sunday through July 6. 

5.    Inside the Exhibition: Mary Cassatt at Work.

 The Honolulu Museum of Art has a new exhibit featuring the work of impressionist artist Mary Cassatt. Called “Mary Cassatt at Work,” the exhibit runs through Oct. 21. Jennifer Thompson, Emily Beeny and Alejandra Rojas Silva, who a curators of the exhibit, will share some of the choices they made as it traveled from Philadelphia to San Francisco and now Honolulu. The event starts at 7 p.m. in the Doris Duke Theatre at the Honolulu Museum of Art. 

Kumu Kahua Theatre presents “Ryan Okinaka’s The Golden Gays,” which is inspired by “The Golden Girls” and asks “What does it mean for a drag queen to be in their 70s, for a sexual player to keep up his game, for a divorced man to explore being gay for the first time, for a widower to date again?” according to the theater group’s website. Performances run Thursday to Sunday through June 29. General admission is $28. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Saturday, June 21"}]

Keiki petting zoo and Dive’n’ Movie Night. 

Enjoy a petting zoo and pony rides from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Wet ’n’ Wild Hawaiʻi in Kapolei. Featured animals include alpacas, miniature horses, donkeys, rabbits, chickens, goats and more. The water park will also host a Dive ’n’ Movie Night, with showings of the movie “Paddington in Peru” at 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. The park has extended hours until 7 p.m. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Sunday, June 22"}]

Each Sunday, Henry Kapono and others play live music at Duke’s restaurant within the Outrigger Waikīkī Beach Resort. Music starts at 4 p.m. and goes until 6 p.m. on Sundays. Can’t make it in person? 

Know of an upcoming event that should be featured in the weekend guide? Email us.

<title>Eight things to do on Oʻahu: Friday, June 20, to Sunday, June 22</title>

Aloha State Daily rounded up some fun things to do this weekend. From live music for adults to a petting zoo and movies for keiki, here's what happening   on Oʻahu this Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Eight things to do on Oʻahu: Friday, June 20, to Sunday, June 22

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Sports

Aloha Spirit

Dakota Briley, 20, is "fighting for his life" at a Honolulu hospital in critical condition, according to a 

 identifying him as the pedestrian who was critically injured while on the side of Kamehameha Highway in Hale‘iwa on Saturday, June 14.

“Dakota was pinned between two vehicles and has sustained serious and extensive injuries to his body,” said fundraiser organizer Haunani Sullivan. “Dakota is suffering from multiple fractures in his legs, pelvis, ribs and skull. His spine has also endured unthinkable injuries.

, which said Saturday the investigation is ongoing, reported that “a vehicle operated by an 18-year-old male was traveling westbound on the highway and crossed into the eastbound lane and onto the eastbound shoulder, where it collided with a traffic sign and the pedestrian, who was standing on the shoulder next to the unoccupied vehicle.

 … The motorist and his 18-year-old female passenger were not injured.”

In just three days since the incident, more than 1,000 donations amounting to nearly $120,000, out of the $170,000 goal, had come in to help cover his medical expenses.

“For those of you who know the Briley ʻOhana, you know they are the salt of the earth, a family of great faith in God and have hearts of gold,” Sullivan said.

Briley, who lives on Oʻahu’s North Shore and frequents its beaches often to surf, is one of three sons of Pipeline surf icon 

His brother Ryder added, “At times, he appears as so solid, it's hard to handle, but I know that his stubbornness, strength and the fight he has in him is what is going to get him through this. We believe he will get through this.

“He has a lot more battles to fight through, and if anyone can do it, it's Dakota.”

Briley Ohana 16x9

<title>Dakota Briley, son of Big Wave surfer Shawn Briley, in critical condition after recent…</title>

A GoFundMe page identifies 20-year-old Dakota Briley as the pedestrian “pinned between two vehicles” on June 14 at Oʻahu’s North Shore. As of Tuesday, more than 1,000 donations amounting to nearly $120,000 have come in to help cover his medical expenses.

Dakota Briley, son of Big Wave surfer Shawn Briley, in critical condition after recent pedestrian-vehicle collision in Hale‘iwa

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

Everyone’s looking to save money and get the most bang for their buck. This series will show you where you can save while still savoring a good meal.

’s happy hour is designed to meet every budget. Happy hour is available daily from 2 to 6 p.m.

The food menu is categorized by $4, $8, $10 and $12 price points. Happy hour also includes $4 and $8 drink specials, along with various flights.

Dishes in the $4 category include Oishi edamame, ume cucumber pickled salad, wafu French fries, avocado hand roll, chips and salsa, popcorn and salted nuts. The Oishi edamame — the edamame is soaked in the eatery’s signature Oishi ramen broth — and wafu fries, topped with a seaweed salt powder, are especially addictive.

For $8, you can get a char siu plate, cheese plate or Japanese omelet. The char siu plate is one of the most popular orders; it comprises thinly cut pieces of char siu served on a bed of bean sprouts. Meanwhile, the Japanese omelet is one of my favorite dishes. The fluffy, two-piece sweet egg omelet is topped with avocado and mentaiko, and will remind you of tamagoyaki that’s popular in Japan.

Kamukura’s gyoza is a signature dish and the most popular option in the $10 category. One order comes with five pieces of the pork and chives dumplings, which are freshly made and wrapped daily. If you want something hearty, opt for the Japanese-style chicken karaage or half order of the signature Oishi ramen. The latter is one of the best deals on the menu, since the ramen is filling.

Poke tacos (fresh salmon and ‘ahi) and the Philadelphia roll are $12 each. The latter includes freshly caught salmon, cream cheese, cucumber, rice and nori.

Drink specials include $4 beers and mini cocktails, including the popular pineapple upside down martini.

The eatery’s beer flights ($10) are one of the best drink deals on the menu. Flights include 5-ounce pours of Asahi, Hanalei IPA, Big Wave and Long Board.

Sake flights ($16), meanwhile, feature 1.5 ounces of four different sakes. Kampai!

Validated parking at Līlia Waikīkī; $8 for up to four hours

Kamukura Surf and Dine happy hour spread 061725

<title>Budget Bites: KAMUKURA Surf + Dine’s tiered happy hour</title>

For $8, you can get a char siu plate, cheese plate or Japanese omelet. The char siu plate is one of the most popular orders; it comprises thinly cut pieces of char siu served on a bed of bean sprouts.

Budget Bites: KAMUKURA Surf + Dine’s tiered happy hour

Business & Tourism

Honolulu is home for Katie Kaahanui, who is a new mom pursuing her second master’s in mental health counseling on top of serving as the executive coordinator for the Waikīkī Business Improvement District’s Safe and Sound program

 in August 2023, shortly after the initiative launched in September 2022, thanks to a grant from the Kosasa Foundation and the City and County of Honolulu.

In collaboration with the Mayor’s Office, Honolulu Police Department, the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and other community partners, Safe and Sound addresses public safety and mental health by connecting individuals with the “resources and the treatment that they need as quickly as possible,” said Kaahanui, who also holds a master’s degree in criminal justice.

She described her role as “assisting people caught in a cycle of crime, homelessness, and/or serious mental illness in getting connected to the sustainable, long-term help they need. It is a perfect combination of my passions and a sturdy foundation for me to only build from into the future.” Her other responsibilities include fine-tuning processes and best practices, interpreting data, identifying gaps and finding solutions as “the bridge” between stakeholders.

The overall goal is two-fold: to create a safe environment for residents and visitors alike and to care for those transitioning from the street into improved living situations.

“It’s the same work, now on a bigger scale. … I’m very proud of how much this program has grown, especially in the ‘Sound’ area. People are really showing a desire to help themselves,” Kaahanui said. "A lot of times, at first, people will refuse service, and I don’t see that as a deterrent. You just have to keep showing up, and over time, they usually open up."

She added that the program’s work has impacted “our relationship with business owners, residents, hotels, who all reach out, and I think that needs to be the norm for every community.”

“It’s going to take all of us to solve such tough social issues but that’s the magic of everybody rolling up their sleeves together. It’s about finding the right people who can be those ‘Community Champions’.”

Existing partnerships with the Institute for Human Services, 

, the Hawai’i State Judiciary and more have been critical to Safe and Sound’s success.

Kaahanui said something she’s currently working to develop is a warm handoff model. “It’s so nobody is left with their next step unknown – so that there’s a person, a resource, an organization, ready to receive them and go above and beyond for them. … We don’t want people leaving [the Islands] and to just hope for the best.”

One recent example, she said, was when a local judge called her about a young female in the Waikīkī district who wasn’t from here and was getting into trouble on the streets. “I did an intake interview to learn more about her and she gave me the number to her mom who was [on the Mainland].

“When I contacted her, she started bawling and was so relieved that her daughter was found. I told her we’d send her back home after dealing with her court responsibilities first and later worked with the mom to make sure she’d be at the airport when she landed, and could take her to rehabilitation and be a support to her from there.

“That’s a really good example of that warm handoff and for me, it’s really energizing to help coordinate and problem-solve in such a meaningful way.”

The Safe and Sound program has potential to grow into something that serves not just Waikīkī, but beyond, according to Kaahanui. 

“It excites me, and I think that it’s doable. But right now, we’re just not at that point yet; however, if there are communities that are interested in learning more about this … we are more than open to meeting with them."

Total homeless count in the Waikīkī geographic area over time:

What does that mean? “This represents a 37% decrease in homelessness in Waikīkī since Safe and Sound Waikīkī started in 2022, and a 13% decrease since October 2024,” Kaahanui said. The last count was conducted on June 3.

Source: Waikīkī Business Improvement District, Honolulu Police Department and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's College of Urban & Regional Planning

Katie Kaahanui Safe and Sound Waikiki

<title>Katie Kaahanui scales Safe and Sound Waikīkī program</title>

This initiative has reduced crime and homelessness from Ala Wai Boat Harbor to Diamond Head in less than three years. As executive coordinator, Kaahanui highlights Safe and Sound’s success and shares about her long-term goal of replicating it in other communities.

Katie Kaahanui scales Safe and Sound Waikīkī program

 is back — well, sort of. The biz just launched its new burger concept, 

, which is still in Kaimukī — specifically in the former Hokkaido Ramen spot at 1108 12th Ave.

The biz announced its June 9 soft opening via 

, and the community showed up to support. We got there on the second day of soft opening around 11:40 a.m., and there was already a line outside the burger spot.

Note: Boarded Up will announce its hours for the day via social media; for the past two days, the biz has been open from 12 to 9 p.m. or until sold out.

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Right now, only in-person ordering is accepted (no online ordering yet). When we stood in line, we were given a menu to look at. The menu is currently more limited and different from the one from Chubbies Burgers, but you’ll find some familiar flavors.

While there are a few tables for dine-in inside Boarded Up, the spot is more conducive to takeout. There are a few tables outside the eatery as well.

You’ll still find sides like Chubbies signature crinkle-cut fries ($5), which are always crispy and cooked with 100% trans-fat free, highly sustainable rice bran oil. Eating them was like greeting a long-lost friend — just as good, if not better, than what you remembered. Some fries are worth standing in line for.

If you want to take your fries to the next level, you can add a sauce for $1 more. Choose from 1950 sauce, garlic sesame aioli or Carolina Dijonnaise; the latter comes highly recommended. It reminded us of creamy Thousand Island and was positively addictive.  

You could also opt to bring the heat to your meal with spicy garlic fries ($8), complete with Spicy Nashville sauce, fresh garlic and garlic-sesame aioli.

All burgers come on soft potato buns — featuring Chubbies’ house recipe — that are baked fresh locally. You can opt for a single ($8-$10) or double ($12-$14).

There are currently four burger options — O.P. style, Carolina onion, The 1950 and a cheeseburger.

If you’ve been craving a Chubbies’ smashburger since the eatery closed in its original Kaimukī spot on Feb. 1, go for The 1950 ($10), which is described on the menu as “the bad boy version of a Chubbies’ classic.”

The smashed beef patty is topped with American cheese, housemade red onion relish, shredded lettuce, tomato and 1950 sauce. It’s simple, flavorful and comforting. The smashburger still boasts that signature, crispy, caramelized crust and flavorful patty that the eatery is known for.

If you want something with more texture, opt for the O.P. Style — smashed beef patty with American cheese, grilled onions, housemade hot pickles and garlic-sesame aioli — or Carolina Onion, complete with thin-sliced griddled onions.

When it comes to pucker power, this lemonade ($5) delivers. Cold and sour, it was refreshing after a savory burger — but if you’re on the fence about tart flavors, you might want to get the POG lemonade instead.

I was craving a Ghirardelli chocolate milkshake ($8), but alas, it wasn’t available during my visit. Neither were Chubbies new premium vanilla soft serve or Cali fries (topped with American cheese, grilled onions, 1950 sauce and diced pickles), which will be coming soon to the menu … and gives me another excuse to go back.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Surfer gets dropped

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Authors

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