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Kady Pascual

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

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Jesstoomuch Labubu Turf War

<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Turf war</title>

Today’s social media find comes from @JessTooMuch. He swears his product is legit!

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Turf war

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Katie Helland

Business & Tourism

Arts & Entertainment

Kaula Lūʻau, a new theatrical lūʻau celebrating one woman’s family lineage, opens this Friday, Feb. 27, at Ocean’s Edge at Ko Olina Resort in West Oʻahu. It is produced by Hawaiian Council and led by a Native Hawaiian creative team that includes Kipe Ebana, 

, Tiana Nonosina and Kayla Faʻamaligi. The performances will take place in a space next to Ulua Lagoon 4 and Ko Olina Marina, less than two miles from the recently closed 

“Everything about it from its design to who's producing it, who wrote the story, to the organization that's behind it — it's all Native Hawaiian led,” Kūhiō Lewis, president and CEO of Hawaiian Council, told Aloha State Daily. “It's rare that Native Hawaiians get to —  from start to finish — create and produce something like this. We’re excited to tell our own story.”

, is a Kapolei-based nonprofit that focuses its programs on business incubation, housing, policy, tourism and workforce development to support Native Hawaiians. Through a partnership with Ko Olina Resort — which includes Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa; Four Seasons Resort Oʻahu at Ko Olina; Beach Villas at Ko Olina; Ko Olina Golf Club; Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club; and Ko Olina Marina — 

 will have use of the land for the lūʻau, the marina that supports the lūʻau, and a parking area for 18 months free of rent, Lewis said. Proceeds from operations during that time will support the council’s work.

The space will see the activation of two stage productions in 2026: Kaula Lūʻau, starting this week, and 

the musical “Hawaiian Goddess: The Epic Tale of Hiʻiaka,”

 which is set to debut in December. The musical is a partnership between Hawaiian Council and WitzEnd Productions, founded by Broadway producer 

. “Hawaiian Goddess: The Epic Tale of Hiʻiaka” stars 

 as Pele and had its world premiere at the Native Hawaiian Convention in October of 2025.  

“In addition to the lūʻau, there is a partnership with [Native Hawaiian-owned] Hawaiʻi Nautical, which is a boat operator out of Ko Olina, so people can go on a sunset cruise and then come back for the lūʻau,” Lewis said.

Kaula Lū‘au provides jobs to a number of employees of Paradise Cove Lū‘au, which operated in Ko Olina for more than four decades before it 

. The new lūʻau has 27 cast members, 16 of which came from the Paradise Cove Lū‘au, Lewis said. About a dozen additional former employees of Paradise Cove Lū‘au will be joining Kaula Lūʻau as hosts, bussers and lei greeters, he added.

The costumes for Kaula Lūʻau were designed by Native Hawaiian designers: 

, of the brand Manaola, and Kiniokahokuloa Zamor

Kaula Lū‘au shares the story of Mahina, a young Native Hawaiian woman as she seeks to understand herself through stories passed down by her grandmother.

“The other thing is this is not your typical lūʻau,” Lewis added. “This is a theatrical lū‘au where there's a storyline of Mahina and her grandmother. Grandma shares Mahina's genealogy ... so as she's telling Mahina, your ancestors came from Tahiti, they came from Samoa — that's when the different acts come out. But of course, it's grounded in the Hawaiian culture where she lives today.”

There is singing. And a projector that makes some stars appear.

“When grandma tells her about the stars, the stars appear,” Lewis said. “And when Mahina points to the stars, it flickers.”

The idea for Kaula Lū‘au came up over lunch. Honolulu-based developer 

 is CEO and president of The Resort Group, which acquired 

Ko Olina Resort as the company’s flagship development on Oʻahu

 in 1997. Stone invited Lewis to discuss opportunities at the resort.

“He sees my name in the paper and reads about us so he invited me to lunch,” Lewis said. “He was telling me about how he wanted his resort to be more culture-based, more connected to Hawaiʻi, especially the West Side, where majority of Hawaiians live.”

Stone proposed some shacks along the lagoon where practitioners could lead weaving and other activities, but Lewis countered with a desire for Native Hawaiians to tell their own stories, he said.

“I looked at him, [and] said, ʻJeff, we don't need to go back to grass shacks.’” Lewis said. “I said, ʻI want to be the operator of a hotel. I want to be able to tell our own stories. I want land. That's what Hawaiians need. We don't need grass shacks.ʻ He was so enamored by my comment. He paused and he just was like: ʻWow.’ He goes: ‘Nobody's ever told me straight like that.’”

What followed was a partnership between Hawaiian Council and Ko Olina Resort.

“What you're seeing is what came from that conversation,” Lewis said. “He has given us everything we've asked for to be able to produce, to be able to do all the things that I've been wanting to do for years. And so, this is the power when you can connect with people that have the ability to support.”

The economic impact of the new lūʻau includes more than $5 million in contracts with local vendors and contractors, including a nearly $3 million catering contract with the Native Hawaiian-owned restaurant, Moani. There will also be local vendors and artisans from Nā Mea Hawaiʻi selling their products as part of the on-site experience.

The launch of Kaula Lūʻau will create 166 jobs, according to Hawaiian Council. When the musical opens in December, that number will increase to 342 jobs.

“There's so much power in us telling our stories,” Lewis said. “When you think about it, for generations, others have told our story, and so for us to take that back and for us to be able to be part of that storytelling, as well as the economics that support storytelling, is very powerful, for me. I also think it's educational. People come to Hawaiʻi because they want to feel special. They want to be a part of this culture that they fell in love with at some point in time. And I want to give it to them.”

Hawaiian Council has provided the cultural support for the lūʻau with its director of entertainment, cultural practicioners, senior advisor and more contributing to the production. The in-kind support from the council for this production “probably exceeds half a million dollars,” Lewis said. Ko Olina Resort’s in-kind contributions are close to $10 million, he added. That includes use of the land, the resources to start up, marketing support, and collaboration with hotels in the Ko Olina Resort area.

“It's very, very powerful,” he said. “And this lūʻau is only a small part of a much bigger vision that we have for the future of Ko Olina.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Lewis declined to share more details."}]

“But I can tell you that it's transformational,” he said. “And when you reimagine, and you re-envision a resort area over 500 acres and you think about: how do you make that Hawaiian? Because that's what visitors want. It's very transformational. It's a big investment, not just financially, but a commitment to a culture of people, and that's what's happening right now.”

Tickets start at $119 for adult standard and $249 for adult VIP, with kamaʻāina discounts for Hawaiʻi residents who use the code: HILOCAL30. There are also discounts for active-duty military, MAHALO20, and seniors, KAPUNA10. Tickets for shows through March 31, can be purchased for 50% off using the code: FIRSTWAVE 50. For more information, go to: 

Stephanie Salmons contributed to this story. 

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Kaula Lūʻau

<title>Kaula Lūʻau launches in Ko Olina this week</title>

A new immersive cultural performance that is a partnership between Hawaiian Council and Ko Olina Resort will debut on Friday, Feb. 27, in West Oʻahu. Kūhiō Lewis, president and CEO of Hawaiian Council, shares how the idea for the production started with a lunch meeting.

Kaula Lūʻau launches in Ko Olina this week

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

[{"type":"text","text":"Caleb \"C-Bo\" Brown says he left his heart in the Islands."}]

The standout cornerback initially thought his collegiate football career was over with the University of Hawai‘i football team following the 2024 season. Following a ruling that allowed an extended year of eligibility for former junior college players such as Brown, he decided to spend the additional year in the Eastern time zone in order to give family members from Alabama more access to watch him play. 

Entering the NCAA transfer portal last spring was a bittersweet experience for the 6-foot-1, 170-pound Brown, who had interest from a bevy of schools. He ultimately signed with Virginia Tech, breaking fall camp with a starting spot for the Hokies. 

The 2025 season did not go as planned for Brown or the Hokies. Brown received season-ending shoulder surgery after playing just three games, while head coach Brent Pry was fired on Sept. 14. Brown received a medical hardship redshirt and was granted another year of eligibility. This time around, there was barely a choice to make. He knew he had unfinished business in Hawai‘i. 

While still recovering from surgery, Brown was one of a handful of players sidelined to 

begin spring practice for the Rainbow Warriors

 earlier in the month. He recently started joining the team in on-field drills as he continues to heal. All the while, he's been all smiles knowing he's back where he belongs. 

"It's just like I never left, for real. Just being back on the Island, talking with the guys again, it feels great to be back," Brown told Aloha State Daily following a recent practice. "The main reason to come back here was just the relationships I had with the coaches and them coming off a big season last year, I was really not wanting to leave in the first place, but just to be close to my family and hoping for them to just see me play my last year. 

"It was kind of tough, but just being back here, just enjoying the atmosphere, enjoying the environment, it's one of a kind. It's really nothing like it. So, I'm just happy to be here."

In Brown's first stint in Mānoa, the 'Bows won five games in both 2023 and 2024. Their breakthrough under 

 came in the 2025 season, where the team went 

. Brown was cheering the Rainbow Warriors on from afar all year. 

"I would call some of the guys after the game," Brown said. "If they lost, 

, I would call some of the guys. I was like, bro, y'all know you should have won that game. But, nah, I was tuned in the whole year. Like I said, it was like I never left. I never lost love for Hawai‘i, and they never lost love for me. So, I just feel like it was right to come back. I feel like I didn't need to be in that portal too long. I had a conversation with coach Chang and 

, and it was like we just started where we left off."

Brown was one of the foundational pieces for a program that was rebuilding for years under Chang. The narrative has flipped surrounding the Rainbow Warriors, who are now viewed as Mountain West contenders in 2026. 

Upon returning to the team, Brown was asked if he sees more confidence among his teammates now that they've seen what they're capable of. 

"Most definitely. You see the coaches walking around with their shoulders up, chest out, players feeding off of that, too. They got a chip on their shoulder," Brown said. "It's good to see guys who were the young guys when I was here but now they're the old guys. It's cool seeing them grow up and take ownership of the team and be accountable for everybody."

As the Rainbow Warriors enter their final two weeks of spring practice, Brown's recovery has continued to progress. Hawai‘i cornerbacks coach PJ Minaya says he's "a month or two" away from returning to full activity. 

[{"type":"text","text":"\"He should be good to go by the season,\" Minaya said. "}]

When Brown makes his full return, Minaya doesn't expect much of a learning curve. Most of all, he'll be fulfilled to be around someone he considers more than just a player he coaches. 

"Me and him are real close. Before he left, I always considered him one of my guys and someone that I leaned on during the season," Minaya said. "I'm not gonna lie, it did hurt when he left, but I understand the business of college football, and then when there was the opportunity for him to come back, I think it was just kind of an easy transition, which made it a good thing.

"I think he really elevates (the secondary) because we know what type of player C-Bo is. We know what we're getting, and we know that he's a very high-caliber player. I mean, he started games in the (Power Four). Obviously, started a bunch of games for us here, so we know that he's going to bring exactly what we need going into the fall."

Brown can hardly wait to become a full practice participant in fall camp. By then, the start of a 2026 season the Rainbow Warriors feel can be a historic one will inch closer by the day. 

"All the buzz going around in the nation, not just the city, not just the state, in the nation, I feel like they put the whole world on notice in that last game. But this year, I mean, we coming for it all," Brown said. "Mountain West championship, College Football Playoffs, we're just gonna bring that confidence, that experience from last year. And then we're just gonna keep on going. Level up, day in, day out, 1% better every day."

C-Bo Brown 1 022326

<title>Hawai‘i cornerback Caleb "C-Bo" Brown is back like he never left</title>

Brown played for the Rainbow Warriors from 2023 to 2024 before transferring to Virginia Tech in 2025. In 2026, he's back where his heart belongs.

Hawai‘i cornerback Caleb "C-Bo" Brown is back like he never left

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

, known for its Japanese-style negitoro bowls, is opening its third O

ahu location this Sunday, Feb. 15. The business’s new location is on the second level of 

Aiea Shopping Center, next to Ice Garden and Koa Pancake House.

Aiea location is in the former space of a sandwich shop. Construction on the space started after the business’s sister restaurant, Marujuu Hawai

i will be open from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch and from 5 to 8:30 p.m. for dinner Thursdays to Mondays (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays). The business will be open for walk-ins only; no reservations will be accepted.

The menu at this location is the same as the ones at the business’s Kaimukī and 

Totoya’s original negitoro — which is made fresh daily with local fresh ‘ahi — is the base for the majority of its bowls. Its tokujo bowl ($38.90) — a premium option with original negitoro, salmon roe, sea urchin (Hokkaido uni) and snow crab — is the most popular order.

The eatery’s Fukuju bowl ($39.50) is the second most-popular dish. It features original negitoro with tuna and salmon, red shrimp, scallops, sea urchin, snow crab, tobiko and two pieces of nori.

The salmon bowl with salmon roe ($19.50) is a local favorite. All bowls come with your choice of miso soup — Aosa seaweed miso soup, or upgrade to shrimp head ($3.90) or crab ($4.90) miso soup — or half-size udon noodles ($4.90).

Other dishes on the menu include fresh shrimp combination bowl ($27.90); rainbow trio bowl ($25.90); matsu bowl ($26.90) with Hokkaido uni and salmon roe; and more.

Customers now have the option to add an “ikura shower” when they order Take, Matsu and Tokujo bowls. The “shower” includes a tripleamount of ikura for an additional $9.80.

Open from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch and from 5 to 8:30 p.m. for dinner Thursdays to Mondays

Totoya Aiea kaisen don 021326

<title>Viral seafood rice bowl spot is opening in ʻAiea</title>

Totoya Hawaiʻi, known for its negitoro bowls, is opening in ʻAiea Shopping Center on Sunday, Feb. 15. The menu here is the same as the business’s other two locations in the Ala Moana and Kaimukī neighborhoods. Customers can now add “ikura showers” when ordering specific seafood bowls.

Viral seafood rice bowl spot is opening in ʻAiea

Aloha Spirit

 and Dave Bautista star in a new movie, “The Wrecking Crew,” which was filmed in 

, and releases next week. It will start streaming globally on Prime Video at 10 p.m. on Jan. 27.

The fast-paced action comedy features the estranged brothers, Jonny Hale (Momoa) and James Hale (Bautista), who reunite when their father dies mysteriously. In trying to figure out what happened, the brothers discover a conspiracy with the power to tear their family apart.

The story is set in Hawaiʻi, but filmed in the United States and New Zealand. Filming included 12 days in Hawaiʻi and 43 days in New Zealand, Angela Laprete, the Hawaiʻi producer for “The Wrecking Crew," told Aloha State Daily. Scenes captured in Hawaiʻi include a murder in Chinatown (which doubles as Kalihi in the movie), a chase scene on the H3, and motorcycle rides along the coast of east Oʻahu.

The idea for the buddy film started when Bautista and Momoa were working together on 

 that follows the human race when it has lost its sense of sight and has to find new ways to survive.

“I got to spend some time with Jason offset and realized he's just such a fun guy, and our energies are so different,” said Bautista, in a global virtual press conference. “We just don't clash. He's super high energy. I'm super low energy, which it just works. It works in real life. It works on film.”

The virtual press conference included Momoa, Bautista, the movie’s director Ángel Manuel Soto

 and moderator Alex Zane. It was streamed from London, England, for the United Kingdom’s premiere of “The Wrecking Crew.”

If character introductions in the movie give a glimpse of each actor’s role, we first see James (Bautista) effortlessly floating under water in a pool where he is training cadets to hold their breaths. The cadets are holding weights to stay submerged and keep dropping those weights to float to the surface for air until only Bautista remains, serene and underwater.

The introduction scene for Jonny (Momoa) is a bit different. He is on a motorcycle flying down a rural road and gets home to see his girlfriend packing the car because she is breaking up with him.

After working together in “See,” Bautista had wanted to do another production with Momoa that was more of a buddy cop film.

“So anyway, I tweeted one night: I want to do a buddy cop film with Jason Momoa, something like ʻLethal Weapon.’ I want David Lee to direct it. This is before I knew you,” he said of Ángel Manuel Soto, the movie’s director seated to his right. “But anyway, that was my tweet. And it exploded! It got more response than anything I've ever tweeted, which has been mostly garbage, just random thoughts. But anyway, people responded. So I called Jason. I was like: ʻHey, man, I want you to know about this because it is getting such a response, I probably should let you know and make sure you even want to do this. And he said, ʻYeah, actually, I already got an idea.’ And so basically his idea was pretty much the foundation of what the film is.”

“The Wrecking Crew” stars several actors who appear in “Chief of War,” including Momoa, who was Kaʻiana, 

It also features actors from Disney’s live action version of “Lilo & Stitch” (2025), including 

, who makes an appearance with shave ice, and died just after the movie's release. "The Wrecking Crew" also features 

, who stars in Disney’s live action movie “Moana,” set to release this year, as Moana’s mother.

“The Wrecking Crew” has multiple fight scenes, of course, including a notable one between Baustista and Momoa that involves rain, mud, a parked car and some blood.

“This was the most fun I've ever had on a film, throughout my career,” Bautista said. “Moments like that, they sound awful, but we were having a great time beating the hell out of each other, but also we were jumping in a hot tub between takes.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"The group laughed."}]

“And we got to shoot in New Zealand and Hawaiʻi,” 

. “It was awesome. We had to ride motorcycles in Hawaiʻi. It was great.”

What does Momoa hope audiences take away from the film?

“It's definitely up there as one of the funnest films I've ever made in my life,” he said. “I had the time of my life. I don't [usually] watch the premieres over and over. I've seen this movie five times now. I'm still laughing. I'm excited to watch it tonight. ... And I'm actually having a little private viewing for my kids, because we're very mad that it's not playing in theaters because they just love it.”

The movie leaves room for a possible sequel, as their father’s murder is solved, but another remains open.

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“The Wrecking Crew"

<title>Jason Momoa, Dave Bautista reflect on ʻThe Wrecking Crew’</title>

The action comedy launches on Prime Video on Jan. 27. It features two estranged brothers as they try to figure out who killed their father. Actors Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista share how the idea of the film got started and the role X played in its creation.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Turf war

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