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Kady Pascual

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

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<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Taco Bell surf thru</title>

Today’s social media find comes from @Lenny.Bros with an epic lunch.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Taco Bell surf thru

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Katie Helland

Entertainment

Arts & Culture

 was created to support independent filmmakers and to give them a chance to share their work with others through an annual short film showcase. The nonprofit is looking for fellows for its next cohort of ʻOhina Labs, its Oʻahu-based filmmakers workshop, which pairs the writers of short scripts with guest mentors.

Current or former residents of Hawaiʻi have the opportunity to submit their short screenplays and workshop with mentors in the entertainment industry. 

 must include an original screenplay of up to 15 pages, as well as a resume, cover letter and proof of residency, by Aug. 11. 

Each cohort is selected by alumni of the program.

“Consistently, the things that always cut through are the ones that are unique: one-of-a-kind voices, stories that haven't been told before or told from a different perspective,” Gerard Elmore, executive director of ʻOhina, told Aloha State Daily. “ʻOhina does look also at your connection to Hawaiʻi. If we see something that's rough but has good bones or a good idea, that might be good enough, too. It’s really about the idea and your voice as a filmmaker, storyteller. That's really what decides what gets in or not.”

Typically, up to 10 fellows are selected for each cohort. From that group, one ʻOhina Labs fellow will take home the ʻOhina Greenlight Award, which grants production support to help the script become a short film. This year, the free workshop will take place in November at the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design.

In the upcoming ʻOhina Labs intensive, fellows will be partnered with guest mentors. The mentors last year included 

 Zoë Eisenberg, writer and director of “Chaperone;” and Ty Sanga, the first Native Hawaiian filmmaker to premiere a short at Sundance Film Festival as the writer and director of “Stones.”

Guest judges joined a Pitch Day session during ʻOhina Labs to offer feedback to the fellows and included Stephen Broussard, vice president of production and development at Marvel Studios; Henry Ian Cusick, an actor and director; Aaron and Jordan Kandell, screenwriters for Disney's “Moana;” and Adam Wong, producer of “Chaperone.”

More than a dozen scripts that have gone through the annual ʻOhina Labs have been produced

, including films such as “Kūkini,” “Kalewa,” “Mauka to Makai,” “Other People,” “Racket” and “Last Hawaiian Sugar.” Many have gone on to win awards and screen at film festivals around the world.

Earlier this month, ʻOhina Labs project, “Kūkini," was released by nonprofit Pacific Islanders in Communications.

“It's a groundbreaking short for many reasons,” 

 said. “But in five days, it already has 200,000 views. It is probably going to end up being our most successful short film out of the batch.”

“Kūkini,” which is about 24 minutes, is a story by 

The journey to creating the short film started when ʻOhina worked with Fuga on a commercial. A few days after attending an ʻOhina film screening, she called Elmore and pitched the idea for the film “Kūkini.” 

It was brought to life by screenwriter and director Mitchell Merrick. Its producers include Elmore and Christopher Kahunahana, along with co-producer Brian Keaulana. The entire piece was filmed entirely in Hawaiʻi and came together with a budget of $50,000, he said.

“It was Paula's big idea,” Elmore said. “And we took her idea, we raised the funds, got the team together and within two years, she's back in that same movie theater for ʻOhina Showcase and shown the film. That's ʻOhina in a nutshell.”

The film features many of the actors and consultants who also worked on 

 he added. “Chief of War” is a mini-series, created by Jason Momoa and Thomas Paʻa Sibbett, which launches on Apple TV+ on Aug. 1.

“This is a little bit of a proof of concept to tell people that, ʻYes, you can shoot all in Hawaiʻi. Yes, you can do it with no money,’” Elmore said. “And also a little bit of, ʻWe are good enough. We can do it. Give us a give us a big budget and see what happens.’”

ʻOhina

<title>‘Ohina Labs seeks applicants for annual filmmakers workshop</title>

Do you have a story to tell? Do you live in Hawaiʻi? If you answered yes to these questions, you might be a match for ʻOhina Labs, an Oʻahu-based filmmakersʻ workshop, which pairs writers of short scripts with mentors in the entertainment industry.

‘Ohina Labs seeks applicants for annual filmmakers workshop

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Aloha Spirit

[{"type":"text","text":"Domestic Violence Action Center is at a point of transition."}]

For more than 33 years, co-founder Nanci Kreidman led the statewide nonprofit agency, which provides resources such as individual counseling, agency referrals, legal services and help with housing and personalized safety plans, for victims of domestic violence and their families.

Kreidman retired in June 2023 and the following year, Monique Ibarra was named CEO. Prior to her appointment, Ibarra served as executive director of Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Centers Inc. She previously spent two years at the Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline on Maui (DVAC’s

Earlier this month, Ibarra stepped down for “personal reasons,” according to DVAC, which tapped Laurie Tochiki, former president and CEO of nonprofit EPIC 

Tochiki, whose background is in family law, social services and human resources, co-founded EPIC, an organization “that strengthens ʻohana and enhances the welfare of children and youth,” its mission states. She has taught family law courses at the University of Hawaiʻi William S. Richardson School of Law and is a current member of the Hawaiʻi State Bar Association.

“I do want to express our gratitude for Monique and her dedication to DVAC over the last two years. She stepped into the organization during a very difficult time,” Board President David Tumilowicz told Aloha State Daily. “That was DVAC

’s hard to anticipate how difficult it can be to follow in the footsteps of a founder. Monique did some really important work at DVAC during her time there.”

Tumilowicz, who is the senior director of marketing and community health at Kaiser Permanente Hawai'i, shared that Tochiki “is the right person at this point in time to continue DVAC’s life-saving work for a couple reasons: her background in decades of experience advocating for Hawai

ʻi’s children and family and her deep belief that everyone deserves to live in a safe home."

Tochiki’s relationship with UH's law school is key for one of the organization’s current priorities of developing the local pipeline of attorneys, he noted, adding, “We believe she is ideally suited to help DVAC innovate and bring more legal resources to the community.”

It was intentional, too, that the board named Tochiki as interim CEO “as soon as possible,” Tumilowicz said. “While Laurie and Monique’s tenure did not overlap, Laurie came in on Monday following Monique’s departure, so there wasn’t any in-between time.”

As the search for a permanent CEO begins to get underway, Tochiki will head the agency for the next year, he said. “When it does [begin], it will be with staff and community engagement as it has been in the past.”

DVAC currently has 44 employees. In fiscal year 2025, staff responded to more than 2,700 helpline calls resulting in 1,029 safety plans, 695 community referrals, and more than 1,100 callers who received legal information and education. DVAC also provided more than 7,000 court-related services and a total of 121 legals services, which included court appearances, legal consultations, divorce decrees and post-decree cases, and protective and temporary restraining orders.

, its annual operating budget is $4.5 million.

Tumilowicz told ASD more about where the organization stands currently and where it’s headed. He shared DVAC’s short and long-term goals, as well as his own personal commitment to speaking out against domestic violence.

What lessons have you/DVAC’s board learned since moving away from a founder-led organization?

So many people are at DVAC because of Nanci Kreidman, me included. Nanci approached me when I was publisher at Hawai’i Business [Magazine] many years ago and said, ‘Hey David, I bet you don’t know it but domestic violence is a business issue you should be writing about.’ ... Nanci is tenacious and persistent, and we continued talking about it until I did come to understand how the issue of domestic violence is a community issue, a moral issue and a business issue. 

The agency has transitioned away from such a charismatic leader, who was responsible for its growth over the years in an ad hoc way. Oftentimes one of the opportunities moving on from the founder is to create stronger processes and systems and so forth, moving to a more bureaucratic structure.

The board is the governance body and the most important thing that a board does is select the leader of the organization. We are not running the day-to-day, but our focus is on employee well-being, along with the clients, as our most important stakeholders and audience. Board members, me included, went and spent time with staff in-person to inform them of the most recent leadership transition and to talk it through.

We all knew this was going to be a significant transition for DVAC, but I don’t think anyone really understood what that fully meant in terms of the details. 

Moving forward, what are some of the operational goals under Tochiki’s leadership over the next year? 

Going forward with Laurie, we’ve identified a couple of major themes. The first is to focus on staff and staff well-being; building meaningful career development opportunities and ways to support our staff even better is high on the list; providing a safe place to process secondary trauma they experience in work that they do; and making sure we have the right culture at DVAC. Another thing is DVAC, like any employer for-profit or not-for-profit, has to be concerned about the challenges of cost of living here in Hawai

ʻi. So, we’re striving to compensate our staff adequately and provide a living wage.

The second piece is around bringing more legal resources to the community. DVAC has been a learning ground for many lawyers over the years and I think that we need to understand that better. We

’re really excited about exploring and bringing some innovative ways to s

olve the legal staffing issue to the table.

Third, is building upon our relationship and collaboration with other agencies. No one can do this work alone. None of us. We all need to work together to ensure everyone has a safe home to live in.

’re focusing internally, building the strongest organization possible and navigating the leadership transition.

What does the organization need most right now? 

It’s really thinking about the problem of domestic violence as a community issue that we all need to find our voice and learn about so we can each weigh in. DVAC welcomes volunteers, so that’s an area for engagement. We do hold the annual Men’s March Against Domestic Violence, which is a very important opportunity for men to learn about the problem of domestic violence and find their voice. That’s how I got involved with DVAC initially as a participant and then later, helping to organize and grow the march to over 1,000 men each year. The way that we did that was by engaging with all our Downtown [Honolulu] businesses.

I’m a parent, I have two sons in their early 20s. I talk about the second conversation after the birds and the bees that we need to have with our children about our expectations for how they’ll treat each other and their significant others. Domestic violence affects 1 in 5 adults in Hawaiʻi. DVAC is working closely with care delivery organizations including Kaiser Permanente, conducting trainings with our care providers to help us understand how we can support patients who are victims of abuse, hopefully before they end up in the emergency room. DVAC is an incredible partner for [Kaiser] to refer our patients to for safety planning and services.

Ultimately, the goal is to end domestic violence. 

We believe everyone has the right and deserves to live in a safe home. We’ve made progress in removing some of the stigma associated with domestic violence, putting the problem of domestic violence on the same tier as any other social issue. This is all of our problem. This affects our moms and sisters and aunties and families and we can’t tolerate it!

All of DVAC’s services are fully operational. We want the community to know that we’re here for you. 

If you or someone who you know is struggling, please reach out to our helpline at 800-690-6200, or textline at 605-956-5680. It is truly life-saving work.

When I look back at my experience, this was a very uncomfortable issue for me to get engaged with 15-plus years ago. I was uncomfortable talking about the problem of domestic violence. I felt the stigma of the conversation. It’s really with practice and understanding that we get past that stigma to truly address this in a human way and to provide true help for people who are suffering.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Mailing address: P.O. Box 3198, Honolulu, HI 96801

Business Office and Administration: 808-534-0040

DVAC David Tumilowicz headshot 16x9

<title>Domestic Violence Action Center board president shares next steps</title>

Aloha State Daily spoke with DVAC Board President David Tumilowicz about the nonprofit’s recent leadership transitions, near-term priorities and overall goal to end domestic violence. He also shares his personal journey to help reduce stigma around the issue.

Domestic Violence Action Center board president shares next steps

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

[{"type":"text","text":"Frequent fliers take note."}]

A combined loyalty program for Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines will debut next month, a move that comes as the airlines continue to integrate operations.

Alaska Air Group, Inc. and Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. 

 that Alaska Airlines would acquire Hawaiian Airlines in a deal that was valued at approximately $1.9 billion, including $900 million of Hawaiian’s net debt, according to an announcement at that time. The acquisition was 

The distinct Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines brands will be maintained but the loyalty programs from both will be combined into a singular program.

A Hawaiian Airlines spokesperson told Aloha State Daily in an email Thursday that the combined loyalty program will be unveiled in August, with Alaska's Mileage Plan transitioning to the new program at that time.

The HawaiianMiles program will remain through Sept. 30, but on Oct. 1 "will fully transition into the new combined loyalty program of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines," they noted.

"We're making great progress and look forward to unveiling a new combined loyalty program that will deliver the most generous and exciting benefits in the industry," the spokesperson said.

They did not share the name of the program or the date it will be unveiled but said the transition will be "seamless for members of both programs."

[{"type":"text","text":"Do members need to do anything to ensure their miles transfer?"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Not necessarily. "}]

The spokesperson told ASD that if members do nothing, miles will automatically transfer to the new program on Oct. 1.

"That said, we do encourage HawaiianMiles members to sign up for an Alaska Mileage Plan account and link their Alaska and HawaiianMiles accounts to start taking advantage of Mileage Plan’s current benefits, including traveling on more than 30 oneworld air partners," they noted. "We will track their elite-qualifying miles, or EQMs, in both programs and award elite status in both programs, based on their combined EQM balance. Linking accounts now will also ensure the most seamless transition to the new program.

"HawaiianMiles members are welcome to covert their miles into Mileage Plan miles at any point. When the combined loyalty program is launched, any miles that haven’t converted will be moved over automatically."

But the spokesperson said the most important things HawaiianMiles members should keep in mind is that everyone's miles are safe and there are no changes to the credit card benefits.

Additionally, Huaka‘i by Hawaiian — a new free program

 for residents of Hawai‘i that offers monthly deals, travel perks and a free checked bag when traveling interisland — will also continue with the new loyalty program, they said.

"In preparation for HawaiianMiles to transition to the new loyalty program, HawaiianMiles member actions will be limited several days prior to Oct. 1," the spokesperson noted. "We will share more information with members in August. For now, members may continue to access their HawaiianMiles account as normal."

You can find more information about the combined loyalty program 

. Hawaiian Airlines also shared a blog post about it 

 of Hawaiian Airlines in September following its combination with Alaska Air Group.

ASD sat down with Sprague earlier this year to talk about the merger and future plans. You can 

Hawaiian airlines

<title>What's happening with Hawaiian Airlines' loyalty program</title>

A combined loyalty program for Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines will launch next month. Here's what you should know.

What's happening with Hawaiian Airlines' loyalty program

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

More questions than answers surround a state plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation industry.

, the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation published an “

,” a proposal to reduce carbon emissions across the transportation sector to meet the state’s 2045 deadline to achieve 100% clean energy.

Currently, the plan is in the midst of an extended public comment and review process, with a final draft expected to be published in October. As part of that process, DOT representatives are holding online meetings on the proposal over the next several weeks, with the 

While sparsely attended, that first meeting raised questions about the impacts of some of the strategies proposed in the plan. For example, the plan calls for a 75% reduction in cruise ship ports-of-call by 2045 — which would have significant impacts on local businesses.

During last week’s meeting, DOT Director Ed Sniffen said “the goal is not to kick [cruise ship operators] out of Hawai‘i; our goal is to make sure they bring cleaner ships.”

“If we had to get rid of some kind of operation in our commercial harbors, it’s not going to be our cargo shipments. It definitely won’t be our military operations. It’s going to be the cruise ships,” Sniffen said. “But, of course, we’ll be working with them to … help incentivize them to clean up.”

Sniffen added that the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority will work with HDOT and cruise operators to try to make the process as smooth as possible, but noted that annual cruise ship traffic accounts for only a fraction of total out-of-state visitors.

Other attendees questioned the plausibility of mass adoption of clean airplane fuel — the plan focuses on “sustainable aviation fuel,” or “SAF,” which the International Air Transport Association has committed to fully replace current fuel by 2050.

Sniffen said he believes converting to SAF by 2045 is feasible, although he noted that accelerating the IATA’s plans by five years will “cost a lot” and he expects airlines to have their own comments on the proposal.

Sniffen did not attend a Wednesday meeting of the Honolulu City Council’s Infrastructure, Transportation and Technology Committee, where HDOT representatives briefed councilmembers about the plan. That briefing raised further questions.

Mā‘ili Rep. Darius Kila attended the committee meeting in person to question its relationship with reality, noting that many of his constituents are “counting pennies” to stay in the state.

“When you have green, it’s easy to go green, but when you don’t have green, you cannot go green,” Kila quipped.

Kila went through many of the plan’s proposals, highlighting where they will likely raise costs for residents. For example, plans to decarbonize maritime shipping, switching vessels from diesel fuel to “renewable diesel” will require shipping companies to retrofit their fleets to use a less efficient fuel — with which Kila said companies will “gladly comply,” as they can simply pass on the increased costs to the end users in Hawai‘i.

Other proposals, including one for congestion pricing in urban zones, will disproportionately impact rural residents who can’t afford to live and work in the same neighborhood.

Kila also said plans to entirely phase out internal combustion vehicles are unfeasible, particularly in the face of likely rollbacks of federal incentive programs for EV adoption. 

 by Matson earlier this month that the shipping company will no longer transport EVs on its vessels, citing risks of lithium-ion battery fires.

And Kila warned that the proposed cutback of cruise ship traffic will have predictable, devastating impacts on local businesses, restaurants and tour operators.

“Hawai‘i has been an amazing leader in leading the charge [toward decarbonization], but if we’re leading the charge and people are still left behind, that’s not progress at all,” Kila said. “There is a reality for Hawai‘i residents that every penny that increases their costs of living … is pushing [the question] whether they should stay in Hawai‘i or not.”

Additionally, Councilman Tyler Dos Santos-Tam noted another side effect of decarbonization: loss of fuel tax revenue, which is used to maintain road infrastructure. As adoption of EVs increases, the county’s fuel tax revenues have already dropped from $51 million in 2019 to an anticipated $43 million next year, Santos-Tam said — “and it’s going to go down every single year thereafter.”

“So the question is, do we put [the shortfall] on the users, the people who are driving, the people who are consuming gasoline?” Santos-Tam said. “Or do we do things like property tax revenue, which affects everybody, including non-drivers?”

Answers for all these questions were not immediately forthcoming at the committee hearing Wednesday. However, further public meetings on the plan will be held 

 on July 27 at 2 p.m. and July 28 at 6 p.m. Additional meetings in August have yet to be scheduled.

The final draft of the plan is slated for publication in October. Much of the proposals mentioned in the document are expected to be part of a 2026 legislative package.

Oahu Nevi 1 scaled 16x9

<title>Decarbonization proposal raises eyebrows at Council meeting</title>

Residents and lawmakers question cost, feasibility of emissions-cutting proposal.

Decarbonization proposal raises eyebrows at Council meeting

[{"type":"text","text":"Planning to build a home or start a home improvement project?"}]

You might find some inspiration at the Building Industry Association of Hawai‘i's BIG Home Building & Remodeling Show. The annual three-day expo returns to Honolulu next month, taking place  Aug. 8 to 10 at the Neal S. Blaisdell Exhibition Hall. 

The home show offers a "comprehensive experience for anyone planning, starting or considering a home improvement project," Eric Baranda, marketing and events manager for BIA Hawai‘i, told Aloha State Daily in an email.

There will be booths from top local builders, remodelers, suppliers and designers; hands-on exhibits and live demonstrations; seminars; the "latest products and trends" in a number of areas; ideas for multi-generational design and aging in place; prize giveaways and more.

, a not-for-profit trade association chartered by the National Association of Home Builders in 1955, is the voice of Hawai‘i's construction industry.

says the home show is part of the organization's mission to connect the community with  licensed, qualified professionals.

The expo "serves as a direct link between homeowners and builders, contractors, designers and suppliers. The goal is to promote safe, affordable and high-quality housing by providing attendees with guidance, education and access to trusted service providers," he says. "The show is also a platform to showcase innovation and sustainability in the building industry."

Thousands have attended past shows, and "strong interest" from homeowners, renters, industry professionals and the community continues each year, he noted. Attendance this year is expected to remain high.

"Hawai‘i continues to face significant housing challenges," Baranda says. "Families are looking for ways to age in place, renovate for multigenerational living or upgrade older homes. The BIA Hawai‘i Home Building & Remodeling Show is designed to help meet these needs. The event brings together resources, professionals and ideas to help local residents make informed decisions about improving their homes."

According to a recent announcement from BIA, a Keiki Zone will offer a dedicated space for kids to explore, play and learn. Honolulu City Council Vice Chair Andria Tupola will also lead a seminar discussion on how "local projects take shape through leadership and collaboration," the announcement noted. That will take place from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 9.

Baranda says a major attraction, though, will be Paws & Pallets, where graduates from BIA's 

Pre-Apprenticeship Construction Training program

 "will build a sustainable dog house live on the show floor using repurposed materials." 

"It highlights both construction skills and creative reuse, while promoting workforce development and green practices," he noted. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"},{"type":"italic"}],"text":"If you go"}]

 Aug. 8 to 10 at the Neal S. Blaisdell Exhibition Hall

Friday, Aug. 8; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10.

 General admission is $8 and available at the Blaisdell Box office starting Monday, Aug. 4. It includes admission for all three days. Children under 16 get in free. You can save $3 by signing up for 

. Seniors 60 and older get $3 off admission — with a valid ID — on Sunday, which is Kūpuna Day. Discounts cannot be combined.

BIA Hawaii homeshow

<title>Home building and remodeling expo returns Aug. 8-10</title>

The Building Industry Association of Hawai‘i's three-day expo will have booths from top local builders, remodelers, suppliers and designers; hands-on exhibits and live demonstrations; seminars and more.

Home building and remodeling expo returns Aug. 8-10

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

Located in The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikīkī Beach, 

. The restaurant — which is the re-branded La Vie, the hotel’s former French-inspired fine dining concept — recently debuted a new late-night happy hour menu.

The happy hour experience, called Afterglow, is available from 8 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays in Solera’s bar and lounge. Guests can make reservations for happy hour via OpenTable, or mention it when they check in with the restaurant host.

The drink menu features a variety of $10 cocktails, including a Mai Tai, Old Fashioned, and a rotating selection of martinis (including lychee, classic and seasonal varieties).

Afterglow’s food menu features an exclusive line-up of bar bites that can’t be found on Solera’s regular dinner menu (with the exception of the hashi-gori, but more about that later). The happy hour menu is the eatery’s version of late-night eats, according to executive chef Mel Fogata.

“A lot of this is the stuff I’d like to eat if I went out on a late night — having something with drinks and basically just having a good time,” he says. “A lot of the inspiration comes from my travels, either from the Mainland or going overseas, and connecting people together.”

Dishes on the happy hour menu range from $12 to $28 and are designed to share. The griddled cornbread ($12), served with whipped honey butter, features a recipe that has been passed down to Fogata from nearly 20 years ago.

“This is one of the first recipes that I learned in the kitchen,” he says. “This recipe has been handed down to me; every year, we also took a little bit of change to it. This version you see now is the 23rd iteration so far of what we have.”

Fogata explains that the cornbread is toasted on the griddle, the brushed with brown buttery honey, resulting in a sultry glaze.

“It gets a little caramelization on it right over the top,” he says. “Off to the side, you’ll have a brown buttery honey to continuously spread over.”

Fun fact: If you dine at Solera during dinner, the cornbread is the base of the eatery’s Johnny Cakes dish, which comes with  caviar.

Designed to be a local favorite, these baby back ribs come from Mountain View Farms. They’re glazed with hoisin sauce, plum and a little bit of oyster sauce, according to Fogata. There’s also a touch of chili pepper water to add a slight spice.

“We cook this for about 36 hours, real low and slow; we glaze it every so often,” he says.

This fried rice ($20) is sure to make seafood lovers swoon, as it features plentiful bits of jumbo lump crab meat. It’s served with nori on the side “so you can have fun and treat it just like sushi,” according to Fogata.

“Other than egg, Spam and rice, I always loved a combination of crab and rice,” he says. “Every late night when I come home, I always have a leftover pot of rice in the fridge. What’s the best way to eat it? For me, it’s having a little bit of fried rice.

“To enhance it, we added jumbo lump crab and crab fat,” he adds. “The crab fat adds a lot of umami unctuousness to it.”

The Solera burger ($28) is probably one of the best burgers I’ve ever had. Granted, it features an 8-ounce American wagyu patty with house steak sauce, tomme cheese and “Solera Caesar” between soft poi buns. The tender, beefy wagyu patty is a game changer and makes the burger ultra indulgent.

“You can’t go to a late-night bar without burgers,” Fogata says.

He also explains that the Solera Caesar is the eatery’s version of the classic Caesar salad, but instead of an anchovy dressing, it includes turmeric and a fermented soybean to achieve an anchovy-like flavor. The tomme cheese comes from Sweet Land Farm.

“It combines a lot of different elements and experiences that we have here,” he says.

No burger is complete without fries, and in this case, tater tots. Playful yet elevated, these caviar loaded tater tots ($20) are Solera’s version of an over-the-top baked potato, according to Fogata.

“We used to always have leftover potato skins, especially in kitchens on the Mainland,” Fogata says. “We used to deep-fry them at the end of service, and add a little bit of sour cream, cheddar cheese and bacon over the top. That was our late-night snack.”

Tater tots are addictive in and of themselves, but I loved this fancy version with cheese foam, caviar and fresh chives. The tots are perfectly golden and crispy, which contrasts nicely with the salty caviar and velvety cheese.

Customers can also choose from dishes like char siu sausage ($20) — made with Island Sausage — and garlic chive yakisoba ($18), which feature elevated twists on local favorites.

Solera’s hashi-gori dessert ($22), which is available on the eatery’s dinner menu, is also available during the late-night happy hour. The restaurant’s twist on the popular Japanese shaved ice dessert is available in four housemade flavors — strawberry, mango, pistachio and chocolate. Guests can enhance their desserts by adding a shot of G. LION Hawaii Private Label Woodford Reserve (additional $16), which is a single-barrel bourbon that features a smooth texture.

“The ice is shaved to a nice paper thin,” Fogata says. “The syrups that we have here just coat the ice. When you’re enjoying this, you’ll notice that when you break into it, the sauce creates a shell, so nothing actually melts.”

Pro tip: The eatery also recently launched a new kama

āina weekdays special, which gives guests with a valid Hawai

i State ID a 15% discount on the entire food bill (excluding alcohol), every Tuesday through Thursday. This offer is valid until the end of August.

The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikīkī Beach 

Available on Friday and Saturday nights, Solera’s Afterglow includes elevated eats like caviar loaded tater tots, crab fried rice, and boozy shave ice.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Taco Bell surf thru

Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

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Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

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