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Kady Pascual

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

Locals love Cheesecake Factory, too, though.

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<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: “Island Style” by John Cruz with a little twist</title>

Today’s social media find comes from @JRDGuz, singing about the typical tourist visit.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: “Island Style” by John Cruz with a little twist

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De Soto 2025

DeSoto Brown

Hawai‘i History

Columnists

As Aloha Tower moved into the middle years of the 20th century, tourism was increasing, and it was recognized that future infrastructure improvements were going to be necessary. Although travelers arriving in Hawai‘i by ship were gradually diminishing while those arriving by air were increasing, discussions in 1958 determined that Honolulu's main docks needed major reconstruction. Piers 8 through 11, at the base of Aloha Tower, should have facilities for passengers moved to a second level while cargo handling should be confined to the ground floors of the wharves. 

Unfortunately, this assessment did not take into account two trends that were already identified at the time — jet planes would be starting service to Hawai‘i within a year or two, and ocean cargoes would soon be shifting exclusively to standardized shipping containers, which Matson had begun using this same year. The latter would eventually require all of Honolulu's cargo movements to be relocated to Sand Island.

So even as visitors were moving away from ship travel in favor of faster and cheaper jet airplanes, in June 1963 a bid of over $5 million was accepted for the revamp of the pier complex. On July 11, 1963 the work started, and in June 1964 a controversial elevated traffic ramp's construction began. This structure was to allow access by vehicles to and from the second-story passenger area that filled in the former open space between Piers 8, 9 and 10. The ramp was criticized for how it would block the view of the harbor when looking down Bishop Street, since to keep the degree of its rise gradual, it would have to extend from a base some distance away at Pier 6.

Even worse, to many people, was how the base of Aloha Tower was completely obscured by the new addition, which also left the ground level here perpetually in shadow. Regardless of complaints, the finished project was dedicated on March 29, 1965.

The anticipated need for accommodating increased ocean travelers at Aloha Tower turned out to be incorrect. Their numbers consistently decreased, and in 1970 Matson ended its once-famous passenger service completely, to focus exclusively on cargo transport from then on. The enlarged dock facilities were unused most of the time.

By 1981 came the start of Aloha Tower's next transformation, which truthfully is still going on today. But this process has been so complex and troubled that it's impossible to even attempt to recount it in any detail here. We'll just focus on what happened starting with the closure of the Tower and its docks on November 1, 1993 in preparation for demolition and then new construction. The overall plan for the area was a massive, multi-stage development, which would start with a "festival marketplace" of the type that had already been successful in other US cities like the first one at Fanueil Hall in Boston from 1976, or Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Planned to follow this at Honolulu Harbor would be an office building, a 350 unit condominium, a maritime-specific office structure, a 350 room hotel, a "historic park" and an elevated bridge over Nimitz Highway to Fort Street. Needless to say, none of the latter ever came into existence.

Starting off the redevelopment process was the tearing-down of everything that had been constructed in the 1960s, along with the pier structures at Docks 8 and 9. On July 14, 1994, Aloha Tower stood entirely by itself for the first time ever, with the two-story concrete & steel wharf buildings at its base entirely removed. This was seen as a very positive step in the anticipated creation of what was to become Aloha Tower Marketplace. Intense work was necessary to meet the opening date of November 19, 1994, when about 50,000 people came to see the new $100 million shopping center. Consisting of a very attractive group of two story buildings with open walkways between them, the mix of tenants included retail stores, bars, restaurants and an open area dedicated to kiosks and pushcarts, with total tenants planned to number 200. The unique, scenic setting and the substantial number of Honolulu residents and visitors as potential customers seemed to indicate a bright future.

Except...the bright future never happened. The immediate problem was parking, which was limited and expensive. The rejection of having to pay to leave your car someplace, when lots of other places fairly nearby were free, pretty much doomed the Aloha Tower Marketplace. Within a few weeks came the first worried complaints from tenants, particularly from the pushcart owners. By May 1995 the developer, Aloha Tower Associates, was in arrears to various unpaid vendors as well as to the State of Hawaii, its landlord.

For years afterwards, the marketplace limped along through bankruptcies, lawsuits, failed proposals for parking improvements, different owners and managers, and dwindling tenants. A few of the latter did well, but many failed.

Finally in 2011, Hawai‘i Pacific University — which occupied numerous rented spaces in multiple downtown buildings, mostly along Fort Street — purchased the lease to Aloha Tower Marketplace along with a commercial investor. The following year the complex was 70% vacant, and by 2013 HPU had bought out its partner and had full control. Thereafter the center was redeveloped into student housing and various other school uses.

A handful of commercial tenants are present today, but in February 2020 the last of the original businesses from the 1994 opening finally closed, which was the controversial Hooters bar and restaurant.

And so we conclude in 2026, Aloha Tower's 100th birthday, anticipating that discussions for the future of the tower and its surroundings will be ongoing indefinitely (perhaps), with probably few actual changes to take place. We can say with certainty that someday the Skyline elevated train will be traveling along nearby Nimitz Highway with a station at Bishop Street, but its effects cannot be anticipated, and if anything can be learned from history, it would be unwise to try to guess them in advance.

(For Part 1 of Aloha Tower at 100 Years, click 

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<title>Aloha Tower at 100 years old, Part 2: It seemed like a good idea at the time ...</title>

In the early 1960s, the State of Hawai‘i invested millions in harbor upgrades that included modernizing Aloha Tower as a terminal for passenger liners. But jet planes soon replaced passengers liners, rendering the terminal obsolete. In the 1990s, those structure were torn down to create Aloha Marketplace, a shopping and dining destination that would never draw the anticipated crowds. ASD history writer DeSoto Brown brings us to the present day as Aloha Tower celebrates its centennial.

Aloha Tower at 100 years old, Part 2: It seemed like a good idea at the time ...

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Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

A Hawai‘i senator has introduced a federal bill that would require AI-generated content to be clearly labeled as such.

Sen. Brian Schatz co-introduced last week the 

 as an effort to improve transparency as AI-generated content becomes more and more common in everyday life.

The measure that requires any AI-generated digital content — whether an image, video, audio or chatbot — include clear disclosures embedded within the content itself identifying it as AI-generated.

Those disclosures must also include a machine-readable disclosure, an invisible “stamp” embedded within the file’s metadata, that also describes the system that generated the content, and when it was generated.

All providers of generative AI systems would be required to ensure that their outputs’ disclosures are detectable by widely available AI-detection tools. Social media platforms would also be required to ensure that the disclosures are still visible when AI-generated content is viewed on their sites, and would be prohibited from obscuring or removing them.

The measure also includes a host of prohibitions against distributing AI content that doesn’t include the disclosures, or against adding disclosures to non-AI-generated content. People or entities who violate those prohibitions could be sued for up to $2,500 per violation.

“People deserve to know whether or not the videos, photos, and content they see and read online is real or original,” 

said Senator Schatz in a statement Tuesday.

 “Our bill is simple – if any digital content is made by artificial intelligence, it should be labeled so that people are aware and aren’t fooled or scammed.”

When introducing the bill, Schatz’ office specifically referenced a 2023 AI-generated photo of an explosion near the Pentagon, which triggered a dip in the stock market.

This wasn’t the only AI bill introduced last week. The 

 would require AI developers to report to the Secretary of Commerce any potentially harmful action autonomously taken by an AI model.

For instance, the bill requires that developers notify authorities if there is any sign that an AI model “is attempting to evade human oversight, deceive evaluators or operators … resist shutdown or modification … enable or accelerate the development, acquisition, or use of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive weapons,” or other behaviors.

Neither bill has been voted on in Congress so far.

Meanwhile, the House voted last week to pass the 

Small Business Administration Artificial Intelligence Utilization Act

, a measure requiring the SBA to publish regular reports about how it uses AI. No representative voted against the measure’s passage.

Other bills the House passed last week include:

Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act

, which establishes within the SBA an Office of Native American Affairs that would work to promote SBA programs with Native American tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations. The bill passed the House with no objections.

, which requires the SBA to report to Congress about the number of COVID loan fraud cases that have been reported and resolved. The bill passed the House with no objections.

Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act

 would allow agricultural producers to receive reimbursements for up to 75% of the cost of replacing farm or conservation structures following a natural disaster through the Emergency Conservation Program and Emergency Forest Restoration Program. The bill passed 368-19, with Hawai‘i Reps. Jill Tokuda and Ed Case in support. The bill has been enrolled to President Donald Trump’s desk.

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<title>CONGRESS WATCH: Schatz introduces bill requiring labels on AI content</title>

U.S. Congress considered AI measures and other legislation last week.

CONGRESS WATCH: Schatz introduces bill requiring labels on AI content

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Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

Ala Moana Center has been named one of the top shopping centers in the U.S. 

in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Awards.

The awards aim to rank the 10 Best in several areas of travel and lifestyle.

Ala Moana Center landed at No. 2 on the 10Best list of 

 and was among 20 nominated by a panel of experts. Final rankings were determined by public vote.

“This recognition is especially meaningful because it reflects the support of our tenants, employees, residents and visitors from around the world who help shape the experience at Ala Moana Center each day,” Craig Gorris, senior general manager of Ala Moana Center, said in an announcement Wednesday. “To be voted a top shopping center in the country is an incredible honor, and we’re grateful to everyone who took the time to support us.”

Ala Moana Center opened in 1959 and is the world's largest open-air shopping center with more than 2.4 million square feet of retail space. It offers more than 350 stores and 160 dining options. 

You can check out the latest on what's new and what's coming to Ala Moana Center 

A handful of Hawai‘i businesses have also been included on other recent 10Best lists:

Voting is still underway for several other 10Best lists that focus on Hawai‘i. Read 

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<title>Ala Moana Center makes list of best shopping centers</title>

USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards aim to rank the 10 best in several areas of travel and lifestyle. Here's where Ala Moana — and other Hawai‘i businesses — landed on several lists.

Ala Moana Center makes list of best shopping centers

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Christian Shimabuku

Sports

In one fell swoop, a new era dawned for the University of Hawai‘i athletics department when the calendar turned to July 1 on Wednesday. 

The date had been anticipated for years as far as Hawai‘i was concerned. As of Wednesday, UH became full-time members of the Mountain West Conference, closing the chapter on 14 years of full-time Big West Conference membership. 

After leaving the Western Athletic Conference, UH became football-only members of the Mountain West in 2012, while the vast majority of its sports joined the Big West. 

In the fall of 2024, five Mountain West members in Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State announced their future departures to join the remnants of the Pac-12 Conference, which was reduced to Oregon State and Washington State at the time. In response, the Mountain West added Hawai‘i, UTEP and UC Davis as full-time members. Additionally, North Dakota State and Northern Illinois were added as football only-members, giving the Mountain West 10 football teams. The Pac-12, by comparison, will have eight in 2026. 

Despite being recognized as full-time Mountain West members, the conference does not have offerings for a handful of UH sports, most notably 

. UH will remain an affiliate member of the Big West in men's volleyball, beach volleyball and water polo. 

Wednesday was also the official start of Hawai‘i News Now's new deal with UH Athletics as the school's new official sports broadcasting partner. Multiple UH sporting events throughout the year are expected to be televised on K5, KGMB and KHNL. 

The University of Hawai‘i estimates the Hawai‘i News Now partnership carries an approximate annual value of $7.5 million across the four-year deal, bringing HNN's total commitment to $30 million over the life of the deal. 

The start of HNN's deal marked the end of UH's agreement with Spectrum Sports, which began in 2011. On Wednesday, replays of UH sporting events were no longer available on Spectrum cable, a former staple for viewers. 

Additionally, in partnership with the Mountain West, over 200 UH sporting events will be shown on MW+, the conference's new direct-to-consumer app. Annual subscriptions for MW+ cost $79.99, while monthly subscriptions are available for $10.99. As part of an early adopter promotion, fans have until September to subscribe at a discounted annual rate of $67.99. 

Hawai‘i fans have the opportunity to contribute monetarily to the school with a subscription. Each time one selects Hawai‘i as their favorite team before purchasing a MW+ subscription, UH will receive a share of the revenue. Subscriptions can be purchased 

Stan Sheriff Center 012726

<title>Hawai‘i Athletics rings in new era</title>

On Wednesday, UH officially became a full-time member of the Mountain West Conference after 14 years in the Big West. The athletic department's new TV rights deal kicked in that same day.

Hawai‘i Athletics rings in new era

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Aloha Spirit

When Senior Pastor Jamie McElrath joined Olivet Baptist Church nearly a decade ago, he says he was following God’s call.

He was raised in Indonesia by missionary parents and later went on to become a missionary himself, along with his wife and children, who spent about 20 years in North Africa before settling in Hawai

McElraths called the Islands home for two years before heeding the call to missions.

“It just kind of felt like God scooped us up and brought us back — to our shocking amazement — here. So, I

’ve been at the church for 10 years come September.”

The church’s former pastor, Timothy Morita, died unexpectedly shortly after announcing his retirement, McElrath explained, “So coming into the role of senior pastor, I became responsible for everything going on. … Scripture indicates we serve as teams, not individuals, so my priority was investing in other pastors and lifting others up to serve.”

At that time, he recalled being asked about his plan for the next 10 years. Admittedly, he had no idea; McElrath said he didn’t come in with preset notions and wanted to listen and get to know the people and the community.

 healthy body will grow’ (God makes us healthy spiritually, relationally, internally and certainly within community),” he said. “My experience is not so much leading, as much as having a front row seat to watch what God has been doing.”

Located at 1775 S. Beretania St., Olivet has served the neighboring communities of Makiki, McCully, Mānoa, Waikīkī, Downtown Honolulu and beyond.

“Geography is the mother of strategy,” McElrath said quoting scholars. “The church is planted here for a purpose right between two major arteries (Beretania and King streets). It’s centrally located in the city between five or six major college campuses.”

Today, the congregation is comprised of about 250 members on Sundays who attend various Bible studies and worship services in both English and Japanese. According to historical information compiled by church member Faith McFatridge, the Japanese congregation was founded by Edwin Dozier in the early 1940s, around the same time the English congregation at Olivet Baptist Church became affiliated with 

preschool is a ministry operated by church members, designed “to bless and encourage young families,” 

McElrath told ASD. It is staffed by nearly 50 teachers and administrators who look after no more than 75 kids at a time.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":" The church’s early beginnings"}]

The independent church at the corner of Young and Artesian streets, then called The Mission Church, was founded in 1926 by Joseph P. Tyssowski, an attorney and ordained Baptist preacher from Texas.

Fifteen years later, the church voted to become a Southern Baptist Church under pastor Victor Koon, rebranding as Olivet Baptist Church.

“’Olivet’ comes from the Kings James version of the Bible, referring to the Mount of Olives, which is right outside of Jerusalem. It was a place very significant during Jesus’ time on Earth; it’s the place from which he returned to heaven, it’s also the place to which he will return,” McElrath said. “So, it’s a wonderful thing to kind of keep our hearts’ gaze focused on his purpose until he returns.”

According to McFatridge’s research, the surprise military attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 impacted families in McCully that lost their homes, shut down schools and churches, and “four people in the neighborhood died.”

“Some McCully parents saw Olivet as a safe haven for their children and sent them to Sunday school,” she writes. “Others joined the congregation during those war years including Joe Bailey and J.C. Wilson. They were instrumental in getting the servicemen to attend Olivet, since it was the only Baptist church in the city.”

In 1943, Olivet paid off the original Young Street property and established a building fund to eventually purchase the Honolulu Vocational School facing Beretania Street in 1994, and the building across the Alexander Street extension for a new auditorium acquired in 1949, which was completed the following year.

“One Sunday in April 1954 was a record attendance with 1,016 in Sunday school and 217 in Sunday Training Union,” McFatridge noted.

In 1962, the church purchased the Alexander Street extension from the City and County of Honolulu, to open up parking and unify its two church buildings. Olivet celebrated its 22nd anniversary with Billy Graham, an evangelist who visited the Islands to lead the Hawai

Between the ’70s and ’80s were some shifts in leadership, and in 1986, Olivet purchased another property on Pāwa‘a Street. The church celebrated its 75th anniversary with a banquet at the Japanese Cultural Center and sent mission teams to Australia, Mexico and Japan.

Over the past 25 years, Olivet Baptist has hosted events for the community, including food and gift distributions, Easter celebrations, a Halloween Block Party, car washes and more.

“Olivet celebrated its 95th anniversary on July 4 with a virtual choir,” 

McFatridge wrote, adding that during the Covid-19 pandemic, it continued to find “creative ways for outreach and staying connected.”

The church offers pre-school and Sunday school, hula and music ministry, and transitional housing ministry, among other outreaches.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Celebrating 100 and looking ahead"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"McElrath says he’s excited for the future of the church."}]

How will Olivet sustain growth over the next century? “By continuing to seek spiritual health, being faithful and growing in our understanding of the Bible,” he notes.

On Saturday, July 4, the community is invited to join the church for a picnic featuring games and activities for keiki, door prizes, food and more. Then on Sunday, it will hold a joint worship service starting at 9 a.m. with guest speaker, John Brady, and Christian musician Bob Bennett. Later that evening, a banquet dinner will be held at the Japanese Cultural Center.

Olivet church 05

<title>Olivet Baptist Church on Beretania Street turns 100</title>

Senior Pastor Jamie McElrath shares about the church’s history in Honolulu and his hope for the congregation’s future: “A healthy body will grow.” Olivet Baptist will be celebrating this milestone with events open to the community over the weekend.

Olivet Baptist Church on Beretania Street turns 100

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

The Declaration of Independence will be read at the same time across 50 states, the District of Columbia, five territories and the Minor Outlying Islands of the United States on Wednesday, July 8. Called the Sharing the Spirit of America project, this nationwide program was initiated and sponsored by the Hawaiʻi America250 Commission.

So far, readings of the Declaration of Independence will take place at 

. There will be readings on all seven continents and in 36 locations outside of the U.S.

“You start reading the Declaration of Independence and you're going to be joining thousands of people literally across the world that will be reading at the same moment in time,” said Peter Young, the chair of the Hawaiʻi America250 Commission. "But it is spanning over 19 different time zones, so we're separated geographically, but we're joined together in time.”

This year marks the semiquincentennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

 on July 4, but the reading of the historic document is on July 8?

“On July 4, 1776, Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence,” Young said. “That document then got printed, and you couldn't just email it or Xerox it. It had to get to a printer. And then it had to get distributed, and so it wasn't until July 8 that that document was officially 

 is striving for “350 for 250,” or a goal to engage all 350 million Americans by the nation’s 250th anniversary, according to its website.

For the Sharing the Spirit of America project, the idea is that readings of the Declaration of Independence will take place at the same time across the world, starting at 6 p.m. EST, which is noon in Hawaiʻi.

“And in the territories of Guam and Northern Mariana Islands, it's 8 a.m. in the morning on July 9, because they're on the other side of the dateline,” he said.

In Hawaiʻi — the youngest state — copies of the the Declaration of Independence will be available at local libraries, Young said.

 “At noon some of those libraries will have actual live readings, but anyone can go down to the library, and it will be available if you want to read it," he said.

Earlier this year, Young broke the Declaration of Independence into sections and asked politicians and students to read it. The video features Gov. Josh Green, as well as sixth graders and high school students, among other readers. It was assembled by students from Maui High School and was recently published on YouTube. 

“An important aspect of the commemoration is not just the historical events, but looking to the future,”  Young said. “How do we work better together? How do we have a common bond? However we think about the world or issues in the world, we have the common bond of being Americans, and that bond takes us back to this Declaration of Independence.”

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Waipahu Army JROTC Color Guard

Perry Arrasmith

If you really want to understand why we're celebrating Independence Day, go back to the source and read the Declaration of Independence, says ASD political historian Perry Arrasmith. It's only one of the most important documents in history!

Declaration i Stock 172711668 16x9

On the Fourth, read the Declaration

Viewpoints

Hawaiʻi government officials will not be present at the Great American State Fair, put on by Freedom 250 now through July 10, along with at least 10 mostly Democratic-led states citing cost, staffing and for some, political reasons. Gov. Josh Green says no funds were earmarked for the fair by the state or Congress and instead, has thrown support behind local celebrations.

Hawaii at Great American State Fair

Hawaiʻi says ‘No can’ to Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C.

<title>Sharing the Spirit of America heads to all 50 states</title>

The birth of the United States started with the Declaration of Independence. Now, 250 years later, people will read the historic document in all 50 states, five territories and the Minor Outlying Islands, as well as across the world, through this initiative with Hawaiʻi America250.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: “Island Style” by John Cruz with a little twist

Kady Pascual

Social Media & Marketing Manager

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Hawai‘i Scene on Social: “Island Style” by John Cruz with a little twist

Authors

Kady Pascual

Social Media & Marketing Manager

More in Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

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