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Kady Pascual

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"I’d gladly take a bag of cone shells!"}]

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RonniAllegos sand dollars

<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Sand dollars</title>

Today’s social media find comes from @RonniAllegos, with a different kind of currency.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Sand dollars

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Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

MĀNOA — Tuesday morning's practice for the University of Hawai‘i football team ended with a special announcement from UH athletics director 

Elliott broke the news that the team's head coach, 

American Football Coaches Association's Region 5 Coach of the Year, the only Group of Five representative among a list that includes 

Indiana's Curt Cignetti, Texas Tech's Joey McGuire, 

Georgia Tech's Brent Key and Vanderbilt's Clark Lea. 

Heading into the final week of the regular season, the Rainbow Warriors are 7-4 overall and 4-3 in Mountain West Conference play and will play in their 

 2020 in December, the Hawai‘i Bowl the most likely destination although a formal announcement has yet to be made. Under Chang, the Rainbow Warriors have enjoyed one of the country's most notable turnarounds from a team that went 3-10 with 53 newcomers in 2022. 

When it was Chang's turn to speak to the team following Elliott's announcement, he deflected praise to the team. 

"It's not me," Chang told the Rainbow Warriors, "it's us." Chang then led the team in prayer before members of the team went about the rest of its respective days. 

In addition to the news of Chang getting his first major accolade as a head coach, Hawai‘i kicker 

 was also named one of three finalists for the Lou Groza Award, given annually to the country's top kicker. Matsuzawa, the famously 

 kicker, has made all 23 of his field goal attempts in 2025 thus far, as well as all 34 of his extra point tries. 

Matsuzawa, like Chang, deferred to the rest of the Rainbow Warriors. 

"This is not just me, this is all the team's success," said Matsuzawa, who credited long snapper Jack Mowrey and holder Caleb Freeman. 

On the field, the Rainbow Warriors held a spirited practice on Tuesday despite being knocked out of the Mountain West race in a 

 on Friday. Although the Rainbow Warriors are among the teams that could finish in a tie for second place at 5-3, they would lose every Mountain West tiebreaker scenario. 

With a bowl game spot clinched and no conference title to play for, motivation was still abundant for the Rainbow Warriors, who play against rival Wyoming at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex on Saturday at 6 p.m. 

The rivalry between the Rainbow Warriors and Cowboys is for the Paniolo Trophy, which Wyoming has won two straight times in the series. The Cowboys come to town with a record of 4-7 overall and 2-5 in Mountain West play. 

"We love trophy games," Hawai‘i safety 

 said. "We're fully motivated. We'll take out all our emotions from the UNLV game to this game. We have a great opponent coming in Wyoming, and they'll try and play spoiler on us, and we just got to come out and play our game."

Although Saturday's game for the Rainbow Warriors is not the season finale for the team, 25 seniors will be honored following the game. As a program, the 'Bows have not lost a senior night game since 2017. 

"I remember speaking to my dad that one of the reasons that I committed here was seeing his senior night photo, and you couldn't even see his face, because he had a stack of lei up to here," said running back 

, motioning to the top of his head. "And I wanted that. Hopefully I get to experience that. Win or lose, I'm so proud of these guys and this journey that we've had."

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Hawaii football 112525

<title>Under Timmy Chang, Hawai‘i football team continues to play for each other</title>

The Rainbow Warriors have not lost a senior night game since 2017 and look to continue that streak on Saturday against Wyoming.

Under Timmy Chang, Hawai‘i football team continues to play for each other

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

This new Japanese-style hamburger steak spot is opening on Monday, Nov. 24 in Kaimukī.

Located in the former Chubbies Burgers space in Kaimukī, 

 — owned by restaurant group Funergy Group Inc., which operates Tori Ton, Izakaya Tenkichi and Totoya — specializes in Japanese-style hamburger steaks.

The restaurant interior was modeled, and now boasts a vibrant yellow hue and anime on the walls. The design was inspired by Akihabara, a neighborhood in Tokyo, according to Funergy Group Inc. owner Takuya Tsutsumi.

Originally, Tsutsumi was thinking to open another izakaya, but decided to go with the “hamburger steak” concept instead.

“It’s very popular in Japan now, since maybe three or four years ago,” he says.

He explains that the eatery’s name refers to the hamburger steak’s shape (“maru”) and the sizzling sound made when it’s cooked (“ju”).

Tsutsumi explains that the hamburger steaks are first cooked on the grill, then in the oven, and are served on a sizzling platter; its sauce is poured tableside.

“There’s a combination of a little bit of pork, beef, the beef fat and a secret recipe,” Tsutsumi says.

He explains that the eatery’s sauces are homemade, making each dish unique.

[{"type":"text","text":"“The original sauce takes more than seven hours to make,” he says."}]

Hamburger steak sets come in two sizes — regular ($23.50) or large ($28.50) — and include vegetables, pasta, miso soup and rice.

Choose from sauces like signature onion, sweet garlic soy glaze, grated daikon ponzu, green onion salt marinade, and Gorgonzola cheese. While the signature onion — boasting a nice balance of sweet and savory — is projected to be the most popular option, I’m partial to the rich, creamy Gorgonzola.

The hamburger steaks are thick, juicy, tender and ultra flavorful — even before the sauce is added. Customers can add extra toppings like grilled onions ($2), garlic chips ($1.90), grilled bacon ($3.90) and more.

Tsutsumi also recommends trying the eatery’s braised hamburg in mushroom demi-glace sauce. This option comes with the same side dishes as the original hamburger steak; choose from regular ($24.50) or large ($29.50) sizes. There’s also a keiki size ($12.50) that is served with potatoes, carrots, broccoli and pasta.

Marujuu also offers chicken steak ($17.90) — choose from yuzu pepper sauce, signature onion sauce or sweet garlic soy glaze — and rib-eye steak ($29.50 regular, $38.50 large).

“We marinate the chicken overnight so it’s very tender,” Tsutsumi says. “We use chicken thighs.”

The eatery will be open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. and from 5 to 10 p.m. for dinner (last call 9:15 p.m.) Wednesdays to Mondays (it’s closed on Tuesdays). Right now, it’s first come, first served; a reservation system may be set up in the future.

Open 11 a.m.-2:15 p.m., 5-10 p.m. (last call 9:15 p.m.) Wednesdays to Mondays

Marujuu Hawaii hamburger steak cross section 112225

<title>Japanese-style hamburger steak spot is opening in Kaimukī</title>

Marujuu Hawaiʻi — sister restaurant of Totoya, Tori Ton and Izakaya Tenkichi — is opening on Monday, Nov. 24 in the former Chubbies Hawaiʻi space in Kaimukī. The biz specializes in Japanese-style hamburger steaks that are delivered on sizzling platters to your table.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Sand dollars

Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

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Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Sand dollars

Authors

Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

More in Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

Gotta catch ‘em all — at Ala Moana Center: voices from Pokémon GO’s “Wild Area: Global” event

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