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Kady Pascual

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

I think we all get thrown off when our routine hits a snag.

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Haus Of Puas off script

<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Creatures of habit</title>

Today’s social media find comes from @HausOfPuas, in an atypical situation.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Creatures of habit

I think we all get thrown off when our routine hits a snag.  Make sure you follow @HausOfPuas on Instagram! For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up here for our free Daily Edition newsletter!

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Stephanie Salmons

Real Estate

 has acquired three contiguous properties along the Kapi‘olani corridor for a combined price of $36 million.

The parcels, which total about 1.3 acres, are located at 1322, 1338 and 1356 Kapi‘olani Boulevard.

“This acquisition reflects our long-term vision for the Kapi‘olani corridor as a vibrant, high-density neighborhood within the Ala Moana neighborhood,” Tim Lee, CEO of JL Capital said in an announcement Friday. “With this site, we’re excited to continue shaping and improving the existing corridor with a thoughtfully planned and connected project that will elevate the experience of living in urban Honolulu.”

Details on a project scope and timeline will be announced as plans progress, the announcement noted.

Lee told Aloha State Daily via email that the parcels "presented a rare opportunity to secure a sizable, contiguous footprint in one of Honolulu’s most well-connected and visible urban corridors."

Their location makes the properties "exceptionally well-suited for a future project that supports the area’s evolving mix of residential, commercial and transit-oriented uses," he says.

"Another advantage of the Kapi’olani corridor is the potential for excellent ocean views due to the open sightlines over Ala Moana Center and surrounding mid-rise structures."

 last sold in August 2022 for $6.85 million. Meanwhile, 

 sold for a bit more than $10.7 million in September of that same year — a total sale price of nearly $38 million. Hoaka Heights, LLC was the fee holder for all three parcels, according to the records, which don't appear to have been updated since the JL Capital acquisition.

"We see the Kapi‘olani corridor as one of Honolulu’s most dynamic areas of growth, connecting Ala Moana, Waikīkī and Downtown with access to retail, recreation and emerging transit infrastructure," Lee told ASD when asked about the developer's focus on the area. "It's a natural location for thoughtfully designed projects that align with the city’s long-term vision for a walkable, connected urban core. Our investments here are part of a long-term vision." 

JL Capital, a real estate and private equity firm founded in 2017, has completed or initiated a number of major projects in Honolulu's Ala Moana neighborhood and along the Kapi‘olani corridor in recent years, Lee says.

, a $507 million mixed-use twin tower condominium and hotel at 1388 Kapi‘olani Blvd. 

Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa, a Marriott brand

, the developer's planned luxury high-rise at 1538 Kapi‘olani Blvd. 

. Lee says construction on this project is slated to start in 2026.

, an adaptive reuse project that will convert a five-story former office building at 

 into affordable rental apartments. A ground-up project at 

 will create another 37 affordable units.

"Each project serves a different market need — ranging from affordable rentals to hospitality and market-rate ownership — and collectively, they contribute to the emergence of a 'neighborhood within the neighborhood,'" Lee says.

In June, it also was announced that JL Capital 

 in Tournet Hawai‘i Inc., a travel and transportation agency focused on the Korea-Hawai‘i market.

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Kapiolani jl capital 101025

<title>JL Capital buys Kapi‘olani Boulevard properties</title>

The three parcels, which total about 1.3 acres, are located at 1322, 1338 and 1356 Kapi‘olani Boulevard.

JL Capital buys Kapi‘olani Boulevard properties

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Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

Broadway’s Tony Award-winning “Chicago The Musical” is headed to Honolulu for one week in December. Broadway in Hawaiʻi will present eight performances Dec. 2 through Dec. 7.

Set amid the decadence of the 1920s, the musical tells the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and night club dancer who murders her lover after he threatens to leave her. She hires a criminal lawyer to transform the crime into sensational headlines to mislead the public and her rival cell mate, Velma Kelly.

The book is by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music is by John Kander and lyrics are by Fred Ebb. 

, including ones for actor, actress, choreographer, director, lighting designer and revival of a musical. 

Performances in Honolulu take place on six days:

This tour will be directed by David Hyslop. Choreography is by Gregory Butler, based on the original direction by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie and original choreography by Tony Award winner Ann Reinking. The musical also features scenic design by Tony Award winner John Lee Beatty, costume design by Tony Award winner William Ivey Long, lighting design by Tony Award winner Ken Billington, sound design by Scott Lehrer, Supervising Music Director Robert Billig and casting by ARC. The band will be led by Music Director and Conductor Andy Chen.

Broadway in Hawaiʻi presents touring Broadway Productions at the 

 Previous shows included “Wicked,” “Les Misérables,” “Hamilton,” 

 “Cats” and more. Broadway in Hawaiʻi is managed by MagicSpace Entertainment.

 for “Chicago The Musical” start at $50.

Ellie Roddy plays Roxie Hart

<title>Broadway in Hawaiʻi presents “Chicago The Musical”</title>

The Tony Award-winning musical is in Honolulu for eight performances in early December. Learn the cast, show times and production team.

Broadway in Hawaiʻi presents “Chicago The Musical”

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

[{"type":"text","text":"A new food court just opened in the Liliha neighborhood."}]

Liliha Food Court recently opened in the former space of Foodland Liliha on School Street. Right now, the food court is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays to Fridays. Hours will be extended in November.

The space — which includes seating for customers — currently features five local food vendors, but we’re told more (a bakery and a sushi spot) will be coming soon.

[{"type":"text","text":"Here’s what you can find:"}]

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Desserts from Tiny Pyramid Express"}]

Tiny Pyramid is known for its French pastries; this express location features some of the shop’s most popular desserts, including chocolate peanut butter ($6.50), citrus tart ($6.95) and, of course, its chocolate pyramid ($7.85).

This express location also offers sandwiches ($9.99), pizzas ($8.99-$12.99), and pastas ($12.99).

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Build-your-own poke bowls from Mermaid Poke"}]

Mermaid Poke comes from the team behind Osoyami Grill and Bar and Noods Ramen Bar. The biz offers build-your-own poke bowls and poke nachos (called ‘ahi pokechos).

Poke bowls feature white rice topped with one ($15) or two ($18) poke flavors. Both include two sides.

Choose from unique poke flavors like yellow curry aioli ‘ahi poke, kimchi ‘ahi poke, truffle ponzu ‘ahi poke and more. Sides include crab salad, cucumber, seaweed salad, takuan, pickled ginger and more. You can also add free toppings like furikake, garlic chips, fried onions and masago arare.

The business’s ‘ahi pokechos ($18), or poke nachos, feature spicy or shoyu ‘ahi and kabayaki glaze, furikake and green onions.

Burritos, bowls, tacos and more from Jalapeno’s Authentic Mexican Food

Jalapeno’s Authentic Mexican Food — which has a storefront in Kailua — offers burritos, bowls, tortas, tacos and quesadillas with a variety of proteins. Meats range from chicken and carnitas to asada (steak) and shredded beef birria.

The three quesabirria tacos and consommé ($21.75) is one of the most popular options. You can add cilantro, onions and lime to the consommé to enhance its flavor. You can also opt for additional toppings on your tacos, ranging from lettuce and cheese to corn and jalapenos.

The biz also offers guacamole and chips ($10.50), nachos ($18.50) and loaded fiesta fries ($19.50).

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Homemade Italian dishes from Nonnas Hawaiʻi"}]

Family-owned and -operated Nonnas Hawaiʻi features homemade Italian dishes. Its Italian cocktails will be available soon; the business is still waiting to receive its liquor license.

Right now, a limited menu is available, including ballconi ($13) and mini minestrone shooters ($6). The eatery will eventually offer Mediterranean salads ($9) and build-your-own charcuterie boards ($25).

The ballconi ($13) is a unique option, as it features beef meatballs in a crispy parmesan cone. It’s topped with housemade sauce and Pecorino Romano.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Local favorites from Dave’s Ice Cream"}]

This location is operated by Dave’s Ice Cream Waipio. Choose from a variety of desserts, ranging from ice cream scoops ($4.99-$8.99) and soda floats ($5.99) to milkshakes and ($8.99-$10.49) and sundaes. Sundaes run the gamut from single scoop options ($7.49) to brownie sundaes ($10.99) and strawberry shortcake sundaes ($14).

This location also features a Dubai-inspired menu with treats like Dubai cheesecakes ($15) and Dubai sundaes ($15). 

Liliha Food Court spread 100925

<title>New Liliha Food Court is now open</title>

The food court, located in the former space of Foodland Liliha, features a variety of local vendors. Food options range from poke bowls and ice cream to quesabirria tacos, and Italian meatballs.

New Liliha Food Court is now open

Aloha Spirit

, is an ʻukulele virtouso who started her career entertaining tourists on the streets of Waikīkī. Today, she is known for her bold performances which meld together classical music, flamenco, metal and rock in ways that are sometimes meditative and other times sultry. Her instruments are the ʻukulele and her ethereal voice. And now, the Nā Hōkū Hanohano-award-winning musician — whose name means “diamond” in Samoan — is releasing new music.

“I'm coming out with a new song called ʻP

kake Princess,’ coming out October 10, and this song was inspired by Princess Kaʻiulani and our similarities,” she told Aloha State Daily.

On Thursday, Oct. 16, Gardner will perform the song, which was commissioned by Outrigger Waikīkī Paradise Hotel, as part of a celebration of Princess Kaʻiulani’s 150th birthday, honoring the place she called home, ‘Āinahau, in Waikīkī. 

 starts at 5 p.m. and features a lei draping ceremony, performances from 

, flowers by Ocean Dreamer Floral Artistry Hawaiʻi and a market featuring local vendors from Art + Flea.

, including ones for entertainer of the year, instrumental composition of the year and instrumental album of the year. She also performed for National Public Radio’s series Tiny Desk Concert, and the video has 1.7 million views. Recently, she was an artist-in-residence at 

Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design

She can play classical favorites such as “Carmen” with the 

 at Hawaiʻi Theatre and the national anthem at a men’s volleyball game at the University of Hawaiʻi. Sometimes, she even combines genres in a single song.

“What inspires my mash-up medleys with the classical music and the metal and the classic rock is I love listening to those types of music,” she said. “The ʻukulele would just so happen to be the instrument that I use to express myself, which makes it even more cool and unique.”

After getting the request to write a song for Princess Kaʻiulani, Gardner “immediately went into research mode,” she wrote on social media.

“They asked me to create a song for her, but if she were Gen Z, if she were Millennial,” Gardner said. “I thought that concept was so cool, so I created the song ʻPīkake Princess.’ But I also wanted it to be about the similarities between us, because I didn't want to try and pretend to be her, because I'm not her. I found similarities that were true about both of us. And that's how the song ʻPikake Princess’ came about.”

Gardner went to the Bishop Museum, which features some of Princess Kaʻiulani’s things, to get inspiration.

“I really wanted to get a feel for her and her story,” she said. “And then as I was writing and researching, I realized how many similarities that we had. She was a world traveler. She spent a lot of time in Europe. She played music. And she also was half caucasian, half Polynesian, and so I really connected with that. And I think the most important thing that was important to both of us, is really just to make Hawaiʻi proud. We're just local girls. There’s one little lyric that I love. It's: ʻWe're women of the world, but we're also coconut girls.’ ’’

 recently returned from an approximately month-long tour in Europe, where she completed 12 concerts in 

 Italy, Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

“The thing that I love about performing live in different areas of the world is their reactions are very different,” she said. “For example, in America, they love covers. They love music that they already know, and they can hear it in a fresh way. Europe loves originals. They love to hear the artist's heart, which is a really refreshing and great feeling too.”

 also wrote the music for the independent movie 

 which was filmed in Hilo and named the best breakout feature at the 

 in 2024. In September, that movie screened in theaters on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island and Maui. To write the soundtrack, she watched the visuals and created the score to go with it, she said.

“I perform live which is very extroverted, but then I also do music for films, as well, which is very introverted,” she said. “Being in the recording studio, it's very intimate, quiet, sterile, compared to a loud event.”

Gardner got her start performing on the streets of Waikīkī, which taught her how to respond to crowds. She was mentored by Don Ho and took ʻukulele lessons from 

“I think I was around 12 years old, back in the day, and that was a really good way for me to hone my skills — to see what people liked,” she said. “Because you got to remember, these people are walking. They're going somewhere. So what captures their attention? It's a great way to practice.”

While she may appear extroverted on stage, Gardner is not.

“Secretly, I'm an introvert,” she said. “There's an aspect of performing, which I love, but I definitely feel like I need to reset my batteries after. It's a lot of energy out, and I am an introvert, so my way to refresh my batteries is actually I take a bath, and it’s kind of weird, but I turn the lights off, and I just like to be in my little bathtub.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Her love of music came early."}]

“My dad gave me my very first ʻukulele when I was five, and I pretended to be a rock star, j

ust playing in front of the mirror until I broke a string,

” Gardner said. “My dad got me into some classes, and from then on, I just loved performing.”

Taimane Gardner

<title>Taimane Gardner releases new song, “Pīkake Princess”</title>

As a kid, she got an ʻukulele and pretended to be a rock star. Today, she actually is one. The ʻukulele virtuoso who hails from ʻĀina Haina can play classics from the opera “Carmen” and rock music by Led Zeppelin. She also writes her own music inspired by the Islands she calls home. Her newest song, “Pīkake Princess” releases today.

Taimane Gardner releases new song, “Pīkake Princess”

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ASD Staff

Hawai'i Skies

Today's Hawai'i Skies was captured by Leeny Rellamas at Three Tables, North Shore. "The sunsets here are always spectacular. Makes you appreciate the beautiful creation. The water here is so clean compared to other beaches."

To submit your Hawai'i Skies photo, visit us 

HAWAII SKIES LEENY RELLAMAS

<title>Hawai'i Skies: A beautiful creation</title>

Today's Hawai'i Skies was captured by Leeny Rellamas at Three Tables, North Shore.

Hawai'i Skies: A beautiful creation

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Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

 throughout much of the state, only one plan to extract freshwater from the ocean remains active.

Three separate desalination projects have been proposed on different islands over the last decade. But of those three, only one is still being developed, while another project has ended and the third never really began.

Pūlama Lāna‘i, the land management company established in 2012 by the island’s owner Larry Ellison, had plans to develop a desalination plant on the island in order to support greater housing developments on the island. Maui County planning records 

 that the facility, a 15-acre plant located near Manele Golf Course on the island’s southern coast, would be able to provide 5 million gallons of freshwater per day.

However, by 2015, those plans stalled, after the Lāna‘i Planning Commission only granted Pūlama Lāna‘i a 15-year permit for the facility, rather than a 30-year one as initially requested.

 from Planning Commission meetings in 2014 show skepticism from commissioners and residents about the project, including concerns about the health of the island’s aquifer, which was already overextended at the time, and the potential for a failure at the plant to compromise the island’s primary water source.

 in 2015 suggested that Pūlama Lāna‘i still intended to develop a desalination plant, but as of 2025, no such plans have materialized.

Two other desalination projects have produced more tangible results. In 2018, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded $1.9 million to the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai‘i Authority to develop a prototype solar-powered desalination facility in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island.

That facility was reportedly successful, with project partner Trevi Systems 

 in 2024 that the facility could produce 500 cubic meters — about 132,000 gallons — of fresh water per day without reliance on an external energy grid.

However, the NELHA facility was a test project only that 

 between June 2022 and September 2023. While the project paved the way for larger-scale renewable desalination facilities in the future, none have so far been proposed for Hawai‘i.

The third facility, planned on O‘ahu, is gradually moving toward reality. The Kalaeloa Seawater Desalination Facility is planned for construction at Campbell Industrial Park, with a proposed yield of 1.7 million gallons of water per day.

, Honolulu County consumed nearly 45 billion gallons of water between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024, averaging out to about 123 million gallons per day.

While construction has not yet started on the $204 million Kalaeloa facility — which is scheduled to go online in 2027 — the bureaucratic process continues apace. According to a project 

, the Honolulu Board of Water Supply approved in May a test report that concluded that the water produced by the facility will not cause any detrimental impact to customer pipes or existing water infrastructure.

Aloha State Daily reached out to the Board of Water Supply, NELHA and Pūlama Lāna‘i for comment.

Kona1 0 16x9

<title>Still salty: Only one desalination project in Hawai‘i still alive</title>

The ongoing legal battle over water on Maui amid drought conditions had us wondering — we're surrounded by water, could desalination help ease Hawai‘i's water woes? Here's what we've learned about three desalination projects in the Islands.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Creatures of habit

Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

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Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Creatures of habit

Authors

Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

More in Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Dreams do come true

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Going big

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Take a trip

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Too busy vibing

Most read