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Kady Pascual

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

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_Junyaa

<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: She go</title>

Today’s social media find comes from @_Junyaa, who might need a new ride.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: She go

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Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

 — a brand-new condo with 972 residential units and two, 44-story towers — is also home to a new food hall.

Located on the ground floor of the Liona Tower, 

 is celebrating its grand opening from 10 a.m. to midnight on Saturday, Jan. 17. The food hall is soft opening with limited hours (11 a.m. to 8 p.m.) from Jan. 9 to 16.

[{"type":"text","text":"The food hall features both indoor and outdoor seating."}]

The space features 12 locally owned restaurants, and offers customers a variety of local and international flavors. Not all of the vendors are open yet; some have limited menus for the soft opening.

Vendors include FEAST by Jon Matsubara, King Thai Cuisine, Mangiamo Gelato, Middle Eats, Ninja Sushi, Sadie’s BBQ Honolulu, Serg’s Mexican Kitchen, Soul Chicken and more.

During today’s friends and family preview, participating vendors were serving samples and were open for business.

Serg’s Mexican Kitchen features the same menu as its Mānoa location. Meanwhile, the food hall is the first location for new vendors like Mangiamo Gelato.

On grand opening day, families are invited to enjoy keiki activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

To access Midtown Eats, customers can enter the parking garage from the building’s Liona Street entrance and park on floors 1 to 2.5. Validated parking will be available.

Midtown Eats interior 010826

<title>New Honolulu food hall is now open</title>

Midtown Eats, the new food hall at The Park on Keʻeaumoku, is celebrating its grand opening from 10 a.m. to midnight on Jan. 17. The food hall is soft opening during limited hours from Jan. 9 to 16. Aloha State Daily got a tour of the new space.

New Honolulu food hall is now open

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Aloha Spirit

Business & Tourism

, through its philanthropic arm The Sentry Insurance Foundation, started off the year with a $1 million donation dispersed among three Maui-based nonprofits: 

, the nationwide insurance company announced Tuesday.

the PGA Tour announced plans to cancel The Sentry tournament

, its title sponsorship event, held at Kapalua Plantation Golf Course. The Sentry, held each year since 1999, was called off in 2026 due to drought conditions that left the course unplayable, 

Aloha State Daily reported in September 2025

. At the time of the announcement, Kapalua Resort estimated that the tournament generates nearly $50 million for Maui’s economy annually.

“The relationships we’ve built in Maui continue to guide how we support this community in thoughtful and appropriate ways,” said Pete McPartland, Sentry Chairman and CEO, in a statement about the recent donation. “We admire the resilience of the Maui community but also recognize that needs remain high as rebuilding continues. We know these three organizations are well-equipped to help the community move forward — because we’ve watched their dedication up close for many years.”

Maui United Way was awarded $500,000 “to provide continued support to the Sentry Mālama Nā Keiki initiative, launched in 2023 following the wildfires, to provide trauma- informed mental health services for children and families,” the company noted.

To date, the initiative has assisted more than 7,690 children and families through services such as counseling, stress management, cultural training and community events. As of November 2023, Sentry has contributed $2.5 million toward this effort.

“Through the Sentry Mālama Nā Keiki initiative, we have seen firsthand how targeted, trauma-informed care can support our community’s healing and resilience,” said Maui United Way CEO Jeeyun Lee CEO in a statement. “This new funding will allow us to continue to reach more children and families while also strengthening and sustaining the local providers who serve them, helping prevent burnout, build skills and ensure a more resilient Maui County.”

u Kukui and Maui Food Bank received $250,000 each from Sentry.

Kainoa Pestana, conservation manager of Pu

u Kukui Watershed said in a statement that the donation allows the organization “to accelerate our work” of helping restore Native Hawaiian forests and ecosystems.

Maui Food Bank CEO Lisa Paulson said, “This gift will help us provide safe, nutritious food and hope to thousands of families across Maui who are at risk of going hungry."

Another significant donation following the news of The Sentry’s cancellation came in November 2025 from Tadashi Yanai, owner of Kapalua Golf, who donated $750,000 to 10 Maui nonprofits.

Despite losing The Sentry in 2026, Hawai‘i will still host the 

, scheduled for Jan. 12-18, at Waialae Country Club to begin the PGA Tour season.

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Corporate Maui donation 20260106 8

<title>Sentry gifts $1M to Maui nonprofits</title>

Three local nonprofits benefited from The Sentry Insurance Foundation’s donation on Tuesday.

Sentry gifts $1M to Maui nonprofits

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

Downtown Art Center has entered into a five-year contract with the City and County of Honolulu to continue use of space on Nuʻuanu Avenue, according to representatives of the nonprofit, which operates a gallery, classroom space and gift shop in the Chinatown/Downtown area.

The agreement, signed Friday, Dec. 12, follows a five-year period in which DAC had month-to-month contracts.

DAC is located at 1041 Nuʻuanu Ave, on the second floor of Chinatown Gateway Plaza, above the Downtown Satellite City Hall.

“This moment is deeply meaningful,” said DAC Executive Director Sandra Pohl in a written statement. “Not only does it affirm the work we’ve built together as a community, it honors a dream that began decades ago.”

The signing coincides with the anniversary of the death of her husband, 

, an artist who had the vision to create a gallery and place for arts education in the Chinatown/Downtown area, the nonprofit said, adding that DAC manages a collection of his art.

The Hawaiʻi Handweaver’s Hui and Hawaiʻi Arts Alliance have physical residence at DAC. Other nonprofits that collaborate with DAC include Hawaiʻi Craftsmen, Hawaiʻi Watercolor Society, Hawaiʻi Potters Guild, Pastel Artists of Hawaiʻi, Glass Fusion Collective, Honolulu Printmakers and Pacific New Media Foundation.

In January, DAC is offering several art experiences including: 

, an artist-run uninstructed drawing period with live models ($15 per session). 

Upcoming gallery exhibits at DAC include the 

“Honouliuli National Historic Site 10th Anniversary Exhibition,”

which commemorates the largest and longest run WWII prisoner of war camp in Hawaiʻi (Jan. 2-17); the 

“18th Annual Exhibition of Korea Culture Design Council”

“Go Figure 2026: Figures & Portraits from Hawaiʻi’s Artists”

 displayed more than 20 paintings at DAC as part of “Kintsugi Joy,” an exhibit focused on the Japanese art of mending broken pottery with gold.

DAC’s gallery and gift shop are open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except Monday. 

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Downtown Art Center

<title>Downtown Art Center signs five-year deal</title>

A nonprofit that offers exhibit space, classrooms for arts education and a gift shop with local artwork just signed a deal with the City and County of Honolulu to continue its work in the Chinatown/Downtown area for the next few years.

Downtown Art Center signs five-year deal

[{"type":"text","text":"There’s a new all-you-can-eat sushi spot in Honolulu."}]

Sumo AYCE Sushi recently opened in Azure Ala Moana. It’s located in the former space of Debu (the new restaurant sign isn't up yet). The all-you-can-eat experience costs $26.95 per person during lunch (Mondays to Thursdays) and $36.95 for the all-day menu.

The eatery is originally from Las Vegas; this is its first Hawai

i store. Since it’s in its soft opening, only walk-ins are accepted (no reservations).

The restaurant is currently open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. (last seating at 9 p.m.; last call for the kitchen is at 9:45 p.m.). There’s a 90-minute time limit for the all-you-can-eat experience. If customers leave leftover rice, they will be charged.

Customers also have the option to order a la carte, if they don’t feel like doing AYCE. All members of the same dining party must choose the same experience (either all-you-can-eat or a la carte). 

The menu features a variety of nigiri, appetizers, sushi rolls and all-day specials like salmon carpaccio, lobster garlic bread, poke nachos and more.

On the AYCE menu, certain dishes — like uni nigiri, ama ebi nigiri and salmon cut center steak — can only be ordered once.

Recommended appetizers include KFC — Korean fried chicken with Korean sweet and spicy sauce — chicken karaage and crispy rice. The latter features crispy rice topped with spicy tuna, jalapeno, garlic ponzu, spicy mayo and eel sauce.

Popular nigiri so far include seared salmon and yuzu yellowtail nigiri. Classic nigiri options include tuna, shrimp, yellowtail and more.

Choose from unique options like corn cheese garlic bread, bulgogi garlic bread and lobster garlic bread. The latter features soft garlic bread topped with crab, lobster, mozzarella cheese, eel sauce, spicy mayo and scallions.

While filling up on carbs is not usually recommended for AYCE experiences, these breads are trying at least once and are easy to share.

Customers can choose from a variety of four-piece and eight-piece sushi rolls; there are more than 40 options. Popular options include the Chanel roll (shrimp tempura, spicy crab and avocado topped with tuna and salmon); Lisa Lisa roll (shrimp tempura, avocado, crab and cream cheese topped with tempura crunch and eel sauce); and the lemon salmon roll (crab and avocado topped with salmon, lemon and ponzu).

End with desserts like honeydew or ube Melona bars, or vanilla mochi ice cream.

Customer parking is available at Azure Ala Moana; look for the designated retail parking stalls within the structure.

Open daily, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. (last seating at 9 p.m.)

Sumo AYCE Sushi dinner spread 122925

<title>New all-you-can-eat sushi spot opens in Honolulu</title>

Sumo AYCE Sushi just opened in Azure Ala Moana. The eatery — originally from Las Vegas — offers an extensive all-you-can-eat menu, along with an a la carte menu.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: She go

Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

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Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

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