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Kady Pascual

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

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<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Running late</title>

Today’s social media find comes from @Stan_Biz4Yu, who needs to work on time management.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Running late

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Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

i scones. Honey mac nut buns. These are just some of the pastries you’ll find at recently opened 

The bakery is owned by three friends who wanted to open a spot for their community, according to one of the co-founders, Adriana Rodriguez.

“Oddly enough, none of us started out as bakers,” Rodriguez says. “Our general manager started with us back in September and has learned how to make everything.”

Rodriguez — who owns the café with Erik Lobner and Ky Soltes — says that Lobner still works as a chef as The Club at Hōkūli

“Myself and Erik are both savory chefs,” she says. “We will (soon) start offering breakfast and lunch.”

The bakery originally started by renting kitchens and delivering wholesale to various coffee shops in Kona. They were invited to be a vendor at farmers markets, and “the response was overwhelming,” according to Rodriguez, who says the team took their time looking for storefront spaces in Kona. The business was originally supposed to open a shop in Captain Cook, but when things didn’t work out, “just when we were about to give up, we found this space,” Rodriguez says.

“It was an old bakery that never really opened their doors,” she says. “I reached out to the landlord and brought pastries by for weeks until they said yes. The building was basically turnkey, so we were really lucky.

“My family flew out from California to help remodel the space, and we were able to open in less than three months,” she adds.

The bakery’s original concept was doing pastries and coffee — something fast that people could grab on their way to work, according to Rodriguez.

“We wanted people to start their day with us,” she says. “Lele means ‘to start, to jump or to burst forth.’ I know everyone thinks Kona is a sleepy town, but trust me, it’s alive and bustling in the early morning hours. There’s so many people commuting from across the island; there’s something magical about it.” 

The bakery offers a variety of sweet and savory pastries, ranging from scones ($5) and muffins ($5) to malasadas ($5) and brioche buns ($8). The business’s huge cinnamon rolls, ube crinkle cookies and scones are some of the most popular treats. (I’m partial to its soft, chewy brown butter triple chocolate cookies).

“I love our savory scones; they have jalapeno, bacon, and cheddar, and are drizzled with local honey,” Rodriguez says.

While the bakery is officially open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays to Mondays (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays), pastries start coming out of the oven at 7 a.m. — and customers are welcome to stop by if they see anything out on display, according to Rodriguez.

[{"type":"text","text":"“Nothing beats a warm pastry, right?” she says."}]

As a small neighborhood bakery, Lele’s prides itself on making everything in house from scratch. They buy as many local and organic ingredients as possible, according to Rodriguez, who says the bakery is closed on Tuesdays so they can drive to Waimea to pick up produce from Kekela Farms.

“I source our fruit locally — usually what is ripest — and I make a batch of jam for the week,” she says. “We use that for our brioche morning buns and malasada fillings.”

After the bakery starts its breakfast and lunch menus, it will add on dinner service as well. Follow the biz on Instagram for updates.

“About two years ago, Erik was really sick and we had to shut down operations,” Rodriguez recalls. “I had people all over the Big Island that we didn’t even know, offering to help in any way they could. It was a very humbling experience; we will never forget it. We wanted to open something for all those people — a love letter and ‘thank you’ to our community.”

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Open 8 a.m.-3 p.m. (or until sold out) Thursdays- Mondays

Leles Bakery owners 091225

<title>Lele’s Bakery is a “love letter” to its community</title>

Opened by three friends, Lele’s Bakery is a neighborhood spot that features made-from-scratch pastries using high-quality, locally sourced ingredients.

Lele’s Bakery is a “love letter” to its community

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

Crime & Courts

 on Saturday, Sept. 13, drew thousands to Waikīkī. The event was a one-night-only tribute to George Brooks Veikoso, known as 

, who died in July. Tickets to the event were free and 

Fiji was known for his island/reggae music and lived in Hawai’i as a teenager, according to Spotify, where he has more than 975,000 monthly listeners.

 were expected to attend the event, according to city officials. 

The Honolulu Police Department made no arrests “despite the unprecedented crowd size," the agency shared. It did tow 30 vehicles, according to representatives of HPD. The department declined to share how many officers were present at the event, which also had more than 150 private security, according to organizers.

The tribute had planned performances from Common Kings, Maoli, The Green, Sammy J, 

, Ekolu, Josh Tatofi, Mana’o Company, Three Plus, Rebel Souljahz, Siaosi, Irie Love, Spawnbreezie, Hot Rain, Na Drua, Peni Dean, Damon, Loleka, Jeff Rasmussen, H Dawg, Bet, Westafa, Sean Na’auao, Na Wai, Hawaiian Style Band, Ilona Irvine, Finn, Johnny Suite and more, according to the event’s website.

The event was hosted by Davey D, Lina Girl, Big Koa, BigBodyCisco, and Mikey Monis.

It was livestreamed to more than a quarter of a million viewers, according to YouTube. As of Monday, Sept. 15, the concert had 

In honor of the occasion, Rick Blangiardi, the mayor of the City and County of Honolulu declared May 10, Fiji’s birthday, as "George Veikoso Day." 

Gov. Josh Green declared Sept. 13, 2025, the day of the concert, as “Fiji Day” in a proclamation describing him a “pioneer of Pacific Island sound” and “affectionately called the ʻKing of Island Reggae.’” The proclamation also recognized his 10 solo albums and awards that include the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for Male Vocalist of the Year in 1998 and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pacific Music Awards in 2021.

The City and County of Honolulu had multiple departments working on the event. The Department of Enterprise Services oversees the 

, where performers took the stage. Just outside, community members could also get ticketed access to see the show via a large screen inside Kapi’olani Regional Park, which falls under the jurisdiction of Department of Parks and Recreation.   

The event included a flower drop, where a helicopter released petals on the crowd below.

“That was a really iconic and beautiful part of the event,” Kainoa Enos, public information officer for the Department of Enterprise Services, told Aloha State Daily. “It was really, really beautiful.”

Enos shared the department’s event debrief was scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 17. 

"For the Fiji concert, the park was left in good shape after the show, and operationally the event went smoothly from our perspective," shared Nate Serota, with the Department of Parks and Recreation. "People started arriving in the park that morning for the show."

Fiji Tribute concert

<title>'No arrests' in Fiji Tribute concert, HPD says</title>

Aloha State Daily reached out to several city departments, including the Honolulu Police Department and those overseeing the Tom Moffatt Waikīkī Shell and Kapi’olani Regional Park, which each hosted events for ticket holders.

'No arrests' in Fiji Tribute concert, HPD says

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Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

A conference this month aims to offer local insights on workforce trends, provide updates on Hawai‘i's economic future and recognize people driving innovation across the Islands.

Future of Work 2026: County Voices, Statewide Vision will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24, at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i, 2454 S. Beretania St. in Honolulu.

It's a partnership between the Hawai‘i Workforce Development Council, Chamber of Commerce Hawai‘i and AE Consulting. Tickets for the third annual Future of Work conference are still available and registration is open until Monday, Sept. 22. Cost for general admission is $125 and includes a light breakfast, buffet lunch and parking. 

"The aim of the conference is really to think about the fact that Hawai‘i's workforce is in a pivotal moment," Vanessa Rogers, vice president of workforce development for the chamber, told Aloha State Daily. "We know that across sectors, folks are facing talent shortages, there's challenges around rising cost of living, and a big challenge is the brain drain and making sure that we're keeping 

"The conference, its impetus, was really to provide a shared space for employers, educators, policy makers, community leaders, to all come together and to lift up the challenges, lift up the successes and then align on solutions," she continued. "The goal is really to move beyond just discussion and to create a space where we can identify some collective action that will strengthen the local talent pipelines and create more resilient future-facing job opportunities."

[{"type":"text","text":"Rogers says that each year, the conference has had a different focus."}]

The inaugural conference looked at the top seven employment sectors and brought in a leader from each to present on trends, challenges and opportunities in those areas, and featured an economic overview from economist Paul Brewbaker, she noted. The second conference focused on private-public partnerships and the pathway from education to career, spotlighting the chamber's sector partnerships.

[{"type":"text","text":"This year, Rogers says the focus will be county-by-county insights."}]

"We're bringing county leaders to talk about some of their unique challenges and solutions that will lead up to the overall statewide vision," she says, noting that the chamber's role in the event "is really helping to craft the agenda, identify some of those key speakers, plan the logistics of the event and heavily promote it through our networks."

The agenda this year includes a keynote on Hawai‘i's economic future from 

 and Oceanit CEO Patrick Sullivan, county presentations and Voices of the Future student panel.

"As we continue to evolve, we want to make sure that we are including a wide range of audiences, and also to note that there are key differences in workforce challenges across the counties," Rogers says of this year's focus. "The challenges that rise up on Oʻahu are not the same ones as on the Big Island or on Maui. We wanted an opportunity to really uplift what all of those unique challenges were and learn best practices around how to address some of those challenges from what's happening and what's going well in some of the counties. Then really having that larger focus on what's the statewide vision, what are the similarities and differences in the approaches that we take per county in order to fulfill the overall vision for the state around workforce."

The Hawai‘i Workforce Development Council also will recognize recipients of the third annual Workforce Development Hero Awards at the conference. The awards honor "key contributors to workforce excellence across the Islands, 

acknowledging their dedication and innovation in advancing employment opportunities and skill development in Hawaiʻi,

" the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations said in an 

[{"type":"text","text":"The 2025 winners are:"}]

Dan Doerger, executive director, Pacific Center for Advanced Technology Training,

and Julie Morikawa, founder and president, ClimbHI, on O‘ahu; Katie Taladay, director of workforce development, Maui Economic Development Board, on Maui; Jackie Kaina, executive director, Kauaʻi Economic Development Board on Kaua‘i; Clinton Mercado, executive director, Hawaiʻi Workforce Development Board on Hawai‘i Island; and recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Daniel Iaela with Hawaiian Council (

formerly the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement

“Each of this year’s Workforce Development Heroes has gone above and beyond in creating pathways to opportunity,” Workforce Development Council Executive Director Bennette Misalucha said in thar announcement. “Their efforts have empowered individuals, strengthened communities and contributed to the overall resilience and competitiveness of Hawaiʻi’s workforce.”

[{"type":"text","text":"Finalists will also be recognized."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Future of Work 2026: County Voices, Statewide Vision"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"When: 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24"}]

egistration is open until Monday, Sept. 22. Cost is $125. 

Future of work

<title>Explore the 'Future of Work' in Hawai‘i at upcoming conference</title>

A partnership between the Hawai‘i Workforce Development Council, Chamber of Commerce Hawai‘i and AE Consulting, Future of Work 2026: County Voices, Statewide Vision is planned for Sept. 24.

Explore the 'Future of Work' in Hawai‘i at upcoming conference

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

, a new open-air restaurant and bar overlooking Kahului Bay at 

, will hold its grand opening — complete with tropical cocktails and pūpū, local entertainment, lei-making and more — on Tuesday, Sept. 16.

, Hampton Inn & Suites Maui North Shore first welcomed guests in May. The 136-room hotel property sits on the historic site of the former Maui Palms Hotel, which operated between 1950-1990 and was demolished by 2002, 

“The Palms Bar & Bites pays tribute to the former Maui Palms Hotel while bringing a fresh, modern feel to the space,” 

, area general manager of Hampton Inn & Suites Maui North Shore, told Aloha State Daily by email. “The name honors the property’s history, and the restaurant reimagines it as a relaxed, open-air spot where guests can enjoy island flavors and ocean views.”

The property offers traditional Hawaiian experiences for guests, including a Sunset Ceremony and Oshibori, a daily essential oil-infused towel ritual, according to the hotel. As for amenities, “Guests can relax at the ocean-facing pool, take advantage of the modern fitness center, and enjoy pet-friendly guestrooms, daily breakfast, and complimentary beach amenities such as beach chairs, towels and umbrellas.”

Open for lunch and dinner daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., the restaurant features light bites, tropical cocktails and shareable plates including steak and seafood dishes like coconut shrimp with sweet chili-pineapple dipping sauce, housemade furikake chips, poke bowls and loco moco.

The Palms Bar & Bites' happy hour runs daily from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., featuring $6 draft beers, $12 cocktails 

 from rum classics like The Palms Mai Tai and Blue Hawaiian to innovative concoctions called That’s My Jam and Tequila Mockingbird 

 and $4 off all food items. Keiki food options are also available. Local residents can enjoy 10% off food, the hotel notes.

who has managed properties across the Hawaiian Islands for more than a decade 

 more about how business is going, lessons learned so far, and what he’s most excited about for the debut of this restaurant.

How has business been since you opened earlier this year? Who are your guests, and what’s been their feedback? 

Hampton Inn & Suites Maui North Shore officially opened in April 2025, and it’s been an exciting first season. We’ve welcomed a mix of travelers, from couples and families to solo adventurers. Guest feedback has been incredibly positive, with many complementing our oceanfront location and views, and signature Hawaiian traditions like our nightly sunset ceremony and cultural programming.

Why is now the right time to open this restaurant? Who designed/built out the space?

 We’re excited to officially open The Palms Bar & Bites, which feels like the final touch in bringing the Hampton Inn & Suites Maui North Shore project to life. With the high season for travel winding down, we’ve been bringing in a lot of locals, so it's been fun to share this with the community. 

Local cultural advisors played a key role in shaping the space, ensuring it honors the community’s heritage and provides a memorable guest experience.

What is your favorite item on the menu, and what do you like about it? 

The poke bowl brings together fresh, vibrant flavors on one plate, offering a satisfying balance of taste and presentation. 

How many local jobs has the hotel created? Are you still hiring for any key positions? How does the restaurant’s team source ingredients and/or how did they curated the menu offerings? 

Our team has grown to more than 50 positions across the hotel and restaurant, with hiring still underway for a Chief Engineer role. The majority of our ingredients are sourced locally, and while we don’t have a traditional executive chef, our menu was thoughtfully curated to celebrate fresh, regional flavors.

What have you been learning lately as a leader? 

As Mark Twain said, "The secret of getting ahead is getting started."

Maui Hampton Inn GM Serkan Hizliok 16x9

<title>Maui hotel GM talks new restaurant, business</title>

Serkan Hizliok, area general manager of Hampton Inn & Suites Maui North Shore, shares about The Palms Bar & Bitesʻ Sept. 16 opening — including who helped with the design/build and his favorite item on the menu — and how business has been for the new 136-room property on the shores of Kahului Bay.

Maui hotel GM talks new restaurant, business

Aloha Spirit

Dust off your cowboy boots and hat and bring your appetite, friends and ʻohana to 

Windward Community College’s Paniolo BBQ

, the fundraising event is slated from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20, at the college’s Great Lawn. It will feature live music from 

 and Hawaiʻi Loa, hula performances, a mechanical bull, petting zoo and horse rides, Texas Hold ‘Em, roping competitions and more. 

house band for Sheraton Moana Surfrider Hotel in Waikīkī, 

Hawaiʻi Loa is known for its slack key and steel guitar sound showcased in albums such “Aloha Is a Love” and “Hawaiian Memories”. 

‘Alewa in an up-and-coming group of musicians and dancers, "who are redefining mele and hula, blending deep-rooted tradition with bold new energy," the college said in a recent announcement.

The event is free to attend, though guests are invited to purchase BBQ meals fit for a paniolo ahead of time.

will include pulled pork, hulihuli chicken, sausage, cornbread, baked beans, corn on the cob, Mac salad, pickled vegetables, and a house mustard. Vegetarian plate lunches are also available. Proceeds will go toward scholarships and advancement, according to the college.

“Windward CC is so excited to bring our community together with ʻono food, music and fun to celebrate our history, our home and our future!” Chancellor Ardis Eschenburg said in a statement. “Bring your whole family and enjoy being part of our Koʻolau ʻohana!”

 will also be open from 1–5 p.m. with a new show, “Kuleana,” a group exhibition that runs through Dec. 12, that explores “history, politics, culture, identity and socio-economic realities that shape Hawaiʻi and its people,” 

“Recently, 'kuleana' has become a buzzword or stock phrase for many who use it. However, it is far more than a reference to responsibility or privilege,” said Gallery ʻIolani Director Kapulani Landgraf in an Aug. 18 statement. “It is about accountability, and the moral courage to right a wrong, no matter the consequence.”

Landgraf co-curated the exhibit with April A.H. Drexel in partnership with participating artists, the announcement noted.

Can’t make it to the upcoming pāʻina? 

 to donate to Windward Community College’s scholarship endowment fund as part of its 50th anniversary. The college aims to raise $1 million to support students now and for future generations.

Aloha State Daily reached out to WCC for comment. Additional coverage on The University of Hawai’i Foundation can be found 

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Alewa

<title>Windward Community College’s Paniolo BBQ fundraiser celebrates culture and community</title>

Supported by the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, the fundraising event is slated from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20, at the college’s Great Lawn, and will feature live music from ʻAlewa and Hawaiʻi Loa, a mechanical bull, petting zoo, Texas Hold 'Em, roping competitions and more. It is free to attend though pre-orders for BBQ meals are encouraged to help raise money for student scholarships at the college.

Windward Community College’s Paniolo BBQ fundraiser celebrates culture and community

Government & Politics

Real Estate

A new apartment opened last week in ‘Aiea, bringing 302 affordable rentals to the community.

Located across from Pearl Harbor, the 25-story Nāulu Apartments was developed through a public-private partnership led by California-based 

Ground broke on the complex in June 2023. At that time, it was called Hālawa View Apartments II, the second phase of Hālawa View Apartments, which was renovated in 2014.

But the journey to get here actually began when conceptual plans were developed around 2017, PDG President Joe Michael told Aloha State Daily in an emailed response to questions.

"After the entitlements were approved through the City and County, we applied for LIHTC [Low-Income Housing Tax Credits] from the state and were subsequently awarded in late 2019," he says. "Then Covid-19 hit and like many projects in the pipeline during the pandemic, our timeline was delayed. We were hit with construction cost increases, interest rate increases, permitting delays and tax credit pricing decreases (less equity into the deal). 

"However, once we had completed all that and finally broke ground, the construction proceeded quickly," Michael continued. "Our contractor, Nordic PCL, completed the project ahead of schedule and under budget. We utilized the savings to implement upgrades for the residents."

The $168 million project received financing from the Hawai‘i Housing Finance and Development Corp., the City and County of Honolulu and Bank of Hawai‘i, with LIHTC, "syndicated by Hunt Capital Partners through a proprietary fund with JP Morgan Chase," a recent announcement from the developer noted. The government financing requires that rents remain affordable for low-income households for at least 61 years.

Nāulu — designed by AHL — offers studio, one-, two- and four-bedroom units for households earning between 30% and 60% of the area median income, values that vary depending on household size.

Currently in the City and County of Honolulu, the income limit at 60% AMI is $63,840 for a single person, $72,960 for a couple and $91,200 for a four-person household. You can find the 

Rents, based on the 2024 U.S. Housing and Urban Development guidelines, will range from $704 for a studio for individuals at the 30% AMI level to $2,402 for a four-bedroom for those making 60% AMI, according to the announcement.

For its residents, Nāulu offers a fitness center, kids' club, study lounge for after-school programs, a multi-level sky lounge with views of Pearl Harbor and an outdoor plaza with barbecue and picnic areas, the announcement notes. There are also charging stations for electric vehicles, car share access, bike storage and the complex is within walking distance of the Skyline rail station at Aloha Stadium.

Local artist Kamea Hadar also created a mural with an ‘iwa bird inspired by Nāulu's namesake, has curated eight other artists to "enhance the common areas" of the complex and is designing a second mural on the parking garage with the help of local residents, the announcement says.

“Nāulu Apartments is an incredible achievement and a powerful example of what we can accomplish when government, developers, and community partners come together with a shared purpose,” Mayor Rick Blangiardi said in the announcement. “This project delivers more than 300 aﬀordable homes for local families at a time when housing is our most pressing challenge. We are deeply proud to support developments like this that provide stability, opportunity, and hope for generations to come.”

Michael says PDG is a third-generation, family-run company whose mission has "always been about creating communities where families can thrive." 

"Hawai‘i faces one of the most severe housing crises in the country — rising costs and limited land make it especially challenging for working families to find a safe and affordable place to live," he continued. "Our family has been developing, preserving, and operating affordable housing on O‘ahu since the mid-1990s. Over the years, we’ve developed more than 4,000 multifamily units in the Western United States, with over 620 located in Hawai‘i and another 212 in the pipeline for Maui. Each project is an opportunity for us to contribute to the local community and help alleviate the pressure on families struggling to stay in the place they call home."

[{"type":"text","text":"It's \"incredibly rewarding\" to see this project come to fruition."}]

"A project of this scale requires years of planning, countless hours of collaboration, and perseverance through the hurdles that arise along the way," Michael says. "At the recent grand opening, a few families came up to me and expressed their gratitude for being able to live at Nāulu. They told me their stories, holding back tears, and were filled with happiness and gratitude. That is what it’s all about — knowing that 300 families appreciate all the work you put in for all those years."

Some studio units are still available. Applications can be found at 

 or by visiting the Nāulu leasing office onsite at 99-009 Kalaloa St.

More about Pacific Development Group's other projects in the Islands can be 

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Running late

Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

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Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Running late

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Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

More in Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: PTO preparations

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