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Kady Pascual

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Just let the music take control!"}]

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<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Skanking 101</title>

Today’s social media find comes from @HowsDisGuy, with a lesson some of you really need to take.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Skanking 101

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Katie Helland

Business & Tourism

Arts & Entertainment

A funeral is what pulls the family together in the first scene where we see Nani, played by the New Zealand-Samoan actress Frankie Adams, as she hugs her long lost cousin, Jonny Hale, played by 

The moment is one of many in “The Wrecking Crew,” a movie filmed partly in Hawai’i that is set to stream globally on Amazon Prime Video at 

. The fast-paced action comedy features the estranged brothers, Jonny (Momoa) and James (Dave Bautista), who reunite when their father dies. In trying to figure out what happened, the brothers discover a conspiracy that can tear their family apart.

“The Wrecking Crew,” is based in Hawai’i but shot mostly in New Zealand. Filming included 12 days in Hawaiʻi and 43 days in New Zealand, Angela Laprete, the Hawaiʻi producer for “The Wrecking Crew," told Aloha State Daily earlier this month. She is part of the newly formed Hawai’i Film Alliance, which launched in July and is 

 that could bring more movies and televisions shows to Hawai’i.

When asked what sets the movie apart from other action films, Adams shared location was part of the charm.

“I think the fact that it's based in Hawai’i, and it's not a touristy glimpse of the island, which I think is really important,” she said. “You see real people. You see real family dynamics, and you get to see a bit of the underground world there, which I think is unique to anything else that anyone's seen.”

Adams plays the strong and sassy cousin of the brothers.

“She is the younger cousin of Jonny and James, and she's just there to call them on their crap,” Adams said. “Nothing gets past her. And she's very honest. Very sassy and smart. All the things that I love in women, personally.”

Adams remembers her first meeting with Momoa.

“Gosh, he's so full of energy,” she said. “He's so fun. He came bounding in the room, came straight up to me and was like: ‘Hi, I’m Jason. You're playing Nani. I love the character.’ We got straight into it. It was so fun. He had his guitar on set.”

Temuera Morrison (“Chief of War,” “Moana 2,” “Aquaman,” “Star Wars,” “Once Were Warriors,” etc.) also had a guitar, she said.

“In between takes, we'd be listening to music and singing, and they'd be playing the instruments,” she said. “I love music. I think it really brought the energy up on set.”

While filming in Hawai’i, Adams also enjoyed the ABC Stores.

“I love that you can get anything — anything you want is in that store,” she said. “It's magic. And I wish it existed everywhere.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Adams also got poke at Foodland."}]

“I actually, perhaps overdid it,” she said. “I think I overdosed on poke. I was eating it for breakfast, lunch and dinner.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Adams laughed."}]

She will be back on screen in another production, Disney’s live action “Moana,” which was also 

“You must take tissues because the amount you cry — from joy and pride — is quite insane,” she said. “I really hope and I feel that people are going to feel really represented when they see that and feel a sense of home.”

“The Wrecking Crew” features Jacob Batalon, Miyavi, Stephen Root and Morena Baccarin, as well as Roimata Fox. It also features actors from 

Disney’s live action version of “Lilo & Stitch” (2025), including 

, who played Lilo in that film and is a daughter of one of the main characters in this one. 

 also appears in the movie. Watch the movie on 

. It is set to release at 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

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"The Wrecking Crew"

<title>Actress Frankie Adams reflects on new movies</title>

She plays Nani, the "sassy and smart" cousin of Jonny Hale (Jason Momoa) and James Hale (Dave Bautista) in "The Wrecking Crew." In this exclusive interview with Aloha State Daily, the actress shares her favorite places to decompress after shooting scenes in Hawai’i. Catch her also in Disney’s live action “Moana.”

Actress Frankie Adams reflects on new movies

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ASD Staff

Daily Smile

[{"type":"text","text":"It was the only way she could get the dog to go back to her..."}]

Smile 26 1 26

<title>Daily Smile: Monday, January 26, 2026</title>

It was the only way she could get the dog to go back to her...

Daily Smile: Monday, January 26, 2026

 and Dave Bautista will soon star in a new movie, “The Wrecking Crew,” which was filmed in 

. It will start streaming globally on Prime Video on Jan. 27.

Momoa, known for his roles as Aquaman in “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” the warlord Khal Drogo in “Game of Thrones,” and — most recently  — Kaʻiana in “Chief of War,” plays one of the estranged half brothers. Bautista, known for his roles as Drax in “Guardians of the Galaxy,” and Sapper Morton in “Blade Runner,” plays the other one. 

The action comedy features the estranged brothers, Jonny (Momoa) and James (Bautista) who must reunite when their father dies mysteriously. The brothers discover a conspiracy with the power to tear their family apart. The movie is set in Hawaiʻi. 

It was directed by Ángel Manuel Soto (“Blue Beetle” in 2023) and written by Jonathan Tropper.

It stars Claes Bang, Jacob Batalon, Miyavi, Stephen Root and Morena Baccarin and actors who appear in “Chief of War” including 

, who plays King Kahekili in the series, and 

Disney’s live action version of “Lilo & Stitch” (2025), including  

, who was appears in the movie with shave ice, and died a few weeks after its release in theaters. 

, who plays Sina, Moana’s mother, in Disney’s live action movie “Moana,” which is set to release later this year, is also in “The Wrecking Crew.”

<title>What to know about 'The Wrecking Crew' starring Jason Momoa</title>

The new movie launches this month, featuring Momoa and Dave Bautista, who play estranged brothers brought together by the death of their father. The story is set in the Islands.

What to know about 'The Wrecking Crew' starring Jason Momoa

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Stephanie Salmons

Government & Politics

The City and County of Honolulu is taking yet another step forward in its efforts to transform the city’s urban core, selecting EAH Housing as its preferred negotiating partner for the redevelopment of the Iwilei Center.

The four-acre parcel, acquired by the city nearly two years ago, is adjacent to the future Kūwili Skyline rail station. Its redevelopment is expected to bring hundreds of new homes to the area, along with retail spaces, community amenities and “transit-connected public spaces,” the city says.

“The Iwilei Center is a cornerstone of our broader effort to reshape the area around the future Kūwili Skyline Transit Oriented Development area,” Kevin Auger, director designate of the city’s Department of Housing and Land Management, told Aloha State Daily Thursday. “The overall redevelopment of this transit-connected neighborhood can support thousands of homes over time.”

In this public-private partnership, the selected developer will oversee master-planning, environmental clearance, architectural design, entitlement, financing, construction, lease-up and operations in return for a development contract and a 75-year ground lease, according to the 

 issued for the project earlier this year.

Auger told ASD in an emailed response to questions that by choosing EAH Housing as its preferred negotiating partner, the city is entering into an exclusive negotiation period to finalize the development agreement and ground lease for approval by the Honolulu City Council, a process that typically takes several months.

“While negotiating these agreements, early predevelopment work — including due diligence, massing studies, infrastructure coordination and initial community engagement may also proceed,” he says. “Our goal is to move efficiently through negotiations so the project team can begin the next phase of planning and environmental review in 2026.

Auger says that the project site gives the city the opportunity to deliver hundreds of new affordable and workforce housing units in an area adjacent to the historic Chinatown district and within walking distance of Downtown Honolulu, "a major job center for the city." At this stage, city expects the site to have between 750 and 1,000 homes as part of the high-density, mixed-use redevelopment, he noted, although the total number of units will ultimately depend on the developer’s proposal and the final project scope.

“By moving Iwilei Center into pre-development now, we’re taking a major step toward growing Honolulu’s housing inventory in a place where new homes make the most sense.”

 the former First Hawaiian Bank building at 445 N. King St. for $8.4 million and in January 2024 it acquired the Iwilei Center for $51.5 million.

 says these acquisitions, which total nearly five acres of land, "will form the catalyst of its redevelopment and revitalization efforts around the Kūwili Rail Station in Iwilei, consistent with the Downtown TOD Neighborhood Plan."

The city noted in Thursday’s announcement that the redevelopment of Iwilei Center is a key component in its ongoing master-planning efforts for the Kūwili and Niuhelewai (Honolulu Community College and Kapālama) rail station areas, “a coordinated, multi-million dollar effort aligning land use, 

, transportation systems and public realm improvements.”

, a Honolulu-based Native Hawaiian-owned strategy, planning and design firm — in partnership with Toronto-based 

 —  to lead that  master-planning effort. A request for proposal was 

, the lead developer for the Iwilei Center redevelopment, has more than 30 years of experience developing affordable and workforce housing in Hawai‘i, according to the city. Core Tech is a co-developer and Lowney Architecture is the project architect, the city notes.

Karen Seddon, regional vice president of EAH Housing, said in the announcement that the organization is “honored” to be chosen for the opportunity.

“Iwilei Center is more than a housing project — it’s a chance to help shape a complete, transit-connected neighborhood that will serve families for generations,” she says. “We’re committed to delivering high-quality, long-term, affordable, and workforce homes that reflect the city’s vision and truly benefit the community.”

According to the city, the project now moves into its next phase, which includes community engagement, environmental review, land-use approvals and financial structuring. Planning and design work will continue over the next year.

Currently, the Iwilei Center houses the Department of Community Services’ Kumu Ola Hou program, a transitional shelter that 

 while the property waits for redevelopment. It 

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Iwilei Center 1

<title>Honolulu selects partner for Iwilei Center redevelopment</title>

The four-acre parcel is adjacent to the future Kūwili Skyline rail station. Its redevelopment is expected to bring hundreds of new homes to the area, along with retail spaces, community amenities and “transit-connected public spaces,” the city says.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Skanking 101

Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

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Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Skanking 101

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Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

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