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Kady Pascual

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

Eating straight from the tree hits different.

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Chardonnay.Music

<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Fruitful tree</title>

Today’s social media find comes from @Chardonnay.Music, with a tasty snack she found in her backyard.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Fruitful tree

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Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Government & Politics

Forecasters from the National Weather Service in Honolulu are predicting more rain across the Islands this week.

Although "mostly dry and pleasant" trade wind weather will continue Monday — albeit with brief passing showers favoring windward and mauka areas — the 

 a "significant pattern change is then expected by Tuesday as an upper disturbance and surface low pressure evolve northwest of the Islands."

"This system is expected to draw deep tropical moisture northward over the state, leading to an extended period of southerly winds, increased chances for widespread rainfall and renewed flooding concerns from from the middle of the week through the weekend."

Some possible "enhanced" showers could reach Kaua‘i by late Monday and there's a slight chance of thunder for Hawai‘i Island Tuesday afternoon, the NWS notes.

Find seven-day forecasts for areas across the state 

 published Monday morning, the NWS said now is a good time to prepare for possible flooding impacts:

"Residents living near stream, rivers, gulches, valleys, ravines and flood-prone areas should remain especially alert and prepared to move to higher ground if flash flooding develops," the outlook notes.

The possibility of more rain and flooding comes just weeks after back-to-back Kona Low storm systems brought heavy rains to the Islands that triggered flooding and power outages, prompted evacuations and caused damage.

 that the two storm systems, which brought 30 to 60 inches of rainfall to some areas and led to the worst flooding in Hawai‘i in more than two decades, caused around $2 billion in damages and economic loss. The preliminary estimate accounts for damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure, as well as tourism losses, agricultural impacts, and emergency response and recovery operation costs across O‘ahu, Maui and Hawai‘i Island, AccuWeather notes.

Recent data from the University of Hawai‘i's Hawai‘i at Mānoa shows that more than 

 of water, enough to fill 3 million Olympic-sized swimming pools, inundated the Islands last month.

The March storms caused the indefinite closure of 

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Downtown honolulu 040626

<title>More rain expected this week</title>

The possibility of more rainfall comes weeks after back-to-back Kona Low storm systems brought significant rains in March that triggered flooding and power outages, prompted evacuations and caused damage across the Islands.

More rain expected this week

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

“Bakudan” means “bomb” in Japanese, and its explosive connotation was perfect in the culinary aspect, according to business owner Rheindell Alupay.

“It’s an explosion in your mouth,” Alupay explains, when referring to his poke.

 used to be located in Mapunapuna and regularly popped up at events across O

ahu. The business recently relocated and now operates out of La

akea Fish Company; it made so much sense because they’re one of the leading guys that provide fresh fish,” Alupay says. “La

akea has been here for almost two years; they provide me with the good fish.”

The menu at this new location is different because there’s a “different variety of poke,” according to Alupay. Customers can choose from one- ($16), two- ($18), or three-choice ($20) poke bowls. All bowls feature a base of your choice — sushi rice, nacho chips or garden salad — crab salad and toppings like tobiko, furikake and green onions.

Poke flavors range from spicy lomi ‘ahi and spicy ‘ahi avocado to crunchy garlic taegu ‘ahi, cold ginger scallion ‘ahi and wasabi masago ‘ahi.

“We use sashimi-grade cubes for our poke, which helps the quality,” says Alupay, who notes that popular flavors include crunchy garlic taegu poke, wasabi masago ‘ahi, lomi ‘ahi and cold ginger scallion.

Poke nachos feature your choice of poke topped with spicy mayo, unagi sauce and house crab salad. The biz also offers house chirashi ($25) — ‘ahi sashimi, your choice of rice or salad, and choice of poke — and torched ‘ahi donburi bowls ($18-$22).

Of course, the business’s signature Bakubombs are still available. Each pack contains four pieces of cone sushi stuffed with a torched crab filling ($14) or poke flavor of your choice (two-choice poke $16, poke sampler for $20).

“For the four Bakubombs with your choice poke, you can mix and match whatever (flavor) you want,” Alupay says.

akea Fish Company from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays to Saturdays. The business is still open for catering, though, Alupay notes.

[{"type":"text","text":"“We do sushi tables, sushi cakes and sashimi platters,” he confirms."}]

Limited customer parking is available in front of La

Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays to Saturdays

Bakudan's Poke business owner 020926

<title>Bakudan's Poke is now open in Kalihi</title>

The business, which used to be in Mapunapua, is known for its poke flavors and Bakubombs, which are cone sushi stuffed with a torched crab filling or poke. Bakudan's Poke has teamed up with Laʻakea Fish Company and operates out of the business’s store in Kalihi.

Bakudan's Poke is now open in Kalihi

 — 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

 is popular for its local comfort food and desserts like Coco Puffs, poi mochi donuts and Chantilly cakes. The bakery recently added new dishes to its menu; the dishes are available at all Liliha Bakery locations.

The eatery’s new eggs Benedict ($21.50) includes two poached eggs with ham topped with Hollandaise sauce over house-baked corn bread, and is served with fried potatoes. Since this entree is part of Liliha Bakery’s breakfast menu, it’s only available until 11 a.m.

“Inspired by customer requests, our eggs Benedict is served with our housemade cornbread, creating the perfect sweet and savory balance in every bite,” says Angela Choi, vice president of Yummy Restaurant Group (the bakery's parent company). “At Liliha Bakery, we are always looking for ways to bring fresh flavors to our breakfast menu, while honoring our local favorites.”

Speaking of local favorites — the roast pork loco moco takes this Hawaiʻi staple to the next level. The savory dish features roast pork, two eggs, and gravy over fried rice.

“Our roast pork loco moco with fried rice offers a playful spin on the beloved local classic, featuring tender roast pork and our signature gravy — perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner,” Choi says.

Both new entrees come with the eatery’s signature butter roll and jelly.

The chicken Milanese presents a nice balance of indulgence and light. The pan-fried crispy chicken is served with lemony strawberry arugula salad, housemade champagne vinaigrette, and Liliha Bakery’s famous butter roll.

The pan-fried chicken is crispy but light, and the accompanying arugula salad is refreshing, thanks to the vinaigrette.

Liliha Bakery also introduced new pastries, including regular ($3.95) and chocolate almond ($4.25) Kouign Amanns; berries and cream cheese croissants ($6.95); green tea croissants ($3.89); and cream cheese danishes ($3.89).

The Kouign Amann is slightly crispy on the outside and flaky on the inside, and we’re partial to the chocolate almond flavor.

The bakery’s fresh banana Chantilly cake ($32.95) is also a more recent addition to the line-up of refrigerated cakes and pies. It features the bakery’s signature Chantilly cake frosting, but also includes fresh layers of sliced bananas and fresh bananas on top.

This dessert give a fresh, fruity twist to a beloved bakery staple — the generous amount of banana slices balance the richness from the luscious, velvety layers of Chantilly.

Liliha Bakery kouign amann 103125

<title>Liliha Bakery recently added new dishes to its menu</title>

New dishes include eggs Benedict, a savory loco moco, and the bakery’s own version of Kouign Amann. The new dishes are available at all Liliha Bakery locations.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Fruitful tree

Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

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Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Fruitful tree

Authors

Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

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