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Kady Pascual

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

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<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: It’s October 1st</title>

Today’s social media find comes from @Ekahi808, with a horror story.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: It’s October 1st

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Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

— it’s located on South Pauahi Street — 

for about two months, but the business’s hot sauce has been around for nearly three years. You can actually spot the business’s 

 sauces on season 28 of popular talk show “Hot Ones,” according to Tamaris “T” Surdock, business owner of both Hawaiian Hot T’s and Aloha Sauced.

“We started out as a hot sauce company because there’s not a lot of spicy options on island,” he says. “We wanted more Island-style flavors; we use passionfruit, we use guava. We just got voted Hawai

i’s favorite hot sauce company, and our No. 1 sauce — a pineapple sweet chili teriyaki — just won best new product of the year last year.

“A lot of people wanted to try our sauces; we got to the point where we were like, ‘We should start making food for people to put it on,” he adds.

Surdock recalls reaching out to “Hot Ones” about two years ago, but it was during a hot sauce festival in New York last year when Hawaiian Hot T's indirectly connected with them.

“We ended up meeting some people from the hot sauce supplier for ‘Hot Ones,’” he says. “We ended up dropping off some samples at their store after. They liked our POG sauce — POG is traditionally passionfruit, orange and guava, but ours is passionfruit, orange and ghost pepper. They were like, ‘This is so fruity, but we want it spicier.’

“We made a spicier version and sent it to them,” he adds. “They were like, ‘This is really good; we want it for Season 28. The season just dropped.”

Aloha Sauced is open for both dine-in and takeout. Its

 menu consists of chicken wings, build-your-own bowls, and gourmet hot dogs called monster dogs. There are 20-plus different sauces to choose from; flavors range from more traditional options like blue cheese and garlic aioli, to Sop Brah (avocado, cilantro lime, soursop) and Killa Kurry (truffle, coconut and chipotle curry).

Majah Flavah — a combo of pineapple, sweet chili, teriyaki and toasted sesame — is the most popular flavor, according to Surdock.

“It’s so good; it’s like you can replace your shoyu, teriyaki and Sriracha all with one sauce,” he says. “It’s good on edamame, in stir-fries and poke.”

Surdock says the biz decided to focus on chicken wings to make it easier for people to try the various sauces.

“There are so many different sauces — we have 10 that we bottle, but we have 25 total for the restaurant,” he says. “We sell out of chicken wings pretty quickly.”

Customers can choose from five- ($12), 10- ($19) or 20-piece chicken wings ($32). The business offers one sauce per five wings, and customers can choose from traditional, boneless or gluten-free cauliflower wings.

“The 10-piece is pretty popular and people can get two flavors,” Surdock says. “Majah Flavah is our most popular, but basil pesto parm is a really good mild option.”

The biz even offers a Volcano wing hot sauce challenge — which, so far, no one has been able to conquer. Participants must be 18 years or older and sign a waiver before trying the challenge, which is to eat 12 chicken wings in in five minutes without using any dipping sauces, napkins or drinks, according to Surdock. He says the challenger will also have to endure a five-minute afterburn before using napkins, ranch sauce or drinks.

“It’s our hottest hot sauce,” he says. “We add in some extra peppers so it’s really hot. Whoever beats it will go on the Wall of Fame, will get their money back, get a free five-piece (chicken wings) and get a free shirt. But no one’s beat it.”

The build-your-own bowls features a base — brown rice, white rice, mixed greens, fries (additional $2) or fried rice (additional $2) — with your choice of protein (chicken, ground beef or kalua pork) and toppings (five are included). Toppings range from black beans and roasted garlic to sour cream, cheese, roasted salsa and corn.

“Everyone wants a Chipotle here; we can do something similar, where you can build your own bowls — you pick your base, protein and veggies, and you can put any of our sauces on top,” Surdock says.

One of the most popular combos is a base of mixed greens with 12-hour slow-cooked kalua pork, topped with salsa, sour cream, guacamole, lettuce, black beans, corn and onions.

If you prefer gourmet hot dogs, opt for the monster dog ($14), bird dog ($14) or chopped cheese ($15). 

“We didn’t want to do burgers; everyone does burgers,” Surdock says. “We took a burger and reimagined it. I think our bird dog is a hidden gem. Most people don’t know what a bird dog is, but it’s chicken tenders in a hot dog bun. It’s like a fried chicken sandwich, but you eat it like a hot dog instead of a burger.”

The monster dog includes two toppings, two sauces and one side. Instead of a traditional hot dog bun, it features Texas toast folded in half. The Southwest-style fajitas monster dog is currently a featured special that includes an all-beef hot dog with cheese, sour cream, guacamole, onions and salsa.

The business is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., but opens early on Sundays for football games, according to Surdock.

“That’s the one day we open for breakfast,” he says. “We have a breakfast bowl, and it’s BYOB. People can come in with their own drinks, as long as they order food from us.”

Besides Aloha Sauced, you can find Hawaiian Hot T’s sauces at Aloha Stadium on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays; and at Down to Earth at Pearlridge Center.

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Open daily, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (open Sunday mornings for football)

Aloha Sauce owner 093025

<title>Sauce boss: Aloha Sauced is open in downtown Honolulu</title>

The business, which started out as a hot sauce company, is known for sauces like Majah Flavah, Maui Owie, and BBQ Bruddah. Its sauces are currently being featured in season 28 of the popular talk show “Hot Ones.”

Sauce boss: Aloha Sauced is open in downtown Honolulu

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

Hawaii History

Kāhala Mall — the first enclosed, air-conditioned shopping center in the Islands — celebrates its 55th anniversary in October.

“Celebrating 55 years really means the world to us, and we truly couldn’t have done it without the incredible partnerships we’ve built with our merchants, the loyalty of our customers and the unwavering support of this amazing community,” 

Ezy Paeste said in statement. “Over the years, we’ve witnessed so many special moments unfold here — teens landing their first jobs, couples on their first dates, families and friends turning visits into lasting traditions. Some folks have been coming here for generations, and now we’re seeing their children and grandchildren strolling through the same halls. It’s been an absolute honor to be part of those memories and to grow alongside this community through the years.”

Now home to nearly 100 retailers, restaurants and service providers, the East Honolulu retail hub opened in 1970. But its origins date back even earlier.

What was then called the Wai‘alae Shopping Center opened in November 1954 by Bishop Estate, according to a timeline included in a recent announcement from the mall. It featured a Piggly Wiggly grocery store, later Star Market, and Longs Drugs, and had the state's first Woolworth variety store and Wai‘alae Bowl.

In 1957, Kāhala Barber Shop, which is still in operation today, opened in phase 2. The next year, Liberty House opened in a 70,000-square-foot space.

[{"type":"text","text":"Here are some more timeline tidbits:"}]

 formed the Kāhala Center Co. to redevelop the open-air Wai‘alae Shopping Center into the state's first fully enclosed, air-conditioned shopping mall.

: Construction begins and the existing anchor stores — Longs Drugs, Liberty House and Star Market — remain opened. The H-1 freeway is also under construction at the same time.

: Kāhala Mall officially opens, with anchor tenants that include JC Penney, Longs Drugs, Liberty House, Star Market and other early merchants like Yum Yum Tree, Zales, Kāhala Barber and Reyn's.

: Compleat Kitchen opens in 1976 and Calista by Cotton Cargo opens in 1979. Both shops are still open today.

: Consolidated Theatres opens its eight-screen complex, which underwent a complete renovation in 2020-21, during the Covid-19 pandemic.

: California Pizza Kitchen opens its first restaurant in the Islands — and the first outside of California.

Pizza Hut (1986), Jeans Warehouse (1987), The Paperie (1991), Marsha Nadalin Salon & Spa (1993), Sanrio Surprises, GNC (1996), 

, American Savings Bank (1997), GameStop, Pictures Plus (1998), Panda Express (1999) and Chili’s (2000).

: Starbucks opens its first Hawai‘i location at Kāhala Mall.

: Flash flooding on March 31 damages about 60 of the mall's 90 businesses but the mall quickly reopens.

: Whole Foods Market opens its first Hawai‘i location in the space formerly occupied by Piggly Wiggly and Star Market.

: Kāhala Mall spans 414,000 square feet with nearly 100 tenants. Thirty merchants have operated there for a decade or more.

commemorative merchant flags featuring photographs of longstanding tenants will be displayed throughout the center, the announcement noted.

According to the mall, popular gift-with-purchase promotions will showcase the colors and design of the Kahala Mall carpet, a recognizable feature of the center for decades. You can receive these limited-edition gifts in September and throughout the holiday season.

Follow @kahalamall on social media to see photos of the Center's early days and through the years. Customers also can share their own memories of Kahala Mall by tagging #KahalaMall55 for a chance to win Kahala Mall gift cards and a grand staycation at the Kahala Hotel & Resort.

Kahala Mall is located at 4211 Waialae Ave., and open from 

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Old Longs Drugs

<title>55 years of Kāhala Mall</title>

The first enclosed, air-conditioned shopping center in the Islands celebrates its 55th anniversary in October.

55 years of Kāhala Mall

Lopaka and Tanya Kapanui

Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya Kapanui

Columnists

The Mānoa Falls Trail is one of Oʻahu’s most beloved hikes, leading through lush rainforest to a 150-foot waterfall at the back of Mānoa Valley. Managed by the state’s Nā Ala Hele trail system since 1988, the path is maintained as part of the Honolulu Mauka Trail System, which links multiple routes across the ridges and valleys above Honolulu. In recent years, the trail underwent significant improvements to better accommodate the many visitors who explore the valley each day.

While a popular attraction, the trail has also seen its share of challenges. The Honolulu Fire Department regularly responds to rescues for lost or injured hikers, with some requiring helicopter evacuations. In rare but serious cases, hikers have suffered fatal accidents near the waterfall itself. Temporary closures are also not uncommon, especially after heavy rain or storm damage, when fallen trees and slippery terrain make conditions dangerous.

By day, the Mānoa Falls Trail feels like a living postcard. Its lush forest and idyllic scenery draw countless visitors to its famous water cascade. But as with many places in Hawaiʻi, the beauty of the landscape holds a deeper layer of stories passed down through generations. Long after the hikers have gone home and the valley quiets under the canopy of trees, Mānoa takes on an entirely different presence that locals whisper about with caution, and visitors sometimes stumble upon when they least expect it. It is in these hushed moments, after dark, that the trail reveals its other side.

One weekend night in the early 1970s, Vance went on a double date with a friend. His girlfriend was beside him in the front seat, while the second couple sat in the back. On a whim, the group decided to drive up toward Mānoa Falls. They reached the chain that blocked cars from going farther and parked beneath the trees. It was late, and the valley was wrapped in silence and heavy darkness. The two couples sat for a while talking inside the car. That was when Vance noticed something strange: two eyes, suspended in the air in front of them.

At first, he didn’t understand what he was looking at. But the longer he stared, the more dread crept in.

[{"type":"text","text":"Grabbing his date’s arm, he blurted out, “Look! Eyes!”"}]

She followed his gaze and screamed, as did his friend’s date when she looked up. In the back seat, Vance’s friend kept his head down, refusing to see for himself.

“No! No! I’m not looking!” he shouted when Vance demanded to know if he could see it too.

The hair rose on Vance’s neck, chicken skin running down his arms. In a rush of panic, he started the engine, threw the car in reverse, and sped down the road, not slowing until they were safely back in the residential streets of the valley.

Years later, Vance shared the story with a younger co-worker who had graduated from Roosevelt High School. The co-worker grew animated and hurried off to fetch an old yearbook. Flipping through the pages, he pointed out a photograph of students standing at the same chain that blocked the Mānoa Falls trail. In the picture, clear as day, were a pair of eyes. This time, they were not high up in the trees, but close to the ground. It wasn’t a trick of light or imagination. That picture, he said, is still in that old Roosevelt High School yearbook. Vance was shaken all over again.

His unease deepened when, on a tour years later, he listened to storyteller Glen Grant describe disembodied eyes seen across the island with warnings not to follow, for they beckoned people to the other side. Standing there listening to Glen’s stories, Vance’s wife turned to him, eyes wide, and whispered, “That’s exactly what you’ve been telling me all these years.”

Those strange encounters in the 1970s weren’t the last time someone would see something unusual there. Just a few years ago, while the trail was officially closed for maintenance, four friends decided to visit at night, hoping to capture evidence of something paranormal on video. They had already made stops at Morgan’s Corner and Tantalus Drive when one of them suggested the Mānoa Falls Trail.

[{"type":"text","text":"It was a moonless night, so he joked, “Guarantee get night marchers!”"}]

The group’s excitement overrode any hesitation that an individual might have had. Around midnight, they parked in the middle of the dark road, headlights shining on the closed gate. One man stayed behind in the car to take a call from his girlfriend, while the other three stepped out with their phones set to record. A cool breeze moved through the valley, carrying the damp scent of mud and rotting vegetation. Mosquitoes buzzed in their ears. One man held an EMF meter, but its lights stayed still and dark.

[{"type":"text","text":"Then came the first sign that something wasn’t right."}]

“Aw man, my phone died!” one of them shouted, and seconds later another man’s phone went black.

Confused, they huddled by the car, trying to make sense of the sudden power loss, while the fourth man inside continued his call without interruption. Out of the corner of his eye, one of the men caught movement by the trail. His blood went cold; not from thoughts of ghosts but of feral pigs. He grabbed a flashlight from the car, but the beam was weak, and the shadows at the gate were impenetrable. Uneasy, he climbed back inside the car and called to his friends, who had moved closer to the gate.

Several long minutes passed before the pair suddenly ran back and jumped into the vehicle. The driver started the engine and tore down the rough road, potholes rattling the tires, not slowing until they reached the residential neighborhood.

After they’d finally calmed down, the two men explained what happened. As they approached the gate, they saw a pair of white lights floating about four feet off the ground. They looked like two eyes. It was weird and confusing, and neither of them could figure out what they were looking at—two lights, about the same distance apart as a pair of eyes on someone’s face. But there was no face, no head, no body. The lights slowly seemed to drift closer toward them, and when they got about a foot in front of the gate, they blinked. That’s when the men took off running. I asked if they got it on video, but they did not.

“I wasn’t aiming the camera right at the lights, so all I got was bushes and then the blurry road as we were running back to the car. But seriously, we saw what we saw.”

I then asked if they would ever return to try to get whatever they saw on video, and he laughed and said, “Maybe. Probably not for a long time, but maybe.”

Gate to Manoa Falls Trail 2

<title>Disembodied eyes at Mānoa Falls Trail</title>

If you look out into the dark of night at this storied trail, something just might look back at you.

Disembodied eyes at Mānoa Falls Trail

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Friday, Oct. 3"}]

 is set to take on the professionals at the 

, which just opened its second Honolulu store at the Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa on Tuesday, Sept. 30. The café is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. 

. AIA Honolulu, the Honolulu chapter of the American Institute of Architects, continues Architecture Month celebrations with the 

, where attendees can check out the offices of local firms and meet their staff, while enjoying pūpū and drinks. The event runs from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Downtown Honolulu. Free. 

  The final performances of “Come from Away” are underway at Diamond Head Theatre. Due to popular demand, performances were extended through this weekend.  The Tony Award-winning musical was inspired by the 38 planes grounded in Canada after U.S. air space was closed following the 9/11 attacks in 2001. The final shows are 7:30 p.m. on Friday; and 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. 

 started writing after a trip to New York City, where she watched a show on Broadway. Now, her first play, 

 is back on stage in Honolulu and several of the original cast members from the 1998 production are in it. Learn about the moment when she was 

 and decided to write. The final shows are 7:30 p.m. on Friday, as well as 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. The show on Sunday is sold out. 

Dixie Grill BBQ & Crab Shack is hosting its annual 

 which includes deals on platters that feature choices of the crustacean, such as Alaskan snow crab, Dungeness crab and king crab. The Crab Fest started Wednesday, Oct. 1, and runs through Oct. 31. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"SATURDAY, OCT. 4"}]

 The family friendly event runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and includes a lantern parade, cultural performances, activities for keiki and food. The parade starts at 6:30 p.m. and participants will walk from the Hawaiʻi National Bank King Street branch toward Sun Yat-Sen Mall. There will also be a lantern-making contest and designs will be featured in the evening parade. The event is presented by the Hawai’i National Bank Foundation. 

 Check out expert presentations, cooking demonstrations and more as part of Diet & Nutrition for the Cancer Journey. The event has in-person and virtual components. It runs from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Sullivan Conference Center at the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center. Free. 

 Enjoy the 34th annual Moanikeala Hula Festival at the Polynesian Cultural Center. The event honors PCC’s first kumu hula, Salley Moanikealaonapuamakahikina Wood Nalua‘i. It includes all-day activities, as well as canoe rides and admission to the festival. Performances start at 1 p.m. and run every half hour.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"SUNDAY, OCT. 5"}]

Enjoy steel guitar from 10 a.m. to noon at the Hula Grill Waikīkī. The new program features monthly steel guitar performances at the oceanside restaurant on the first Sunday of each month through the rest of 2025. The program was created with Alan Akaka, who kicked off the series with a live performance in July.

Dixie Grill crab boil platter 092525

<title>10 things to do this weekend: Friday, Oct. 3, to Sunday, Oct. 5</title>

From the final shows of the musical “Come from Away” to the arrival of a second location of Paris Baguette, here are 10 things happening on Oʻahu this weekend.

10 things to do this weekend: Friday, Oct. 3, to Sunday, Oct. 5

Yes, you read that right — you can get tofu for 75 cents on Oct. 2 only.

 is selling its soft tofu (regular price $3.35) and firm tofu (regular price $2.80) for 75 cents each. The soft tofu is known for its delicate, custard-like texture, while the firm tofu is popular for its versatility. It’s often used in soups, stews and stir-fries.

Customers can take advantage of the discount during the business’s factory hours from 7 a.m. to noon.

The discounted tofu will be limited to five per person; first come, first served. According to Aloha Tofu president Paul Uyehara, the 75-cent price is in honor of the business’s 75th anniversary this year.

Open 7 a.m.-noon Sundays-Tuesdays, Thursdays-Fridays, 7 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays

Aloha Tofu Factory Paul Uyehara 093025

<title>Aloha Tofu Factory is selling tofu for 75 cents on Oct. 2</title>

To celebrate Aloha Tofu Day, the biz is selling its soft tofu and firm tofu for 75 cents each. This deal is from 7 a.m. to noon at the factory on Thursday, Oct. 2 only; limit five per person.

Aloha Tofu Factory is selling tofu for 75 cents on Oct. 2

 just opened its second Honolulu store, which is located at the Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa.

A traditional Hawaiian blessing was held this morning to celebrate the second Honolulu café, which opened to the public at 10 a.m. Starting tomorrow, Oct. 1, the café will be open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The new café at the Renaissance Hotel & Spa mirrors the size and layout of the business’s first location in downtown Honolulu, which opened last February. Customers can grab a tray and choose from a variety of pastries in the bakery display cases.

Paris Baguette is known for its variety of sweet and savory pastries, cakes and beverages. Choose from popular options like strawberry lemon cream croissants ($4.29), tiramisu tarts ($4.69), hash brown bread ($5.49) and twisted donuts ($3.79).

Keep an eye out for new treats, including Biscoff Cookie Butter king cream donuts ($6.49), cookies and cream mochi donuts ($5.39), Dubai chocolate tarts ($10.29), chocolate chip scones ($5.69) and maple pecan pastries ($4.89).

The beverage menu includes coffees and cold brews, lattes, teas, smoothies and frozen drinks. Customers can also enjoy seasonal options like pumpkin pie lattes ($4.99-$6.99), Cookie Butter macchiatos ($4.99-$6.99), pumpkin pie sweet cream cold brews ($5.99-$7.49) and iced matcha fruit lattes ($5.99-$6.99).

The globally recognized brand has more than 250 locations across the U.S. and more than 4,000 units worldwide.

Paris Baguette Renaissance sign 093025

<title>Paris Baguette just opened its second Honolulu location</title>

The bakery café celebrated the grand opening of its second Oʻahu location today at Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa. Starting Oct. 1, the café will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: It’s October 1st

Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

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Hawai‘i Scene on Social: It’s October 1st

Authors

Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

More in Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Costco policy

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: When in Maui

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Teed up

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Most read