Square Kady Pascual Headshot RGZ5762

Kady Pascual

Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"That bass is bumping though!"}]

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MrLovahBoy

<title>Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Too busy vibing</title>

Today’s social media find comes from @MrLovahBoy, who just needs some good sounds to have a good time.

Hawai‘i Scene on Social: Too busy vibing

That bass is bumping though!  Make sure you follow @MrLovahBoy on Instagram! Check out our new feature: Aloha State Daily wants to see your Hawai‘i sky pictures! Click here to learn more and submit. For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up here for our free Daily Edition newsletter!

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

It was once considered the premier multiple-team event in collegiate basketball, now modern 

conversations surrounding the Maui Invitational

 involve the tournament not having the funds to compete with some of its counterparts. 

In years past, the Lahaina Civic Center, seating just 2,400, was home to an intimate college basketball setting for blue bloods in the sport. Teams such as Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, Connecticut and more would pack the gym with their respective fanbases, as well as eager fans from the Valley Isle. 

Tradition has taken a backseat in the name, image, and likeness (NIL) era of collegiate sports. The 2025 Player's Era Festival, like the Maui Invitational, will run during Thanksgiving week. While the 2025 Maui Invitational will not dole out NIL prize money, the Player's Era festival 

 to teams in its second year as a tournament. 

To the Chaminade men's basketball team, the Maui Invitational still means the world. 

"It's a huge honor. You know, it's what we're known for throughout the world," Chaminade head coach Eric Bovaird, a Pennsylvania native in his 15th year at the helm of the program, told Aloha State Daily. "We take it incredibly seriously, and we're so incredibly appreciative to have this. It's a huge reason why I decided to come to Chaminade. It's a huge reason why my student-athletes decided to come — to have that opportunity to play there, and to play against top level teams is incredible. 

"We know that there's other tournaments out there, but nothing compares to the Maui Invitational, especially on Maui. We have an incredible history. I think we have proven longevity. There's been tournaments that come and go, but I think the Maui Invitational will live on for a long time."

On Dec. 23, 1982, the Silverswords shocked Virginia, the No. 1 team in the country at the time, at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center. The game is still considered the greatest upset in collegiate basketball history by many. Chaminade was merely an NAIA school at the time but matriculated to NCAA Division II status in 1989, where it's currently a member of the Pacific West Conference. 

Chaminade's upset over Virginia sparked the creation of the Maui Invitational, which debuted as the Maui Classic in 1984. The Silverswords have consistently been the lone annual exemption in a field chock-full of notable Division I teams. That changed in 2018, when tournament organizers decided that Chaminade would play in the tournament every other year. 

The Silverswords went 0-3 in the 2019 Maui Invitational, the last time they got to play in Lahaina. In 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic moved the tournament to Las Vegas. Then in 2023, the Lahaina wildfires prompted the tournament to be held at the Stan Sheriff Center in Mānoa. 

In addition to Chaminade, the 2025 Maui invitational field will include Arizona State, Boise State, North Carolina State, Seton Hall, Texas, USC and Washington State. 

"Just incredibly excited," Bovaird said. "We've been excited for a long time, this whole group. I don't have one guy on my team that has played in the Maui Invitational in Lahaina, and so it's going to be a new experience for them. And in some ways, it's a little bit new for me, too. It's been so long since we played over there."

When his team competed at the 2021 Maui Invitational in Las Vegas, Bovaird recalled how his entire team tested positive for Covid-19 upon returning to O‘ahu, calling it an unpleasant memory. That seemed like a minuscule inconvenience compared to what Maui wildfire victims had to endure two years later. 

"I remember that day, and I felt just so helpless and just felt so, so bad about what was going on. So many people lost their lives, and so many people that we knew were affected in one way or another," Bovaird said. "It was incredibly sad, there's no doubt about it. We, fortunately, were able to go over and provide a little bit of support and also a little bit of entertainment, doing some clinics for kids that were affected. ... Maui has been so great to us over the years."

As Bovaird noted, no player on Chaminade's current roster has played a Maui Invitational in Lahaina. Senior forward Brycen Shackelford is the only player on the roster who played at the 2023 Maui Invitational at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Silverswords got the Maui treatment on O‘ahu in 2023, staying in a hotel despite many players living closer to the arena compared to where the hotel was located. Shackelford says his teammates can hardly wait to experience the real thing, which begins for Chaminade with a 4 p.m. game against Washington State on Nov. 24. 

"Everyone dreams of playing in the Maui," Shackelford said. "This year, being on Maui, it's a lot more exciting, and we think we got a good chance this year."

The 2025 Maui Invitational is also the first edition of the tournament since the passing of 

, the coach who guided Chaminade to the historic victory over Virginia. Lopes passed away on May 8. He was 92. 

"He was a mentor for me. He was one of the first people I met when I arrived in Hawai‘i," Bovaird said. "His name is synonymous with Chaminade, synonymous with the creation of the Maui Invitational. If it wasn't for him in particular, then I probably wouldn't even be in Hawai‘i right now. We can't wait to have a special tribute for him when we're over there. He's a legend that we'll never forget."

Chaminade men's basketball 111925

<title>Chaminade men's basketball expresses gratitude ahead of Lahaina return at Maui…</title>

The Silverswords, who are in the Maui field every other year, have not played a game at the Lahaina Civic Center since 2019.

Chaminade men's basketball expresses gratitude ahead of Lahaina return at Maui Invitational

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

, the award-winning contemporary Japanese restaurant from New York, is celebrating its grand opening tonight at 

. The restaurant rose to fame as the first hand roll bar in New York in 2015, and now offers everything from hand rolls and nigiri to a la carte dishes and its signature Domokase (DOMODOMO’s omakase).

The brand is celebrating its 10th anniversary on the East Coast, and has other locations in Jersey City and Dallas. The Hawaiʻi location is open to the public starting tonight for dinner. 

i is to create a space that feels both familiar and fresh — one that connects our East Coast roots with the Pacific’s welcoming spirit,” states Brian Kim, co-founder and DOMODOMO executive chef. Kim is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America with more than 20 years of experience.

i’s design features natural light and warm wood textures. The 3,000-square-foot restaurant boasts panoramic views of the ocean and golf course.

The extensive menu goes beyond hand rolls. You’ll find izakaya-style appetizers, sushi, katsu sets, rice and noodle dishes and a la carte hot dishes. 

The menu is inspired by popular Japanese and Korean comfort foods.

No visit to DOMODOMO is complete without trying the brand’s popular hand rolls. The hand roll combo ($24 for four pieces) includes spicy tuna, salmon cream cheese, spicy crab and shrimp tempura.

Sushi and sashimi options are plentiful, ranging from yellowtail crudo ($26) and chef

’s choice sashimi plate ($38) to a variety of rolls (shrimp tempura, salmon cream cheese, spicy crab and more). If you want a sampler, go for the chef’s choice sushi plate ($32), which features eight assorted nigiri.

During dinner, the eatery even offers a sushi and hand roll course ($42). It includes yellowtail crudo, chef’s choice of premium sushi, and choice of two hand rolls.

Appetizers range from shrimp yuzu salad ($16) and fried corn ribs ($14) to menchi katsu ($14), truffle salt French fries ($12) and fried kanikama ($14). The fried corn ribs are topped with corn cheese powder and shio kombu. We especially enjoyed the crispy fried kanikama (crab), which was topped with nori powder and served with smoked aioli.

Katsu sets include rice, cabbage salad and miso soup; choose from pork loin ($24), pork tenderloin ($24) or ebi katsu ($25).

Hot entrees are also served with rice, cabbage salad and miso soup (the NY-style smashburger with fries is an exception). Options include miso black cod with kabocha puree ($28), spicy pork bulgogi ($25) and tteokgalbi loco moco ($23). The latter features tender tteokgalbi (minced beef short rib patties) over rice with savory brown gravy and a sunny-side up egg.

The Korean-style chirashi bowl is a colorful medley of seasonal fish, tobiko, mixed vegetables, egg and yuzu chojang. The Korean fried chicken ($21) — complete with garlic soy glaze and pickled celery — is expected to be another customer favorite.

During dinner, customers can opt for the eatery’s signature Domokase ($79) experience, or its take on the chef’s choice omakase. The dining experience includes Kona kampachi, octopus, beef carpaccio, grilled seasonal fish, chef’s choice premium sushi, choice of one hand roll and choice of dessert. 

Speaking of dessert, options include sweet potato crème brulee ($13) and kakigori ($12), or Japanese-style shave ice. Choose from three flavors — strawberry, matcha or grapefruit.

i location represents a return to the essence of DOMODOMO’s spirit.

“After 10 years, bringing DOMODOMO to the Islands feels like the most natural step in our journey,” Kim states. “Hawai

i embodies harmony — between nature, culture and people. That spirit aligns perfectly with who we are as a brand.”

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Open 11 a.m.-4 p.m., 4-9 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 4-9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays

DOMODOMO Hawaii owners 111925

<title>DOMODOMO Hawaiʻi is open in ‘Ewa Beach</title>

The contemporary Japanese restaurant from New York — known for its hand roll bar — is open in 360° Ewa Beach Country Club. DOMODOMO New York was featured on the MICHELIN Guide’s Bib Gourmand list from 2017 through 2023. Here’s what you’ll find at its new Hawaiʻi location.

DOMODOMO Hawaiʻi is open in ‘Ewa Beach

Cheryl Tsutsumi

Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi

Aloha Spirit

Columnists

White shirt with ruffled cuffs and matching ascot. Red coat with white faux fur trim. Red vest, suspenders and drop-front trousers. Wide black belt with a big gold buckle. Black boots, white gloves, and a red hat with white trim and pom-pom.

In an hour, Steve Butler has donned them all and is ready to spread holiday cheer as the jolliest of Santa Clauses.

“The beard and belly are mine,” he said, smiling, “but the clothes are thanks to my sister, Debbie, who volunteered her talents as a fashion designer and seamstress. 

There are also so many accessories, including bells, bags, glasses, and gold chains attached to tassels and bejeweled baubles. Santa’s favorite store is Amazon, and his second favorite store is Goodwill. With Debbie’s help, my outfit wound up costing $1,500; otherwise, I would’ve had to spend $6,000.”

A resident of Wahiawā Heights, Butler has been portraying Santa for the past 15 years. In the beginning, he did it primarily for family, friends and his church, Waipi‘o Grace Brethren Church in Mililani, where he is a deacon.

“My dad was our family’s Santa from the time I was a toddler,” Butler said. “He was very round and really looked the part. He wore a suit that my mom made, and he was a ham. He always had a twinkle in his eyes and was up for fun. When he passed away, my grandkids begged me to continue the tradition. How could I refuse?”

Butler retired as the supervisor of the Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Fuel Maintenance Department at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard in February 2020, a month before the COVID-19 shutdown. Two years later, when fears about the pandemic had eased and businesses had reopened, he decided to pursue paid Santa gigs.

Toward the end of October 2022, Butler posted ads on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace that said “Santa is available” and promptly booked a dozen appearances. Over the years, he has shared the joy of Christmas at homes, stores, schools, hospitals, country clubs, craft fairs, visitor attractions and shopping malls all around O‘ahu.

Butler proudly notes he’s a 2023 graduate of the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School in Midland, Michigan, which, established in 1937, is the oldest such school in the world. “Before I found out about it via my Facebook Feed, I didn’t have a clue that Santa schools are a thing,” he said. “Apparently they are, because there are several of them in the U.S. alone.”

Howard was a farmer in Albion, New York, who, dismayed at seeing Santas with frayed suits, unkempt beards and scant knowledge of elves, decided to establish a school to train better representatives of the Christmas icon. He came with credentials, having played Santa at stores in his hometown as well as Buffalo, Rochester, Dallas and Kansas City. From 1948 to 1965, he was the Santa who waved to crowds on a float in Macy's famed Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

Since 1987, the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School has been run by Tom Valent, a 1975 graduate, and his wife, Holly. Open just three days in mid-October each year, the school draws 300 enthusiastic students who quickly discover being Santa is much more than just looking the part.

What an incredible experience it was!” Butler said. “I was thrilled to meet so many of my brothers in red, and we had a great time learning how to be the best Santa we can be. We got tips about makeup, caring for our suit, and styling our hair and beard. We made wooden toy boxes. We visited a reindeer farm. Reindeer are smaller than you think, and I bet you didn’t know that they can’t eat carrots because they don’t have incisors on their upper jaw. If you were so inclined—yes, I was!—you could join the choir, which practiced after regular classes were done. Have you ever heard dozens of Santas singing ‘Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer’? Chicken skin!”

The school’s instructors have portrayed Santa for years and emphasize a code of conduct for students taking on that role. Santa must be punctual. He must not use recreational drugs. He must wear a suit that fits well. He must have good hygiene; he can never be sweaty, stinky or smell like alcohol and/or cigarette smoke. He must love kids and have a friendly, courteous, positive and happy demeanor.

“And Santa never makes promises,” Butler said. “Instead of saying yes or no when a child asks for a specific gift, it’s okay to say something like ‘I’ll talk to the elves, and we’ll see what we can do’ or ‘Since I have to deliver presents to children all around the world, sometimes I run out of space in the sleigh.’ When you put that red suit on, you have to be quick-witted and ready to answer any question.”

Butler’s goal is to ensure keiki leave his lap feeling that Santa has listened to them. “I pride myself on being a personal and interactive Santa, not just a cookie-cutter one to be in a picture,” he said. “I 

being Santa, even though not all encounters are joyful. In fact, some are really sad, especially when kids tell me they’ve lost a loved one or their parents are getting a divorce. They ask, ‘Can you get my mom and dad back together again?’ They look to Santa for hope and comfort. It can be a heavy burden. I hug them and turn away to wipe my tears, knowing I have to greet the next girl or boy with a big smile.”

Still, Butler always looks forward to assuming his Santa persona. By this time, he has carefully inspected his outfit, resewn loose buttons, and reattached the removable fur on his coat and hat. He has also ironed the red-and-white aloha shirts and red board shorts for his Hawaiian look, if his clients prefer that. He selected the fabrics for those special shirts and sister Debbie sewed them.

“Oh, it’ll be great fun again this year,” Butler said. “I’ll even get to sing and play my ‘ukulele!”

Where and when to see Santa

This year, Steve Butler’s public appearances include the Royal Hawaiian Center, 2201 Kalākaua Avenue, November 26 and 29 and December 10, 13, 17 and 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. (Wednesdays and Saturdays). You’ll also be able to see him at DFS Waikīkī, 330 Royal Hawaiian Avenue, from December 21-22 from 4 to 8 p.m.

Steve Butler as Santa 16x9

<title>Uncles and Aunties: Meet Steve Butler, AKA Santa Claus</title>

Wahiawā Heights resident Steve Butler has been appearing as Santa for 15 years. Looking the part helps, but he's also perfected his performance by attending the world's oldest Santa school.

Uncles and Aunties: Meet Steve Butler, AKA Santa Claus

Lopaka and Tanya Kapanui

Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya Kapanui

Hawaii History

For thousands of years, this stretch of the Nu‘uanu ahupua‘a lay at the edge of a tidal flat, where the sea mingled with fresh water from upland streams, creating a low, marshy basin. In those ancient days, the area was called Kou, where people would gather to watch ali‘i play games like kōnane and ‘ulu maika.

When foreigners began arriving, they found the naturally deep channel created by Nu‘uanu Stream accommodated their large ships. The port’s popularity grew as Pacific trade increased, leading to the rapid development of the surrounding community. As foreign ships began crowding Honolulu Harbor in the 19th century, the Kingdom’s need for a modern port was clear, and dredging began, carving deeper channels into the harbor floor. The displaced sand, coral rubble, and sediment were spread over the marshy land, burying the tidal basin with layers of man-made fill. What had once been an intertidal landscape was transformed into dry, level ground ready for a new wave of the growing city.

Beneath this fill, however, the old lagoon did not entirely disappear, and archaeologists continue to uncover a past that had been buried for nearly a century.

When the Harbor Court site was excavated in the early 1990s, crews found traditional Hawaiian artifacts, including ornaments and tools made of bone, shell, and stone, indicating that the area was inhabited as early as A.D. 1000-1200. Other layers produced artifacts such as ceramics and bottle glass, introduced in the late 1700s by merchants and sailors.  

One deposit pulled from the excavation site revealed a line of post molds believed to be the remains of the wooden palisade, the protective wall of upright posts, that once surrounded Kamehameha’s compound, mere steps away from the ancient Pakaka heiau. For centuries, this heiau was a gathering place for kāhuna to learn and train in their respective arts. In one description, it is said that the walls of the heiau were adorned all around with the heads of men offered in sacrifice.

And, as is common throughout Honolulu’s older districts, they uncovered ancient burials. The quiet presence of iwi kūpuna confirmed that this ground had been lived upon, worked upon, and returned to for generations, long before Harbor Court was ever imagined.

By the time engineers prepared the site for building, the land had shared numerous tales of ancient life and buried history. The construction itself was not uneventful. Workers and foremen spoke of soft pockets beneath the surface that caused piles to drop farther than expected, disappearing into unseen spaces below. Others spoke of whispers in their ears while they worked, soft voices that were lost in the construction racket but real enough to make the workers pause and rub the chicken skin away.

Tenants and office staff have their own stories that they’ve shared over the years. Some spoke of odd shifts in perception and visual distortions, such as shimmering in the corner of their vision. Others reported sudden drops in pressure, dimming hallway lights, and objects floating across the room on their own. The most common spooky theme, though, is the seemingly haunted elevators.

A few months ago, I received a call from former newscaster Diane Ako. She had recently visited friends located on a high floor in the luxury condo/office building, and after her meeting, she caught the service elevator to leave. As she took note of the doors at both the front and back of the car and the moving blankets lining the walls, Diane stepped in, pressed the L button, and headed for the lobby.

Although no other buttons on the panel were lit, the elevator car stopped at the 28th floor, and the rear doors opened onto a short hallway. The dingy, off-white hall was dimly lit and seemed abandoned. Then, in typical “haunted house” fashion, the lights flickered and the doors slid closed. The elevator finally made its way down to the lobby as the blankets on the walls fluttered, adding to the creepy effect.

The ride seemed much longer than it should have been, and Diane called her friend that she’d just left to explain her strange experience in the elevator.

Her description was met with a chuckle, and her friend asked, “Did you catch the far one?”

Apparently, this is a common occurrence for building regulars, and maintenance workers can’t find anything wrong.

Some think it might be ghosts, others believe it’s because the tower was built over old burials. Although strange events occur frequently, especially with the elevators, many still find it unsettling. Life goes on at Harbor Court. But far beneath the tower’s foundation, the buried landscape continues to cradle old stories, waiting for whoever cares to listen.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Harbor Court Large

<title>Ups and downs of haunted Harbor Court</title>

Long ago, the land under Harbor Court in Downtown Honolulu hosted a heiau and generations of Native Hawaiians. Layers of landfill and modern architecture may have covered the area, but they can't erase the lingering traces of the past.

Ups and downs of haunted Harbor Court

Thanksgiving is coming up on Thursday, Nov. 27. Whether you’re dining out or looking for an at-home feast, check out the following options:

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Diamond Head Market & Grill"}]

: Diamond Head Market & Grill’s Thanksgiving Day plate special ($36.95) includes in-house roasted turkey with fresh herb gravy, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, wild mushroom-brioche stuffing, candied sweet potatoes, cranberry orange compote, local vegetables, a diner roll and pumpkin pecan crunch. No substitutions; pre-payment is required and limited quantities are available.

Pumpkin crunch ($44) is also available from the bakery in 9-inch round sizes; they’re available for pick-up until Nov. 29. 

: Pick-up from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 27 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Dixie Grill"}]

: These ready-to-eat Thanksgiving meals are designed to feed eight to 12 people ($250 for set, $150 for turkey only). Meals include a smoked Cajun-seasoned turkey, cornbread stuffing with turkey gravy, and choice of coleslaw, mac salad or green salad with dressing. The restaurant is also offering whole pies for sale; choices include key lime pie ($40) or buttermilk or peach cobbler ($35). Deadline to order is Nov. 22. 

: Pick-up times are Nov. 26 (3 to 8 p.m.), Nov. 27 (8 a.m. to 1 p.m.) or Nov. 28 (12 to 5 p.m.). 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Fig & Ginger Honolulu"}]

: Fig & Ginger Honolulu’s graze & gather board ($130) is designed to feed four to six people. It includes four cheeses, three meats, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, dried fruits, nuts, edible maple leaves (made from rice paper), maple cream cookies and assorted crackers. Fig & Ginger Honolulu’s foliage of gratitude ($65) is designed to feed four to six people and includes two cheeses, two meats, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, edible maple leaves (made from rice paper), and assorted crackers. 

: The resort’s Ilima Terrace will feature a Thanksgiving buffet ($129 per adult, $64.50 per child). 

The buffet includes prime rib, turkey, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, stuffing, baked green bean casserole, baked yams with marshmallows, charcuterie, a sushi station, a dim sum station, desserts like pumpkin and pecan pies, mango crunch bars, pumpkin spice crème brulee and more. Reservations are required.

The resort is also offering a chef-prepared Thanksgiving takeout feast ($119). It’s designed to serve four people and includes turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, yams, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls and pumpkin pie. 

https://www.hyatt.com/grand-hyatt/en-US/kauai-grand-hyatt-kauai-resort-and-spa/dining

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Istanbul Hawaiʻi"}]

i’s Thanksgiving spread costs $120 per guest (with a $55 wine or arak pairing). The feast includes a choice of Kula lavender honey turkey breast with saffron rice, golden broth and spiced butter; winter pirzola featuring dry-aged lamb chop, Hamakua mushroom demi-glace and black garlic; and Mediterranean sea bass with saffron tarator and Kula lemon extra-virgin olive oil; and sides like date butter and pide, spiced whipped potatoes, orange blossom-glazed winter greens and carrots, charred bone gravy, and savory cherry and pomegranate pudding. The meal concludes with a seasonal dessert selection. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Kunia Chinese Restaurant"}]

Kunia Chinese Restaurant is offering several turkey packages. Choose from:

Turkey orders must be placed by Tuesday, Nov. 25. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Liliha Bakery"}]

: Liliha Bakery is offering a variety of pies (pumpkin, apple, custard and pumpkin chiffon), pumpkin maple cupcakes, decorated Thanksgiving cupcakes, butter rolls, corn bread, Liliha jelly and Liliha Chantilly for Thanksgiving. All of these items will be available at Liliha Bakery’s Original, Nimitz, Pearl Highlands and Ala Moana locations (the Waikīkī location will have limited items). 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Merriman’s Honolulu"}]

: The Thanksgiving meal at Merriman’s Honolulu costs $135 per person ($45 for children ages 12 years and younger). It includes:

: Ruth’s Chris Steak House will offer a traditional three-course turkey feast ($55, dine-in only) consisting of oven-roasted turkey, sausage and herb stuffing, homemade turkey gravy, cranberry relish, a choice of side and dessert.

The restaurant is also offering Thanksgiving at Your Table, a take-home feast that’s designed to serve four guests ($210; preorders by Nov. 24 required). The feast includes a choice of starter (steak house salad or Caesar salad), entrée (oven-roasted turkey with sausage and herb stuffing, homemade turkey gravy and cranberry relish), choice of side (au gratin potatoes, creamed spinach, sweet potato casserole or brussels sprouts) and four pumpkin cheesecakes for dessert. 

: Starting at 11 a.m. Nov. 27 for dine-in; pick-up for the take-home meal is from noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 26 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"SERA Restaurant & Bar"}]

: Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa, 1390 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Honolulu 

: SERA will serve a family-style Thanksgiving menu ($75 per person). The holiday feast will include starters like a house salad, farm vegetables and pomegranate sherry vinaigrette; main dishes like herb-roasted turkey with giblet gravy and hibiscus cranberry chutney, Yukon gold smashed potato with romesco sauce, quinoa and wild rice with celery, apple and toasted macadamia nuts, roasted broccoli and long bean casserole; and desserts like pumpkin tartelette with chocolate and coconut haupia cream and baklava with pistachio and pink peppercorn. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"The Pint & Cork (Maui)"}]

: The Pint & Cork will offer Thanksgiving plates ($35 per person) comprising sage and rosemary roasted turkey, sausage and macadamia nut stuffing, turkey gravy, whipped gold potatoes, fresh cranberry-lychee sauce and a green bean and rainbow carrot medley. Customers can add a slice of pumpkin pie (additional $3). 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Vintage Books Hawaiʻi"}]

i’s Thanksgiving supper club ($80 per person) features a three-course menu. Feast on loco moco arancini (short rib arancini with herbed mushroom gravy and cured egg), Cornish game hen (mango chutney, kiri mochi, roasted parsnips and rutabaga) and pumpkin gateau basque (cake slice with caramelized apples and candied walnuts). 

: This Thanksgiving supper club menu is available until Nov. 30. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Wolfgang’s Steakhouse"}]

: Wolfgang’s Steakhouse, with locations in Waikīkī and on Maui, is serving a special Thanksgiving meal ($64.95 per person). It includes a choice of lobster bisque or Caesar salad; roast turkey with gravy, stuffing and mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and green beans; and pumpkin cheesecake for dessert. 

Thanksgiving part 3 Fig and Ginger Honolulu 111725

<title>Where to go for Thanksgiving 2025 – part 3</title>

More dine-in and takeout experiences for a stress-free holiday.

Where to go for Thanksgiving 2025 – part 3

. One of Asia’s largest convenience store chains, CU’s first location in Hawai

i commemorates its debut in the United States.

 is located in downtown Honolulu at 1088 Bishop Street. The brand has more than 18,500 stores across South Korea and 730 locations globally.

The Honolulu store is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Here’s what you’ll find:

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"A gourmet line of grab-and-go dishes"}]

i partnered with local celebrity chef Sheldon Simeon to create a gourmet line of hot entrees. Its Ho‘ina line features popular grab-and-go items, ranging from kalbi and smoked ‘ahi onigiri to Simeon’s famous garlic noodles.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Onigiri, gimbap and more"}]

Speaking of onigiri, you’ll find flavors ranging from Spam mayo and baked salmon to kimchi rice Spam musubi and egg and karaage chicken. 

Gimbap options range from tuna mayo and egg to vegetable and beef bulgogi.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Popular Korean street food"}]

i offers popular Korean street foods and some viral snacks. The tornado potato — located in the hot foods section by the cash register — is a hot commodity.

The Yonsei cream buns (in the refrigerated section) are also a customer favorite, as are the Knotted vanilla cream donuts.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Exclusive snacks and customizable drinks"}]

Keep an eye out for CU’s exclusive PBick snacks like the churro cookies with chocolate sauce for dipping, crispy shrimp chips, chili butter corn chips and more.

The Delaffe station is also popular — customers can grab empty cups filled with ice, and proceed to make their own drinks using flavored pouches. Mixing and matching flavors is popular, and the iced coffee with banana-flavored milk came highly recommended.

Ramyun wall and a huge selection of instant ramen

i offers a huge selection of ramen, featured in a colorful “ramyun wall” display. Customers can purchase instant ramen and use the store’s cooking stations to prepare their meals on-site.

Simply scan the bowl’s barcode at the machine, and follow the labeled instructions to add hot water and seasoning packets.

The store also offers tteokbokki (a popular Korean dish consisting of rice cakes in a spicy red sauce) that customers can prepare.

There are a few standing tables — designed to look like large instant ramen cups — within the store, and a designated seating area outside.

CU Hawaii partnered with renowned local designer Sig Zane, who created exclusive design elements in the store. The CU Hawai

i x Sig Zane collab also features specialty products like stainless steel water bottles, totes and mugs.

Customers can also find lei from Lin’s Lei Shop and coffee from Island Vintage Coffee at the downtown Honolulu location.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Korean beauty products"}]

Of course, no Korean convenience store would be complete without K-beauty products. CU Hawai

i features everything from toners to moisturizing face masks.

CU Hawaii sign 111725

<title>Here’s what you’ll find at the new CU convenience store</title>

CU, one of Asia’s largest convenience store chains, recently celebrated the grand opening of its downtown Honolulu store. Here’s everything you’ll find, from a ramyun wall and Korean street food to exclusive snacks and Sig Zane x CU Hawaiʻi merchandise.

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Kady Pascual

Social Media Editor

More in Hawaiʻi Scene on Social

Gotta catch ‘em all — at Ala Moana Center: voices from Pokémon GO’s “Wild Area: Global” event

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