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Hawai'i Skies

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Garrett Seto at Kewalo Basin Harbor. "Caught this unreal sunset after a surf sesh. Kewalos knows how to close the day in style. Perfect finish to a full day of surf."

To submit your Hawai'i Skies photo, visit us 

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25 11 26 Garrett Seto

<title>Hawai‘i Skies: Surf into the sunset</title>

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Garrett Seto at Kewalo Basin Harbor.

Hawai‘i Skies: Surf into the sunset

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Garrett Seto at Kewalo Basin Harbor. "Caught this unreal sunset after a surf sesh. Kewalos knows how to close the day in style. Perfect finish to a full day of surf." To submit your Hawai'i Skies photo, visit us online or email: general@alohastatedaily.com For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up here for our free Daily Edition newsletter.

Lopaka and Tanya Kapanui

Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya Kapanui

Hawaii History

Columnists

The “Pink Palace of the Pacific” has stood on the shores of Waikīkī since 1927, welcoming presidents, royalty, and Hollywood stars since opening its doors. Today, it serves as a symbol of luxury. But long before Waikīkī became an international travel destination, it was once the royal seat of O‘ahu. As such, the grounds and the surf here were off-limits to anyone who was not of ali‘i status.

In the 1600s, during the time of Ali‘i Kakuhihewa, there was a champion fighting rooster that lived in Ka‘au, a large crater in the Pālolo district above Waikīkī. This was no ordinary rooster, however. People said this rooster was a half-man, half-chicken supernatural being often referred to as Ka‘auhelumoa.

According to oral tradition, Ka‘auhelumoa flew down from his home one day and landed in Waikīkī. Furiously scratching the earth, he caught the attention of Kakuhihewa, and then he suddenly vanished. Kakuhihewa took this as an omen and planted niu (coconuts) where the rooster was digging.

The planting proved transformative. Coconut trees were essential to Hawaiians due to their versatility and abundance. Used for food and drink, fiber for ropes, and material for building, the niu appears in numerous chants and legends. Even the water in a young coconut is used for special blessings and ceremonies.

From Kakuhihewa’s initial planting, more than 10,000 coconut trees filled the area, and this grove became known as “Helumoa.”

By the end of the 19th century, Waikīkī no longer served as a center of chiefly power. Its shoreline drew recreation-seekers instead. In March 1898, Colonel George Macfarlane leased a portion of Helumoa to establish a seaside annex to Downtown Honolulu’s Hawaiian Hotel.

He hired laborers to clear and level the land and remove the coconut trees. The workers spent the morning cutting the roots around the trees, then went to lunch. As they were returning from their break, a strong gust of wind shook the trees, which began to sway dangerously. Without roots to stabilize them, the trees were bound to topple over. The men started running when the unthinkable happened.

Flung high into the air by the catapultic motion of the roots of the falling trees was a mass of human bones. As ribs, femurs, and vertebrae flew through the air, something struck one worker in the back with a hard thud. When he turned to see what hit him, he nearly died of fright as an ancient skull stared back at him!

The newspaper reported that there was no way to get the men back to work that day. The only one who returned was the foreman who found an entire skeleton in a sitting position with its arms extended over its head, and another disassembled skeleton nearby.  

An elderly woman named Kaohi, a former retainer of Princess Pauahi, said she was born there and still lived nearby. She explained that there used to be a heiau on that spot, and the bodies of Hawaiians slain in battle were buried within its walls.

This information isn’t in their welcome packet. Beneath the bright sun and the gentle sway of palm trees, the 

 hides its spooky shadows well. Hotel staff are professional and discreet, but some admit there have been more than a few strange reports. Quite often, these odd events center around a particular room on the third floor.

Guests have called down to the front desk, confused and frustrated, saying they’re locked out of their room. But when hotel maintenance arrives to assist, the door opens without issue.

Inside, the room looks like every other, immaculate and welcoming, cooled by central air. However, some guests have noted a single cold spot in the room that isn’t near any vents. Even in the warmest months, the chill lingers in that one exact place, as though something cold and invisible is standing there. But the most disturbing reports have nothing to do with malfunctioning doors or strange temperatures. They happen in the dead of night.

Richard and Alice arrived on their first evening in Hawai‘i, eager for rest after a long flight, but by midnight, neither of them could settle enough to fall into a deep sleep. They shifted and turned all night, waking at odd intervals, assuming it was nothing more than travel fatigue.

Alice began to doze off again, only to feel Richard sit up beside her. When she opened her eyes to ask if he was okay, she saw him staring at the foot of the bed. Following his gaze, her breath caught in her throat.

A tall figure stood near the bed, motionless. Although it seemed like a person, its outline was too smooth. There were no facial features or clothing details; it was just a tall person-shaped shadow. Alice squeezed her eyes shut and opened them again. At that exact moment, Richard reached over and clicked on the lamp.

[{"type":"text","text":"There was no one else in the room."}]

Their disbelief came first, then the instinct to check the room. The doors, closets, bathroom, and behind the curtains; no one was hiding, and nothing was disturbed. When Richard called security, two guards arrived, scanning for signs of an intruder, but they didn’t find anything either. They suggested the couple just needed rest, that jet lag could play tricks on the mind. But as the guards left, the uneasy memory of a shadowy figure remained.

Richard and Alice aren’t the only people to report strange feelings in their third-floor room. Other guests have described restless nights, tossing, turning, and waking from vivid nightmares. At first, they, too, chalk it up to jet lag. But when they roll over and open their eyes, they find a dark silhouette standing next to the bed. Always the same description: a tall, unmoving shadow person. A figure without features, standing just a little too close.

The Royal Hawaiian is one of the oldest hotels in Hawai‘i still in operation. Its walls have seen celebrations, heartbreak, war, and wealth. Some wonder if this shadow belongs to someone from the hotel’s early days who never checked out. Others think it belongs to someone who was there long before the hotel was built.

In Hawai‘i, not all ghosts are vengeful or malevolent. Some are simply lost. Some are protectors. Others are bound to a place, unable — or unwilling — to leave. Whatever presence resides in that room at the Royal Hawaiian, it doesn’t appear to mean harm. But it does want to be noticed.

The next time you stroll past the Pink Palace, stop for a minute to admire its elegance and take in its history. And if you ever stay there… don’t forget to leave the light on.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Royal Hawaiian Hotel

<title>Spooky shadows at the Pink Palace</title>

The Royal Hawaiian Resort Waikīkī is nearly a century old, and at least three centuries of history and legends predate it at its seaside location. Is it any wonder guests have reported otherworldly experiences?

Spooky shadows at the Pink Palace

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Government & Politics

Riders are continuing to take to the rails, more than a month after the second segment of Skyline 

Since then, weekday ridership numbers have routinely surpassed 10,000 daily, according to data provided to Aloha State Daily by the City and County of Honolulu.

There were three Mondays — Oct. 20, Oct. 27 and Nov. 10 — where the number of riders dipped just below that threshold: 9,816, 9,936 and 9,998 respectively.

Veteran’s Day, which was Tuesday, Nov. 11, had the lowest weekday ridership tally since Oct. 16, with 7,966.

Opening day of segment 2 had the highest weekday count so far, with 11,897 riders, followed by Wednesday, Nov. 19, with 11,298. Even more turned out for a 

 and spans just under 11 miles from East Kapolei to Aloha Stadium. This section includes the rail's first nine stations.

The newly opened 5.2-mile stretch of guideway now carries riders beyond Aloha Stadium to the Middle Street Transit Center and has four new stations: Makalapa (Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam), Lelepaua (Daniel K. Inouye International Airport), Āhua (Lagoon Drive) and Kahauiki (Middle Street Transit Center), taking riders to some of the island’s biggest employment hubs.

“The Department of Transportation Services is incredibly pleased to see our communities embrace Skyline as a new alternative way to get around,” DTS Deputy Director Jon Nouchi said in a statement provided to Aloha State Daily. “We are now seeing average weekday ridership surpass 11,000 passengers, a figure that is triple what we carried during the operation of Segment 1.”

Nouchi says it’s “particularly encouraging” to see that of the rail’s four highest-performing stations, three are part of the newly opened segment: Kahauiki, Āhua and Lelepaua.

“This data confirms that we are connecting our residents to the destinations that matter most,” he continued. “Additionally, we are also carrying about 8,500 riders on our new connected A Line, U Line, and W Line, which express passengers on fast, frequent, and direct routes to Downtown Honolulu, [University of Hawai‘i at] Mānoa, and Waikīkī, respectively.  We look to [improve] TheBus services to and from Skyline to bring more people to Skyline and further growing our ridership into the future.”

(ICYMI: You can read more about new and recently modified bus routes 

“Seeing more than 10,000 riders a day on Skyline’s second segment in its first six weeks is an outstanding start. It shows that people are embracing this system and the convenience it brings. We expect ridership to continue growing as more residents experience how Skyline can make their commute easier and more reliable,” Mayor Rick Blangiardi said in a statement provided to ASD.

City spokesman Scott Humber told ASD in an email that the city's Department of Transportation Services originally wanted to double ridership in the second segment and “we have exceeded that by nearly tripling it, going from 3,500 daily to more than 10,000.”

Humber noted, too, that Mayor Rick Blangiardi wants to get to 25,000 rides daily by Oct. 16, 2026.

, daily ridership counts ranged from 1,842 to 7,519. Prior to the second section of the rail route opening last month, monthly ridership numbers this year had been as low as 89,167 in 

 Here are the weekday counts from Oct. 16 through Nov. 21, provided by the city:

Skyline 100925 1

<title>Skyline ridership still up a month after second segment opens</title>

Weekday ridership numbers have routinely surpassed 10,000 daily since the second section of the rail opened on Oct. 16, according to data from the City and County of Honolulu.

Skyline ridership still up a month after second segment opens

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

This new Japanese-style hamburger steak spot is opening on Monday, Nov. 24 in Kaimukī.

Located in the former Chubbies Burgers space in Kaimukī, 

 — owned by restaurant group Funergy Group Inc., which operates Tori Ton, Izakaya Tenkichi and Totoya — specializes in Japanese-style hamburger steaks.

The restaurant interior was modeled, and now boasts a vibrant yellow hue and anime on the walls. The design was inspired by Akihabara, a neighborhood in Tokyo, according to Funergy Group Inc. owner Takuya Tsutsumi.

Originally, Tsutsumi was thinking to open another izakaya, but decided to go with the “hamburger steak” concept instead.

“It’s very popular in Japan now, since maybe three or four years ago,” he says.

He explains that the eatery’s name refers to the hamburger steak’s shape (“maru”) and the sizzling sound made when it’s cooked (“ju”).

Tsutsumi explains that the hamburger steaks are first cooked on the grill, then in the oven, and are served on a sizzling platter; its sauce is poured tableside.

“There’s a combination of a little bit of pork, beef, the beef fat and a secret recipe,” Tsutsumi says.

He explains that the eatery’s sauces are homemade, making each dish unique.

[{"type":"text","text":"“The original sauce takes more than seven hours to make,” he says."}]

Hamburger steak sets come in two sizes — regular ($23.50) or large ($28.50) — and include vegetables, pasta, miso soup and rice.

Choose from sauces like signature onion, sweet garlic soy glaze, grated daikon ponzu, green onion salt marinade, and Gorgonzola cheese. While the signature onion — boasting a nice balance of sweet and savory — is projected to be the most popular option, I’m partial to the rich, creamy Gorgonzola.

The hamburger steaks are thick, juicy, tender and ultra flavorful — even before the sauce is added. Customers can add extra toppings like grilled onions ($2), garlic chips ($1.90), grilled bacon ($3.90) and more.

Tsutsumi also recommends trying the eatery’s braised hamburg in mushroom demi-glace sauce. This option comes with the same side dishes as the original hamburger steak; choose from regular ($24.50) or large ($29.50) sizes. There’s also a keiki size ($12.50) that is served with potatoes, carrots, broccoli and pasta.

Marujuu also offers chicken steak ($17.90) — choose from yuzu pepper sauce, signature onion sauce or sweet garlic soy glaze — and rib-eye steak ($29.50 regular, $38.50 large).

“We marinate the chicken overnight so it’s very tender,” Tsutsumi says. “We use chicken thighs.”

The eatery will be open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. and from 5 to 10 p.m. for dinner (last call 9:15 p.m.) Wednesdays to Mondays (it’s closed on Tuesdays). Right now, it’s first come, first served; a reservation system may be set up in the future.

Open 11 a.m.-2:15 p.m., 5-10 p.m. (last call 9:15 p.m.) Wednesdays to Mondays

Marujuu Hawaii hamburger steak cross section 112225

<title>Japanese-style hamburger steak spot is opening in Kaimukī</title>

Marujuu Hawaiʻi — sister restaurant of Totoya, Tori Ton and Izakaya Tenkichi — is opening on Monday, Nov. 24 in the former Chubbies Hawaiʻi space in Kaimukī. The biz specializes in Japanese-style hamburger steaks that are delivered on sizzling platters to your table.

Japanese-style hamburger steak spot is opening in Kaimukī

Business & Tourism

Hawai‘i’s high cost of living is driving more people to consider leaving the Islands, a new survey from 

The Honolulu-based nonprofit, which works to make Hawai‘i more affordable for working families, recently released the results of its second annual Hawai‘i Affordability Survey.

AE Consulting surveyed employees at 25 local for-profit, nonprofit and public organizations that serve a wide range of sectors. More than 3,200 residents — 63% of whom are lifetime residents and 19% of whom have lived in the Islands for more than 20 years — participated.

According to the survey, 29% of respondents believe they'll have relocate to a less expensive state in the future while 46% are unsure if they will. In 2024, those numbers were 26% and 44%, respectively.

Households earning more than $150,000 annually are less likely to say they plan to move away while households below that threshold are more likely to do so.

“In 2024, the decrease in the likelihood that a household will relocate began at the $100,000 mark, suggesting that, in the year since, Hawai‘i’s cost of living pressures have further encroached on higher income brackets,” the survey notes.

, the most surprising result from the survey was “how significantly

the ‘danger zone’ for leaving Hawai‘i has expanded into higher income brackets,” he told Aloha State Daily in an emailed response to questions.

“Last year, we saw financial pressure easing for households earning over $100,000. This year, that threshold jumped to $150,000,” he explained. “It was surprising to see that even households earning between $100,000 and $150,000 are now just as likely to consider leaving as those earning less. It’s a stark wake-up call that the cost-of-living crisis is no longer just about ‘making ends meet,’ but is destabilizing established, middle-income professionals who many likely assumed were secure.”

Here are some more findings from the survey:

The survey also measured what residents want and their confidence in local institutions like government, labor unions, the business community, nonprofits and the public school system.

Wisch told ASD that Holomua Collective launched the survey to capture “hard data on the real-world experiences” of the state’s workforce.

“While we all know the cost of living is high, we need to understand exactly who is struggling, why they are considering leaving and what specific changes would actually convince them to stay,” he says.

This is the nonprofit’s second annual survey. Wisch says the goal was to reach a broad cross-section of local workers.

“What last year’s survey revealed — and this year’s survey confirmed — is that local cost-of-living challenges are hurting not just those we already knew were in crisis, but also the middle- and upper-middle-income families that form so much of our tax base,” he continued. “By gathering responses from over 3,200 workers across all counties and industries, we can provide policymakers and community leaders with a clearer picture of the problems rather than just guessing at solutions.”

The goal, says Wisch, is to use the data to drive action.

“We want to diagnose both the symptoms and the root causes of our affordability crisis so we can build advocacy around evidence-based solutions,” he says. “Specifically, we are using these findings to clarify priorities, inform policy and foster collaboration.”

There’s no silver bullet, though, when it comes to addressing the top three priorities identified by those surveyed: housing affordability, better wages and general economic stability, Wisch says. But there are “many individual opportunities to limit the burden.”

“On the housing front, we need to focus on housing that is dedicated to local workers. The market is currently priced for offshore investors rather than local incomes,” he says. “We need to build and preserve a housing stock specifically for residents who live and work here.

“We also need to look at the cost of doing business and the cost of living as two sides of the same coin. We need to simultaneously support policies that let local workers keep more of their paycheck, help local businesses thrive so they can afford to pay the higher wages our residents need and get local workers access to opportunities and programs to assist them in developing the skills they need to grow in their careers.

According to Wisch, Holomua Collective was founded in 2022 by a group of local business and nonprofit leaders concerned that many employees and families were relocating to the Mainland, despite offering competitive wages and strong benefit packages.

“They saw the need for an organization dedicated to keeping all local working families in Hawai‘i by making sure they can afford to stay,” he says. “We were created to address these long-standing systemic affordability challenges with a fresh, collaborative approach.”

 include Chair Mike Pietsch, president and chief operating officer of Title Guaranty; Jason Fujimoto, president and CEO of 

, CEO of Parker Ranch; Brandon Kurisu, president of aio Family of Companies; Brad Nicolai, president of JN Group; and Sunshine Topping, Hawai‘i lead of The Omidyar Group. An advisory committee includes Joshua Feldman, president and CEO of Tori Richard; Brittany Heyd, co-founder of Mana Up; Alicia Moy, president and CEO of Hawai‘i Gas; and Ed Shultz, president and CEO of Hawaiian Host Group.

 filed in 2024, the nonprofit had total revenues of about $1.88 million in 2023.

Oahu neighborhoods homes i Stock

<title>New survey says more people are considering leaving Hawai‘i</title>

Honolulu-based nonprofit Holomua Collective — which works to make Hawai‘i more affordable for working families — recently released the results of its second annual Hawai‘i Affordability Survey.

New survey says more people are considering leaving Hawai‘i

Business owners in Hawai‘i can help improve financing for the state’s small businesses by taking the Federal Reserve’s 2025 Small Business Credit Survey, a 12-minute survey that’s open now.

According to an announcement from the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, a partner in the effort, the survey gives business owners and financial decision-makers at for-profit businesses a chance to share about their recent experiences about whether and how you use debt, the financial conditions you face and more.

Responses contribute to data that directly inform the Fed, federal government agencies, service providers, policy makers and others, DBEDT says.

The survey is open to businesses currently in operation, those recently closed and those that will launch through Nov. 14.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Small businesses by the number"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Small businesses are big business in Hawai‘i."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"According to U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy:"}]

You can find more data about small business in Hawai‘i 

Shop open sign/unsplash

<title>Survey available for business owners</title>

The Federal Reserve's 2025 Small Business Credit Survey is now open for Hawai‘i small businesses to weigh in on their borrowing preferences and financial outlook.

Survey available for business owners

Two new tenants have recently opened up shop at Ala Moana Center, one has temporarily relocated and more are coming soon, the center announced Wednesday. Here's what you should know.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"What's new:"}]

— The second brick-and-mortar location of 

, a Honolulu-based boutique offering swimwear and activewear, can be found on Street Level 1 of the ‘Ewa wing. It also has a location at 

, which rents mobility scooters, wheelchairs and strollers, and offers secure luggage storage, can be found on Street Level 1 at Center Court.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"On the move:"}]

 has moved to a new temporary location on Mall Level 2 of the ‘Ewa Wing while its permanent store is under construction. The new permanent store is scheduled to open next year.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Coming soon:"}]

, a Hawai‘i-based jewelry brand, is set to open on Level 3 of the ‘Ewa Wing this month.

 will open on Street Level 1 of the ‘Ewa Wing in December, offering Mexican-style cabana chillers, mango twisters and fresh fruit cups.

, the flagship brand of the Portland-based Columbia Sportswear Co., will open on Level 3 of the ‘Ewa Wing in February 2026. The brand offers 

outdoor apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment.

 will soon open their second location at Ala Moana Center in the Makai Market Food Court.

 will make its debut in the Islands in July 2026. You'll find on Mall Level 2 of the ‘Ewa wing.

More new tenants were announced at the end of August. Read about those 

Ala Moana Center opened in 1959 and is the world's largest open-air shopping center with more than 2.4 million square feet of retail space. It offers more than 350 stores and 160 dining options.

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Authors

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