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ASD Staff

Hawai'i Skies

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Alexis Seto at Sherwood Beach. "There was no one out in the water. My son was excited to get some practice in before his heat."

To submit your Hawai'i Skies photo, visit us 

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Garrett Seto 26 1 29 16x9 jpeg

<title>Hawai‘i Skies: Dawn Patrol in Waimānalo</title>

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Alexis Seto at Sherwood Beach.

Hawai‘i Skies: Dawn Patrol in Waimānalo

Today&#039;s Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Alexis Seto at Sherwood Beach. &quot;There was no one out in the water. My son was excited to get some practice in before his heat.&quot; To submit your Hawai&#039;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.

Daily Smile

They say if your dog is smart, they will put their paw against the wall...

Smile 26 4 3

<title>Daily Smile: Friday, April 3, 2026</title>

Daily Smile: Friday, April 3, 2026

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

Aloha Spirit

, the Kailua-based Queen of Island Reggae, had to pick a few words powering her in 2026, she would go with: “all days on” and “collaboration.”

Love recently spoke with Aloha State Daily from Aotearoa, where she was set to have her first official performance in over a decade. She was a featured international artist at a pre-party event for 

Jim Beam Homegrown, a large music festival with seven stages

It's been quite a long time since I've performed here. 

And I've never performed here without Fiji. It's gonna be emotional and nostalgic — and all the things.”

Love had been planning to go to Aotearoa to record new music with George Brooks Veikoso, known as Fiji, who had been based there the last few years of his life. Recently, she spent time looking through some of the tracks he started, which had not been published yet. Love, who knew Fiji for more than 20 years, was invited to finish a few of those, she said. They previously collaborated on singles like “It Is Wut It Is” and “Auright.”

Coming up this weekend, Love will take the stage at the Blue Note Hawaiʻi on Saturday, April 4. She will share music from her new 

 which was released in December of 2025, as well as classics from her catalog and a few songs that were released before streaming existed. She has several extended plays that are only on CDs and plans to digitize them soon and release them on a monthly basis on streaming services as archive throwback songs. Love also recently released the single “Love Reggae” last month. At the upcoming performances, several of the young women she mentors through her nonprofit, Mana Wāhine Movement, will be opening, she said.

“It's going to be a musical journey from what I'm doing with the girls now, in present day, and my new music — all the way back to old catalog stuff,” she said.

Love has more than 235,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, with large populations of listeners in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi and other parts of the United States, as well as Aotearoa and Australia. Love has 

toured with Morgan Heritage, Pink, Chaka Khan, Fiji, J Boog, Katchafire, Tarrus Riley and more

, according to her biography on the streaming platform.

“New Zealand is really good for genre bending, and that's kind of something I've always wanted to do,” she said, adding that Island Reggae is especially loved in Hawaiʻi, where she grew up. “My dad is part Jamaican, and my name is Jamaican, so reggae has always been kind of a foundational genre for me. But as an artist, I like to say, we don't ask painters to paint with one color. And for singers and musicians, one genre is like painting with one color.”

She is working on some Neo-soul/Reggae. Love has songs with Sammy Johnson and J Boog coming out soon, she said.

“I'm really trying to collaborate as much as possible too, because I feel we create things that we can't create on our own when we collaborate,” Love said. “For me as an artist, that's kind of my favorite thing is seeing the magic that we can create.”

Songwriting has been easier in Aotearoa and France than it is at home, she said. 

“I feel like as human beings, when we have access to put ourselves in new environments, it brings out different aspects of our personality,” she said. “Some even dormant abilities, in the sense of when I create out here, I feel like songwriting for me is a lot easier than it is when I'm in Hawaiʻi. And it's easier for me when I was in 

, so I really believe that it's just because I get to be my most authentic self in an environment that is less familiar to older versions of me.”

Whenever she returns home, her favorite comfort food is Saigon Noodle House in Kailua, she said.

“I get the same exact thing every time,” Love said. “It's the lemongrass tofu vermicelli.”

Sometimes, she gets comments on social media asking when she rests, she said.

“And from my vantage point, I'm barely doing enough,” she said. “I love what I do. I love how fulfilling it is to be able to be on stages and speaking. ... It feels like this is what I'm meant to be doing. I feel like I'm walking in my purpose. And so whenever we do that, we have this — I don't know — ancestral access of energy that just gives me the capacity to show up more, to sleep less, and to just do more.”

Love will be traveling a lot this year, with tours in Europe and Africa in the summer and Japan in the fall. In Aotearoa, she has been taking time to get outside.

“I always try to find the closest mauna to my hotel in the different cities I'm in here in Aotearoa and go for a walk — a trail walk or just sit in the parks that they usually have around the mauna,” she said. “I just want to encourage people to connect to the ʻāina, wherever you are. It's probably one of the easiest and most accessible ways to calm the nervous system in these trying times for humanity.”

 for her performances at 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. at the Blue Note Hawaiʻi. Doors open at 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., respectively. 

Irie Love

<title>Irie Love shares musical journey on Saturday in Waikīkī</title>

The Kailua-based Queen of Island Reggae just returned from Aotearoa where she performed for the first time in more than 10 years. This weekend, she will share classics, new music from her album “Reflections,” and archive throwback songs on Saturday, April 4, in Waikīkī.

Irie Love shares musical journey on Saturday in Waikīkī

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

Government & Politics

As Hawai‘i communities continue to recover from destructive back-to-back storms that caused significant flooding and damage across the Islands last month, architects across the state are offering their support.

Architects "stand ready to assist in evaluating structural damage, navigating repair options and supporting resilient rebuilding,” a recent announcement from 

 notes. They can help property owners "understand the extent of damage, determine whether repairs are feasible and ensure that any reconstruction meets current building codes and incorporates strategies to better withstand future climate-related events."

“Architecture, at its core, is about creating physical space that is safe, functional and [meaningful] to community,” Melanie Islam, president of AIA Hawai‘i, told Aloha State Daily in an email. “At this time, the most important perspective architects can provide is supporting the frameworks that ensure families, kūpuna and keiki impacted by the floods are safe, healthy and able to stay together.

“Our role as architects will become more relevant once residents and community have had time to heal, assess the damage and begin thinking about what the future of their community and homes should look like,” she continued. “At that stage, we can work alongside community to shape homes and neighborhoods that feel safer from future storms, while keeping the identity of the [place] they love and call home.

 said in the announcement last week that there had been no requests from state or county agencies to deploy architects through the AIA’s 

“After a disaster, an important priority is to help residents understand whether their homes and buildings are safe to return to,” Islam said Monday. “The Safety Assessment Program, or SAP, trains licensed professionals — architects and engineers — to support community by assessing damaged buildings so that people can make informed, safer decisions during a difficult time.

“As volunteers, SAP professionals work with the city and state disaster recovery teams. At this time, we have not been activated, but when the community and governmental agencies are ready, SAP Professionals and AIA Hawai‘i are here to help.

 had a chance to volunteer in Waialua last week through the Pacific Century Fellows, where he was able to connect with and hear first-hand stories from the community. 

Hirai says he realized that whether you're offering help or receiving it, "being present makes a difference." 

As for ways architects can support the community, Hirai says, “At this point in time, when the community members are ready, we can help. We’d love to have an AIA table in Waialua to listen, to offer guidance and connect in any way we can.”

AIA Hawai‘i also notes that the public should be aware of potential scams that can arise in the wake of natural disasters.

"Residents should be cautious of unsolicited offers for repair services, especially from individuals who request large upfront payments, lack proper licensing or pressure homeowners into quick decisions," the recent announcement noted. "Always verify that contractors and design professionals are properly licensed in the state of Hawai‘i and request written agreements before proceeding with any work."

 that the two March storms, 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.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

DSC07742 16x9

In an interview with Aloha State Daily, Hirai said that he’s lucky “to be a part of such a momentous time” for the organization, which marks it 100th anniversary this year.

AIA Honolulu 2026 Lance Hirai

Mentorship is priority for Lance Hirai, 2026 AIA Honolulu president

The organization has events lined up on O‘ahu and Hawai‘i Island throughout October to celebrate.

Walking Tour 3

AIA Honolulu builds community with Architecture Month

<title>Hawai‘i architects 'ready to assist' after storms</title>

AIA Hawai‘i says architects can help property owners "understand the extent of damage, determine whether repairs are feasible, and ensure that any reconstruction meets current building codes and incorporates strategies to better withstand future climate-related events."

Hawai‘i architects 'ready to assist' after storms

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

Everyone’s looking to save money and get the most bang for their buck. This series will show you where you can save while still savoring a good meal.

. On Aloha Friday, the grocery store offers special deals for Makaʻi members.

While Foodland’s Aloha Friday program started in fall 2024, its $6 Eats specials started at Foodland Farms Pearl City last October. Now, Foodland Farms Ka Makana Ali

i and Pearl City locations offer different $6 specials every weekday.

The Pearl City store’s $6 specials include kalua pork burritos (Mondays); barbecue bowls, which feature a choice of char siu pork, spicy bulgogi pork, char siu chicken or miso chicken (Tuesdays); loaded nachos (Wednesdays); noodle bowls (Thursdays); and kalua pork mini bowls, mini bentos, $6 per pound hot and cold bar selections, and select sandwiches (Friday).

Since Fridays have the most variety, we recently stopped by to check it out. The $6 eats are available all day. We’re told the barbecue bowls (Tuesday deal), noodle bowls (Thursday deal) and $6 per pound for the hot and cold bar (Friday deal) have been especially popular.

The mini kalua pork bowl and $6 per pound selections from the hot and cold bar are probably the two more popular options on this day. The kalua pork bowl (regular price $7.99) includes a bed of rice topped with kalua pork and lomi salmon.

Cold bar options include watercress tofu, bibim kook soo, ginger scallion tofu, chili crunch cucumber poke, Asian potato salad, Okinawan sweet potato, no-bake cheesecake, mixed greens with a variety of toppings and dressings, and more.

The hot bar includes options like crispy sesame brussels sprouts; creamy beef pasta; curry Swai (curry, garlic, onions, peppers, bamboo shoots, watercress, potato and butter); pork luau; Huli Huli chicken; fried saimin (made with yakisoba, cabbage, celery, carrots, green onions, char siu and fishcake); steamed Chinese-style fish; Pulehu chicken; and more.

The mini bentos (regular price $7.99) feature options like shrimp tempura, California roll, bulgogi and grilled barbecue chicken.

Meanwhile, the $6 sandwich selection includes tuna salad, egg salad, turkey and ham.

foodland.com/about-foodland-farms-pearl-city

Budget Bites Foodland Farms PC 6 eats 033126

<title>Budget Bites: Foodland Farm Pearl City’s $6 eats</title>

Each weekday features various $6 specials, including kalua pork burritos (Mondays), loaded nachos (Wednesdays), and kalua pork mini bowls, select sandwiches and mini bentos (Fridays).

Budget Bites: Foodland Farm Pearl City’s $6 eats

, located at Kapiʻolani Boulevard and Kalākaua Avenue on Oʻahu, opens April 2. 

This location is unique in that there is no drive-thru and is a dine-in location only. The restaurant can seat about 260 individuals, and Kurt Milne, owner/operator of Chick-fil-A Kapiʻolani & Kalākaua, is excited for customers to see the new space.

“I’m excited to invite people back in,” he says. “As you know, we have a drive-thru on Beretania Street; there’s a Chick-fil-A in Ala Moana Center. This will be the very first dining room in the greater Honolulu area.”

Milne is also the current owner-operator of Chick-fil-A Ala Moana Center. He says his experience at that store helped him to prepare for the Kapiʻolani & Kalākaua store’s opening.

“We were the first to open on Oʻahu in October 2022,” he says. “It wasn’t until eight months later that the Makiki store opened. We’re used to busy crowds; we’ve gotten good at our speed of service, making sure that people get in line fast and get out of line fast. We’re going to do the same here, but we can add a little extra touch, now that there’s a dining room, and provide some good service.”

Customers can stand in line to order; can order via the Chick-fil-A mobile app; or they can scan the QR code located on their table to order. Their orders will be brought to their tables when this “mobile dine-in” experience is used, according to Milne.

“We encourage guests to download the Chick-fil-A app; they can place their orders ahead of time,” Milne says. “Local owners and operators send out free items via the app often; usually once a week, I’ll send out a free item. So, if you have the app, you’re going to get a free item, earn points and you can order ahead.”

Free items can range from a free lemonade to a free sandwich or kid’s meal, according to Milne.

The designated event space — which can seat around 60 people — can be used for birthdays, business meetings and celebrations. It features a flexible layout, audio and visual equipment, and free wi-fi. Customers interested in reserving this space can call 808-909-3908 or ask a team member about it; there’s also a QR code they can scan for more information inside the restaurant.

The Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich is the most popular item, but other customer favorites include waffle potato fries and the spicy chicken sandwich.

Customers can enter the restaurant’s parking lot from Kalākaua Avenue or Kapiʻolani Boulevard, but we’re told Kapiʻolani Boulevard is the preferred route.

There is also a designated area in the restaurant for delivery drivers to pick up their orders.

Open from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays; closed on Sundays

Chick fil A owner 040126

<title>Inside look at the largest Chick-fil-A in Hawai‘i</title>

The restaurant — located at Kapiʻolani Boulevard and Kalākaua Avenue — opens on April 2, with set hours from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays. Aloha State Daily got a preview of the new space at a media event, where we spoke with owner/operator Kurt Milne.

Inside look at the largest Chick-fil-A in Hawai‘i

Earlier this month, Saks Global Enterprises announced it will close three more Neiman Marcus stores (along with 12 Saks Fifth Avenue locations) across the U.S. — including the 

This location, along with its iconic Mariposa restaurant, opened in 1998. Since then, the restaurant has become a popular option for business power lunches, gatherings with friends, and a spot to relax and watch the Friday night fireworks over Waikīkī.

The Neiman Marcus Ala Moana store and Mariposa restaurant’s closure date has not been announced.

Aloha State Daily talked with several customers and former staff members about some of their favorite memories at the restaurant, as they prepare to say “a hui hou” to Mariposa.

Lance Kosaka, former executive chef at Mariposa

Aloha State Daily (ASD): What was a highlight of your time at the restaurant as executive chef?

: The best memories were (of) the people; the customers were really nice. We did so many events.

ASD: The eatery’s sunset lounge menu started while you were there, right?

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"text":"ASD: Do you have a favorite dish on the menu?"}]

: We ran some special things. For the sunset lounge, we did lemon pepper shrimp and we used to do arancini, like ochazuke arancini. That was one of my favorite things.

ASD: Do you have anything else you wanted to add?

: It was a lovely space, one of the most beautiful dining rooms, just how it was set (up).

Maria Kawananakoa, longtime Mariposa customer

ASD: Can you remember the first time you dined at Mariposa?

: Maybe when they first opened about 28 years ago. I can’t remember the first time, but I remember we had lots of great events there — birthday parties, sunsets and Friday night fireworks.

ASD: Do you have a go-to order or favorite dish?

: Their popovers are amazing. The dish I always order is the chopped salad with salmon. It’s healthy, clean and good.

ASD: What were some of your favorite memories there?

: There are so many — being at the bar with my husband, who has passed away; we had dinner there a lot. I had my girlfriend’s bridal shower there, lots of birthdays, lot of Friday evenings. Lots of lunches; I spend most lunches at Mariposa. It’s just a great place to connect with friends and enjoy that indoor/outdoor atmosphere. There’s always great service and beautiful smiles.

That’s the go-to place for many business lunches, and on Friday evenings, for live Hawaiian music and sunset. There’s nothing really like it — watching the sunsets and fireworks (on Fridays) shortly after, with good food and great company.

Lawrence Nakamoto, former executive chef at Neiman Marcus; current chef/owner of Tango Contemporary Café

ASD: How long were you the executive chef at Mariposa?

: About six years, but I was there previously as the sous chef and line cook. In total, I was there for 10 years.

ASD: What were some of your favorite memories during your time there?

: For us in the kitchen, we had a really good crew; it was a good place to work. It’s very hard to find that kind of job where you don’t mind going into work. We had a really fun time on the line working, even though it was busy.

As a sous chef, I had a lot of support from the former executive chef. That’s where I got my basis for what I’m doing now; getting feedback from customers and servers for what I’m doing now.

ASD: What were some of your responsibilities at executive chef?

: On top of Mariposa, I was responsible for making sure the events through the whole store were catered to. We would have some luncheons on different floors for the customers of that specific brand; we would have fashion shows and we would have to do passed appetizers. There were a lot of different events going on through that whole store.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"text":"ASD: What were some memorable ones for you?"}]

: Always the Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival; we did the kick-off event at Mariposa. That was a fun one we used to do every year; all the chefs would come.

ASD: Did you have a favorite dish on the menu?

: The scallop with dashi butter and nori pesto; we served that with some risotto. That was one of my favorites we put on the menu.

ASD: Is there anything else you wanted to add?

: I owe a lot to my time there; that was really my first chef position. I owe my time there to the company for giving me that opportunity.

ASD: Do you remember your first visit to Mariposa?

: So (executive chef) Marc was still there; probably 2002 or 2003, in the early 2000s. We were from the Big Island, so here we were, in the “big city” (Honolulu). It was suggested that we go and try the restaurant out. My husband and I went in there and we just sat and stared; it was so beautiful and so big. We sat at the table close to where the glass divider to the outside lanai is. It was so wonderful; I can’t even remember what we ordered, except that I loved the popovers. At that time, they had a liliko

i butter; it wasn’t like the other restaurants that had strawberry. I really liked it. We had the chicken broth, and we thought we had hit the jackpot.

I believe Yoon was our first server. We sat right there, right in front of Magic Island, and it was so nice. I remember, a few months later, being invited for a dinner that was given at Neiman Marcus for a pianist. It was such a treat to go there; we had never been there at night. It was unbelievable, it was so beautiful; I remember it was a full moon. Everybody was so gracious, and the food was spectacular.

ASD: Speaking of food, do you have a favorite dish at the restaurant?

: I would always get the ‘ahi salad, but I would say, “Don’t give me any greens.” Just give me a scoop of rice and the ‘ahi. That’s what I would have every single time I went; that was my favorite.

ASD: Any specific memories stand out from the times you went there?

: There’s a group of us that have done our birthdays at Mariposa for many years; we’re called “The Darling Dozen” — there’s 12 of us — and we always celebrate everybody’s birthdays throughout the year. Once a month, we all get together. (When the news came out about the store’s closure), we were all looking at each other, going, “Where are we going to go? Where are we going to celebrate our birthdays?” Every month we would all get together, and it means so much to us. 

ASD: Do you have anything else you would like to share?

: It has the best view and the most wonderful people working there. One special lady is Yoon; she’s been there for a long time. She’s always been a wonderful lady. I’ve been there long enough to see her daughter grow. There are a lot of people that have worked there for years. All the chefs have been wonderful, the food has always been great, and the service has always been fabulous. It’s just the most wonderful place to meet and be with your friends.

We’re going to miss the oxtail soup special down at the café on Thursdays — the line was always long — and just every aspect of Neiman Marcus and the restaurants, the memories that it holds for all of us. It’s becoming a reality and it’s becoming very sad to think about not being able to come there. Neiman Marcus in and of itself was such a wonderful place; you would always know somebody when you were there walking around.

[{"type":"text","text":"I’m very sad that it’s closing; it’s the closing of an era."}]

Mariposa interior 033026

<title>Memories of Mariposa</title>

Aloha State Daily talks with several customers and former staff members about their favorite memories of the iconic Ala Moana Center eatery, as they prepare to say “A hui hou” to Neiman Marcus and Mariposa.

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