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Daily Smile

[{"type":"text","text":"Little dog vs big dog..."}]

Smile 26 2 21

<title>Daily Smile: Saturday, February 21, 2026</title>

Little dog vs big dog...

Daily Smile: Saturday, February 21, 2026

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

Aloha Spirit

 shark teeth in Waipahu to learning about Joseph Kekuku — the inventor of the steel guitar — in Downtown Honolulu there are a variety of events happening on Oʻahu this weekend. Ready to plan some weekend fun? Aloha State Daily has you covered with events at all price points.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"FRIDAY, FEB. 20"}]

Kumu Kahua Theatre is bringing its final performances of “Two Nails, One Love” to the stage. The story, written by

Lee A Tonouchi, who was recently named the 

, is based on a novel by Alden M Hayashi. It follows Ethan Taniguchi, a recently single gay man in New York City who gets an unexpected visit from his estranged mother who is from Hawaiʻi. The show runs through Feb. 22. 

 Find anime, Pokemon trading cards, antiques, coins, jewelry, vintage clothing, sports and movie memorabilia, and more at the Hawaiʻi Collector Expo at the Neal S, Blaisdell Exhibition Hall. The event runs from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $10 plus taxes and fees. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"SATURDAY, FEB. 21"}]

Pālolo Chinese Home’s Chinese New Year celebration. 

Participate in a day of cultural festivities, including a blessing by Dr. Jody Yeh-Grandinetti, a performance by the Gee Yung Martial Arts Dragon & Lion Dance Sports Association, and additional live entertainment. There will be food and craft vendors and a  sampling of traditional dishes prepared by Pālolo Chinese Home’s

Executive Chef Aaron Love, featuring favorites such as gau and jai. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. and the program begins at 10 a.m. 

Ka ʻAumanu o Mānoa, which is dedicated to strengthening Hawaiian language education and cultural practice within the ahupuaʻa of Mānoa, will host Kūkini Ka ʻAumanu: Holo Me Māui from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kapiʻolani Regional Park.

Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, or Hawaiian Language Month, and includes a 1 mile and 2 mile fun run, along with makahiki games such as ʻulu maika, moa pāheʻe, haka moa, and hukihuki.

There will also be entertainment and food and craft vendors. The event is supported by

 the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the City and County of Honolulu, and Kānaka Comics. Entry to each event is free, but participants are invited to make pledges to support this fundraiser for Ka ʻAumanu o Mānoa’s ongoing work in Mānoa. 

“Joseph Kekuku and the Voice of the Steel Guitar.” 

Honolulu Theatre for Youth will host its final performance of “Joseph Kekuku and the Voice of the Steel Guitar” at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21. The event includes a talkback with creators and additional guests. It was created by actor 

 in collaboration with Kealaki Center for Pacific Strings and shares the story of Joseph Kekuku, who invented the steel guitar. Tickets start at $15 for keiki and $30 for general admission with discounts for seniors and military. 

 Waikīkī Beach Walk will host a pole-jumping performance and the Royal Hawaiian Center will have an acrobatic lion dance from the Wah Ngai Lion Dance Association at The Royal Grove. Read more about 

 Looking for a tasty snack? Matsumoto Shave Ice is celebrating its 75th birthday with a sweet deal: $1 shave ice. Toppings are extra. There will also be anniversary t-shirts for sale for $10. Enjoy a taiko drum performance at 10 a.m. and a lion dance at 11 a.m. as part of  Lunar New Year celebrations. 

 from Hawaiʻi farmers and learn how to handle and prepare hōʻiʻo, a large fern endemic to Hawaiʻi, at the Wahiawā Market Day. The event, hosted at Leeward Community College’s Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center

, will include an interactive cooking demo by Chef Joe McGinn. The event starts at 9 a.m. 

Join an all-women captain and crew as they set off on a two-hour whale watching cruise. Complimentary Irish coffee or mimosas, as well as non-alcoholic refreshments, are available. The whale watching trop is a collaboration between Honolulu Snorkel Co. and Oʻahu Boat Cruises. The boat departs at 7:45 a.m. from Kewalo Basin Harbor. Tickets cost $45 plus fees and taxes. 

 Ready to hunt for fossils? All ticket purchases for this event include a drink and a chance to find fossilized shark teeth and other treasures at The Boba Room in Waipahu. Tickets cost $35, plus fees and taxes. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"SUNDAY, FEB. 22"}]

 will share traditional Chinese folk dance as part of Lunar New Year celebrations at The Royal Grove within the Royal Hawaiian Center. Ala Moana Center will host calligraphy demonstrations and pole-jumping performances by the Wah Ngai Lion Dance Association, as well as more than 100 lion dancers who will visit stores and restaurants across the center, as part of all-day activities. 

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Waikīkī Beach Walk

<title>Lunar New Year fun, fossilized shark teeth and more: Friday, Feb. 20, to Sunday, Feb. 22</title>

From looking for fossilized shark teeth in Waipahu to learning about Joseph Kekuku — the inventor of the steel guitar — in Downtown Honolulu, there are a variety of events happening on Oʻahu this weekend. Ready to plan some weekend fun? Aloha State Daily has you covered with this list of events across the Island from the Windward to the Leeward side.

Lunar New Year fun, fossilized shark teeth and more: Friday, Feb. 20, to Sunday, Feb. 22

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Born and raised on Oʻahu, Hunter Gentry says his passion for cooking started at 2 years old alongside his mom in the kitchen.

From there, he went into the Culinary Program at Mililani High School, while also balancing extracurriculars such as paddling and JROTC.

 “In paddling, they taught discipline, great mentality, leadership; JROTC taught personal and professional development; the culinary pathway was the way to go because that became my career.”

 at Greystone in Napa Valley, California, in 2020, and traveled across the country to work at 

Disney World Magic Kingdom’s Cinderella’s Royal Table

. At CIA, he learned from Chef Thomas Wong, also from Hawai’i, who pointed him to the Greenbrier Culinary Apprenticeship program in West Virginia. 

, the intensive, paid program is 3 years long and trains chefs in both savory and pastry paths.

“It is one of the most prestigious culinary apprenticeship programs in the nation. It’s insane,” Gentry said, “You learn and excel at the fundamentals of cooking, and at the end, you create your own menu to show what you learned. I did an 11-course menu, all Hawai

He stayed on in various roles at Greenbrier

When asked to define his cooking style, Gentry said, “With my heritage being Filipino and Chamorro, and upbringing in Hawai’i, I bring upscale, classical, French cooking into every plate.”

Unleashing these skills on Fox’s newest season of “Next Level Chef,” he adds he “brought the aloha. I brought the culture.”

When casting producers called to share that he made it onto the show, it was hard to contain the excitement, he said with a laugh, “I was screaming, cussing, doing cheehoos. Then on the show, I was doing cheehoos and scared a few people.”

He recalled one of the challenges and having 30 seconds to pick out ingredients off a rising platform. “You’re fighting all these chefs, and literally, hands were thrown. I didn’t know if someone punched someone or they fell, so I grabbed what I could. It was a war.

Chefs then have 20-25 minutes to cook. “I was plating something while cooking something else in last 20 seconds,” Gentry said. “If someone watching this at home says this is easy. It is not. It was to the wire.”

The show is judged by chefs Richard Blais, Nyesha Arrington and Gordon Ramsay.

“The judges were nice, especially Gordon Ramsay. I had a great time. For my first time doing this, the team was helpful,” Gentry said. “I loved meeting the competitors. On set, you couldn’t bring any technology, you just had to talk with everybody, which was great. We all became family.”

[{"type":"text","text":"He noted this won’t be his last time on national TV."}]

When asked what’s next for his cooking career, he said continuing to learn from other chefs.

“I do envision running my own restaurant. Probably not in Hawai

i because of the cost. Maybe within the next six to 10 years, Gentry said. “I just want to make delicious food and serve my heritage.”

He says when he visits Hawai’i, he loves going to the North Shore to be in the water, Food-wise, his stops include Kyung's Seafood, Banzai Sushi Bar, Foodland and Zippy’s.

[{"type":"text","text":"The are two quotes he lives by are:"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"“Never stop paddling, always keep pushing.”"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"“It’s not an if, it’s a when.”"}]

As a newborn and child, Gentry endured various health issues that predicted a 10% chance of living, he says. But having support from friends, family and community have helped shaped who he is today.

“For me, I want to be able to show that even though I had my extensive medical history, was a special education student, had hearing aids growing up, for those kids out there who have differences or troubles 

 go for it, push it! Go dream and do what you want to do.”

Watch Gentry and the other professionals on episode 1 of season 5 on “Next Level Chef,” 

which premiered on Fox on Jan. 29, 2026. It can be watched weekly on TV or streamed on 

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Hunter Cooking NLC

<title>Chef from Honolulu competes in cooking show</title>

Watch Mililani High School grad Hunter Gentry on Fox’s newest season of “Next Level Chef," judged by celebrity chefs Richard Blais, Nyesha Arrington and Gordon Ramsay. Gentry shares with Aloha State Daily about the experience, his cooking journey and style, and favorite restaurants to eat at when visiting home.

Daily Smile: Saturday, February 21, 2026

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