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Daily Smile

[{"type":"text","text":"Playing a prank on the office..."}]

Smile 26 4 1

<title>Daily Smile: Wednesday, April 1, 2026</title>

Playing a prank on the office...

Daily Smile: Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

Aloha Spirit

For the first time since it opened in 1964, Sea Life Park Hawai‘i near Waimānalo is under Native Hawaiian stewardship.

Hawaiian Council on Wednesday announced it acquired the oceanfront attraction from Herschend Family Entertainment. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Georgia-based Herschend 

"The transaction ensures that the park remains in local hands while creating an unprecedented opportunity to shape its next chapter as a place where marine life, Native Hawaiian culture, education and community come together," an announcement from 

, formerly known as the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, noted.

Sea Life Park will continue to operate without interruption; Hawaiian Council says that existing reservations, memberships and annual passes will be honored, and no layoffs associated with the purchase are planned. 

“For generations, Sea Life Park has helped people discover the beauty of Hawaiʻi’s marine life. Our opportunity now is to help people understand something deeper — that these animals have always been part of Hawaiʻi’s story,” Hawaiian Council CEO Kūhiō Lewis said in the announcement. “They appear throughout our moʻolelo, genealogy, navigation traditions and cultural practices. Under Native Hawaiian stewardship, Sea Life Park can become a place where kamaʻāina reconnect with those relationships and visitors experience Hawaiʻi through the voices and values of the people who have cared for these Islands for generations.”

Former Sea Life Park General Manager Valerie King will support the transition with other operational support in place to help "ensure continuity," the announcement says.

"Sometimes you go looking for opportunities, and sometimes the kuleana finds you. This was one of those opportunities," Lewis told Aloha State Daily in an emailed response to questions. "Valerie King first approached me about Sea Life Park and the possibility of bringing it back under local ownership, and I give Herschend a lot of credit for wanting to find a buyer that understood Hawaiʻi and cared about the park’s future. The more we looked at it, the more we saw an opportunity to create local economic value, support jobs and bring an important Hawaiʻi institution under Native Hawaiian stewardship. For us, local ownership also means that the value generated here can stay here and be reinvested back into our communities."

According to the announcement, Sea Life Park operates on state-owned land and Hawai‘i Pacific University holds the master lease; Hawaiian Council will continue operating under the existing lease structure, and continue working with HPU, the state and other partners to grow opportunities in marine education, research and community learning.

The park will be operated by Attractions Hawai‘i, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hawai‘i Holdings & Investments, or HHI, Hawaiian Council's for-profit holding company.

"Sea Life Park is an important Hawaiʻi institution with a long history and deep connection to the community,” Eric Rose, senior vice president of zoological advancement at Herschend said in the announcement. “As we considered its future, it was important to identify an owner who understood that responsibility. We believe Hawaiian Council is well positioned to guide Sea Life Park’s next chapter with care, continuity and respect for Hawaiʻi.”

Lewis told ASD that because the terms of the acquisition are confidential, Hawaiian Council is not able to disclose the purchase price, but noted that the acquisition was made through HHI and no nonprofit resources were used.

[{"type":"text","text":"Long-term vision"}]

Hawaiian Council says the acquisition builds upon its broader work in Native Hawaiian culture, economic development, destination stewardship and community impact, which includes initiatives like its tourism division, 

 and the upcoming Broadway-style musical, "

Hawaiian Goddess: The Epic Tale of Hi‘iaka

The nonprofit's long-term vision for Sea Life Park is "still being shaped," the announcement notes, "but the organization sees the park’s future as a Native Hawaiian-led cultural and educational destination inspired by the ocean, navigation, healing and the deep sea — a place where marine life, cultural interpretation and education can help residents and visitors understand that Hawaiʻi’s honu, nai‘a, monk seals, sharks and other marine species are more than remarkable animals. They are part of Hawaiian genealogy, moʻolelo, navigation, spirituality and the enduring relationship between people, the ocean and ʻāina."

Initial investments at the park will focus on "preserving what guests already value while introducing experiences that deepen their understanding of Hawai‘i," the announcement states.

Planned improvements include enhancing landscaping with Native Hawaiian plants, expanding cultural storytelling, educational programming and hands-on demonstrations. The organization also will evaluate opportunities to expand  cultural partnerships, school programs, community access and learning opportunities, and look for ways to "strengthen the integration" of marine science, Native Hawaiian knowledge and storytelling.

[{"type":"text","text":"Lewis says that guests shouldn't expect any immediate major changes."}]

"Sea Life Park remains open, reservations and programs continue, and our focus right now is on supporting the team and making sure operations remain strong," he told ASD. "We know the park needs investment, and we absolutely intend to reinvest in the property, its facilities and the overall guest experience. We are still assessing those needs, so it would be premature to put a dollar figure on that today, but we did not acquire Sea Life Park simply to maintain the status quo. We see a lot of potential here."

More details about future investments, educational experiences, cultural programming and community partnerships will be announced in the coming months. 

Lewis says that Native Hawaiian stewardship is really about responsibility.

"Sea Life Park is in a special place, with a deep connection to the ocean, the surrounding community and the culture of Hawaiʻi," he says. "We now have the opportunity to think intentionally about how the park reflects those connections through education, culture and storytelling. Just as important, it is locally owned. That means decisions about its future are being made here in Hawaiʻi, with the goal of creating opportunities for local people and ensuring the park’s success also benefits the broader community."

Sea life park

<title>Hawaiian Council acquires Sea Life Park near Waimānalo</title>

"Sometimes you go looking for opportunities, and sometimes the kuleana finds you," Hawaiian Council CEO Kūhiō Lewis told Aloha State Daily of the acquisition. "This was one of those opportunities."

Hawaiian Council acquires Sea Life Park near Waimānalo

Lopaka and Tanya Kapanui

Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya Kapanui

Hawai‘i History

Columnists

Queen Emma was born on January 2, 1836, to Nā‘ea and Fanny Kekelaokalani Young. As was customary in Hawaiian society, she was raised in the hānai tradition, and much of her childhood was spent in the care of Fanny’s sister, Grace Kamaʻikuʻi Young, and her husband, Thomas Charles Byde Rooke.

‘Emalani, as she was then known, grew up at Rooke House, which stood near the Waikīkī/makai corner of what are now Beretania and Nuʻuanu streets, where Mark’s Garage is now. Educated at the Royal School along with other children of ali‘i, and then taught by an English governess, Emma was fluent in both Hawaiian and English, was a skilled equestrian, and was an accomplished vocalist and pianist. 

In 1856, she married Alexander Liholiho, King Kamehameha IV, and two years later, gave birth to a son, Prince Albert Edward Kauikeaouli. By all accounts, the young prince brought a great deal of happiness to the King and Queen, and was beloved by the people of Hawai‘i. But it seems the happiness was not to last.

Succumbing to an unknown illness, Queen Emma’s only child died in 1862, at just four years old. After his death, the Queen was referred to as Kaleleokalani, meaning flight of the heavenly one. King Kamehameha IV, grief-stricken and feeling responsible for his son’s death, withdrew from public life. Suffering from chronic asthma, the young king died a year later at the age of 29. After her husband died, the Queen’s name changed again to the plural form of Kaleleonālani, flight of the heavenly ones.

In the midst of her grief, Emma traveled to England. The journey gave her some distance from the sorrow she had experienced at home, but it also became an important turning point in her life.

She was concerned about the future of the young women of her island nation and recognized the importance of education. Queen Emma was already involved in establishing the Anglican Church in Hawaiʻi. While in London, she raised money toward the construction of an Anglican cathedral in Hawaiʻi. She sought the counsel of the Archbishop of Canterbury regarding her vision for a school for girls.

On Ascension Day, May 30, 1867, Queen Emma founded St. Andrew’s Priory School for Girls, together with Mother Priscilla Lydia Sellon of the Society of the Most Holy Trinity of Devonport, England.

The Priory’s primary educational objective was the teaching of English. Instruction was conducted in English, and the girls were not permitted to speak Hawaiian, even during their playtime. Along with their academic studies, they were taught sewing and embroidery, music and drawing. Religious instruction was also an important part of the curriculum.

For Queen Emma, St. Andrew’s Priory was more than simply a school. It was part of a larger vision for the education and future of the young women of Hawaiʻi.

For more than 150 years, generations of young women passed through its halls, sharing lessons, laughter, friendships, and celebrations. It should come as no surprise that a place so closely connected to Queen Emma would eventually become associated with stories of her lingering presence.

Over the years, tales have circulated among the students and staff, revealing strange occurrences at the boarding school. Some of the students claimed to have seen the actual ghost of Queen Emma in the halls, while others are said to have heard the stairs creaking late at night and believed she was making her rounds.

There are also reports of unexplained cold spots, particularly near Queen Emma’s portrait and just outside the main entrance to the girls’ dormitory. On some nights, the grand piano could be heard playing long after midnight. Lights would mysteriously switch on and off, tools would disappear only to turn up elsewhere, and belongings left in handbags would be rearranged or simply dumped on the floor. These unexplainable events led many to believe that ghostly hands were still at work within the walls of St. Andrew’s Priory.

My dear friend recently gifted me with his personal stories and those of his ʻohana, who were boarders at the school.

Reportedly, gardenias were among Queen Emma’s favorite flowers. The smell of fresh gardenia was common around the Queen’s portrait and in Emma Hall.

My friend’s aunt told him, “The smell was so strong, it was like you were standing right next to a big gardenia bush in full bloom, and then it would suddenly be gone, and you wouldnʻt smell it again.”

As girls, his aunts spent many evenings cleaning up Emma Hall before heading to bed, as part of their nightly chores. On one occasion while straightening up the room, one aunt saw a woman in a dark blue, Victorian-style gown with her hair pulled up, walking away from the piano, but the figure vanished just before reaching the door. She only saw the woman from behind, but the image stayed with her.

Another memory went back to when she was about eight or nine years old. One night, during a storm, she left the dormitory to use the bathroom. Frightened by the weather, she ran back toward the dorm when a nun gently stopped her and said, “No running.”

She was about to answer, “Yes, Sister,” when the nun began to fade away. The figure seemed to turn light gray before disappearing completely.

Years later, my friend returned to St. Andrew’s Cathedral for the first time since childhood. He learned that there was a stained-glass window depicting Queen Emma and King Kamehameha IV, and he went to search for them.

He was looking up, trying to find their images when a woman’s voice behind him said, “Look down for what you are looking for.”

He looked down and found himself standing directly in front of the panel showing the King and Queen. When he turned to thank the woman, no one was there. In fact, he was all alone in the cathedral.

On a more recent visit, my friend was showing his partner the sights around St. Andrew’s. He said he always wanted to see the inside of St. Paul’s Chapel, but like each time he tried to visit, the door was locked. It was raining that day, and while they were standing beneath the arched portico talking about where to go next, a man’s voice suddenly came from behind them.

[{"type":"text","text":"“The door is open.”"}]

My friend turned, already explaining that they had tried the door, but his words choked off mid-sentence. No one was there.

They turned back to the chapel and tried the door again. This time, it opened.

The two quickly peeked inside for a brief look before leaving the chapel. Neither could explain who had spoken to them. There had been no one else around, and yet someone, or something, had apparently known exactly what they wanted to see.

There may be a perfectly reasonable explanation for everything that has happened at St. Andrew’s. Then again, perhaps there isn’t. The stories have survived because people experienced things they could not explain, and in a place so closely connected to Queen Emma, it is easy to understand why some believe her presence can still be felt. Perhaps, after all these years, the Queen and other spirits are still making their rounds.

Cathedral of St Andrews

<title>The Ghost of a Queen</title>

Queen Emma was instrumental in establishing the Anglican Church in Hawaii and in 1867, she founded St. Andrew’s Priory School for Girls, to uplift the young women of Hawai‘i. The school meant the world to her, so is it any wonder that people claim to still see her presence there? Ghostly nuns and mysterious voices have also been encountered, spirits that seem more nurturing than frightening.

The Ghost of a Queen

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

, a Hawaiian scholar who developed and taught cultural curriculum at Punahou School from 1936 to 1941, the school’s 

 are rooted in being “children of Ka Punahou, the new spring.”

Pukui recognized then the school’s future as a “spring of wisdom. As the hala tree stands firm through wind or storm, so shall the children of this school stand strong and brave through joy and sorrow. And just as the hala tree has many uses, so shall these children be useful to Hawai‘i.”

Fluent in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, she went on to grow Punahou’s Hawaiian Studies program alongside Jane Lathrop Winne and later worked at Kamehameha Schools and Bishop Museum, in addition to publishing more than 50 works, including the “

ʻŌlelo Noʻeau: Hawaiian Proverbs and Poetical Sayings

.” Pukui devoted her life to preserving and perpetuating Hawaiian language, oral hisory, mele, hula, cultural traditions and practices, and more.

Fittingly, the first day of the 2026-27 school year at Punahou on Tuesday marked the official opening of the 

, which is named in her honor and breathes new life into the school’s former Cooke Library, which was originally built in 1908 and last reconstructed in 1964. According to the school, the historic library’s terrazzo wall, among other architectural features, “have been restored or incorporated into the new design.”

The structure itself has multiple entryways, with one entrance facing Ka Punahou, its namesake natural spring.

“When I was a student, I studied in this building and spent time learning here,” Punahou President Mike Latham, a 1986 graduate of the school, told Aloha State Daily. “As you can imagine, the purpose and function of libraries have changed quite a bit in the past 60 years — the way we store information and knowledge, the way that we teach, the way that we help students learn how to do research.

“We wanted to develop a facility, which would allow us to engage in a lot more collaborative and project based learning, where students are able to draw knowledge from different fields, and they can apply it to authentic real-world challenges and problems. That was really at the heart of the work that we're doing.”

The new, two-level center spans more than 53,000 square feet, and was designed by Honolulu-based 

, which was founded by Punahou alum, Pip White, and is currently led by 

 was the general contractor for the project, which began construction permitting in 2023.

Latham said the Mary Kawena Pukui Learning Commons is intended for students to engage with each other, teachers and staff, as well as community partners on research and innovation.

“In our professional lives, we are constantly doing collaborative work. Very rarely do we work entirely alone. And we wanted a building that really supported that kind of collaborative engagement by students and that created problem solving,” Latham told ASD. “It's really fundamental to the kind of education that we want to deliver. It's fundamental to the kind of work that Mary Kawena Pukui herself did, especially at Bishop Museum. I mean, she was constantly in collaboration with historians, anthropologists, linguists, archaeologists. ... She's a hallmark for what we're seeking to accomplish.

“This is a building that both looks into the past and draws inspiration from that past. But it's very much about preparing students for a world that's rapidly changing. And the forces of technology, AI, global interconnection, they really require that we think carefully about what students need to be able to do and learn to get ready for higher education, but also for this future workplace.”

The facility features a nearly 27,000 library book collection and expanded archives with a climate-controlled vault; a “History Wall,” or photo timeline connecting past and present; an extended reality design lab with technological capabilities for artificial intelligence, virtual reality and augmented reality; a teaching kitchen headed by local chef Mark Noguchi and outdoor garden space growing ʻulu, kalo, ʻuala (sweet potato) and hōʻiʻo (fern); an art gallery; and indoor and outdoor learning spaces.

Latham mentioned the significance of the two-story “History Wall” that “goes back to [Punahou’s] earlier days,” as a tool to "reflect on almost 200 years of history.”

“This building is the home of our archival collections ... and this intersection of two gifts; a Hawaiian commitment to knowledge, to reciprocity, to cultural exchange; and a missionary commitment to education,” he said, “Out of that shared heritage of [blending] Hawaiian and Christian heritage together, what complements that is the fact that Punahou becomes a home for people from all over the world, who come here, find a home, and ultimately, become part of the shared work that they do together.”

Latham added: “Every kid at Punahou, kindergarten through sixth grade, now studies Hawaiian language, which we're really proud of. Every student at Punahou takes a Hawaiian history course as a graduation requirement. Hawaiian is one of the major languages that we offer to all of our high school-level students. And I think we have in a far more intentional way come to recognize and embrace that part of our history, which also goes hand in hand with naming this signature academic building after such a prominent native Hawaiian scholar 

 it's a recognition of who she was and what she did for Punahou, but what she did more broadly for the entire state.”

He said last week that a number of Pukui's descendants, including her grandson, Laʻakea Suganuma, attended the building’s blessing ceremony and groundbreaking and was expected to be present at its opening celebration on Friday, Aug. 7.

The Mary Kawena Pukui Learning Commons also meets 

 (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification standard, with a rooftop photovoltaic system, rain gardens, water-efficient landscaping that uses native plants, and more.

Looking ahead, Latham said that he hopes that the new building will be used for not only student and teacher development, but also the broader community to continue to build relationships with donors and the state Department of Education, for example, among other partners.

“It's a project that further integrates the scope of our campus itself,” he said. “We're fortunate to have this very beautiful 76-acre campus here in Mānoa, and this building brings the campus together in a way that's really, really exciting.”

Fundraising for the project is still ongoing. Learn more 

Punahou School is the largest private K-12 school on a single campus in the country, with more than 3,755 students currently enrolled. The school’s tuition for the 2026-27 school year is $34,230, though, it has a $11.1 million budget annually for financial aid, which is dispersed to about a quarter of the student population, 

. Latham confirmed that the average award per student is around $12,000.

When asked what he’s been learning lately as a leader, Latham told ASD that having a clear sense of mission and purpose is “essential.”

That’s what first got his attention when conducting more research about Mary Kawena Pukui for the naming of this building.

“[Pukui said] that ‘Knowledge to me is life.’ ... If we can't do everything possible to preserve Hawaiian culture, what will happen to Hawaiʻi? What would Hawaiʻi be like without Hawaiian culture? What then? And so, I think her her sense of commitment and dedication, you know, we often talk about this idea of kuleana, or responsibility or duty. For her, there was a clear North Star. She knew what she was trying to accomplish. And it became her life's work,” he said. “Your mission should matter. And having a clear and compelling mission, which you're proud of, which is resonant, comes back to that idea of a North Star.”

Punahou Learning Commons student on lanai

<title>Mary Kawena Pukui Learning Commons unveiled at Punahou School</title>

The new center, named after the Hawaiian historian and scholar who taught at Punahou in the 1930s, replaces the school’s former Cooke Library. Aloha State Daily sat down with President Mike Latham to learn more about Pukui’s history at Punahou and in the broader community, as well as how her legacy continues to shape the next generation of students.

Mary Kawena Pukui Learning Commons unveiled at Punahou School

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

 — which has locations in Japan and California — is bringing is signature Japanese kissaten-style café experience to Honolulu for a limited time.

The pop-up will be open to the public starting at 10 a.m. Aug. 13, according to Takuma Lathrop, president of Dining Innovation West. It’s located in an enclosed section of TsuruTonTan, which is located in Royal Hawaiian Center.

“We’re friends with the owners of the brand in Japan,” says Lathrop. “They opened in California and we went to check it out; we started talking about the possibility of partnering up.”

Right now, there is no set end date for the pop-up, but Lathrop says it should be open for at least one month. To start, the pop-up will be open to the first 60 customers — no reservations accepted; first-come, first-served — but Lathrop says its hours will eventually be extended.

“As soon as we feel more comfortable to handle more people, we’ll get to a point where there won’t be a limit,” he says. “We just want to make sure we are making the best possible dishes correctly so everyone can enjoy the taste.”

Takagi Coffee is known for its handcrafted, made-to-order souffle pancakes and freshly roasted coffee. The Honolulu pop-up’s menu is more limited, compared to the brand’s California and Japan locations, but will still feature signature dishes, according to Lathrop.

The coffee menu features a house blend ($5), cold brew ($6) and lattes ($7). Customers can also choose from several hot or iced matcha lattes ($7-$9). The matcha cream ($2 add-on) comes highly recommended for the iced matcha lattes.

Souffle pancakes come with toppings like strawberry, mango and matcha (two pieces for $17, four pieces for $22). In addition to your fruit of choice, pancakes are topped with whipped cream, cookie crumbles and vanilla ice cream.

A savory option (two pieces for $18, three pieces for $23) — topped with thick-cut bacon, sunny side-up eggs and hollandaise — is also available. 

“Personally, I like savory things; the savory pancake is really good,” Lathrop says. “It’s surprisingly very hearty and good for people who aren’t super into sweets.”

The pop-up also features Yoshoku (Japanese-style Western dishes) plates, which are served with miso soup.

Choose from omurice ($19), tonkatsu with rice ($20) and wagyu hamburger steak ($22).

The omurice features a more traditional version, according to Lathrop. The Japanese tomato-flavored rice comprises bacon, onions and mushrooms, and is enrobed with a fluffy egg and topped with demi-glace sauce.

The hamburger steak features American wagyu beef and is served with rice and miso soup. The demi-glace is served on the side, so customers can add as much or as little as they want.

Customers can opt for the tonkatsu plate or the katsu sando ($16), which features pork cutlet, veggies, mustard mayonnaise and katsu sauce between pieces of Japanese bread. It’s served with wedge fries on the side.

Customers can also look forward to Japanese-style parfaits ($13), which are layered with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, cornflakes and more.

[{"type":"text","text":"Choose from matcha, fresh strawberries and coffee jelly."}]

The pop-up might add dishes to the menu as time goes on, according to Lathrop, who encourages customers to follow the business on Instagram for updates.

“It’s simple dishes, but executed with very high-quality ingredients,” he says. “Because we’re slowly rolling out, we want to make sure that we can give everybody a good experience.”

Open from 10 a.m. Aug. 13; limited to 60 customers per day (to start)

Takagi Coffee Takuma Lathrop 081026

<title>Takagi Coffee is a new Japanese-style cafe pop-up in Honolulu</title>

The pop-up is opening to the public on Thursday, Aug. 13, at 10 a.m. It’s within Royal Hawaiian Center’s TsuruTonTan, and for the first few days, the pop-up will be limited to the first 60 customers. Takagi Coffee is serving up sweet and savory Japanese souffle pancakes, omurice, wagyu hamburger steak and layered parfaits.

Takagi Coffee is a new Japanese-style cafe pop-up in Honolulu

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

North Shore brothers Nyjah Music & Zyah Rhythm

 earned a spot in the live shows of Season 21 of “America’s Got Talent” this week, in episode 10, which aired on NBC

That means three Oʻahu residents have a chance at $1 million in the "America’s Got Talent" live shows. 

The brothers, who are Bruno Mars’ nephews, first auditioned on “America’s Got Talent” in an earlier episode, where they 

sang their latest single, “Heartbeat.”

who is stationed on Oʻahu and has advanced straight to the live shows when Judge Mel B hit the golden buzzer during his audition.

This week, an episode aired featuring the brothers in the 

, which is new this season and gives select acts a chance to perform a second time before judges choose who advances to the live shows, according to NBC’s website. Cowell reviewed six contestants — including Nyjah Music and Zyah Rhythm — in his judges callback round filmed at his house in Malibu, California, along with guest judges Normani and Poo Bear.

“I think you did better today than you did the first time we saw you,” Cowell told the North Shore brothers in the latest episode. “I am worried about your lack of experience. And it’s a lot of pressure. At the same time, I think our audience is gonna love you, which is why you are joining us in the live shows.”

The brothers’ mother, Tahiti Kemper, a gym owner and fitness coach, is married to Billy Kemper, 

 took to social media to post about the day.

“Life is about taking chances and doing everything with love, passion, and dedication,” she wrote on Instagram. “Whatever the outcome is, every opportunity is always a great one.”

Contestants for “America’s Got Talent” can be 

, according to the show’s audition website. The show’s platform includes an audience in more than 20 countries and millions of viewers on social media.

 grew his music career by posting videos of himself singing in his car. Now, the social media influencer has more than 

, but he told ASD that the AGT stage has been the largest of his career, so far.

Atkins spoke with ASD the day before his golden-buzzer-winning audition aired on television. At the time, he had plans to hold a watch party with his soldiers on base so they could catch the episode together.

“It was crazy because when I was up on the stage, I had the earpieces in, but I could still hear the audience — how loud they were,” he told ASD. “It was super encouraging when I was singing to hear them cheering. It amped me up even more, even though I was still extremely nervous, because who wouldn't be? I’m not an experienced performer.”

"America's Got Talent"

<title>Three Oʻahu contestants advance to ‘America’s Got Talent’ live shows</title>

Several acts featuring Oʻahu residents earned spots in the live shows of “America’s Got Talent.” The grand prize of the talent competition is $1 million, plus a potentially career-changing platform with an audience that spans more than 20 countries.

Three Oʻahu contestants advance to ‘America’s Got Talent’ live shows

It’s not every day that singers and songwriters get to visit the home of Simon Cowell, one of the best known judges of 

 But that is exactly what happened for Nyjah Music and Zyah Rhythm, the

North Shore brothers competing in Season 21 of the television show, who were invited to film a judges callback round at Cowell’s house in Malibu, California.

, allows each judge to pick acts to audition a second time before a panel decides who will advance to live shows. Watch the episode at 7 p.m. Central Standard Time, which is 2 p.m. in Hawai’i, on Tuesday, Aug. 4, on NBC, to see if the brothers advance. The episode will also be available on Peacock the next day.

Here is an exclusive clip of Cowell giving the brothers feedback.

Getting an invite to the judges callback round from Cowell, who is known for being a tough judge, meant a lot to the duo.

“We were pretty stoked,” Nyjah told Aloha State Daily. “Just being there was amazing.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"He was like an uncle, Zyah added."}]

“So I actually would have thought that Simon would be hard on us, just because of the videos and stuff,” he said. “He has turned down some people. But just going to his house, he made it feel like he was more of an uncle to us. It was super chill. He was super inviting and super open with his house. He told us we could jump in his pool, if we wanted.”

They did not in fact jump in the pool. They did not have swimsuits, Zyah added.

Currently, Nyjah Music and Zyah Rhythm have more than 250,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. Last year, their cover of “Burning Love,” which was produced by their uncle, Bruno Mars, was featured in Disney’s live action 

 Today, that song has more than 13 million streams on Spotify.

But even with a hit like that, the auditions for “America’s Got Talent” had them nervous. Waiting backstage for 

their audition, which aired on Tuesday, June 9, on NBC

, was “pretty nerve-wracking,” Zyah said.  

“But then once we stepped on stage, we're pretty comfortable,” he added. “We did hear some people from Hawai’i in the audience. It got us pretty comfortable with the stage.”

By hearing Hawai’i, he means they heard a cheehoo.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Did they expect that? Zyah shook his head."}]

“It kind of shook the nerves away,” he said. “And it just showed that we have some people from home watching us.”

They performed their latest release, “Heartbeat,” an original single, which dropped on streaming platforms on June 15.

“It's really a universal song for people that want to show how much they love someone and how they want to be a part of someone because the lyrics are, ‘Can I be your heartbeat or the flower in your ear?’ and stuff like that,” Zyah said. “That person for us is our grandma. We dedicate it to our grandma, and it just shows how much we love our grandma, how she started it all, but she did pass away when we were little. But yeah, it's just about our grandma.”

After being off Island, Nyjah and Zyah look forward to local foods. For Nyjah, that usually involves a poke bowl at Foodland, with iced tea on the side. After flying in, Zyah likes to stop at 

<title>Exclusive video: North Shore brothers talk about ʻAmerica’s Got Talent’</title>

Nyjah Music & Zyah Rhythm, the North Shore brothers who are also the nephews of Bruno Mars are back on “America’s Got Talent.” Catch them singing for Simon Cowell at his house in an episode that airs Tuesday, Aug. 4. They also unpack their latest single “Heartbeat,” which was inspired by their grandmother, and the cheehoo that calmed their nerves during auditions.

Daily Smile: Wednesday, April 1, 2026

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