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Daily Smile

[{"type":"text","text":"He's so proud of his stick..."}]

Smile 26 4 9

<title>Daily Smile: Thursday, April 9, 2026</title>

He's so proud of his stick...

Daily Smile: Thursday, April 9, 2026

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Aloha Spirit

Dr. Ira D. Zunin described the moments he’ll miss most about his clinic.

“It’s usually earlier in the morning when the sun is coming through the window. There’s gentle music playing and the clinic is full of activity [from] physical therapists, acupuncturists, massage therapists, sleep medicine specialists, psychologists, all our other medical providers – and just that feeling of joy in my heart. That this is the best thing that I could do with this little life that I have.”

Zunin recently announced plans to retire next month after 36 years practicing medicine.  

Since 2002, he has served as medical director of 

Manakai O Malama Integrative Healthcare Group and Rehabilitation Center

 in Honolulu, which he founded alongside his wife, Alia Zunin, an acupuncturist. 

Together, the pair raised their son Brandon primarily in the clinic.

“We were able to strike an excellence balance,” Ira Zunin said about working with family. “And interestingly enough, our son regards the clinic as a sibling. He grew up there and feels like Manakai O Malama is a family member. He was 5 when we started and today is a biomedical engineer shifting into medicine.”

Zunin, who has spent most of his life in Hawaiʻi, enjoys going on medical missions with his family to help advance health care in remote areas in Asia.

He says as a teenager he was introduced to the idea of whole-person health that brings together modern medicine and traditional healing, while on a trip to India and Nepal.

“The vision really struck me; later, in my undergraduate work at UC Berkeley, I ran courses for westerners to learn Tibetan medicine. Such traditional systems of medicine have so much to offer. But modern medicine is wonderful, too, and we're saving lives. … So, to bring them together in a skillful, collaborative, intentional way, I thought would be the best way to practice.”

Zunin noted that nearly one million patients have been treated at Manakai O Malama, which offers services including sleep and brain wellness, Food as Medicine, mental and behavioral health, weight loss and more.

“Our goal is to create a medical home so that people can come bring their families,” he said. “It’s multi-generational, and it’s all customized, but not necessarily complex. We treat very common illnesses in a no-frills way, and we have the capacity and range to tackle patients with multiple injuries.”

He added: “We treat some of the sickest and complex patients that other facilities just can’t handle. We’ve managed a tremendous range of patients from a socioeconomic standpoint ... really trying to tailor the treatment to what is needed. So, we do it all.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Industry insights"}]

Today’s health care system is in the worst crisis we’ve ever seen, according to Zunin.

“Our large carriers, hospitals and small practices are having difficulties,” he continued. “So, many people are questioning why we’re spending twice as much as any other modern country on health care.

“I think the practitioners who have the most challenges are the independent primary care practices – the smaller they are, the more difficult is. And they’re just falling like flies. … It’s very difficult to make ends meet.”

, Hawaiʻi is short 833 full-time equivalent doctors, with the largest gaps on the Neighbor Islands.

Navigating the health insurance industry can be another headache, he added; however, despite the challenges, he said he would do it all over again.

“It’s the most rewarding and gratifying thing that I could imagine doing,” Zunin said.

Some bright spots he’s seen in the industry are innovations in neuroscience, weight loss medicine and cancer treatment, among others.

His advice for up-and-coming doctors is: “There’s a world to learn and it takes time. For me, this is really a sacred art. It’s a gift to be able to care for people who are suffering in some way. Never lose sight of that. Our motivation ought to be to do our best for who is in front of us.”

From his time spent teaching, his advice to medical students is to fall back on the conventional training fundamentals. “And a lot of interpersonal and transpersonal skills.”

Immediate sale of business & future plans

Zunin’s decision to step down as medical director of Manakai O Malama is “still sinking in,” he said.

But his hope is that the practice would evolve under new leadership.

t really is integrative medicine: a living, breathing dynamic enterprise. 

We’ve had multiple buyers of interest,” he noted. “My dream and my prayer is that this kind of medicine can move forward. That access [to care] won’t be curtailed ... My top priority is to find a party that is prepared to take it over, and we're prepared to make it easy to take over. This is not about making a killing financially. But rather carrying this forward as a a sustainable operation for future generations."

Any party with immediate interest may contact Zunin directly at 

. He plans to select a buyer in the coming days.

In retirement, Zunin plans to continue traveling, conducting research, offering concierge medicine, and remaining engaged with this transition. This summer, he is looking forward to teaching martial arts in Ireland and collecting data on lucid dreams in Bhutan, where he previously helped establish a medical school and taught its first classes.  

“I would love to practice medicine up until my last breath,” he said, adding, “This has been a challenging decision, but an exciting one."

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Dr Z 16x9

<title>Physician Ira Zunin seeks successor for clinic in Honolulu</title>

Zunin, the medical director at Manakai O Malama Integrative Healthcare Group and Rehabilitation Center along Ala Moana Boulevard, founded the integrative health care practice in 2002 with wife and acupuncturist, Alia Zunin. With hopes of semi-retiring by the end of May, he is looking for the next person or entity to take over the facility and continue “to move this kind of medicine forward.”

Physician Ira Zunin seeks successor for clinic in Honolulu

IMG 1445

Rick Hamada

Government & Politics

Columnists

[{"type":"text","text":"\"Lucky You Live Hawai‘i\"."}]

It's a phrase locals have invoked for so very long and rings true with so many.

[{"type":"text","text":"Here's a more specific assessment derived from an AI overview:"}]

"'Lucky You Live Hawai‘i' is a popular phrase expressing deep gratitude and local pride for the unique lifestyle, natural beauty, and culture of the islands. It embodies a 'seize the day' mentality, focusing on enjoying moments like surfing, hiking, and family time over material wealth. The phrase reminds residents to appreciate their blessings despite challenges."

I've maintained in over 35 years in media that "Lucky You Live Hawai‘i" is an effective psychological tool in justifying or rationalizing the challenges we face at home every day. I lost my job due to cutbacks, taxes are so high, I cannot make the rent, took me two hours to get home, my car got broken into: Eh, dat's ok cuz "Lucky You Live Hawai‘i." It may be a temporary salve for the moment but it shouldn't be the standard of acceptance.

While we at it, the other distractive phrase is, "The ‘Ohana Style of Living".

For generations it has been difficult to own your own home. This difficulty for so many has become an impossibility. In order to assuage that profound sense of loss, the concept of generations living under one roof is advanced as a more beneficial and even preferable alternative to individuals owning their own home.

The implication is that your disagreement would be construed as you not having the respect for family being together and it's more important that you get what you want instead of what's best for tutus and aunties. When this concept is perpetuated amongst generations, then this becomes the definition of success. No. This becomes a redefinition of the American dream — to own your home.

When determining quality of life there are two camps that really don't converge for most local folk.

[{"type":"text","text":"There is the material and the spiritual."}]

The material is the hard costs of living; housing, utilities, food, transportation, healthcare, clothing and more.

The spiritual is how we feel; pride, peace, fulfillment, being one with nature and more.

As I stated earlier life is full of rationalizations designed to make us feel better when most are struggling with every day life.

[{"type":"text","text":"Now is the time to state the one phrase that some say matters most."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"\"The Price of Paradise\"."}]

This is the troika of brand marketing in making it acceptable that your inability to live the life of your own choosing is not only probable but there is a certain nobility in simply surviving rather than thriving.

[{"type":"text","text":"Let's take a look at the spiritual and emotional side of life."}]

I turn to state rankings to give us an idea of how we compare to others in other states. 

I gleaned information from various sources including local and national news sites, foundations and think tanks.

Hawai‘i is ranked as the happiest state in the U.S

 finds WalletHub, followed by Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, and Connecticut. 

These rankings are based on emotional and physical well-being, work environment, and community quality, with Hawai‘i leading in life satisfaction, low depression rates, and high productivity.

Hawaii is ranked #2 as the Healthiest State

 and according to a June 25, 2025 report we are No. 1 in health care.

I submit Hawai‘i's mandate for companies to provide mandatory health insurance for those who work more than 20 hours per week is a factor. However, the percentage of hard cost for this mandate has a great impact on the providing businesses and rarely do you hear what the financials are for said businesses.

[{"type":"text","text":"Well, here you go:"}]

Providing health insurance in Hawai‘i involves high hard costs, averaging roughly $6,300 annually for single coverage and exceeding $20,400 for family coverage per employee. Small businesses (1 to 10 employees) may pay $350 to $1,500+ monthly per employee, with costs heavily influenced by the 

. (Department of Labor and Industrial Relations)

Of course this is a great benefit for the employee but it's a substantial liability especially for small businesses and is contributory to our overall burdensome cost of living.

Hawai‘i is ranked No. 5 Most Independent State.

[{"type":"text","text":"Even the report seems conflicted."}]

According to a June 2025 WalletHub report, Hawai‘i was ranked as the 

 in the U.S. due to low reliance on outside support, high self-reliance in consumer finances, and low international trade dependency. However, this ranking contrasts with Hawai‘i's extreme geographical dependence on imports. Other reports, such as from the Fraser Institute, have historically ranked Hawai‘i low in economic freedom. 

Hawai‘i ranks 8th in the U.S. for student quality of life according to a 2025 

driven by high scores in social atmosphere, natural surroundings, and community, despite ranking lower (44th) in overall state rankings due to high economic pressures and cost of living. Key factors include high numbers of young adults, nightlife, and outdoor access. 

[{"type":"text","text":"Parents, is this the reality for your children?"}]

Notice that the most beneficial experiences for our students are in social atmosphere, natural surroundings and community. Least beneficial are cost of living and economic pressures. Still, we are in the Top 10 in the nation for student quality of life. That's the important entry since that reinforces the spiritual and emotional side.

[{"type":"text","text":"A brief look at the material side of life."}]

The following is self-explanatory, so I am only going to list category and rank. Hawai‘i is ranked:

 (cost of living being 20.32% higher than a living wage).

[{"type":"text","text":"2nd in people not wanting outsiders."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"I had to include the last one listed and here's more:"}]

Hawai‘i is often ranked among the least welcoming states for newcomers, frequently appearing high on lists of places that do not want outsiders moving there. Locals often feel overwhelmed by high tourist volumes, increasing costs, and the displacement of native residents, with one LinkedIn report ranking it No. 2 for this sentiment.

We began with "Lucky You Live Hawai‘i", "‘Ohana Style of Living" and "The Price of Paradise" and how I believe these phrases have become justifications for why so many will not live the lives they desire. 

And I do understand the idyllic pursuit of happiness is going to differ with individuals, but I maintain elements of the American Dream still exists even if culturally and politically we try to lower expectations to where survival is the goal and the standard. Hence, the animus against those who do work, earn, and sacrifice to elevate themselves, their families and create jobs and opportunities for others.

The 11th Commandment should be, "Thou shalt not punish those who excel and succeed".

[{"type":"text","text":"I'm not holding my breath."}]

I also believe we derive an enviable amount of positivity and fulfillment because of what our Islands and her people provide. We claim that we're unique because of the Aloha Spirit. I do understand, embrace and appreciate. But we are not alone. There are communities around this country where people love and care for one another in best and worst times. Instead of laying exclusive claim to this sentiment we may want to refocus on not just saying it but in living it.

One of the most important qualities I shared with my children growing up was achieving balance. Unfortunately we are lacking just that in our material and spiritual sides of life in Hawai‘i.

[{"type":"text","text":"I hope we'll find that balance together."}]

Lanikai Beach

<title>Hamada: "Lucky You Live Hawai‘i," we say — as celebration, or as cope?</title>

ASD columnist Rick Hamada discusses three phrases we tell ourselves to get by in the Islands.

Hamada: "Lucky You Live Hawai‘i," we say — as celebration, or as cope?

Cheryl Tsutsumi

Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi

Kate Johnson’s life has been shaped by two seemingly incongruous passions: music and cycling. She has been a clarinetist with the Royal Hawaiian Band for 25 years, first as a part-timer, then earning a full-time chair in 2024. Cycling also brings her pleasure and fulfillment. She has finished numerous races in Hawai‘i and on the continent, including Kona’s Ironman World Championship in 2015, which includes a 112-mile biking leg.

Johnson was born in Columbus, Ohio, and raised in Fullerton, Southern California, the youngest of five children. She started playing the clarinet in the fourth grade, developing what her band directors and clarinet instructors saw as exceptional musical talent over the years.

While attending California State University, Long Beach (Long Beach State), Johnson was active in the school’s choir and orchestra. For many years, famed alumni Richard and Karen Carpenter—the Grammy Award-winning 1970s duo, The Carpenters—headlined the Winter Festival concerts on campus.

“Karen passed away in 1983, the year before I enrolled at Long Beach State, but for the four years I was there, I had the incredible opportunity of performing in the concerts with Richard, both as a clarinetist and a vocalist,” Johnson said. “He augmented his band with student musicians and always featured the choir in his songs.”

During her junior year in the spring of 1987, Johnson sent an audition tape to Robert Marcellus, then professor of clarinet at Northwestern University, hoping he would accept her as a student. Impressed, Marcellus, who had been the principal clarinetist for the renowned Cleveland Orchestra for 20 years, responded with an unusual but enticing proposal: If Johnson could come to Door County, Wisconsin, where he spent summers, he would teach her. His wife, he said, could help her find a part-time job and a place to stay.

Two months later, Johnson and her dad were in her Mazda pickup truck, driving to Door County. For nine weeks, she lived with a family that had two young girls and worked at a gourmet wine and cheese shop in Sister Bay, about eight miles away, to pay for her room and board and private weekly lessons with Marcellus. At the time, he was charging $100 per lesson, which lasted from one to three hours. That was a lot of money for a college student, but, for Johnson, a big bonus was meeting his friends—prominent flutists, harpists and pianists—who were regulars at the shop.

“Mr. Marcellus was a taskmaster, but I learned so much about the 

 of playing music from him,” Johnson said. “To say he left a profound imprint on my life is an understatement. I remember him telling me, ‘When you think you have given 100% into playing the music, you’ve really given only about 60%. You have more in reserve. Dig deeper.’”

It’s advice Johnson also found invaluable as an athlete. In 1985, she had been introduced to cycling by a college boyfriend who was training for the 

Race Across America. At the time, that grueling June bike competition went 

3,000 miles from Huntington Beach, California, to Atlantic City, New Jersey.

He bought me my first road bike, and I was hooked,” Johnson said. “We primarily rode 

in the mountains of the Angeles National Forest, about 20 miles north of Los Angeles,

 with others who were training for the race, so the rides were strenuous, and I was expected to keep up with them. I loved the freedom I felt on the bike—moving forward under my own power, feeling the sun and wind on my face. Riding to the point of exhaustion was exhilarating! I wound up dumping the guy and keeping the bike.”

Johnson married in 1989, the year after she graduated from Long Beach State with a major in clarinet performance and a minor in choral vocal technique. In 1990, her husband, Loren, an Army intelligence officer, received a five-year duty assignment to Germany, where they were stationed in 

There, Johnson bonded with the local and military communities through music. Among other things, she directed the bases’ chapel choirs; was the principal clarinetist for the Weiden Symphony Orchestra; joined a 

, a band specializing in German folk music; and founded and conducted two 75-member choirs comprising German and American soldiers and civilians.

Back in the U.S. in 1995, Johnson resumed cycling in earnest. She participated in triathlons from 1998 to 2016, ultimately deciding to step away from that to focus on coaching cyclists, which she had started to do in 2007 for Boca Hawai‘i. She continued coaching in person in Hawai‘i and online for clients on the continent until the end of last year.

Giving up coaching was one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make,” Johnson said. “It was a privilege to accompany athletes on their journey, some of them going from never ever having ridden a bike to, within three years, finishing their first Ironman triathlon. Both jobs—coaching and being in the Royal Hawaiian Band—are time and energy intensive. The band has become the higher calling for me.”

In her spare time, Johnson is researching the band’s history and organizing its photos, records and news clips. Tuesday mornings, she volunteers at the Hawai‘i State Archives. Her current project is helping to digitize the vast record album collection that belonged to composer and bandleader Harry Owens, who’s known for establishing the hapa haole style of Hawaiian music.

For fitness and recreation, Johnson cycles about 60 miles per week around the Royal Hawaiian Band’s busy performance schedule. 

“For me, going to retirement homes is especially rewarding,” she said. “We might play Chinese or Japanese folk songs, and the kūpuna’s eyes light up as they sing the lyrics in their native language. Everywhere I’ve lived, I’ve seen how music brings people joy, touches their hearts and souls. Music bridges gaps. It connects us as human beings. The band is such an important part of Hawai‘i’s history. How amazing is it that Ke Akua has allowed me to be a very small part of it?”

Strike Up the Band

Founded by King Kamehameha III in 1836, the Royal Hawaiian Band is observing its 190th anniversary this year; it’s currently the only full-time municipal band in the United States. Each year, it performs free of charge at 300-plus events for schools; parades; shopping malls; community centers; retirement homes; city, state and military functions and more.

At 9 a.m. on May 1, the band will present a program of Hawai‘i-themed songs for the Lei Day celebration at Kapi‘olani Park. Most Fridays, you can enjoy their noon concert on the grounds of ‘Iolani Palace. On Sundays, the band is usually at Kapi‘olani Park Bandstand at 1 p.m. Visit rhb-music.com for more information.

Haleakala Cycle to the Sun 2018 16x9

<title>Uncles and Aunties: Kate Johnson, the cycling clarinetist of the Royal Hawaiian Band</title>

Kate Johnson has been a clarinetist with the Royal Hawaiian Band for 25 years, and has competed in numerous triathlons. She still gets in 60 miles of cycling a week in between performances.

Uncles and Aunties: Kate Johnson, the cycling clarinetist of the Royal Hawaiian Band

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

A third storm in nearly as many weeks is set to bring more wind and rain to the Islands and local leaders are preparing for impact.

"Low pressure west of the Islands will draw tropical moisture northward leading to periods of heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and an increased flash flooding risk," the National Weather Service in Honolulu 

 Wednesday morning. "Strong and gusty south to southeasterly winds are also expected Thursday and Thursday night. Unsettled conditions linger into next week." 

Forecasters say the first wave of showers are expected to move into the area from the south during the mid- to late-afternoon, with the heaviest over Kaua‘i and O‘ahu, "where instability is maximized."

The southeast area of Hawai‘i Island saw several inches of rain last night, the forecast noted.

 is in effect for all Hawaiian Islands through Friday afternoon and a 

 is in effect for south-facing shores on all islands until 6 a.m. Thursday. A 

 is in effect for portions of Kaua‘i and O‘ahu Thursday morning through Thursday night. NWS says south winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 60 mph are possible.

The possibility of more rain and flooding comes just weeks after back-to-back Kona Low storm systems brought heavy rains to the Islands that triggered flooding and power outages, prompted evacuations and caused damage across the state.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"The City and County of Honolulu "}]

Crews have been dispatched across O‘ahu to clear streams, canals and waterways ahead of the storm, "to ensure rainwater and runoff can flow as freely as possible," the city said in an announcement Tuesday. The Department of Parks and Recreation also delivered loads of sand to a lot in Waialua, so people could fill sandbags ahead of the storm.

The city is set to open four pet-friendly 

Additionally, the Department of Emergency Management's Emergency Operations Center was fully activated this morning.

According to the announcement, first responders and city crews also will be "pre-deployed to areas known to be vulnerable to flooding and storm impacts, allowing for quicker response if conditions worsen."

[{"type":"text","text":"All Neighborhood Board meetings through April 9 are canceled."}]

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Maui County"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Maui County leaders also are urging preparedness."}]

, the county noted that gauges at the Haleakalā summit, Pu‘u Kukui and Kula all topped 50 inches of rain between March 10 and 24, while flooding and wind "severely damaged" portions of Moloka‘i, South Maui, ‘Īao Valley, Upper Kula, East Maui and Lahaina during the first two Kona Low storms.

Maui Emergency Management Agency Administrator Amos Lonokailua-Hewett said in the announcement that visitors and residents should "stay informed, create an emergency plan, gather an emergency kit, secure property and look out for one another. Residents who live in low-lying or flood-prone areas need to prepare early."

Two Maui schools are closed today: Hāna High & Elementary in East Maui was closed due to heavy rains and flooding conditions affecting safe access to the campus, and Baldwin High School in Wailuku was closed due to a lack of running water caused by issues related to a nearby construction project, the state Department of Education said in an announcement Wednesday.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Hawai‘i County"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Sentiments are the same in Hawai‘i County."}]

“We are again looking at the potential for flash flooding and thunderstorms with this weather system, including in areas that were previously hit the hardest,” Mayor Kimo Alameda said in an announcement Tuesday. “As we prepare for the possibility of more severe weather, we are regularly communicating with Merrie Monarch Festival and craft fair organizers as well as the visitor industry to ensure everyone stays safe, aware and connected.”

(ICYMI: Merrie Monarch, a weeklong festival and hula competition held annually in Hilo, is 

For those who need it, the county says sandbags can be requested by contacting the Department of Public Works at 

You can receive emergency notifications by signing up for Civil Defense alerts at 

The U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory also continues to monitor Kīlauea volcano. In an 

, HVO says that lava fountaining episode 44 of the volcano's ongoing, episodic eruption is forecast to begin between now and April 15.

 it was gearing up for the next eruption and a possible shift in winds.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Kaua‘i County"}]

In an announcement Wednesday morning, Kaua‘i County said that no refuge areas were open and no road closure were reported at that time.

The HI5 Redemption center in Kōloa will be closed Thursday, April 9, but the announcement notes that county services and facilities may close with little to no notice, depending on the severity of the storm and its effects.

Kūhiō Highway near the Hanalei Bridge may also be closed with little or no advance notice, particularly if a flash flood warning is issued, the county says.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Other preparations"}]

The Hawai‘i National Guard has about 200 soldiers and airmen activated on state active duty and is prepared to provide response efforts "similar to those provided for the previous Kona Low storms," the state Department of Defense says.

"The HING has High Water Vehicle Teams postured in all counties and personnel stationed in every county’s emergency operation center ready to assist," an 

 noted. "Additionally, a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter is on standby for rescue operations on Hawaiʻi and a HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter for MEDEVAC on Oʻahu, if the need arises."

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Earlier impacts"}]

 that the two storm systems in March, 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.

The March storms caused the indefinite closure of 

Last week, Gov. Josh Green and the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency announced the launch of a statewide interim Disaster Case Management Program for residents affected by the Kona Low storms last month.

Such programs connect survivors of disasters with "specially trained case managers to help assess and address their needs by developing a disaster recovery plan," an 

[{"type":"text","text":"Call 211 to begin the enrollment process."}]

With a dollar-for-dollar matching contribution of up to $100,000 from an anonymous donor secured by Aloha State Daily, as well as support from individual donors and partners, the Hawai‘i Farmers Union Foundation (HFUF) has launched the 

 to help Hawai‘i’s farmers and rural communities recovering from severe flooding. Read more 

Downtown honolulu 040826

<title>State readies for newest round of storms</title>

Here's what's being done ahead of a new storm system set to bring more rain and wind to the Islands this week.

State readies for newest round of storms

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

opens to the public today at The Kāhala Hotel & Resort

. The iconic King Street restaurant is now in the space of Hoku’s at The Kāhala.

“Welcoming Alan Wong’s is deeply meaningful for our resort,” states Joe Ibarra, general manager of The Kāhala Hotel & Resort. “We celebrate the extraordinary legacy chef Alan Wong and his peers built through Hawai

i Regional Cuisine, while starting a new chapter that reflects our hotel and the spirt of Hawai

The current menu features signature dishes from Wong’s King Street eatery, along with new, creative presentations that reflect his approach to Hawai

i Regional Cuisine. The menu celebrates Wong’s relationships with the Island’s community of ranchers, fishermen and farmers through the use of locally sourced ingredients.

"I want our guests to be able to taste Hawai

i,” states chef Alan Wong. “That comes through in the ingredients we grow here, the fish from our waters, and the local flavors so many of us grew up with. I hope guests enjoy that approach in every dish and continue to make lasting memories with us.

“By being back on the saddle, I’m back onto my platform,” he adds. “My platform is all about making Hawai

i a better place — making it more sustainable, making it more self-reliant; that farm-to-table idea.”

Alan Wong’s new restaurant opens today in Kāhala. The menu features iconic dishes from the former King Street eatery, including ginger-crusted onaga with miso sesame vinaigrette, the whole tomato salad with li hing mui ume dressing, and “The Coconut” dessert of haupia sorbet in a chocolate shell.

Daily Smile: Thursday, April 9, 2026

ASD Staff

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Daily Smile: Thursday, April 9, 2026

Authors

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