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Daily Smile

[{"type":"text","text":"There are two different types of bulldogs...."}]

Smile 26 4 15

<title>Daily Smile: Wednesday, April 15, 2026</title>

There are two different types of bulldogs....

Daily Smile: Wednesday, April 15, 2026

 There are two different types of bulldogs....

Lopaka and Tanya Kapanui

Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya Kapanui

Hawai‘i History

Columnists

On the eastern edge of Hilo Bay, the small Waiākea Peninsula was one of the most fertile and abundant landscapes in East Hawaiʻi Island. This peninsula was fed by freshwater streams and springs, creating thriving estuaries that supported generations of skillfully managed agriculture and aquaculture.

Fresh water was diverted from the streams through a system of ʻauwai (ditches) to the loʻi kalo (taro patches) before being returned to the sea. The loko iʻa (fishponds) were carefully maintained, full of mullet and milkfish, shellfish, limu, and other marine life. These food systems provided sustenance not only for the residents of Waiākea but also for the aliʻi that governed the region. By the time the first Western ships arrived in Hilo, the peninsula had already been shaped by centuries of careful stewardship.

Throughout the Waiākea Peninsula stood fishing shrines (koʻa), heiau, family shrines, homes, and burial grounds, creating a landscape where daily life and sacred obligations were inseparable.

Historical accounts describe Kūakaʻananuʻu as a massive heiau that once towered almost 60 feet above the shoreline of Hilo Bay, near the area where the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel now stands and directly across from Mokuola, commonly known as Coconut Island. Unlike many Hawaiian temples, Kūakaʻananuʻu featured a distinctive pyramidal design with two platforms and a central chamber, making it one of the more unusual heiau described in Hawaiʻi.

Dredging, harbor improvements, land reclamation, road construction, and hotel development have substantially altered the landscape over the last two centuries. Since much of the original shoreline was destroyed before modern archaeological documentation, the precise extent of the heiau complex is impossible to determine. However, it is estimated that the heiau occupied what is now the shoreline between Banyan Drive and the bridge to Mokuola and may have been part of or immediately adjacent to the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. 

Kūakaʻananuʻu was a luakini heiau, where men were sacrificed to the gods. There were a number of ceremonies performed during and after a sacrifice that included the body being laid out for several days while kāhuna offered pule (prayers) to the gods. Once the protocol was finished, about 20 days later, the body might be returned to relatives to be stripped. The flesh was thrown into the luapaʻu, a refuse pit in the luakini enclosure, and the bones were taken to the tiny island of Kaulaʻinaiwi to dry.

While Kūakaʻananuʻu has been destroyed, Hawaiians often believe that the mana, the spiritual essence, of the past is not separated from the present. Our kūpuna (ancestors) remain connected to the places they lived in and loved. The sacred ground of Waiākea was never just a piece of land. It is a living landscape shaped by generations of people from ancient moʻolelo to modern history. It is perhaps fitting, then, that stories continue to emerge from this place long after the voices of earlier generations have faded.

For years, people have shared their tales of strange events at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. Many of those reports involve guests watching spheres of light dancing about their rooms. These silent orbs are said to be visible to the naked eye and drift from corner to corner unimpeded. No source for the lights could be found: no headlights from outside, no reflections, and no malfunctioning electronics. Witnesses insist that they were wide awake, certain of what they saw.

Two former housekeepers at the hotel have said these experiences are not uncommon. One of them said she tried to ignore any weird happenings, kept her head down, and cleaned the rooms as quickly as possible.

Far more unsettling are the accounts of guests startled from sleep without explanation, heart racing for no apparent reason. When they look around, they see an elderly man dressed in old-style clothing, standing at the foot of the bed or resting against the wall. He remains silent and still, watching them until he vanishes moments later.

One friend shared that one year, as hundreds of hula dancers and spectators descended upon Hilo for the Merrie Monarch Festival, the women of her halau stayed at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. One night, she awoke to the sound of electricity crackling near the bathroom. An elderly woman suddenly appeared, floated a bit near the window, and then settled on the edge of her bed. The kupuna wore a mu‘umu‘u with a handkerchief around her neck and a papale (hat) on her head. Unfortunately, my friend said that even with the soft, warm light of the morning sun, she didn’t recognize her silent visitor.

Even though the landscape of a place changes, imprints of the past often remain. The Waiākea Peninsula has been inhabited for hundreds of years. Who were these ghostly visitors and what did they have to do with this particular location?

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Hilo Hawaiian Hotel

<title>Silent Spirits at the Hilo Hawaiian</title>

Life thrived along Hilo Bay and Waiākea Peninsula, with abundant taro lo‘i, fish ponds, for centuries before Western contact. Spiritual life was ever-present and the landscape was dominated by the towering Kūakaʻananuʻu heiau, where men were sacrificed in elaborate ceremonies. Now the site is home to Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, and guests share stories of spectral visitors from long ago.

Silent Spirits at the Hilo Hawaiian

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.

A 12-ounce prime rib for $30 sounds too good to be true, but if you dine at 8 p.m. or later at 

The $30 prime rib entree is available for dine-in only starting at 8 p.m. from Sundays to Thursdays. It’s available from 8 to 9 p.m., or until sold out; we’re told sometimes it sells out in 15 minutes, as limited quantities are available.

The $30 prime rib was originally a chef special that was featured at the restaurant in April. It extended to May since it was a customer favorite, and it’s still available due to popular demand.

The entree features a 12-ounce herb-crusted prime rib that

s served with Maui green beans and garlic mashed potatoes. This special is for dine-in only; takeout is not available.

Customers can still order off the eatery’s regular menu and dessert menu during this time. Popular options include the mixed-to-order tableside poke, organic taro hummus, tako and country bread, and garlic roasted wild shrimp.

Bestselling desserts include the bread pudding ($14) — featuring Maui Gold pineapple, macadamia nuts, housemade salted caramel and housemade vanilla cream — and the Waialua chocolate purse ($14), which is served with coffee caramel and housemade vanilla ice cream.

Restaurant reservations are recommended via 

Prime rib deal available from 8 to 9 p.m. Sundays to Thursdays

Merrimans prime rib 062726

<title>Budget Bites: $30 prime rib deal at Merriman’s Honolulu</title>

This special entree is available starting at 8 p.m. for dine-in only on Sundays to Thursdays at the eatery. It features a 12-ounce, herb-crusted prime rib served with Maui green beans and garlic mashed potatoes.

Daily Smile: Wednesday, April 15, 2026

ASD Staff

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Daily Smile: Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Authors

ASD Staff

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