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Hawai'i Skies

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Glenn Nishida at Kahaluʻu. "Just in the right place right time."

To submit your Hawai'i Skies photo, visit us 

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94a70d3f8eabb677 photo

<title>Hawaiʻi Skies: The right place</title>

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Glenn Nishida at Kahaluʻu.

Hawaiʻi Skies: The right place

Today&#039;s Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Glenn Nishida at Kahaluʻu. &quot;Just in the right place right time.&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.

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

, formerly known as Harry’s Hardware Emporium, is officially open within Pint + Jigger. The speakeasy opened in May, and it’s currently open Fridays to Sundays only.

Customers can make reservations for the speakeasy using OpenTable. Search for Pint + Jigger; Hush Hush is listed under “Experiences.” When you click on it, you’ll be able to choose your preferred time slot. The speakeasy is open starting at 6 p.m. until 10 or 11 p.m.

For those who have visited Harry’s Hardware in Pint + Jigger’s previous location on South King Street, you’ll notice some familiar elements. The countertop is from the old location — it’s just been trimmed down, since the current space is smaller — and the speakeasy has the same wallpaper, stools and lighting, according to lead bartender Max Kamm, who explains that the intimate lounge now features New Orleans-inspired cocktails.

“We wanted to do a nod toward the New Orleans bar scene,” he says. “If you look at the menu, it’s going to seem like there’s a lot of usage of cognac, absinthe and French ingredients. A lot of New Orleans staples are on there — like Sazerac, Grasshopper — that are real prevalent there. I think there’s something on there (the menu) for just about anybody.”

The “HH” logo stood for Harry’s Hardware, but after Dave Newman stepped away from Pint + Jigger, the team changed the speakeasy’s name.

“It was named after his (Newman’s) grandpa,” Kamm says. “We’re doing the same concept — just wanted to do good cocktails, and we have a nice space to do it in.

“Harry’s (Hardware) closed right before the Covid-19 pandemic,” he adds. “We got to this location just about four years ago, and we just opened it (the speakeasy) now, so it’s been a long time. The reason we never opened this prior was because we’re just always shorthanded when it comes to the bar staff.”

The bar seats around 12 individuals, and there are three booths in the speakeasy. The speakeasy space can seat approximately 25 guests, according to Kamm.

“The booths are really different (compared to the old location),” he explains. “When they were doing the buildout for this, it was during the Covid-19 pandemic, so it made more sense to do it this way (with booths).”

The cocktail menu features a variety of barrel-aged options — which are popular, according to Kamm — refreshing libations, “guilty pleasures” and slushies. There are also beers and wines by the glass or bottle.

“If you’re into Manhattans and Old Fashioneds, a lot of the cocktails under the ‘boozy’ section are in your wheelhouse,” Kamm says. “If you’re looking for something fun and playful, but still tasty and leaning toward the dessert side, the ‘guilty pleasures’ section is good to look at.”

An example of this is the Grasshopper ($15), made with Raynal Cocnac, crème de menthe, crème de cacao, fernet branca and cream.

“For the Grasshopper, I wanted to make it look like you’re drinking a diner milkshake,” Kamm says. “If you like mint chocolate chip ice cream, I think you’ll enjoy it.”

The barrel-aged Vieuxcarre ($25) has also been a customer favorite. It comprises Rittenhouse rye, Old Overhault Rye, Raynal Cognac, Carpano Antica, Benedictine and bitters.

“The barrel-aged cocktails are always a hit,” Kamm says. “I think people are just intrigued by the fact that they’re barrel-aged.

“The only drink I have to talk to people about is the Frappe,” he adds. “Absinthe is such a huge thing in New Orleans. It’s one of those if you don’t like black licorice, you’re going to hate it (the cocktail).”

The speakeasy’s slushies ($16-$18) have also been well received. Choose from Irish coffee — Bushmills Irish whiskey, cold brew and cream — and Henny Colada, made with Hennessy VS (an iconic cognac), coconut and pineapple. (During our visit, we were indecisive about the flavors, so Kamm gave us samples of both.)

Right now, the speakeasy features cocktails only; customers can go downstairs to Pint + Jigger to order food. However, a small food menu might be coming soon to Hush Hush, according to Kamm.

“Eventually, the goal is to be open Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays,” he says. “Our chef is (also) working on getting some food here; the idea is to continue wit the New Orleans scene (for the food menu).”

Open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays starting at 6 p.m.

Hush Hush decor 070126

<title>Hush Hush is a new speakeasy in Pint + Jigger</title>

The speakeasy is currently open Fridays to Sundays for cocktails. The entrance is hidden in plain sight inside Pint + Jigger. The speakeasy’s menu now features a New Orleans-style theme with drinks like Sazerac, Grasshopper, and libations with absinthe.

Hush Hush is a new speakeasy in Pint + Jigger

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

Aloha Spirit

Changes are in the works for two organizations focused on improving Waikīkī.

Starting July 1, the Waikīkī Business Improvement District, or WBID, and Waikīkī Improvement Association, or WIA, will align management in an effort to streamline operations, reduce overhead and enhance efficiency.

It's not a merger; WBID, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, will continue to operate independently under the umbrella and management of WIA, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, joining three other nonprofits that already do so: Waikīkī Beach Special Improvement District Association (WBSIDA), the Waikīkī Transportation Management Association (WTMA) and Aloha Festivals. Each organization will maintain their own boards, funding and decision-making abilities.

"It's important because what we wanted to do was bring together and make more efficient the way that these organizations operated," Trevor Abarzua, president and executive director of WBID told Aloha State Daily this week. "They're all in Waikīkī. They all have similar but different missions, but there isn't necessarily a need for the duplication of staff, the duplication of resources, whether that's accounting or lawyers or everything that goes into overhead for a company or an organization. The reason we want to do the management alignment was to consolidate the overhead and then consolidate some of the roles."

[{"type":"text","text":"Here's what that looks like:"}]

Abarzua will become the president and CEO of WIA, replacing retiring CEO Rick Egged. John Zerfas, currently director of strategic initiatives for WBID will become the vice president of operations for WIA and a new position will be created for the vice president of community engagement. WBID's Administrative Director Suzanne Kirio will carry that role over to the WIA. There's also an opening for an events and member services position, replacing a vacant WIA communications director role.

Those five positions will be under the auspices of and paid from WIA funds.

That consolidation means "a savings across the board, not only for the WBID, but for all the other organizations, [as well as] consolidating who that leader is in Waikīkī, or who you go to for things," Abarzua says. "What we want to do is have a one-stop shop, that the WIA is a one-stop shop where you could get anything done in Waikīkī, whether you want to meet with the business community, you want to meet with the Neighborhood Board, you want to talk about the beach replenishment projects, you want to talk about the [Aloha] Ambassador program. You could reach out to one entity and they'll have the answers for everything, rather than having different spokespeople or different staff for all these different things. It made sense."

Abarzua says WIA will also be a bridge between the broader community and government.

[{"type":"text","text":"Meanwhile, Each 501(c)(3) nonprofit will have a day-to-day director."}]

WBID Deputy Director Dave Willard will oversee WBID operations under the new structure while Dolan Eversole and Blaine Kia, alongside other cultural and community leaders, will continue in their roles with WBSIDA and Aloha Festivals, respectively. There's currently an opening for a full-time position with WTMA.

According to a timeline on its website, WIA actually established the WBID in 2001 — but the organization branched off on its own a few years later.

"Now's a great time to bring it back together under this management alignment, under this umbrella of services, just based on the growth of Waikīkī, the growth of the initiatives that both the BID and WIA have worked on, and I think it just makes it more aligned for the organizations to be working hand-in-hand," Abarzua says.

[{"type":"text","text":"According to Abarzua, the nonprofits each pay a management fee to WIA."}]

WBID will pay an annual fee of about $345,000, about 6% of its budget, to WIA, "providing executive leadership, board support and coordinated communications," according to information provided during WBID's annual meeting in May. Meanwhile, a 25% cost share, about $76,000, will support the two VP roles.

"By taking the executive director and admin director salaries off the WBID books, and paying only a 25% cost share of the new VP of operations and a 25% cost share of a new VP of community engagement at the WIA level, WBID is able to generate significant administrative savings," the information noted. 

All told, WBID stands to save nearly $170,000. The money saved will be reinvested for more community services, Abarzua says.

So what will the people who live, work and visit Waikīkī notice with this change?

"With the alignment itself, one of the things they will notice is more efficiency in the way these organizations are run," Abarzua says. "But what the vision is for WIA is that we want to really reimagine what the organization does and how it's portrayed."

[{"type":"text","text":"That means a rebrand."}]

"We want to, again, rebrand WIA, with a new brand, a new name, a new look, new feel ... and we're going to do that over the next six to 12 months, starting in July, to be more community-facing," Abarzua told ASD. "Waikīkī Improvement Association's been around for a number of years, but we wanted to not only manage these key, crucial nonprofits, but I think this is a really great opportunity for the organization to really lead on how is Waikīkī branded?"

For his part, Abarzua, 33, says he couldn't be more excited to step into his new leadership role.

"There's a lot of momentum right now and I stand on the shoulders of giants that I've been able to learn from," he says. "Rick Egged in particular has been a staple in Waikīkī for 27 years. ... I've been able to learn under them for three-plus years in this role at the WBID, and being able to see what works and to learn from these guys that have so much wisdom, but then what I'm excited for, too, is to bring my own touch to it. I'm a younger guy. I have fresh ideas. I have fresh energy, so to take the things I've learned and to take the historical aspects of what's been going on, but then to really drive the idea of 'hey, we want to do new things. We want to really grow what Waikīkī  is doing,' just to make it the best possible destination in the world and the best possible community, not only to come to visit, but also to live in, to work in, to hang out and surf in. We want this to be for everyone."

, WBID was formed to help supplement city services and is supported by grants, donations and commercial property assessments on nearly 3,800 commercial properties in the Waikīkī Special District.

Part of WBID's efforts to keep Waikīkī clean and safe include the Aloha Ambassador Program, Safe & Sound Waikīkī, houseless and mental health outreach, and disaster preparedness training, its website notes.

(ICYMI: Read about Aloha Ambassador General Manager Solomon Kaimimoku 

Meanwhile, Abarzua says that WIA's main focus is representing the entire community of Waikīkī, not just businesses, but the residential community, the workforce, "just anything Waikīkī related."

WIA "works to enhance Waikīkī's physical, economic and cultural environment," its 

Trevor Abarzua Talking to an Ambassador

<title>Waikīkī Business Improvement District, Improvement Association to align management</title>

The move aims to streamline operations, reduce overhead and enhance efficiency and goes into effect July 1.

Waikīkī Business Improvement District, Improvement Association to align management

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

More than 200 candidates are running for elected offices in Hawai‘i and will appear on ballots this year. See the candidates for city and county races, 

Tuesday marked the filing deadline for prospective political candidates to submit their nomination papers to run for office in the upcoming 2026 elections. The 2026 primary election will be held Saturday, Aug. 8, with the general election set for Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Here are the candidates for statewide races. 

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

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Lieutenant Governor"}]

U.S. Representative candidates, District II

State Senator District 5 (Wailuku, Kahului)

State Senator District 8 (Kaua‘i, Ni‘ihau)

State Senator District 9 (Hawai‘i Kai, Diamond Head)

State Senator District 10 (Kaimukī, Kapahulu, Mō‘ili‘ili)

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"• Incumbent Les Ihara Jr., Democrat "}]

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"• Jackson Sayama, Democrat  "}]

State Senator District 11 (Mānoa, Makiki, Punchbowl)

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"• Incumbent Carol Fukunaga, Democrat "}]

State Senator District 13 (Liliha, Iwilei, Nu‘uanu)

State Senator District 14 (Moanalua, ‘Aiea, Fort Shafter)

State Senator District 15 (Kalihi, Māpunapuna)

State Senator District 17 (Mililani Town, Wahiawā)

State Senator District 19 (Pearl City, Waipahu)

State Senator District 20 (‘Ewa Beach, Ocean Pointe)

State Senator District 21 (Kalaeloa, Kapolei)

State Senator District 25 (Kailua, Waimānalo)

State Rep. District 3 (Hilo, Keaukaha, Kea‘au)

State Rep. District 4 (Hawaiian Paradise Park, Hawaiian Beaches)

State Rep. District 5 (Kea‘au, Mountain View, Volcano, 

Pāhala, Punalu‘u, Nā‘ālehu, Hawaiian Ocean View

State Rep. District 6 (Captain Cook, Kailua-Kona)

State Rep. District 7 (Kailua-Kona, Honokōhau)

State Rep. District 8 (Hawi, Waimea, Waikōloa)

State Rep. District 12 (Pukalani, Makawao)

State Rep. District 13 ( Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i, Kaho‘olawe)

State Rep. District 15 (Hā‘ena, Hanalei)

State Rep. District 16 (Wailuā, Līhu‘e)

Kōloa, Po‘ipū, Kalāheo, Ele‘ele, Hanapēpē, Waimea

State Rep. District 18 (Portlock, Hawai‘i Kai)

State Rep. District 19 (‘Āina Haina, Niu Valley)

State Rep. District 20 (Leahi, Wai‘alae, Kaimukī)

State Rep. District 21 (Pālolo Valley, Wilhelmina Rise)

State Rep. District 23 (Mō‘ili‘ili, McCully)

State Rep. District 25 (Ala Moana, Downtown Honolulu)

State Rep. District 26 (Makiki, Punchbowl)

State Rep. District 27 (Pacific Heights, Nu‘uanu)

State Rep. District 28 (Sand Island, Chinatown)

State Rep. District 29 (Kamehameha Heights, Kalihi Valley)

State Rep. District 30 (Kalihi, Hickam Village)

State capitol 022725

<title>Here's who's running for office in 2026, part 1</title>

Tuesday marked the filing deadline for prospective political candidates. See who's running for state offices here.

Here's who's running for office in 2026, part 1

Lopaka and Tanya Kapanui

Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya Kapanui

Hawai‘i History

Columnists

In ancient times, this was sacred ground. Kualoa was a wahi kapu, a place set apart for chiefs. In our oral traditions, newborn aliʻi were brought here to be raised in discipline and trained in warfare, raised with an understanding of their chiefly status. Those who broke kapu fled here seeking refuge, for Kualoa was also a puʻuhonua, a place where life might be spared if protocol was followed.

Even at sea, the land commanded respect. Any wa‘a (canoe) passing offshore was said to have lowered its sails in silence, acknowledging the mana of the valley before continuing on. This practice wasn’t limited to just fishermen and commoners, as it is said that Kamehameha I was also careful to acknowledge the sacredness of Kualoa, dropping his sails as he went by.

But Kualoa’s sacredness did not only place demands on those who passed by, it tested those who ruled.

Shortly after becoming aliʻi of Oʻahu, Kahahana called together a council of the island’s ali‘i along with the kahuna nui, Kaopulupulu. Kahahana presented the demands of his uncle, Kahekili of Maui, who sought control of Kualoa and the palaoa pae, the shoreline where whale bones were said to drift ashore.

Some ali‘i argued that the request was reasonable, a fair return for the protection and support that Kahekili had shown Kahahana during his rise to power. Others hesitated, uneasy with the implications of giving the Maui ali‘i such control.

But Kaopulupulu did not hesitate. He warned that to surrender Kualoa was a forfeiture of O‘ahu’s sovereignty. Kualoa, he reminded them, was among the most sacred lands on the island. It was home to the revered drums of Kapahuʻula and Kaʻahuʻulapunawai, and to the sacred hill of Kauakahi a Kahoʻowaha. To give up the palaoa-pae would not only dishonor this history but also disrespect the gods themselves. Kaopulupulu argued that Kahahana had no right to surrender the very emblems of the island’s independence.

Despite Kaopulupulu’s convincing the council and the agreement to deny Kahekili’s demands, things took a darker turn. Through manipulation and influence, Kahekili later convinced his nephew not only to relinquish Kualoa but also that Kaopulupulu was a traitor. With that accusation, the priest was killed. Soon after, Kahahana was also put to death, and Kualoa passed fully into Kahekili’s control.

The ancient stories tell of gods and goddesses, like Hiʻiaka, Pele’s sister, who battled a great moʻo in this valley. When she destroyed the creature, its body became the foothills, and its severed tail was cast into the sea, forming the tiny island of Mokoliʻi (some call it Chinaman’s Hat). Other tales are of Kamapuaʻa, a demigod who was half-man/half-pig, hiding in Kualoa while fleeing Pele’s wrath, tearing through the mountains as he escaped, leaving the deep cuts and ridges that still mark the land.

Then there’s the work of feeding people, which has its own kind of sacredness. Along this coast sits Moliʻi Fishpond. Built to raise and fatten fish, it’s estimated to be 800 to 1,000 years old. But the pond isn’t a relic. It’s one of the few original Hawaiian loko ‘ia (fishponds) still in use, raising and harvesting fish using sustainable practices. A reminder of the area's abundance.

Then change came, as it always does. During the Māhele, Hawaiian lands that had once been held through kuleana (responsibility) were divided by law and written documents. Kualoa was pulled into that new world, too. In 1850, King Kamehameha III sold roughly 622 acres at Kualoa to Dr. Gerrit P. Judd, his missionary doctor and advisor. Over time, through later acquisitions by his son, Charles H. Judd, the holdings expanded to nearly 4,000 acres, becoming Kualoa Ranch, run by the Morgan family line.

Sugar followed, briefly, with the Kualoa Sugar Mill rising near the road. The mill was built in 1864 by Judd’s son-in-law, Samuel G. Wilder. However, it didn’t last long. In 1866, Samuel Wilder’s nine-year-old son fell into a vat of boiling syrup and died from the severe burns a few days later. The sugar venture did not last, and the mill processed its final crop in 1868. The land was then used for ranching.

Yet for all the eras that passed through Kualoa, the valley itself saw little change. The sacredness, the mana, never diminished. And some say that when night settles in Kualoa, and the mountains disappear into shadow, the valley begins to tell its stories again.

In 1925, a story appeared in The Honolulu Advertiser’s editorial column, “The Bystander,” that described ghost stories shared on a Sunday visit to Kualoa. The author wrote that his host claimed to often see the specter of his grandfather, Charles H. Judd, pacing on the lawn in front of the houses. And on every full moon, the ghosts of Kamehameha I and his entourage would march past the gates toward Hau‘ula.

[{"type":"text","text":"That’s not the only tale of the huaka‘i pō."}]

A few years ago, a young man shared his own story with me. He used to work as a guide for the ranch, leading visitors through the valleys in all-terrain vehicles. One late afternoon, when the sun was already low behind the mountain, he returned to the trail overlooking Kualoa Beach and Mokoli‘i. A woman said she left her backpack, and the young guide volunteered to go back and look for it. He realized it was getting dark pretty fast, and he didn’t want to get stuck out there by the time it got fully dark. He got to the spot, turned off the motor, and got out of the vehicle to look around. The young man quickly found the bag, tossed it into the back of the vehicle, and jumped in. But it didn’t start.

Slightly irritated, he kept trying the ignition until he heard a sound that was completely out of place. He swore it sounded like drums, but tried to tell himself that it must be something else. All of a sudden, a gust of wind ripped past him, kicking up dirt everywhere, forcing him to cover his face. As he leaned forward against the steering wheel, he heard footsteps. He wasn’t aware of any other sound, no talking, no chanting, just the sound of dozens of feet marching. He froze in his seat and prayed, keeping his face in his palms, refusing to look up. After a few long minutes, the pounding sound was gone, and he finally lifted his head. He looked around to see nothing out of the ordinary. He turned the ignition key, and his ATV started on the first try. He drove back carefully, not wanting to drive too fast and meet up with whatever just passed him.

He believes he encountered the night marchers and was thankful to make it out unscathed. However, although he enjoyed his job, it was the final straw in a series of creepy encounters that led him to quit.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Kualoa Ranch Large

<title>The haunting history of Kualoa</title>

Long regarded as sacred, Kualoa was originally a special place reserved for chiefs and it was once a place where ali‘i from O‘ahu and Maui wrestled for control. With legends dating back to ancient times, and more modern tragedies as well, spirits of the past make their presence known.

The haunting history of Kualoa

For thousands of years, this stretch of the Nu‘uanu ahupua‘a lay at the edge of a tidal flat, where the sea mingled with fresh water from upland streams, creating a low, marshy basin. In those ancient days, the area was called Kou, where people would gather to watch ali‘i play games like kōnane and ‘ulu maika.

When foreigners began arriving, they found the naturally deep channel created by Nu‘uanu Stream accommodated their large ships. The port’s popularity grew as Pacific trade increased, leading to the rapid development of the surrounding community. As foreign ships began crowding Honolulu Harbor in the 19th century, the Kingdom’s need for a modern port was clear, and dredging began, carving deeper channels into the harbor floor. The displaced sand, coral rubble, and sediment were spread over the marshy land, burying the tidal basin with layers of man-made fill. What had once been an intertidal landscape was transformed into dry, level ground ready for a new wave of the growing city.

Beneath this fill, however, the old lagoon did not entirely disappear, and archaeologists continue to uncover a past that had been buried for nearly a century.

When the Harbor Court site was excavated in the early 1990s, crews found traditional Hawaiian artifacts, including ornaments and tools made of bone, shell, and stone, indicating that the area was inhabited as early as A.D. 1000-1200. Other layers produced artifacts such as ceramics and bottle glass, introduced in the late 1700s by merchants and sailors.  

One deposit pulled from the excavation site revealed a line of post molds believed to be the remains of the wooden palisade, the protective wall of upright posts, that once surrounded Kamehameha’s compound, mere steps away from the ancient Pakaka heiau. For centuries, this heiau was a gathering place for kāhuna to learn and train in their respective arts. In one description, it is said that the walls of the heiau were adorned all around with the heads of men offered in sacrifice.

And, as is common throughout Honolulu’s older districts, they uncovered ancient burials. The quiet presence of iwi kūpuna confirmed that this ground had been lived upon, worked upon, and returned to for generations, long before Harbor Court was ever imagined.

By the time engineers prepared the site for building, the land had shared numerous tales of ancient life and buried history. The construction itself was not uneventful. Workers and foremen spoke of soft pockets beneath the surface that caused piles to drop farther than expected, disappearing into unseen spaces below. Others spoke of whispers in their ears while they worked, soft voices that were lost in the construction racket but real enough to make the workers pause and rub the chicken skin away.

Tenants and office staff have their own stories that they’ve shared over the years. Some spoke of odd shifts in perception and visual distortions, such as shimmering in the corner of their vision. Others reported sudden drops in pressure, dimming hallway lights, and objects floating across the room on their own. The most common spooky theme, though, is the seemingly haunted elevators.

A few months ago, I received a call from former newscaster Diane Ako. She had recently visited friends located on a high floor in the luxury condo/office building, and after her meeting, she caught the service elevator to leave. As she took note of the doors at both the front and back of the car and the moving blankets lining the walls, Diane stepped in, pressed the L button, and headed for the lobby.

Although no other buttons on the panel were lit, the elevator car stopped at the 28th floor, and the rear doors opened onto a short hallway. The dingy, off-white hall was dimly lit and seemed abandoned. Then, in typical “haunted house” fashion, the lights flickered and the doors slid closed. The elevator finally made its way down to the lobby as the blankets on the walls fluttered, adding to the creepy effect.

The ride seemed much longer than it should have been, and Diane called her friend that she’d just left to explain her strange experience in the elevator.

Her description was met with a chuckle, and her friend asked, “Did you catch the far one?”

Apparently, this is a common occurrence for building regulars, and maintenance workers can’t find anything wrong.

Some think it might be ghosts, others believe it’s because the tower was built over old burials. Although strange events occur frequently, especially with the elevators, many still find it unsettling. Life goes on at Harbor Court. But far beneath the tower’s foundation, the buried landscape continues to cradle old stories, waiting for whoever cares to listen.

Harbor Court Large

<title>Ups and downs of haunted Harbor Court</title>

Long ago, the land under Harbor Court in Downtown Honolulu hosted a heiau and generations of Native Hawaiians. Layers of landfill and modern architecture may have covered the area, but they can't erase the lingering traces of the past.

Ups and downs of haunted Harbor Court

 is known for its gourmet-style dim sum. Signature dishes include barbecue pork buns ($8.95), steamed shrimp dumplings ($8.95), steamed pork dumplings with shrimp ($8.95) and sticky rice in lotus leaf ($11.95). The menu showcases authentic Cantonese flavors.

The eatery just released a xiao long bao dish ($9.95) that’s currently a chef’s special. The soup dumplings are available at all Tim Ho Wan locations. We’re told this dish is something that’s been in the works for a while, and something the eatery knew they wanted to feature.

The soup dumplings are petite and easy to eat. Served piping hot, the dumplings boast a slightly chewy exterior and are filled with a flavorful soup.

If you’re looking for an excuse to try the xiao long bao, you can take advantage of the eatery’s happy hour discount. Customers can get 20% off their food order from 2 to 6 p.m. Mondays to Fridays.

Other happy hour discounts include select $5 beers (including Sapporo and Maui Brewing Co. Bikini Blonde), $5 hard seltzers and $5 wines by the glass.

Validated parking is available for customers at Royal Hawaiian Center (first hour free, second hour $3).

2201 Kalākaua Ave., building A, level 3, Ste. A307, Honolulu 

Hawaiʻi Skies: The right place

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Hawaiʻi Skies: The right place

Authors

ASD Staff

Reporter

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