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This is Watson. His family threw him a surprise 9th birthday party. Invited all his stuffed friends and everything......

Smile 26 5 27

<title>Daily Smile: Wednesday, May 27, 2026</title>

Daily Smile: Wednesday, May 27, 2026

 This is Watson. His family threw him a surprise 9th birthday party. Invited all his stuffed friends and everything......

Lopaka and Tanya Kapanui

Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya Kapanui

Hawai‘i History

Columnists

The name Kīpapa means “paved” or “placed prone,” as in the corpses of an invading army were placed prone along the base of the gulch. This gulch is also the site of a plane crash, missing hikers, numerous car crashes, suicides, hauntings, and even a night marchers’ trail.

Before modern roads, the passage to Mililani and beyond was long and circuitous, forcing travelers to descend a steep path, cross the gulch, and then ascend another steep path to reach the other side. The route was slow and dangerous, and accidents that caused serious injuries and fatalities were common.

When the Roosevelt Bridge was finally built, travel was much faster, but not necessarily safer. With increased speed, there was also an increase in auto accidents. A 1958 newspaper article stated that the narrow section of the highway at Kīpapa and the neighboring Waikakalaua Gulch had claimed an average of one life per year since 1942. Despite road improvements, it’s gotten only slightly better since then.

Although it’s a vital artery to Honolulu, I know a few people who refuse to drive across the bridge after nightfall. Many people believe that the accidents that happen in, over, and around the gulch are the result of supernatural influence.

Some claim to have seen a ghostly woman walking along the bridge late at night. Others say she is a hitchhiker who disappears as you get closer, or that it’s the ghost of a woman who killed herself by jumping off the bridge. Many say that if you see her, your car goes out of control, causing you to crash. The most common belief is that there has been too much death in the area, and the spirits of those who died there remain, showing themselves at the most inopportune moments.

In our oral traditions, it is said that the ali‘i nui, Ma‘ilikūkahi, lived sometime around the turn of the 15th century. Prior to his reign, life on O‘ahu was full of turmoil, and land divisions were in a state of confusion. Ma‘ilikūkahi sent his ali‘i to survey the entire island, then created the ahupua‘a, or land division, system that we’re familiar with today. This created concise kuleana, or responsibilities, for both commoners and ali‘i, preventing land disputes that were once common and often ended in bloodshed.

Additionally, Ma‘ilikūkahi prohibited ali‘i from plundering the maka‘āinana, the commoners, and defying this order was punishable by death. Although his rule began a long period of peaceful leadership that lasted for generations, Ma‘ilikūkahi wasn’t a pushover. He proved to be a fierce defender of his land and people.

Some restless ali‘i from Maui and Hawai‘i Island attempted a raid on O‘ahu. They met Ma‘ilikūkahi and his forces at Waikakalaua, an upland ‘ili of Waikele, where a bloody battle ensued, moving toward Kīpapa. By the time the invading army was defeated, the casualties were so great that the floor of the valley was “paved with their bodies.”

While Kīpapa Gulch is said to be haunted by the spirits of those warriors, it is also the location of ke ala o ka huaka‘i pō, a path of the night marchers. Could the impression of the deaths of a thousand warriors still hang over the gulch, causing the numerous car crashes? And could the huaka‘i po be responsible for some of them as well? Might the spirits of the victims of these unfortunate events still be present?

One night, I hosted a caravan-style ghost tour where my guests and I piled into our own vehicles and traveled to haunted locations that couldn’t accommodate a minibus or a full-sized motorcoach. We ended up on a back road that overlooked Kīpapa Stream. There, in the darkness broken only by a few flashlights, I shared the sobering history of Kīpapa.

Nervously, the members of our group moved about, taking pictures, videos, and audio recordings. One distinct instruction I gave was that they must claim their noise, meaning they must be aware of any personal movement, talk, laughter, or bodily functions that could show up on any recording.

Afterward, guests shared the anomalies that turned up. On one recording, we could hear a woman singing. On another, was an expletive that said, “Dirty F****r!”

Everyone was overcome with chicken skin, as each person in the group was certain that those sounds were not their own. This was enough to signal that it was time to move on, and we decided to travel to our next stop in Wai‘anae. The next day, I received an email with a video link.

The message attached stated, “We didn’t hear the voice at first until we played it back. My girlfriend heard it the second time. It’s freaky. No one else was near us when this happened.”

It was a video of haole koa bushes lit by someone’s flashlight. A conversation between the boyfriend and the girlfriend can be heard. It was during the couple’s few pauses in their nervous exchange that a third voice was heard.

[{"type":"text","text":"“Don’t leave me here, don’t leave me here. Don’t leave.”"}]

I often say that when it comes to audio recordings with electronic voice phenomena, or EVP, it could be anything. However, these results seemed different. Clearer.

A few months later, an opportunity came up to bring a small group down into Kīpapa Gulch after hours. I thanked that person for thinking of me, but I graciously declined. Kīpapa is always bustling with activity, even if we can’t see it. While we are always interested in the paranormal, we also don’t want to push our luck.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Roosevelt Bridge over Kipapa

<title>Ghosts Run This Gulch</title>

From ancient battles to modern car crashes, a lot has happened around Roosevelt Bridge, where Kamehameha Highway crosses over Kīpapa Gulch. Is it any wonder it has a reputation for hauntings?

Ghosts Run This Gulch

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

Hawai‘i reps Jill Tokuda and Ed Case introduced last week a federal bill to crack down on illegal fireworks.

, called the Fireworks Trafficking and Money Laundering Prevention Act, would include illegal transportation of fireworks over state lines within federal anti-money laundering measures.

On Friday, May 22, Case said on the House floor that the current maximum penalty for transporting illegal fireworks over state lines is only one year in prison, an insufficient consequence to actually deter people from doing it. If passed, the new bill would make fireworks trafficking prosecutable as potential money laundering, which carries much more severe sentences.

Someone who is found guilty of conducting unlawful transactions and attempts to conceal the nature of the transaction can be fined up to $500,000 and imprisoned up to 20 years, under current statutes.

“Investigations have repeatedly shown that traffickers frequently engage in related financial crimes, including money laundering, to conceal profits and evade law enforcement,” Case said Friday.

Case did not specifically invoke the Āliamanu fireworks explosion that killed six people, including a 3-year-old boy, on Jan. 1, 2025. But he did say that the dangers of illegal fireworks are “especially acute” in Hawai‘i and that a single explosion in a densely populated neighborhood can threaten entire communities.

After being introduced on Friday, the bill has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Meanwhile, U.S. Congress passed a handful of other bills last week, including:

, which the House passed last Wednesday, May 20, prohibits any elementary or middle school that receives public funds from changing a student’s stated gender, pronouns or name on school forms without the consent of the student’s parent. It similarly also prohibits schools from changing the accommodations — e.g. locker rooms or bathrooms — available to a student without the parent’s consent.

The bill also prohibits the use of federal funds to teach “gender ideology,” referring to a 2025 executive order by President Donald Trump which defined “gender ideology” as “[replacing] the biological category of sex with an ever-shifting concept of self-assessed gender identity.”

The House voted 217-198 to pass the measure, with eight Democrats breaking with the rest of the party to vote in support of the bill. Case and Tokuda were not among them, and voted against the bill.

Terminating Restrictive Enforcement of Youth Settlements Law

 or TREY’s Law, would nullify nondisclosure or confidentiality agreements that prevent people from disclosing the sexual abuse of minors.

The preamble to the bill state’s that such clauses can and have been used to conceal ongoing or repeated sexual abuse. The bill is named after a Texas man who was a victim of sexual assault as a child, and who took his own life in 2019.

The bill would apply retroactively to any nondisclosure clause entered into before or after the bill’s passage and would prevent anyone from enforcing any such clause.

[{"type":"text","text":"The Senate voted unanimously Wednesday to pass the bill."}]

 prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs from including certain information about a veteran to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, or NICS.

Among the information collated by NICS is whether a person has an appointed fiduciary to manage their assets. But veterans who appointed a fiduciary to manage their VA benefits have been prohibited from purchasing firearms because, according to NICS, the appointment of a fiduciary suggests that the person isn’t mentally competent to own a gun.

The bill therefore prohibits the VA from disclosing a veteran’s appointed fiduciary to NICS, unless there is a court order declaring the veteran to be a danger to themselves or others.

an internal policy change that would do effectively the same thing.

The House voted Friday to pass the bill 216-201. Case and Tokuda voted against it.

Repz 16x9

<title>CONGRESS WATCH: Firework laundering</title>

Hawai‘i lawmakers introduce bill making fireworks trafficking prosecutable under money laundering laws.

CONGRESS WATCH: Firework laundering

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

 opened about a week ago in Ward Village; it’s located near Rinka Japanese Restaurant. The eatery is still in its soft opening phase, and is still making changes to its menu.

Tex-Mex fare differs from traditional Mexican cuisine; it’s known for dishes like chips and queso, fajitas and cheese enchiladas.

Popular appetizers include ceviche ($17), elotes ($15), and chips and guac ($12). The ceviche features a mix of fresh ‘ahi and shrimp, along with tomatoes, onions and cilantro. We’re told the tortilla chips and dips are made in-house. 

The elotes ($15) comprise corn ribs drizzled with chili lime aioli and are dusted with cotija cheese and tajin. Each piece boasts an umami flavor with a slight kick, thanks to the tajin. 

Entrées consist of fajitas, taco plates and enchiladas. Fajitas feature a choice of steak ($38 regular, $68 large); chicken breast ($32 regular, $52 large); and steak and chicken combos ($36 regular, $62 large). Diners can add shrimp for an additional charge ($9 for three).

We’re told the regular portion is a medium size, while the large portion is designed to serve three people.

Fajitas are delivered on sizzling skillets; tortillas, rice, beans, guacamole, pico, sour cream, salsa and cheese are served on the side. Fajita and taco party packs, along with margaritas to-go, will eventually be available.

Taco plates come with rice and beans. The baja fish tacos ($26) feature lightly battered mahi mahi with cabbage slaw, jalapenos, pickled red onions sand lime crema in flour tortillas.

Customers can also opt for birria queso tacos ($29) — three birria-style braised beef and cheese tacos, served with a consommé dip — or three crispy tacos ($24) with a choice of shredded chicken or ground beef.

Enchiladas feature a choice of braised beef ($29), classic chicken ($26), or cheese ($22).

No Tex-Mex eatery is complete without margaritas; Luna’s margaritas include tequila blanco, real lime juice, triple sec and agave. The Shrub ($18) is a house specialty, but is subject to availability. This twist on a classic cocktail comprises celery jalapeno shrub (vinegar-and-fruit syrup) and Cointreau.

Luna’s Tex-Mex Cantina plans to extend its hours and launch its lunch menu in the upcoming weeks.

Lunas Tex Mex steak nd chicken fajitas 052626

<title>Luna’s Tex-Mex Cantina is open in Ward Village</title>

The restaurant opened about a week ago and is still in its soft opening phase. Customers can expect dishes like ceviche, housemade tortilla chips and guac, elotes, steak and chicken fajitas, and Baja fish tacos. The eatery is planning to extend its hours to include lunch service.

Luna’s Tex-Mex Cantina is open in Ward Village

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

Real Estate

The redevelopment of a West O‘ahu site that once housed a popular lū‘au is underway, and when the work on Waianiani at The Cove is done, the property will be open to the public for the first time in four decades.

Cove Campbell Kobayashi LLC is working to redevelop the 10.85-acre oceanfront property adjacent to the Ko Olina resort area in to a mixed-use entertainment, dining and shopping venue and community gathering place.

The 75/25 joint venture is led by property owners James Campbell Co., a nationally diversified private real estate company headquartered in Kapolei, with assets valued at 

, in partnership with Kobayashi Group, a locally owned and operated real estate development firm; and BlackSand Capital, a Hawai‘i-focused private real estate investment firm.

The property was previously home to the Paradise Cove Lū‘au, which 

 after 47 years; the closure allowed the long-planned redevelopment to move forward.

More than 200 people gathered at the site May 21 for a ground blessing ceremony.

Waianiani will include a new oceanfront entertainment amphitheater with nightly lū‘au shows from Tihati Productions; three full-service restaurants, including Duke's at the Cove, the chain's first West O‘ahu location; a cultural pavilion and open-air activity lawn; and a 20,000-square-foot "village walk" marketplace, with retail space that aims to showcase local artisans and produce, a May 21 announcement noted. Meanwhile, an existing wedding chapel will be retained and improved for future use. The redevelopment will create nearly 500 permanent jobs.

James Campbell Co. President and CEO Kevin Penn told Aloha State Daily after the blessing that the company has contemplated the redevelopment for about a decade. 

"This is such an iconic location, such an iconic place. The ‘āina is very, very important to the James Campbell family," Penn says. "... For the last 40 years, the only way you could get access to this land was through buying a ticket to go to the show. Our project will be open to the public. There'll be a pathway and a walkway to go through the retail. There'll be restaurants that are opening [for] lunch and dinner, and then the show will operate. Opening this property up — opening it up to the West Side, opening it up for the people that are visiting our island — was important to us, and we're excited about that."

According to Penn, construction is expected to be finished at the end of 2027 and the project is anticipated to open in the first quarter of 2028.

When asked how the partnership with Kobayashi Group and BlackSand Capital came about, Penn said that James Campbell Co. "really wanted to partner with a group that brought the hospitality perspective. ... They've done hospitality and entertainment venues before. The James Campbell Co. has not. ... This is a perfect marriage of what we can bring together."

Kobayashi Group CEO and Partner Alana Kobayashi Pakkala told ASD that the developer has been "admiring this opportunity for many, many years, so we were incredibly excited when we were offered the opportunity to present our ideas for the ability to partner with James Campbell Co."

Pakkala says that — among the reasons Kobayashi Group was interested in the opportunity — the company feels strongly that there's an "incredible opportunity" to grow key entertainment areas of the island.

"We have some of the most talented people here and to be able to share the Hawaiian culture and stories and music, both with our local residents and with visitors, that was really an incredibly interesting opportunity," she said.

Pakkala says, too, that Kobayashi Group are "strong believers in the West Side," and has been developing in the area for decades.

on land owned by the City and County of Honolulu, Kobayashi Group was 

 as the preferred negotiating partner for the redevelopment of nearly 14 city-owned acres in Kapolei into an affordable rental community).

, the cove property — acquired by James Campbell in 1877 — has been used commercially since the 1970s and was last redeveloped in the early 1990s.

According to Thursday's announcement, when completed in 2028, Highgate will oversee daily operations and 

 is just one of five active development projects in progress for JCC, a "high water mark" for the company and its history, Penn says.

Among those projects is another joint venture with Kobayashi Group and BlackSand Capital in Waikīkī, as well as an affordable rental project in Kapolei called Nāliko, which 

Waianiani at the Cove groundbreaking 052126

<title>West O‘ahu redevelopment breaks ground</title>

A blessing ceremony was held Thursday for the redevelopment of the former Paradise Cove Lū‘au site near Ko Olina.

West O‘ahu redevelopment breaks ground

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

Aloha Spirit

PĀLOLO — With Diamond Head glistening in the distance to his right and the public housing units he grew up in situated just up the street to his left, Jayden Maiava stood firmly on his roots when explaining to the man directly across from him where it all started. 

Last week, Maiava held a free youth football clinic at Pālolo Valley District Park, the place he honed his football skills as one of college football's top quarterbacks. Gov. Josh Green made an appearance, and Maiava gave Green a walking tour. 

"It was unbelievable. I didn't think he was going to show up. It a great surprise," Maiava said afterwards. 

Green wished Maiava luck ahead of his senior year of USC, where in 2024, he became the storied program's first Polynesian starting quarterback. Green, an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan, enthusiastically told Maiava he hopes that's where he ends up. 

If the 2026 season goes as planned for Maiava, dozens of other NFL teams will more than be interested. 

After relocating to Las Vegas with his family in middle school, Maiava returned to O‘ahu ahead of his sophomore year at Kaimuki High School in 2019, leading the Bulldogs to an OIA Division II championship. As the Covid-19 pandemic wiped out the high school sports season in 2020, Maiava moved back to Las Vegas, finishing at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nev. 

Maiava eventually won the starting quarterback job as a redshirt freshman at UNLV in 2023, then parlayed his success into a spot on USC's roster in 2024. 

In his first year as a full-time starter in 2025, Maiava threw for 3,711 yards and 24 touchdowns, completing 65.8% of his passes as the Trojans went 9-4. His efficiency, combined with the fluidity he shows in carrying his 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame, had NFL scouts intrigued. Maiava decided to return for his senior season in 2026, where combined with one of the country's top recruiting classes, hopes remain high in Los Angeles. 

Life's moving fast for Maiava nowadays. Visits back home, and opportunities to give back, are steps in the journey he views as essential. On May 18, boys and girls aged 6 to 14 received a free shirt and were able to engage in a handful of fun games, some of which featured Maiava himself. Afterwards, Maiava took the time to sign autographs and take pictures with every single participant and their families, a session that lasted over an hour. 

Maiava received constant reminders of both his old and new life. While he was back on his old stomping grounds, multiple cameras were pointed at him the entire time. USC's media team in particular sent a contingent of nearly a dozen, filming him in his element, in addition to multiple family outings over the weekend. The plan for USC is to launch a full-fledged social media campaign centered around Maiava. 

"Being the first ever Samoan quarterback to start at SC is really big," Aaron Amaama, USC's director of high school recruiting relations, told Aloha State Daily. "He's an icon for our people."

Following the 2026 season, Maiava will try his hand at the NFL. It's a destination he dreamed of as a keiki, a place that feels closer than ever. On his way there, he hopes he can show other kids from Pālolo their dreams can be cultivated where their feet are. 

"It means everything," Maiava said of the Island youth. "When I was their age, I'd never thought I'd be throwing my own camp here, but being able to do that with the people around me, with the help that I've been lended, just being able to come back to the community and be present.

"It still hasn't hit me yet. I just try to stay in the moment, reflecting on where I came from, and this is where it all started. So, seeing all the kids, all my uncles and aunties, and just everybody who showed up, really just inspired me to just continue to do what I do to the best I can. I haven't accomplished nothing yet, so I think just for me, just being able to stay grounded and remember where I come from, and just continue to have that mindset of I still ain't doing nothing. Just keeping my head down, keep swinging, and relying on the people around me."

Jayden Maiava Josh Green 1 052226

<title>Pālolo proud: Jayden Maiava doesn't shy away from his roots along football journey</title>

Maiava, the first Polynesian quarterback to start for USC, took some time back home before the most consequential season of his young football career

Pālolo proud: Jayden Maiava doesn't shy away from his roots along football journey

 is known for its contemporary cuisine with Island flavors, but it’s also home to a speakeasy.

The IYKYK — “If you know, you know” — speakeasy is tucked away within the Kaimukī eatery. It opened last fall.

You can make reservations for the speakeasy by calling the restaurant directly; online reservations are not available.

Non-speakeasy members are limited to a 90-minute reservation time. Memberships to the speakeasy cost a one-time fee of $250; the physical membership card must be presented at each visit. Benefits include priority reservations for the speakeasy, priority seating, birthday perks and surprise offers, priority access to exclusive experiences (wine and bourbon tastings and curated culinary events), and more.

The speakeasy also features a IYKYK Thursday special, in which customers can get the membership for a discounted price of $150 (the offer includes a guided tour of the speakeasy and complimentary “I Know” cocktail with the purchase of any featured food item).

The speakeasy has its own tapas menu, which features a rotating selection of dishes. During our visit, tapas included Molten Bay crab cakes ($19.50), truffle fries ($13.50), Catalan albondigas ($15), and spicy cucumber salad ($13).

The Molten Bay crab cakes were fried to a golden brown and were served with Old Bay aioli for dipping. The savory truffle fries were topped with shaved Parmesan, truffle oil and a fresh herb mix.

﻿Meanwhile, the Catalan albondigas ($15) — hand-rolled Spanish beef meatballs — were simmered in a saffron-tomato sauce with roasted mac nuts and parsley. The spicy cucumber salad ($13) boasted a kick, thanks to the housemade Gochugaru sesame soy marinade.

The tapas menu changed since our visit. It now includes dishes like midnight musubi arancini ($12) — crispy fried rice arancini with a filling of Spam and molten cheese, served with Gochugaru-spiced marinara — the cellar board for two ($38) and shrimp skewers with a miso butter glaze ($14). The cellar board is a charcuterie board that includes sliced meats and baked brie; it’s designed to complement wine, whiskey and late-night cocktails.

You can still order from the restaurant’s full cocktail menu. Choose from signature options like the Smoking Pig ($19.50) — house branded specialty Crooked Crown bourbon that’s aged in wine barrels and garnished with a crispy bacon strip and cherry — Aperol Spritz ($17.50), and smoked rosemary mezcal margarita ($19).

The Smoking Pig boasts notes of oak and subtle fruit. It’s a crowd favorite due to its complex flavor and “smoking” presentation. The Aperol Spritz is ideal for those who prefer effervescent flavors, as it comprises Aperol, elderflower liqueur, fresh strawberries and champagne.

Even if you’re enjoying cocktails in the speakeasy, you can still order food from The Surfing Pig’s dine-in menu. Popular options include creamy brussels sprouts ($15), Billionaire bacon ($14), and center-cut boneless pork loin ($36).

The IYKYK speakeasy is open during the restaurant’s regular business hours (4 to 9 p.m. Mondays to Wednesdays, 4 to 10 p.m. Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 9 p.m. Sundays).

The Surfing Pig speakeasy entrance 051226

<title>The Surfing Pig has a hidden speakeasy</title>

The Kaimukī eatery is also home to an “if you know, you know” speakeasy, which opened last fall. Customers must call the restaurant to make reservations for the speakeasy.

Daily Smile: Wednesday, May 27, 2026

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