ASD icon blue inverse lighter

ASD Staff

Daily Smile

[{"type":"text","text":"Now let's all enjoy the automatic dog ball launcher..."}]

Smile 26 6 16

<title>Daily Smile: Tuesday, June 16, 2026</title>

Now let's all enjoy the automatic dog ball launcher...

Daily Smile: Tuesday, June 16, 2026

 Now let&#039;s all enjoy the automatic dog ball launcher...

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

Aloha Spirit

Today, U.S. Army Sgt. Isaac Atkins will join his platoon for a watch party for the next episode of Season 21 of “America’s Got Talent,” where Atkins is one of the featured contestants.

Atkins, who is stationed on Oʻahu, is one of several contestants, including Bruno Mars’ nephews — the North Shore-based brothers 

 — competing in the current season of “America’s Got Talent.”

“I’m having a watch party with my soldiers on base,” Atkins told Aloha State Daily. “Obviously, it's just a platoon internal thing, where my soldiers — the soldiers that I'm in charge of — we're gonna ... watch the show and have a good time.”

, when the episode streams on Peacock at 

 New this season is the judges’ callbacks round, where select acts, including Atkins, are asked to perform again, and the final remaining live show spots are on the line.

The episode was filmed over several months, including during the 

 but Atkins has not been able to talk much about it prior to airing. While in California, he made sure to visit a food spot, which is not currently in Hawaiʻi.

“I wanted Chipotle," he said. "I got off the plane at LAX, and I took a Lyft to the hotel, but I asked my driver to stop at Chipotle first, so that's the very first thing I did.”

For Atkins, the “America’s Got Talent” stage is the largest of his musical career so far. His previous performances include one in high school, where he had a solo with his choir, he said, but this was different.

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

Atkins grew up influenced by his father’s music, which included classics such as The Temptations, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Smokey Robinson and Motown.

“I grew up on all that music,” he said. “That's really the kind of music that inspired me to sing because it's just classic. It's never going to go out of style, and I still listen to that to this day.”

, where he posts videos of himself singing in the car.

“It was never really my intention to take it to this level,” Atkins said. “But I was doing the car singing thing — and I started getting a lot of traction on TikTok and whatnot and getting the likes and getting comments. That kind of motivated me to take it that step further. And to be able to venture out into doing something this big like ʻAmerica’s Got Talent.’”

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Isaac Atkins

These North Shore brothers will be featured in Season 21 of “America’s Got Talent.” Tune in Tuesday, June 9, to catch their performance.

Nyjah Music and Zyah Rhythm

'America’s Got Talent' has Hawaiʻi contestants

<title>Hawaiʻi contestant competes tonight in ʻAmerica’s Got Talent’</title>

This Army sergeant got his musical break when he recorded himself singing in a car. Now, Oʻahu resident Isaac Atkins is reflecting on the “America’s Got Talent” auditions that recently took him to California.

Hawaiʻi contestant competes tonight in ʻAmerica’s Got Talent’

Kam Napier Headshot

A. Kam Napier

Columnists

Government & Politics

Do lawmakers own computers? Do they ever go on the Internet and look things up? Things like, “The cost of owning and maintaining a convention center,” for example.

I ask because I’m looking at stories about the Hawai‘i legislature nickel-and-diming the Hawai‘i Convention Center's repair and modernization budget. The place suffered from chronic leaks pretty much since it was new in 1998. In January, the center closed to everything but local events for two years to finally fix the roof. As the costs for that project have grown to now $87 million, state lawmakers said no to funding an additional $55 million in related repairs and modernization.

As a result, the center is likely to reopen for business in 2028 and still leak. And this is really its first major renovation in 30 years.

, Jerry Gibson, president of the Hawai‘i Hotel Alliance, and Teri Orton, the Hawai‘i Convention Center general manager, have their say on the impacts of this legislative penny-pinching.

Its worth a read and it got me looking into what other cities spend on their convention centers.

Hawai‘i competes against the world for meetings and conventions, and what the competition is spending on their centers makes us look like we’re trying win an F1 race with a golf cart.

Take, for example, Orange County, Florida, centered on and around Orlando, with a population little bigger than Hawai‘i’s at 1.53 million.

 to expand the Orange County Convention Center, adding 1.15 million square feet of exhibit space. Our reps grumble and cancel $55 million, while one town in Florida says yes to spending half a 

Also in Florida, the Tampa Convention Center opened in 1990, just eight years before our convention center. Tampa itself has a population of 408,000 while the greater metropolitan area boasts 3.42 million, double Hawai‘i’s population. In 2023, the Tampa Convention Center 

 worth of work: new meeting rooms, upgraded ballrooms, upgraded restrooms and concession stands, improved lighting, painting and carpet throughout the facility and improvements to its riverside outdoor event space.

[{"type":"text","text":"How about California?"}]

Palm Springs is not big. Just 45,500 live in Palm Springs proper, while just over half a million live in in the larger Indio-Cathedral City-Palm Springs metropolitan area. Populationwise, it’s half of Hawai‘i. The region gets 14 million visitors a year, of whom 6.4 million stay overnight.

The Palm Springs Convention Center was built in 1984 and expanded just 20 years later in 2005. Today? It’s in the project approval phase of 

 to modernize the center between November 2026 and 2029.

“This $135 million project will ensure that the Convention Center continues to serve as the region’s premier gathering place for conferences, exhibitions, and community events,” say organizers at the project’s website.

Note the words “ensure” and “continues.” Palm Springs leaders aren’t sitting around wondering, “How come we have to keep paying for this thing?” They're saying, “of course we have to, or we’ll get left behind.”

Further north, we find San Francisco and its Moscone Center. That center had completed a capital improvement project 

 of $56 million (that’s $81 million in today’s dollars). The money was spent not only on the buildings but on a marketing campaign to enhance its reputation.

[{"type":"text","text":"Did San Francisco then say, “That’s it! We’re pau!”"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"No, and not just because they don’t say “pau” in San Francisco."}]

expanding and improving Moscone North and South.

“According to Tom David, executive vice president and chief sales officer for San Francisco Travel Association, the expansion was driven by the need to both keep and attract convention business,” wrote 

“The driving force from key convention groups was to modernize the building to keep it relevant,” David said.

[{"type":"text","text":"But that’s not all!"}]

“San Francisco has secured more than $40m in private-sector funding to revitalize its downtown core,” 

Conference & Meetings World last October.

“The initiative includes several measures to support business events. The city is redesigning its outdoor event permitting process. New entertainment zones will be created on Ellis Street, Maiden Lane, Jackson Square and Claude Lane. What’s more, the city reports that twenty new liquor licenses have been approved for the hospitality zone. This expands dining and nightlife options.”

That’s what San Francisco is doing for the neighborhood around its convention center. What are we doing?

Well, I’d just note that when you look out through the giant glass windows of the Hawai‘i Convention Center lobby, the most prominent nightlife option is … Club Rock-Za.

[{"type":"text","text":"A strip joint."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"What about the rest of world?"}]

Curious lawmakers might want to visit the home page of 

, the International Association of Convention Centres, which has 203 member convention centers members from 55 countries.

[{"type":"text","text":"As of May, it welcomed two new members."}]

 in Uganda, a $45-million public-private project that opened two years ago and is able to accommodate 19,000 attendees with “17 futuristic conference rooms.”

The other new member is the Sofia Event Center, in Bulgaria. Until 1989, Bulgaria was a member of the Soviet-led Warsaw pact, enemies on the opposite side of the Cold War from us. Now it has a convention center 

 where entire walls are floor-to-ceiling flat-screen TVs, like some kind of sci-fi holodeck.

[{"type":"text","text":"Can Hawai‘i compete … with recovering communists?"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Not with this track record. "}]

Lawmakers grumbling about the escalating costs of fixing the convention center in 2026 should look in a mirror. The center asked for $64 million for all this work 

, and all it got from the Legislature was a measly $15 million. Of course, the project costs more now. The water leaks, and inflation, have had four more years to do their damage.

By all means, lawmakers, expect the center to spend the money wisely. But you have to realize, this is a state facility competing in a global market. What the convention center is, and what it could be — that’s on you, not on Orton or Gibson. Our competitors are making investments of 

while you won’t spend a tenth that to keep the place from leaking when it rains.

If comedian Sebastian Maniscalco hasn’t trademarked the punchline by now, I have to ask, “Aren’t you embarrassed?”

A. Kam Napier is editor in chief of Aloha State Daily. His opinions in Pipikaula Corner are his own and not reflective of the ASD team.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

I Stock Hawaii Convention Center

<title>Pipikaula Corner: State blowing it on convention center</title>

Hawai‘i lawmakers seem to think they own the only convention center on Earth, because their approach to investing in the Hawai‘i Convention Center ignores any sense of the marketplace. Towns the size of Hawaii‘i, in terms of population and visitor counts, are investing hundreds of millions in their facilities just to keep up with what the convention market wants, while we cheap out on the cost of fixing leaks.

Pipikaula Corner: State blowing it on convention center

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Real Estate

If you're looking for a home that's like a mini-resort of your own, 

The 5,358-square-foot home is located on 0.86 acres at 62-3916 Lanikeha Place. You'll find the property, which has five bedrooms and six baths, on Hawai‘i Island's Kohala Coast, within Mauna Kea Resort's Mauna Kea Fairways North community.

On the market with a $17.5 million asking price, Hale ‘O Ka La, or House of the Sun, has been listed by Hawai‘i Life's Jake Chancer and Neal Norman.

, the home was originally designed in 1992 and once featured in Architectural Digest. It underwent an $8 million renovation in led by 

Diane Bobek Designs, Taleah Smith Design and Pono Hana Builders in 2025.

"Arranged as a series of interconnected pavilions beneath a continuous roofline, the 5,358-square-foot kauhale-style compound replaces traditional hallways with open-air breezeways that invite natural light, tropical gardens, and ocean air into everyday living," the listing notes.

Amenities include a resort-style saltwater pool with a waterslide and swim-up palapa bar, and a waterfall grotto spa with an integrated jacuzzi. The property also is surrounded by protected land, with no future development in front and 355 acres of land preserved by the Queen Emma Land Trust to the north, the listing notes.

"Fairways North is one of the premier residential enclaves within Mauna Kea Resort," Chancer told Aloha State Daily in an emailed response to questions. "With only 32 custom homesites positioned along the community's gently sloping topography, homeowners enjoy exceptional privacy, generous lot sizes, and sweeping ocean, coastline, sunset and mountain views."

But its location within Mauna Kea Resort is what really sets the neighborhood apart, he says.

"Originally envisioned by Laurance S. Rockefeller and opened in 1965, the resort spans nearly 1,840 acres and is anchored by two iconic oceanfront hotels: the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort," Chancer says. "Together, they front two of Hawaiʻi's most spectacular white sand beaches — Kaunaʻoa Bay and Hapuna Beach."

 unveiled a $180 million renovation earlier this year. Read about that 

Chancer says residents have access to an "unmatched collection of amenities," including two championship golf courses, the Seaside Tennis Club, fitness centers, dining, spa facilities and a collection of Pacific and Asian art.

"As the lowest-density resort community on the Kohala Coast, Mauna Kea offers a level of space, privacy and natural beauty that is increasingly difficult to find in Hawai‘i," he says.

Homeowners also can join the Mauna Kea Resort Club, which provides access to golf, tennis, beach and pool privileges at both resorts.

Very rarely do properties like this hit the market, Chancer says.

"Mauna Kea Resort was the first luxury resort development on the Kohala Coast, with many homes built during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s," he told ASD. "While those properties often occupy exceptional locations, it is uncommon to find a residence that has undergone a comprehensive, no-expense-spared renovation of this caliber.

"Although this home was originally built in the 1990s it lives and feels like a brand-new luxury residence," Chancer continued. "The combination of its location, scale, design pedigree and recent $8 million transformation makes it a truly unique offering within the resort."

62 3917 Lanikeha Place 1

<title>For Sale: Hale ‘O Ka La, a $17.5M home in a Big Isle resort community</title>

The 5,358-square-foot home is located on 0.86 acres at 62-3916 Lanikeha Place, within Mauna Kea Resort's Mauna Kea Fairways North community.

For Sale: Hale ‘O Ka La, a $17.5M home in a Big Isle resort community

North Shore brothers Nyjah Music & Zyah Rhythm

 will take one of the biggest talent competition stages as they audition for “America’s Got Talent” in an episode that will be televised tomorrow.

The duo already has a connection to fame as 

. Nyjah Music & Zyah Rhythm will be featured in the second episode of Season 21 of “America’s Got Talent,” which airs at 2 p.m. HST on 

 on NBC. The grand prize for the competition is 

 and has millions of followers on social media.

The brothers could not be reached immediately for comment.

“Every stage is an opportunity to share our passion, learn and grow,” shared the duo on Instagram.

Currently, they have more than 250,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. In 2025, their cover of the Elvis Presley classic “Burning Love” was featured in Disney’s live action 

 Today, that song, which was produced by their pop star uncle, has more than 12 million streams on Spotify.

 include “Always on My Mind,” “The Island Girl is Mine,” and “Love Slow.”

Contestants for “America’s Got Talent” can be 

, according to the show’s audition website. The judges for this season are Howie Mandel, Melanie Brown or “Mel B,” Simon Cowell and Sofía Vergara.

, where select acts get a chance to perform a second time before judges choose which groups advance to the live shows, according to NBC’s website.

Nyjah Music and Zyah Rhythm recently announced new music. The duo shared on social media that their new song “Waste No Time” will be released on June 12.

<title>'America’s Got Talent' has Hawaiʻi contestants</title>

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

 recently launched a new happy hour experience.

The Capital Grille’s “Capital Hours” happy hour is available daily from 4 to 6 p.m. in the restaurant’s bar and lounge section. The happy hour menu launched about three weeks ago.

It includes a variety of happy hour-exclusive dishes — listed in the middle section of the “Capital Hours” menu — along with drink discounts.

The sliced, dry-aged New York strip ($20) has been one of the most popular dishes so far. It’s Kona crusted and serve with aji verde. It’s a nice way to try one of the eatery’s dry-aged steaks if you’re curious about the flavor, but unsure about committing to a full-sized cut.

The Parmesan truffle fries ($14) are addictive, as they’re topped with freshly grated parmesan cheese and white truffle oil. The menu says it’s designed to serve two, but it can be easily shared among more, especially if you’re ordering multiple dishes.

The petite filet sandwiches ($18) come highly recommended by our server. They’re like meaty sliders, comprising toasted brioche buns filled with truffle aioli, filets and cabernet onion jam.

Other exclusive dishes include porcini-rubbed lollipop lamb chops (two for $18), oysters casino (two for $15), cast-iron garlic shrimp ($14), Caesar salad bites ($10), The Grille’s signature cheeseburger ($28), and mushroom truffle arancini ($15). 

The happy hour menu also includes some of the eatery’s signature appetizers (not at discounted prices, though). Options include pan-fried calamari ($25), which are hand-battered and come with hot cherry peppers; prosciutto-wrapped mozzarella ($22); and caviar and caramelized onion dip ($49).

The prosciutto-wrapped mozzarella are like a twist on charcuterie. The thick pieces of cheese are encased in nutty, thinly sliced prosciutto and served with 15-year-aged balsamic, heirloom tomatoes and Grana Padano crostinis. 

If you’re feeling fancy, the caviar and caramelized onion dip ($49) is great for sharing among a group. The housemade potato chips are delectably crispy, and the dip is creamy and tasty, without the onion flavor being too overpowering. 

Happy hour specials also include discounted cocktails ($12 each); signature cocktails range from $19 to $25. The Old Fashioned and classic margarita are popular, but customers can also choose from Greyhound martinis, Straight Up (choice of Wheatley American craft vodka or Bombay gin), or peach bourbon smash.

Diners can still order from the steakhouse’s regular menu even when dining in the lounge. Complimentary three-hour valet parking is available at Lilia Waikīkī.

Happy hour is daily from 4-6 p.m. in the lounge

Complimentary three-hour valet parking available at Lilia Waikīkī

The Capital Grille happy hour spread 010526

<title>The Capital Grille Hawaiʻi has a new happy hour</title>

Feast on exclusive dishes — including Parmesan truffle fries, sliced dry-aged New York strip and filet sandwiches — and enjoy discounted cocktails during the new “Capital Hours.”

The Capital Grille Hawaiʻi has a new happy hour

[{"type":"text","text":"There’s a new all-you-can-eat sushi spot in Honolulu."}]

Sumo AYCE Sushi recently opened in Azure Ala Moana. It’s located in the former space of Debu (the new restaurant sign isn't up yet). The all-you-can-eat experience costs $26.95 per person during lunch (Mondays to Thursdays) and $36.95 for the all-day menu.

The eatery is originally from Las Vegas; this is its first Hawai

i store. Since it’s in its soft opening, only walk-ins are accepted (no reservations).

The restaurant is currently open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. (last seating at 9 p.m.; last call for the kitchen is at 9:45 p.m.). There’s a 90-minute time limit for the all-you-can-eat experience. If customers leave leftover rice, they will be charged.

Customers also have the option to order a la carte, if they don’t feel like doing AYCE. All members of the same dining party must choose the same experience (either all-you-can-eat or a la carte). 

The menu features a variety of nigiri, appetizers, sushi rolls and all-day specials like salmon carpaccio, lobster garlic bread, poke nachos and more.

On the AYCE menu, certain dishes — like uni nigiri, ama ebi nigiri and salmon cut center steak — can only be ordered once.

Recommended appetizers include KFC — Korean fried chicken with Korean sweet and spicy sauce — chicken karaage and crispy rice. The latter features crispy rice topped with spicy tuna, jalapeno, garlic ponzu, spicy mayo and eel sauce.

Popular nigiri so far include seared salmon and yuzu yellowtail nigiri. Classic nigiri options include tuna, shrimp, yellowtail and more.

Choose from unique options like corn cheese garlic bread, bulgogi garlic bread and lobster garlic bread. The latter features soft garlic bread topped with crab, lobster, mozzarella cheese, eel sauce, spicy mayo and scallions.

While filling up on carbs is not usually recommended for AYCE experiences, these breads are trying at least once and are easy to share.

Customers can choose from a variety of four-piece and eight-piece sushi rolls; there are more than 40 options. Popular options include the Chanel roll (shrimp tempura, spicy crab and avocado topped with tuna and salmon); Lisa Lisa roll (shrimp tempura, avocado, crab and cream cheese topped with tempura crunch and eel sauce); and the lemon salmon roll (crab and avocado topped with salmon, lemon and ponzu).

End with desserts like honeydew or ube Melona bars, or vanilla mochi ice cream.

Customer parking is available at Azure Ala Moana; look for the designated retail parking stalls within the structure.

Open daily, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. (last seating at 9 p.m.)

Sumo AYCE Sushi dinner spread 122925

<title>New all-you-can-eat sushi spot opens in Honolulu</title>

Sumo AYCE Sushi just opened in Azure Ala Moana. The eatery — originally from Las Vegas — offers an extensive all-you-can-eat menu, along with an a la carte menu.

Daily Smile: Tuesday, June 16, 2026

ASD Staff

Reporter

More in Daily Smile

Daily Smile: Monday, June 15, 2026

Daily Smile: Sunday, June 14, 2026

Daily Smile: Saturday, June 13, 2026

Daily Smile: Friday, June 12, 2026

Most read

Daily Smile: Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Authors

ASD Staff

Reporter

More in Daily Smile

Daily Smile: Monday, June 15, 2026

Daily Smile: Sunday, June 14, 2026

Daily Smile: Saturday, June 13, 2026

Daily Smile: Friday, June 12, 2026

Most read