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Hawai'i Skies

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Doug McLeod in Waikīkī. "Waikīkī sunset from a high floor. It was only this color for a few moments."

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25 12 26 Doug Mc Leod

<title>Hawai‘i Skies: Color takeover</title>

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Doug McLeod in Waikīkī.

Hawai‘i Skies: Color takeover

Today&#039;s Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Doug McLeod in Waikīkī. &quot;Waikīkī sunset from a high floor. It was only this color for a few moments.&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.

Lopaka and Tanya Kapanui

Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya Kapanui

Hawai‘i History

Columnists

As we walk swiftly across the soft, burning sand of Polihale Beach, a wave crashes on the shore, and the ocean rolls up to meet us. I bend to pick up a seashell that made a brief appearance, but it’s quickly covered again by the ebb tide, and I miss my chance. Our granddaughter squeals with delight as the cold water runs up to her knees, and she takes the opportunity to splash the ocean water on her grandparents, too.

Located on the west side of Kaua‘i, it’s the longest stretch of beach in Hawai‘i and holds deep cultural significance to Hawaiians. As a state park, Polihale is a favorite spot for locals who grew up swimming, fishing, and camping there, and due to its increasing popularity, it’s a growing favorite for visitors as well.

However, it’s not an easy place to get to. The 5-mile-long, former cane-haul road to Polihale is full of ruts and potholes. It’s a dirt road, so if it rains, the road turns to mud, making it nearly impassable unless one has a 4-wheel-drive vehicle. Most rental car companies strictly prohibit their users from driving to the remote beach.

Swimming there can be deadly, as rip currents can quickly pull you away from shore, and large tiger sharks are frequently seen in the area. There is no cell service, which can mean disaster for the unprepared, but if you do make it out there, you’re met with incredible natural beauty.

For generations, Hawaiians have called Polihale their home. Aside from its visual splendor, Polihale is a place of ancient history and culture. The sand dunes hold the burials of our ancestors in sacred embrace, while the mountain peaks that butt up against the sand, jutting out into the ocean, serve as a leaping place for souls into the afterlife.

Like every place in Hawai‘i, Polihale has its own legends. As we sat basking in the sun, we were fortunate to share a bit of history and legend with our granddaughter, and now we share it with you.

There was a special type of limu called pahapaha, sometimes known as sea lettuce, that grew off the shores of Polihale. In our mo‘olelo, it was Nāmakaokaha‘i, goddess of the ocean and Pele’s sister, who gave the limu its special quality. It was said that a lei pahapaha, a garland made of this special seaweed, can fade and dry out over time, but when soaked in water, it will revive to its original freshness. Only the limu pahapaha of Polihale did this. Visitors who made the long trek to Polihale made lei pahapaha and wore them home to prove that they had, indeed, been there. Sadly, this legendary limu can no longer be found off the shores of Polihale.

Lei kauna‘oa was used when praying to Kapoʻulakinaʻu, another sister of Pele and the goddess of sorcery and dark arts. Kāhuna would offer a lei made of kaunaʻoa from the dunes of Polihale to ask for help in defeating their enemies. While the parasitic plant is often found growing on pōhuehue vines along beaches and sand dunes across every island, it is said that Kapo first discovered the yellow-orange plant at Polihale.

At the far end of the beach, just below the cliffs, there is an ancient heiau dedicated to Laka, which also serves an important purpose in the spiritual afterlife. The spirits of the dead come to the west side of Kaua‘i from all over the island. They gather at Kāʻana at the edge of Waimea Canyon and follow the Hikimoe Stream down to the heiau at Polihale. Then, they climb to the top of the 300-foot cliff and leap into the ocean to sink into Pō, the everlasting night. Any spirits that lost their way to the leina a ka ‘uhane, the leaping place of souls, or any spirits that were not accepted into Pō, were left to haunt the ridges of Waimea Canyon and the shores of Polihale. It was said that the people in the area never built their hale pili, their grass houses, with the entrance facing east, so the spirits traveling to Polihale would not enter their home and become trapped.

At night, the air is cool, and the sand loses the heat it soaked up during the day. The sound of crashing waves seems louder, broken occasionally by the music and laughter of shoreline campers. There are no streetlights here, so when the sun goes down, the darkness can feel quite intimidating, and for good reason.

In addition to the procession of the dead, people have witnessed the night marchers walking to and from the ancient heiau. There are numerous stories of people who set up camp on the beach, throw out their fishing lines, and sit back to wait for a bite, only to pull up their lines and leave quickly before anything got a chance to nibble at their bait.

One man described his experience with that exact scenario, saying that everyone in his camp heard the rhythmic beating of the drums.

The wind died, and the air was suddenly hot, when someone in the group shouted, “Night marchers!”

They all lay flat on their stomachs, covering their faces. The drums grew louder, and at one point, they seemed to be right next to the frightened campers. After the sound was gone and they could feel the wind again, the group immediately decided to break camp, believing that there was no way they’d catch any fish that night.

Another woman describes driving out to Polihale late one night to meet her family. With only the headlights from her car to see ahead, Amy drove slower than she would during the day. In the passenger seat, her sister Michelle was talking about her day, filling the silence left by the radio after they lost the signal.

They were almost at the last camp area, where their family was waiting, when Michelle shouted, “Did you see that?”

[{"type":"text","text":"She turned to Amy and said, “You did see it, didn’t you!”"}]

Though she didn’t admit it to her sister right away, Amy saw exactly what Michelle saw. Without saying a word, she pressed the gas a little harder and told Michelle to be quiet as she tried to focus on the road.

Amy told us that as they made their way through the darkness, they saw a person standing in the middle of the dirt road. The person was far enough away for Amy to gradually slow down, and as they got closer, they could see it was a woman wearing a long dress, walking in the same direction they were headed. But just as Amy started to move to the side and slow down even more, the woman vanished.

“She didn’t move or jump out of the way, and she didn’t run off anywhere. She just totally disappeared!” Amy said.

Polihale is far more than just a scenic beach. It is a wahi pana, a celebrated and storied place, that is culturally sensitive to the Hawaiian people. Park users can help protect this sacred area by leaving no trace of their presence. Be considerate by packing out all trash, and avoid moving rocks or boulders that may be part of the natural or cultural landscape. Resist the urge to drive on the sand beyond designated access routes and stay off the sensitive sand dunes. By treating Polihale with care and respect, we can all help preserve this special place for future generations.

Polihale Beach

<title>Legends and Spirits of Polihale</title>

At the end of an unpaved, 5-mile road on Kaua‘i's west side is Polihale Beach. It is many things — a treasured local hangout, a visitor attraction that's gaining popularity, and, in ancient Hawaiian tradition, it is a jumping-off place for souls seeking the afterlife. Eerie stories abound about it.

Legends and Spirits of Polihale

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Aloha Spirit

Business & Tourism

Roselani Aiwohi, owner of Waiwaolani, a Maui-based clothing brand inspired by Hawaiʻi's native ecosystems, described the store opening Saturday at Kāhala Mall as “a beautiful day.”

“Four and a half years of Waiwaolani and the only way I was able to continue and persevere is because of the love I received by my ʻohana and hoaaloha (friends),” 

. “At the end of every day and through every trial and bump in the road, it was the love I received from my family, the kako'o (support) and the kōkua (help) that pushed me along. So grateful for the sea of support and to be surrounded by such love.”

This is the brand’s first retail store on Oʻahu, which can be found on the ground floor of the mall in the former Fighting Eel space.

Aloha State Daily spoke with Aiwohi in January

, she teased about moving into a permanent space on Oʻahu “soon.”

“I can’t really say much, but it is going to take up a lot of my time, and then, I’m under that lease and unable to do as many pop-ups on Oʻahu as I used to,” she said at the time. 

In 2024 alone, Waiwaolani was at 20 pop-ups across the Islands. Earlier this month on Oʻahu, the biz was a vendor at Hoʻomau Market. It is also participating in the 

, which will be held from Aug. 20 to 23, at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center. (ASD will be there, too! Stop by our booth for free merch.)

ʻi and raised on Maui, Aiwohi said that the business, which launched in November 2021, “happened by accident,” after she befriended a family in Bali in need of work. They later became her team of seamstresses, while she designed prints at home that share stories of Hawaiʻi's native plants. Waiwaolani’s various giveback programs focus on conservation, mālama ʻāina and local youth development.

“Through our locally designed clothing and products, we hope to inspire people to learn about and appreciate Hawaii's native ecosystems, while supporting the organizations working to protect them,” Aiwohi said in a Tuesday statement.

Aiwohi adds that the new location will “allow Waiwaolani to connect with new customers, expand its reach across the Islands and build relationships with community organizations, while continuing to support the Native Hawaiian community.

“Kahala Mall is delighted to be the first Oʻahu location for Waiwaolani,” said Kāhala Mall 

in a statement. “We look forward to introducing our customers to this unique Maui-based brand and supporting its continued growth in Hawaiʻi.”

Waiwaolani is looking to partner with other Native Hawaiian groups and organizations statewide for its Kāhala Mall store. Interested? Email aloha@waiwaolani.com.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Waiwaolani 005

<title>Maui-based clothing shop now open at Kāhala Mall</title>

Waiwaolani, a Native Hawaiian-owned alohawear business featuring prints of Hawaiʻi’s native species, has expanded to Oʻahu with the opening of its first retail store on the island.

Maui-based clothing shop now open at Kāhala Mall

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Food & Dining

Red Lobster, the restaurant chain known for its seafood and cheddar biscuits, has closed its doors in Hawai‘i.

The chain's only location in the state, found at 1765 Ala Moana Blvd. in Waikīkī, permanently closed on June 21, a corporate spokesperson confirmed to Aloha State Daily. 

"As part of our normal course of business, Red Lobster continuously evaluates individual restaurant performance and lease terms and may, from time to time, choose to close select restaurants," the spokesperson said in an email. "This closure reflected specific decisions tied to the unique operating conditions at this restaurant. We remain committed to making thoughtful decisions that position Red Lobster for long-term success, stability and growth. Honolulu has been a meaningful part of our story, and we truly appreciate the guests and team members who have made this restaurant special over the years."

 shows a sign on the restaurant's door that notes its closure and thanks customers for "32 years of memories."

The Orlando-based company got its start in 1968 when Bill Darden opened the first Red Lobster in Lakeland, Florida, according to a 

Red Lobster filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2024, days after after closing dozens of restaurants, the 

It exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection months later, when a U.S. bankruptcy judge approved a reorganization plan "which included a lender group led by asset manager Fortress Investment Group acquiring the business," AP 

RL Full Logo Full Color CMYK 1

<title>Red Lobster closes Waikīkī location</title>

The restaurant permanently closed on June 21, a company spokesperson confirmed.

Red Lobster closes Waikīkī location

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Known for its hand-crafted xiao long bao, 

The business, which just opened by Shabuya in Ala Moana Center, has 14 locations in cities like Bellevue, Tacoma, San Francisco and more. The eatery offers authentic Taiwanese cuisine and soup dumplings, according to owner Brandon Ting.

“We started this restaurant’s first location in Bellevue, Washington,” he explains. “We brought the former executive chef of W Hotel Taipei from Taiwan to America; we created this menu together. We want to bring the most authentic, classic xiao long bao experience to Hawaiʻi; we are very excited to be on this island and to serve so many customers here.”

The Honolulu store opened for its friends and family event on Friday, and was soft opened over the weekend. The eatery can seat about 140 individuals.

Customers can make reservations for dine-in via 

“We encourage people to make reservations; we will occasionally accept walk-ins,” he says.

Most xiao long bao orders include six pieces. Each dumpling is folded by hand and steamed fresh to order, according to Ting. The wrappers are delicate, but designed to contain the filling and soup broth.

“The amount of soup inside is a very important standards that we value for our dumplings,” Ting says. “We always tell our customers not to bite them the regular way. If you do, the inside has a lot of soup, and you’ll squeeze it all out.”

Ting recommends that customers let the dumplings cool down, then “eat the entire dumpling in one bite” to enjoy the dumpling exterior and soup together. 

Ting explains that chef Peter Wang — former executive chef at W Hotel Taipei — helped establish the standards, recipes and techniques for Supreme Dumplings. Supreme Dumplings chef Norman Lu, the former head chef of Din Tai Fung’s original central kitchen, adds his expertise to the culinary team.

“Great xiao long bao is a game of millimeters and grams,” Lu states. “Each Supreme Dumplings xiao long bao weighs exactly 27 grams — 6 grams of wrapper, 11 grams of soup, and 10 grams of filling. Achieving that balance consistently requires tremendous discipline and craftsmanship.”

The Supreme pork xiao long bao ($13) is the eatery’s signature dish. Lu explains that choosing high-quality ingredients was essential.

“We carefully select a premium pork specifically chosen for its ideal fat ratio and fiber structure,” he states. “That’s what allows the filling to remain juicy without feeling greasy, while delivering a clean, natural pork flavor. We use premium ingredients throughout our kitchen, and even our seasonings are made from real ingredients, rather than additives." 

The Honolulu menu includes options like Szechuan spicy pork xiao long bao ($12), shrimp and pork xiao long bao ($14), black truffle and chicken xiao long bao ($19) and wagyu beef xiao long bao ($16). If you want a little bit of everything, go for the signature XLB assortment ($20), which includes spicy pork, chicken, wagyu, black truffle and crab fillings.

The menu also features Taiwanese favorites, including spicy pork wontons ($10) and Taiwanese chicken cold noodles ($13). Customer favorites include stir-fried string beans with garlic ($18), pork chop fried rice ($19), mini pan-fried pork dumplings ($15) and Supreme tan tan noodles ($15.50).

Customers can also look forward to a Hawaiʻi-exclusive dish that’s coming soon. The golden pineapple fried rice and a variety of Island-inspired cocktails will be added to the menu.

Desserts include sweet taro ($10.50), chocolate melt ($11) and matcha lava xiao long bao ($12). The latter features a matcha and white chocolate filling.

Supreme Dumplings Honolulu is currently open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays to Thursdays, and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Hours are subject to change.

“This is a place where people genuinely appreciate great food, family-style dining and experiences worth sharing,” Ting states. “We look forward to creating moments of joy for local residents and visitors alike.”

Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays to Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays

Supreme Dumplings wagyu dumplings

<title>Supreme Dumplings is now open in Ala Moana Center</title>

The business, which originated in Washington, specializes in handmade xiao long bao, or soup dumplings. Dumplings are folded by hand and are steamed fresh to order; customers can choose from fillings like pork, wagyu beef, truffle and chicken and more. Customers can currently make reservations via Yelp.

Hawai‘i Skies: Color takeover

ASD Staff

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Hawai‘i Skies: Color takeover

Authors

ASD Staff

Reporter

More in Hawai'i Skies

Hawaiʻi Skies: Lunar halo

Hawaiʻi Skies: Aloha Friday

Hawaiʻi Skies: Rain = rainbows

Hawaiʻi Skies: Legendary sunsets

Most read