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This is Bruno and Rocket. Rocket insists on making a grand entrance. Bruno is happy to help with that...

Smile 26 7 30

<title>Daily Smile: Thursday, July 30, 2026</title>

Daily Smile: Thursday, July 30, 2026

 This is Bruno and Rocket. Rocket insists on making a grand entrance. Bruno is happy to help with that...

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Real Estate

It’s the end of an era in Ward Village, Howard Hughes’ 60-acre master-planned community located between Downtown and Waikīkī, as developers move forward with plans to bring more residences to the community.

Ward Centre, which opened in 1982 and served the community for more than four decades, officially closed its doors to the public on June 30. Although a timeline has not yet been finalized, sources say that demolition and redevelopment work at the site is expected to begin in the third quarter of the year.

The demolition will clear the way for two luxury towers planned at the site: 

“We have a fond aloha for Ward Centre and its important role in the history of our neighborhood,” Doug Johnstone, president of Hawai‘i Region and national condominium development at Howard Hughes Communities, said in a statement provided to Aloha State Daily. “As plans move forward for redevelopment on the site, we look forward to announcing details about the next phase, which will deliver additional retail, open space and a new public park, as well as hundreds of new homes, further enhancing the connected, walkable neighborhood experience at Ward Village while reflecting its long-term vision as a master-planned community.”

Three of the center’s tenants are relocating within Ward Village: Johnny’s Island Dog Spa and Sweat + Soul are moving to 320 Ward Ave., while Kamitoku Ramen is moving to the former Scratch Kitchen space in South Shore Market. You can read more about Kamitoku Ramen 

which closed its Ward Centre and downtown Honolulu locations — 

As previously reported, Ward Village sold out its first eight mixed-use residential towers: Waiea, Anaha, Ae‘o, Ke Kilohana, ‘A‘ali‘i, Kō‘ula, Victoria Place and Ulana Ward Village.

In addition to ‘Ilima and Melia, new residential buildings in development or under construction include Kalae and The Launiu Ward Village.

, bringing another another 546 studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom homes and more than 30,000 square feet of retail and dining space to Kaka‘ako. It was 97% pre-sold when it was completed, the developer said at that time. 

Ward Village marked a record year in 2025, with momentum driven by the launch of Melia Ward Village and ‘Ilima Ward Village earlier in the year.

In Hawai‘i last year, Howard Hughes contracted to sell 287 condos, which accounted for roughly $1.6 billion in future revenue, according to 

Of those, 220 units at Melia and ‘Ilima, and 63 units at The Launiu were contracted, the report, published earlier this year, noted. At year-end, the predevelopment condos of Melia and ‘Ilima were 60% pre-sold and The Launiu was 71% pre-sold. Meanwhile, Kalae was 93% sold.

By the end of 2025, Melia and ‘Ilima were about 60% pre-sold.

The 33-story ‘Ilima will have 148 homes while Melia, its 35-story companion, will offer 221 residences. Together, the projects will add about 20,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial and retail space, along with a public park.

Ward Village also hit a number of other milestones in 2025.

 of last year and the makai phase of Victoria Ward Park 

The Launiu, Ward Village’s 11th residential tower, broke ground 

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Ward centre 0714126

<title>Ward Centre closed; looming demolition will make way for new Ward Village towers</title>

Although a timeline has not yet been finalized, sources say that demolition and redevelopment work at the site is expected to begin later this year.

Ward Centre closed; looming demolition will make way for new Ward Village towers

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

 just opened its second location in Honolulu. The eatery opened its first location in Chinatown about nine years ago, according to Cathy Pham, owner of Pho Que Huong 2.

olani Boulevard, in the former space of Pho One.

To celebrate the restaurant’s opening, customers can enjoy 20% off their entire meal until July 30. On July 31, the first 100 customers will receive a $5 gift card.

The menu at this location is mostly the same as the one at the Chinatown eatery. The specialty hot stone pho is exclusive to the Kapi

olani restaurant, according to Pham. This pho includes eye round steak, well done flank, fat brisket, beef ball, tendon, tripe and a raw egg.

“It’s unique; it’s very popular in Vietnam,” Pham explains. “You crack the raw egg and put it in first, then put in the noodles and steak.”

All pho come with basil, cilantro, bean sprouts, jalapeno, onions and cilantro.

Pho Que Huong 2’s menu is extensive and offers a variety of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, rice and noodles.

Popular appetizers include summer rolls ($13) and green papaya salad with beef jerky ($20). The latter includes shrimp, pork, mint, basil, lettuce, chives, bean sprouts and rice vermicelli, served with peanut sauce. 

Banh mi sandwiches ($13) are a customer favorite, according to Pham. Mini French baguettes are stuffed with chicken, beef, tofu or pork, along with cucumbers, green onions, cilantro, daikon, soy sauce and jalapenos.

“I really like our lemongrass chicken,” says Pham, who also recommends the eatery’s specialty sandwich, which comes with housemade pate, Vietnamese ham and cured pork meats.

For customers who want something unique, Pham recommends the eatery’s Vietnamese crepe ($26), which is filled with shrimp, pork belly, mung beans, bean sprouts, onions and cilantro. It’s served with lettuce, mint, basil, cucumbers, daikon and fish sauce.

The crepe is distinctive because of its large size, according to Pham. Customers can use create their own wraps using the lettuce and crepe filling, before dipping each piece in fish sauce.

Pho Que Huong 2 is currently open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. After its grand opening, it will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily; will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily after grand opening

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Pho Que Huong 2 owner 072826

<title>Pho Que Huong opens second location in Honolulu</title>

The popular Vietnamese eatery — which opened its first location in Chinatown about nine years ago — just opened on Kapiʻolani Boulevard. To celebrate the restaurant’s opening, customers can enjoy 20% off their entire meal until July 30.

Pho Que Huong opens second location in Honolulu

 — an acai bowl shop that opened recently in Wahiawā, next to Teapresso — came naturally for business owner Keoni Ahlo. The acai bowl shop took the place of Ahlo’s former gelato shop, called Mia Bella.

The gelato shop opened about five years ago, according to Ahlo, who says it was named after his dog, Miya, who died in 2020.

“I used ‘Mia’ (for the gelato shop) because it was Italian,” Ahlo explains. “When we changed (concepts), I said, ‘Let’s go back to the original name that we wanted, which was Miya. It’s still perpetuating her legacy, as far as our family member that was with us for 16 years.”

Ahlo decided to change his business from a gelato shop to an acai bowl cafe once the gelato machine broke down.

“We always wanted to do it (have acai), but we never felt like there was a good time to do it,” he says. “When the machine broke, it was time to re-invent. I pre-packed the gelato that was left, and we sold all that pre-packed. Then I started designing the front of the store.”

The biz is known for its build-your-own acai bowls. Miya Bowls’ acai is unique because it’s not blended, according to Ahlo.

“We’re getting a more concentrated fruit base, which to me, has more flavor,” he says. “Because we’re not blending it, it doesn’t melt as fast. The texture and mouthfeel is more enjoyable.

“Acai is a subjective thing because every shop does theirs differently,” he adds.

Customers can choose from bases like acai, Blue Majik, coconut, guava, lilikoʻi, mango, pitaya, ube and vanilla soy. The Blue Majik has quickly become a customer favorite, according to Ahlo.

“It’s pineapple and coconut,” he says. “The blue is not food coloring; it’s blue spirulina.”

Choose from small ($12.99) or large ($14.99) bowl sizes. Customers can get up to three flavors per bowl, according to Ahlo.

Fruit toppings include strawberries, bananas, pineapple and blueberries. Some toppings — like honey, granola, shredded coconut, chia seeds and peanut butter — are free. Others, like cacao nibs, toasted coconut and almond butter, have an additional charge.

Miya Bowls is open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free customer parking is available.

“I just love that everybody is so happy when they come in,” Ahlo says. “They’re so excited to get acai bowls. It’s just a fun feeling to do something for the community that they appreciate and enjoy. I’m always trying to bring stuff into 

Miya Bowls owner 072126

<title>Miya Bowls is a new acai bowl shop in Wahiawā</title>

The shop — located next to Teapresso — opened recently in the space of Mia Bella gelato shop. Miya Bowls offers build-your-own acai bowls with a variety of bases, ranging from acai and pitaya to mango, coconut, guava and lilikoʻi.

Miya Bowls is a new acai bowl shop in Wahiawā

[{"type":"text","text":"My dogs react to five fake cats on the stairs..."}]

Smile 26 7 21

<title>Daily Smile: Tuesday, July 21, 2026</title>

My dogs react to five fake cats on the stairs...

Daily Smile: Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

Hawai‘i will prohibit the sale of “99.9%” of all e-cigarette products in the state starting next year, per Gov. Josh Green, who signed a pair of bills into law Tuesday.

 establish heavy regulations, or outright prohibitions, on the sale of electronic smoking devices in the state, with Green promising Tuesday that more regulations will continue in the years to come.

 of the measures emphasized the negative health impacts to keiki caused by vaping.

“Vaping is bad, period,” Green said. “It leads to young people getting addicted to nicotine and it affects their physiology and development. And they get hooked on cigarettes later.”

SB 2175 will prohibit the sale or distribution of any disposable e-cigarette devices beginning Jan. 1, 2027. Any violation of the law will incur a $100 fine per day per product.

While Green discussed SB 2175 Tuesday largely from a health perspective, he added that disposable vapes have increasingly been identified as an environmental problem: not only are they common litter, but the lithium batteries within them can cause fires or release toxic metals into the environment.

HB 1573 is more extensive, requiring that the only e-cigarette and vape liquid products allowed to be sold in Hawai‘i be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Rep. Scot Matayoshi, a co-introducer of the bill, said Tuesday that limits the number of products to only 45, most of which do not have the sweet flavorings that have made vapes attractive to young people.

However, Matayoshi acknowledged that the most recent vape products approved by the FDA include two fruit-flavored vape pods. Nonetheless, he said the vast majority of fruit- or candy-flavored vape products are not FDA-approved and will be much harder and more expensive for children to access.

In any case, Green said “market forces alone” will likely strongly discourage manufacturers from attempting to gain a foothold in Hawai‘i.

“It’s very difficult for anyone to be in the industry in a market where, let’s be honest, we don’t want them here in Hawai‘i,” Green said.

As written, HB 1573 requires that, beginning Oct. 1, all vape manufacturers attempting to distribute products in the state must submit proof of their compliance with state and federal laws, proof of an FDA marketing granted order and a $1,000 payment for each product line certified with the state.

Then, beginning Jan. 1, 2027, the state Department of the Attorney General, will publish an updated directory of all brand names, products and manufacturers certified in the state. Attempting to sell any product not included on that list will incur a $500 fine for each individual product for sale for a first violation, and increasing incrementally up to $2,000 per product for a fourth violation.

Should the manufacturer itself be found to be offering non-approved products for sale in the state, the manufacturer could be fined up to $10,000 for each product, and could be found guilty of a misdemeanor.

Kalaheo High School student Maya Butts said vaping continues to plague Hawai‘i schools, saying that her school’s bathrooms no longer feel like functioning restrooms, but instead are just “places to vape.”

“I’ve watched my smart, athletic friends completely lose their motivation,” Butts said. “They got hooked on these devices that taste like candy, move on to other substances, then lose their spark altogether.”

Although vapes and e-cigarettes have been used to help wean tobacco smokers off of normal cigarettes, Green said he is skeptical that such a use case outweighs their harm.

“The biggest problem has been getting an entire generation … innumerable middle schoolers and high schoolers hooked,” Green said. “Society has found ways to quit traditional cigarettes through medical means, through behavioral techniques; we should lean on those.”

Lola Irvin, administrator of the state Department of Health’s Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Division, said adults who have concurrently used traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes are less likely to successfully quit smoking, while young people who begin using e-cigarettes are more likely to transition to smoking traditional cigarettes.

Furthermore, Irvin said that e-cigarette use has been linked to increased risk of lung and oral cancers, and concluded “it is not a safe product to use for quitting.”

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Daily Smile: Thursday, July 30, 2026

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Daily Smile: Thursday, July 30, 2026

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