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[{"type":"text","text":"My worst enemy revealed..."}]

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<title>Daily Smile: Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026</title>

My worst enemy revealed...

Daily Smile: Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026

Lopaka and Tanya Kapanui

Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya Kapanui

Hawai‘i History

Columnists

Queen Emma was born on January 2, 1836, to Nā‘ea and Fanny Kekelaokalani Young. As was customary in Hawaiian society, she was raised in the hānai tradition, and much of her childhood was spent in the care of Fanny’s sister, Grace Kamaʻikuʻi Young, and her husband, Thomas Charles Byde Rooke.

‘Emalani, as she was then known, grew up at Rooke House, which stood near the Waikīkī/makai corner of what are now Beretania and Nuʻuanu streets, where Mark’s Garage is now. Educated at the Royal School along with other children of ali‘i, and then taught by an English governess, Emma was fluent in both Hawaiian and English, was a skilled equestrian, and was an accomplished vocalist and pianist. 

In 1856, she married Alexander Liholiho, King Kamehameha IV, and two years later, gave birth to a son, Prince Albert Edward Kauikeaouli. By all accounts, the young prince brought a great deal of happiness to the King and Queen, and was beloved by the people of Hawai‘i. But it seems the happiness was not to last.

Succumbing to an unknown illness, Queen Emma’s only child died in 1862, at just four years old. After his death, the Queen was referred to as Kaleleokalani, meaning flight of the heavenly one. King Kamehameha IV, grief-stricken and feeling responsible for his son’s death, withdrew from public life. Suffering from chronic asthma, the young king died a year later at the age of 29. After her husband died, the Queen’s name changed again to the plural form of Kaleleonālani, flight of the heavenly ones.

In the midst of her grief, Emma traveled to England. The journey gave her some distance from the sorrow she had experienced at home, but it also became an important turning point in her life.

She was concerned about the future of the young women of her island nation and recognized the importance of education. Queen Emma was already involved in establishing the Anglican Church in Hawaiʻi. While in London, she raised money toward the construction of an Anglican cathedral in Hawaiʻi. She sought the counsel of the Archbishop of Canterbury regarding her vision for a school for girls.

On Ascension Day, May 30, 1867, Queen Emma founded St. Andrew’s Priory School for Girls, together with Mother Priscilla Lydia Sellon of the Society of the Most Holy Trinity of Devonport, England.

The Priory’s primary educational objective was the teaching of English. Instruction was conducted in English, and the girls were not permitted to speak Hawaiian, even during their playtime. Along with their academic studies, they were taught sewing and embroidery, music and drawing. Religious instruction was also an important part of the curriculum.

For Queen Emma, St. Andrew’s Priory was more than simply a school. It was part of a larger vision for the education and future of the young women of Hawaiʻi.

For more than 150 years, generations of young women passed through its halls, sharing lessons, laughter, friendships, and celebrations. It should come as no surprise that a place so closely connected to Queen Emma would eventually become associated with stories of her lingering presence.

Over the years, tales have circulated among the students and staff, revealing strange occurrences at the boarding school. Some of the students claimed to have seen the actual ghost of Queen Emma in the halls, while others are said to have heard the stairs creaking late at night and believed she was making her rounds.

There are also reports of unexplained cold spots, particularly near Queen Emma’s portrait and just outside the main entrance to the girls’ dormitory. On some nights, the grand piano could be heard playing long after midnight. Lights would mysteriously switch on and off, tools would disappear only to turn up elsewhere, and belongings left in handbags would be rearranged or simply dumped on the floor. These unexplainable events led many to believe that ghostly hands were still at work within the walls of St. Andrew’s Priory.

My dear friend recently gifted me with his personal stories and those of his ʻohana, who were boarders at the school.

Reportedly, gardenias were among Queen Emma’s favorite flowers. The smell of fresh gardenia was common around the Queen’s portrait and in Emma Hall.

My friend’s aunt told him, “The smell was so strong, it was like you were standing right next to a big gardenia bush in full bloom, and then it would suddenly be gone, and you wouldnʻt smell it again.”

As girls, his aunts spent many evenings cleaning up Emma Hall before heading to bed, as part of their nightly chores. On one occasion while straightening up the room, one aunt saw a woman in a dark blue, Victorian-style gown with her hair pulled up, walking away from the piano, but the figure vanished just before reaching the door. She only saw the woman from behind, but the image stayed with her.

Another memory went back to when she was about eight or nine years old. One night, during a storm, she left the dormitory to use the bathroom. Frightened by the weather, she ran back toward the dorm when a nun gently stopped her and said, “No running.”

She was about to answer, “Yes, Sister,” when the nun began to fade away. The figure seemed to turn light gray before disappearing completely.

Years later, my friend returned to St. Andrew’s Cathedral for the first time since childhood. He learned that there was a stained-glass window depicting Queen Emma and King Kamehameha IV, and he went to search for them.

He was looking up, trying to find their images when a woman’s voice behind him said, “Look down for what you are looking for.”

He looked down and found himself standing directly in front of the panel showing the King and Queen. When he turned to thank the woman, no one was there. In fact, he was all alone in the cathedral.

On a more recent visit, my friend was showing his partner the sights around St. Andrew’s. He said he always wanted to see the inside of St. Paul’s Chapel, but like each time he tried to visit, the door was locked. It was raining that day, and while they were standing beneath the arched portico talking about where to go next, a man’s voice suddenly came from behind them.

[{"type":"text","text":"“The door is open.”"}]

My friend turned, already explaining that they had tried the door, but his words choked off mid-sentence. No one was there.

They turned back to the chapel and tried the door again. This time, it opened.

The two quickly peeked inside for a brief look before leaving the chapel. Neither could explain who had spoken to them. There had been no one else around, and yet someone, or something, had apparently known exactly what they wanted to see.

There may be a perfectly reasonable explanation for everything that has happened at St. Andrew’s. Then again, perhaps there isn’t. The stories have survived because people experienced things they could not explain, and in a place so closely connected to Queen Emma, it is easy to understand why some believe her presence can still be felt. Perhaps, after all these years, the Queen and other spirits are still making their rounds.

Cathedral of St Andrews

<title>The Ghost of a Queen</title>

Queen Emma was instrumental in establishing the Anglican Church in Hawaii and in 1867, she founded St. Andrew’s Priory School for Girls, to uplift the young women of Hawai‘i. The school meant the world to her, so is it any wonder that people claim to still see her presence there? Ghostly nuns and mysterious voices have also been encountered, spirits that seem more nurturing than frightening.

The Ghost of a Queen

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

Real Estate

A Maui interior design firm aims to help support Lahaina homeowners who are rebuilding after the 2023 wildfires.

Lahaina-based Melissa Dyckman Interiors has announced the launch of Lahaina Rebuild Design Guidance, a one-on-one advisory service that helps clients "make smarter decisions during planning and construction, before costly changes, delays and long-term design regrets happen," an announcement Tuesday noted.

The service was created as an alternative to full-service interior design and offers "

focused professional support during key phases of rebuilding, beginning with architectural plan review and continuing through layout refinement, cabinetry, lighting, bathrooms, materials and finish selections," the announcement stated.

"I created this after seeing firsthand how overwhelming rebuilding in Lahaina has been for my community and how quickly homeowners are asked to make major decisions," Dyckman told Aloha State Daily in an emailed response to questions. "Many of those decisions become expensive or difficult to change later. I wanted to offer something that gives my community guidance early, before those decisions turn into costly mistakes or long-term regret. Rebuilding is not just construction, it’s creating a home again and that deserves care and intention."

On Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires driven by winds from a passing storm ravaged parts of the Valley Isle. While 

 through several other areas of Maui, Lahaina saw the worst as an inferno destroyed much of the historic town and killed more than 100 people.

, 2,207 structures were damaged or destroyed in the Lahaina fire, of which 1,898, or 86%, were residential. The residential structures that were damaged or destroyed made up about 45% of Lahaina's residential housing.

As of Aug. 5, a total of 577 homes have been completed, including 264 single-family units and 313 multi-family units, according to data on the county's 

There are 667 homes with issued permits, including 583 single-family units and 84 multi-family units, which means permits have been issued allowing construction to begin. Another 597 homes — 176 single-family units and 421 multi-family units — have permits processing, which means applications for permits have been submitted.

A total of 400 homes, including single-family and multi-family units, are under construction.

According to Tuesday's announcement, the interior design firm's new service begins with an initial rebuild design review, which starts at $300 and includes an advance review of architectural plans, a one-on-one consultation with Dyckman and a written follow-up summary with recommendations and next steps. 

Additional design guidance sessions are available at an additional cost and focus on specific areas like kitchen planning, bathroom layouts, lighting and electrical, interior finishes and paint selections, the announcement noted.

Dykman says that additional focused two-hour sessions begin at $250, depending on square footage.

"The advisory service is intended for Lahaina residents rebuilding after the fire who are in the planning, architectural review, design development or finish selection phases," the announcement says. "It complements the work of architects, contractors and builders by helping bridge communication and support better project outcomes."

Clients will receive session recap notes, decision checklists by phase, guidance on what should be selected first and recommended questions to bring back to their architect or builder. 

"The biggest impact happens at the beginning, when you’re reviewing plans. Small adjustments at that stage can completely change how a home functions and prevent much larger costs later," Dyckman said when asked what people who are rebuilding should keep in mind during the process. "Things like plumbing placement, lighting locations, cabinetry dimensions and furniture flow are much easier to fix on paper than during construction. Rebuilding in Lahaina also comes with very specific challenges. You have to think about salt air, humidity, sun exposure, sourcing timelines and how homes function in Maui’s climate and lifestyle. There’s also an emotional layer because people are not just building a house again, they’re rebuilding home and routine after loss."

 that she and her family were "heavily impacted" during the 2023 wildfires.

CREDIT Dmitri and Sandra Photography Melissa Dyckman Interiors Headshot 1 Melissa Dyckman Horizontal

<title>Maui interior designer aims to support Lahaina homeowners rebuilding after wildfires</title>

A new one-on-one advisory service, Lahaina Rebuild Design Guidance, was created as an alternative to full-service interior design and offers "focused professional support during key phases of rebuilding."

Maui interior designer aims to support Lahaina homeowners rebuilding after wildfires

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

 — which has locations in Japan and California — is bringing is signature Japanese kissaten-style café experience to Honolulu for a limited time.

The pop-up will be open to the public starting at 10 a.m. Aug. 13, according to Takuma Lathrop, president of Dining Innovation West. It’s located in an enclosed section of TsuruTonTan, which is located in Royal Hawaiian Center.

“We’re friends with the owners of the brand in Japan,” says Lathrop. “They opened in California and we went to check it out; we started talking about the possibility of partnering up.”

Right now, there is no set end date for the pop-up, but Lathrop says it should be open for at least one month. To start, the pop-up will be open to the first 60 customers — no reservations accepted; first-come, first-served — but Lathrop says its hours will eventually be extended.

“As soon as we feel more comfortable to handle more people, we’ll get to a point where there won’t be a limit,” he says. “We just want to make sure we are making the best possible dishes correctly so everyone can enjoy the taste.”

Takagi Coffee is known for its handcrafted, made-to-order souffle pancakes and freshly roasted coffee. The Honolulu pop-up’s menu is more limited, compared to the brand’s California and Japan locations, but will still feature signature dishes, according to Lathrop.

The coffee menu features a house blend ($5), cold brew ($6) and lattes ($7). Customers can also choose from several hot or iced matcha lattes ($7-$9). The matcha cream ($2 add-on) comes highly recommended for the iced matcha lattes.

Souffle pancakes come with toppings like strawberry, mango and matcha (two pieces for $17, four pieces for $22). In addition to your fruit of choice, pancakes are topped with whipped cream, cookie crumbles and vanilla ice cream.

A savory option (two pieces for $18, three pieces for $23) — topped with thick-cut bacon, sunny side-up eggs and hollandaise — is also available. 

“Personally, I like savory things; the savory pancake is really good,” Lathrop says. “It’s surprisingly very hearty and good for people who aren’t super into sweets.”

The pop-up also features Yoshoku (Japanese-style Western dishes) plates, which are served with miso soup.

Choose from omurice ($19), tonkatsu with rice ($20) and wagyu hamburger steak ($22).

The omurice features a more traditional version, according to Lathrop. The Japanese tomato-flavored rice comprises bacon, onions and mushrooms, and is enrobed with a fluffy egg and topped with demi-glace sauce.

The hamburger steak features American wagyu beef and is served with rice and miso soup. The demi-glace is served on the side, so customers can add as much or as little as they want.

Customers can opt for the tonkatsu plate or the katsu sando ($16), which features pork cutlet, veggies, mustard mayonnaise and katsu sauce between pieces of Japanese bread. It’s served with wedge fries on the side.

Customers can also look forward to Japanese-style parfaits ($13), which are layered with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, cornflakes and more.

[{"type":"text","text":"Choose from matcha, fresh strawberries and coffee jelly."}]

The pop-up might add dishes to the menu as time goes on, according to Lathrop, who encourages customers to follow the business on Instagram for updates.

“It’s simple dishes, but executed with very high-quality ingredients,” he says. “Because we’re slowly rolling out, we want to make sure that we can give everybody a good experience.”

Open from 10 a.m. Aug. 13; limited to 60 customers per day (to start)

Takagi Coffee Takuma Lathrop 081026

<title>Takagi Coffee is a new Japanese-style cafe pop-up in Honolulu</title>

The pop-up is opening to the public on Thursday, Aug. 13, at 10 a.m. It’s within Royal Hawaiian Center’s TsuruTonTan, and for the first few days, the pop-up will be limited to the first 60 customers. Takagi Coffee is serving up sweet and savory Japanese souffle pancakes, omurice, wagyu hamburger steak and layered parfaits.

Takagi Coffee is a new Japanese-style cafe pop-up in Honolulu

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

HĀLAWA — That puka in the sky? It hasn't been visible for over 50 years. 

The original Aloha Stadium broke ground in 1971, opening in 1975 at a total cost of $37 million. For 45 years, it earned the reputation as Hawai‘i's gathering place, hosting a multitude of sporting events and concerts. But in late 2020, the stadium's rusty condition was condemned and deemed unsafe to hold any fans. 

For more than five years, the stadium's 50,000 seats idled. After submitting the lone bid to become the new stadium's developer, Aloha Hālawa District Partners (AHDP) publicly revealed their first renderings of a new mixed-use stadium and entertainment district in the winter of 2024. After the New Aloha Stadium and Entertainment District (NASED) came to terms on a 

Then in February, live demolition of the stadium began with the side awning in Hālawa. A 

 continued over the next months, taking away the upper decks of both sides of the old stadium. 

In July's Aloha Stadium Authority meeting, interim manager Michael Yadao was in a reflective state of mind. He was a member of the board when the year began, then was voted into his new role in time for 

. Each update serves as a milestone, with the new stadium on the same grounds getting closer to reality with each step. 

"Contracts were in question, and legislative support was in question. Community support was there, but I think a frustration was setting in about, 'When does it start? When do you move?' 

The stadium is in a very different and much better place (compared to when it was idle)," Yadao told Aloha State Daily. 

Yadao joked during the Stadium Authority meeting that images of the interior's current state look "post-apocalyptic," but it's merely setting the stage for what's next in the weeks and months ahead. 

, is prepared to unveil its latest round of renderings of the new stadium, which is planned to seat 31,000 with the future capacity for 10,000 more. 

Meanwhile, groundbreaking for the new Aloha Stadium, targeted to open in spring of 2029, can begin as early as November and as late as January 2027. Yadao says Thanksgiving is the current estimate for when it could begin. 

The current stadium in its entirety will not be torn down, as AHDP and NASED both told ASD that preserving the structures in both end zones will save approximately $90 million in construction costs. 

Also in July's meeting, the board told Yadao that he was "exceeding expectations" six months into the role after stepping in following Chris Sadayasu's resignation. When asked how he envisions things looking a year from now, he flashed a wide grin.

"By the summertime (in 2027), you're in construction. You're in it," Yadao said. "I think you start seeing the framework of what's going to become (the next) Aloha Stadium. It's a continuance, and I think you're gonna see it start to take shape. I can't even envision a year from now. I got to get through the next six months."

Aloha Stadium 073026

<title>Aloha Stadium prepares for next round of milestones</title>

New renderings for the 31,000-seat stadium are expected soon, while groundbreaking is targeted to begin towards the end of the year.

Aloha Stadium prepares for next round of milestones

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

In late June, Waikīkī Beach Marriott Resort & Spa recently opened its ʻOhana Entertainment Center, a 6,000-square-foot space that includes bowling, virtual reality attractions, sports simulators and more than 60 arcade games.

The space, which is located near the lobby, is open to resort guests, visitors staying at other places in Waikīkī and 

Since the venue opened recently, data on visitation trends was not immediately available, Mark Weatherill, general manager of Waikīkī Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, told Aloha State Daily via email.

“What we are seeing is a healthy mix of resort guests, island visitors and local residents, which is exactly the outcome we were hoping for when the project was envisioned,” he said.

Representatives of the resort declined to comment on the cost of the project. It was developed in partnership with Family Entertainment Group.

Weatherill considers the bowling lanes his favorite part of the center, he said.

“While the virtual reality attractions and arcade games are incredibly popular, bowling has a unique way of bringing people together,” Weatherill shared via email. “Whether it's grandparents, parents, teenagers or younger children, everyone can participate. Every time I walk through the venue, I see families laughing, cheering each other on and creating memorable experiences together. That really captures the spirit of ʻohana and what we hoped to achieve when we created the entertainment center.”

Prior to becoming an entertainment center, the area included administrative and back-of-house space.

“The planning, design and development process began approximately a year before the official opening, with our teams working closely with Family Entertainment Group to bring the vision to life,” Weatherill told ASD.

Waikīkī Beach Marriott Resort & Spa spans more than five acres and features more than 1,300 guest rooms and suites, plus a one-acre pool and cabana deck with panoramic ocean views.

“The inspiration was simple, in that we wanted to create a place where families, friends and groups could come together and create lasting memories,” he wrote. “Today's travelers are looking for more than just accommodations; they're seeking shared experiences, and we saw an opportunity to add a unique indoor attraction that could be enjoyed by both our resort guests and the local community.”

ʻOhana Entertainment Center

<title>Waikīkī resort opens entertainment center</title>

Family bowling is possible in Waikīkī at this entertainment center, which opened in June. The 6,000-square-foot space also includes more than 60 arcade games.

Waikīkī resort opens entertainment center

Aloha Spirit

Today, U.S. Army Sgt. Isaac Atkins joined 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. 

In the episode, Judge Melanie Janine Brown hit 

, sending him straight to the live shows.

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 

the day before the show aired on television

. “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.

 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.’”

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>UPDATE: Hawaiʻi contestant gets golden buzzer on 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.

Daily Smile: Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026

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Daily Smile: Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026

Authors

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