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John Pritchett

Cartoons

Tommy waters nothing burger

<title>Pritchett Cartoon: Tommy Waters court challenge</title>

Pritchett Cartoon: Tommy Waters court challenge

Ray Tsuchiyama

Columnists

 of this look at childcare in Hawai‘i, I wrote about the part of our childcare system that never shows up in a State government spreadsheet — my 4:30 p.m. pickups as "Jiji" among thousands of grandparents and aunties providing "free kūpuna labor" worth hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

The next question: Who in the Hawaiʻi State government is actually responsible for overseeing 

Early childhood touches education, health, human services, workforce development, and economic growth. Without a central structure, these responsibilities easily become fragmented across government — one office tracking licensed slots, another administering subsidies, a third running public pre-K, with none of them necessarily talking to each other, let alone to the informal network that fills the gaps everywhere formal systems fall short.

Other states have recognized this coordination problem and responded in strikingly similar ways, even when their local politics and funding mechanisms look vastly different.

New Mexico created a dedicated Early Childhood Education and Care Department and paired it with a 2022 constitutional amendment — approved by over 70% of voters — that redirects a share of the state's Land Grant Permanent Fund into early childhood programs on a permanent, self-sustaining basis. New Mexico also wrote a crucial policy into its eligibility rules: grandparents raising grandchildren can access childcare assistance without meeting standard work or school requirements. That is a state 

 rather than relying on it as free kūpuna labor.

Voters in Multnomah County, Oregon, approved a dedicated income tax on high earners to fund universal preschool, directing funds specifically toward raising early childhood educator wages. The rationale was simple: you cannot expand access to care with a workforce leaving for better-paying jobs elsewhere. Fund the wages first, and the available seats will follow.

Washington, D.C. folded pre-K into its per-pupil public education funding formula, treating early learning as a foundational grade level in the city budget — a decision that helped it achieve the highest early-learning coverage in the nation.

These jurisdictions took different paths — some built cabinet-level agencies, others modified tax codes or school funding formulas. But the broader lesson for Hawaiʻi isn't to copy any single model. It is simpler: Every one of these places decided early childhood was important enough to organize government around, rather than leaving it scattered across disparate agencies.

If early childhood is a top State government priority in Hawaiʻi, it deserves a dedicated agency, a permanent funding mechanism, or at minimum a unified mandate tasked with overseeing the complete system.

Hawaiʻi should seriously consider establishing a Department of Early Childhood.

However, I would strongly advise against starting with another lengthy strategic plan. First, we need to build a comprehensive map.

Hawaiʻi should create a real-time Early Childhood Dashboard that brings the entire ecosystem together. It should tell us: How many keiki are there, and where do they live? Who cares for them during the day? Where are the licensed childcare slots, and where are the geographical deserts? What does care actually cost families relative to local wages? How many parents could return to or advance in the workforce if care were accessible? How much informal care is being provided? And ultimately — are Hawaiʻi's children entering kindergarten ready to learn?

This dashboard would also allow Hawaiʻi to benchmark itself against peer states — not for the sake of comparison, but because New Mexico, Multnomah County, and D.C. all had to answer these same questions before taking action. None of them had perfect baseline data, but they moved forward using the best available numbers. Hawaiʻi does not need absolute precision before starting; it needs enough clarity to stop guessing.

 If Hawaiʻi's childcare affordability is worse than comparable states, we should know. If parental workforce participation is lagging due to coverage gaps, we should know. If specific regions — like Windward Oʻahu or the Neighbor Islands — face acute shortages, the data should reflect it. If a new state initiative works, the numbers should prove it. If it fails, we should pivot.

The objective is not another static government website full of statistics nobody outside an agency reads. The objective is to move the needle for local families.

Only after we understand the full structure of our childcare system should we decide where to invest state resources:

I do not have all the answers yet, and that is the point. We shouldn't select the solution before we accurately measure the problem.

Tomorrow at 4:30 p.m., I will be back in that preschool parking lot. I might be answering an email from a client in New York, and then I will fasten my granddaughter into her car seat.

Her preschool teacher will have done her part. Her parents will do theirs. Jiji will do his.

Hawaiʻi needs to see how all these pieces fit together. Before we decide what to build, what to subsidize, or whom to pay, we should first understand the childcare and early-learning system we already have.

ay Tsuchiyama’s series explores one central question: How does Hawai‘i use the wealth and land it already has to create its next economic future? He can be reached at 

child care costs I Stock 2177795279 16x9

<title>Before we subsidize: Mapping Hawaiʻi’s childcare economy</title>

In the second of a two-part series, ASD columnist Ray Tsuchiyama looks at how other states have taken comprehensive approaches to early childcare. Hawai‘i's first step should be gathering data before rushing to copy what others have done, to know exactly what we need.

Before we subsidize: Mapping Hawaiʻi’s childcare economy

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Arts & Entertainment

Aloha Spirit

Ready to get in a Halloween mood? Aloha State Daily compiled a list of 31 things to do this month, in honor of the 31 days of October. 

From haunted houses to themed drinks, there are lots of opportunities to celebrate spooky season. Check the list for where to take keiki to trick-or-treat and participate in costume contests. There are also opportunities to surf and dance.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Now until Oct. 31:"}]

This scary experience is back. Brutex Laboratories quarantine facility has an outbreak. See what happens when containment fails. There are live actors and immersive sets, plus hands-on challenges. General admission is $38. Express pass is $46. Get a 10% discount through Oct. 11 with the code EARLY10. 

Dead Letter Office (Downtown Honolulu). 

’s “Dead Letter Office” Halloween pop-up will run from Oct. 8 to 31. The speakeasy is part of AC Hotel by Marriott Honolulu. To enter, look for a wall of mailboxes. The themed drinks include the phantom ink ($18), moonlit martini ($18), autumn after dark ($20), and blood transfusion ($18). Individuals can get those cocktails “delivered” using the speakeasy’s signature mailbox system. The speakeasy is open Wednesdays through Sundays. 

. Doors open at 6 p.m. and close at 10:30 p.m. Late arrivals cannot be admitted. Not recommended for youth who are under 13 years of age. Tickets start at $20. 

Something Spooky for Everyone! (Kapolei). 

Catch three scary movies each Saturday of October at the Consolidated Theatres at Ka Makana Aliʻi. From “Corpse Bride,” “ParaNorman” and “Beetlejuice” on Saturday, Oct. 10, to “Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit,” “E.T. The Extra- Terrestrial,” and “The Ring” on Saturday, Oct. 31, there are lots of movies coming to the big screen soon. 

Hitchcock Tober and Horror Fest (Oʻahu). 

 at Consolidated Theatres. The Master of Suspense is famous for films such as “Psycho,” “Rear Window,” “Vertigo,” “North by Northwest” and “The Birds.” October also marks 

, and Consolidated Theatres will be featuring scary movies on Wednesdays at its Kapolei, Mililani, Pearlridge and Ward locations. Featured films include “Hereditary,” “The Exorcist,” “Rosemary’s Baby,” “The Thing,” and “Psycho.” 

Go to Church, with a Spooky Twist! (Oʻahu). 

 to paniolo-themed festivals, check out some of the events being offered by local churches. Senior Editor Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros shares some of the events coming up across Oʻahu from Waikīkī to Lāʻie. 

Visit Wet ʻnʻ Wild and participate in a 

 at noon as part of daily admission on Saturday, Oct. 10. Also included in the lineup of Wet ʻnʻ Wild events is a 

 on Saturday, Oct. 31. Events are included with daily admission or season pass. 

Check out this pumpkin patch where you can pick your own pumpkin, attend a farmers market, shop local vendors and visit sunflower fields. Head to Aloun Country Market on Saturday, Oct. 17, in Waipahu to participate in the holiday activities. Tickets are $5. 

The Great Pumpkin Festival (ʻĀina Haina). 

Holy Nativity School will host The Great Pumpkin Festival from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 17. There will be pumpkins, games, live entertainment and ʻono food. Admission is $10 and includes access to the pumpkin patch and one free mini pumpkin. Attendees can also enjoy a petting zoo, silent disco, live entertainment and meet-and-greets with characters from “Toy Story.” 

 which explores twilight, mirages and ghost stories, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22, at Hawaiʻi Theatre Center. The performance  features aerial performance from Samadhi Hawaiʻi, spoken word from Kealoha, the first poet laureate of Hawaiʻi, and contemporary and Polynesian dance. Tickets start at $30, plus fees. 

Chicken Skin Ghost Stories (Near Downtown). 

Ready for chilling legends and ghost stories? Catch

 “The Ghost Guy” who writes a column for Aloha State Daily, as he shares stories of the Islands’ folklore on Friday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. at the Doris Duke Theatre at the Honolulu Museum of Art. He and his wife, Tanya, run the ghost tour company Mysteries of Hawaiʻi and co-authored the books: “Hawaiʻi’s Night Marchers: A History of the Huakaʻi Pō” and “Kahuna.” Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for youth. 

Howl-o-Ween Dog Costume Contest & Parade (ʻEwa). 

Bring your dog and head to Hoalauna Community Park. The event, which includes Emcee Steezy, a live DJ, games, prizes and more, runs from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 23 in ʻEwa. Don’t have a pet? Everyone is welcome to join the fun. Free. 

Da Dream Lab is partnering with Kailua Dance Academy and Kailua Music School, plus other local businesses to host Hauntopia, which runs Oct. 23, 24, and 25, plus Oct. 28 – Oct. 31. The event is back for its third year. Its defined for keiki and families with a goal of 

 according to the listing on Eventbrite. Designed for keiki who are between three years old and 12 years old. Tours are 60-90 minutes. Costumes are encouraged. Tickets are $20 or free for keiki who are two years old or younger. 

Octo-Bear-Fest: Boos & Brews (Waikīkī).

 Go to the Honolulu Zoo on Saturday, Oct. 24, for an evening of fun, featuring food, live music, local breweries, and trunk-or-treat opportunities. There will be games and costume contests. Attendees who are at least 21 years old can sample beers from four local breweries: Aloha Beer Co., Waikīkī Brewing Co., Beer Lab HI, and Honolulu Beerworks. The event supports wildlife conservation and helps protect the Malayan sun bears, which are the world’s smallest bear species. Tickets are $10 for keiki and $20 for adults or $45 for the adult brew package, which includes pours from local breweries. 

Creatures of the Samadhi Lagoon (Kakaʻako). 

This Halloween-themed show presented by aerial dancers of Samadahi Hawaiʻi features otherworldy creatures. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. 

for the performance of “Creatures of the Samadhi Lagoon - A Circus Halloween Show.” Costumes are encouraged. Tickets are $30 plus fees. 

Trick or Treat (Hawaiʻi Kai, Kāneʻohe). 

On Oct. 24, go trick or treating at various locations across Oʻahu, including the 

 at Hawaiʻi Kai Towne Center, the Trunk or Treat at 

This dog, bird and car show features games and costume contests, plus activities for keiki at Wai Kai. There will also be local vendors, trunk-or-treat opportunities, and an aquatic exhibit. The Mega Monster Mash runs from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Oct. 24. Free. 

Keiki and pets are invited to dress up in their Halloween best and trick or treat at stores at the Town Center of Mililani on Sunday, Oct. 25. There will be a costume contest. Pets must be on leashes. Free. 

 The weekly Thursday Night Market at Wai Kai, which runs from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., will have a Halloween theme on Oct. 29 with a 

. The night market is pet and keiki friendly. Free. 

 Catch Emo Night at The Republik. Doors open at 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30. Tickets are $16 and include a $1 donation to support organizations focusing on mental health, harm reduction, children and families, poverty and homelessness, disenfranchised communities and terminal illness. 

Hawaiʻi Opera Theatre is bringing this best-selling novel by Stephen King to life at the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall. This is a co-production of Opera Parallèle in San Francisco, Portland Opera, and Hawaiʻi Opera Theatre. The production is about two hours with an intermission. There are shows on Friday, Oct. 30, and Sunday, Nov. 1. Tickets start at $35. 

Trick or Treat (ʻEwa, Kapolei and Waimānalo). 

 on Oct. 30 with chances to trick or treat, participate in costume contests and enjoy haunted pop-ups. There will also be live entertainment, food and drinks and more. The Villages of Kapolei will host its 

, which includes trick or treat opportunities, a costume contest and a screening of the movie “Nightmare before Christmas.” Or catch Waimānalo School Family Resource Center will also host 

 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the parking lot for the school. The event includes a contest for best decorated trunk, as well as local food vendors. Free. Details in links.

Catch Natural Vibrations and DJ Jojo Flow upstairs at the Hideout and Likkle Jordee and DJ Hapa Boy downstairs at The Secret Spot. The Halloween bash is being presented by Hawaiʻi’s Finest. Arrive early to get zombie makeup done by artists. Doors open at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31. Tickets are $60. 

Tiki’s Annual Halloween Bash (Waikīkī). 

This annual event at The Twin Fin will transform a beachfront venue into an Island-inspired Halloween hotspot with live music, a DJ, handcrafted specialty cocktails, and a dance floor overlooking Waikīkī Beach. The event runs from 8 p.m. until closing on Oct. 31. There will be a costume contest. Pre-sale tickets are $15. Same-day tickets are $40. 

, a celebration featuring “cult camp, crimson lips, fishnets, corsets, glam rock, mad science, theatrical weirdness,” and more, according to its website. The party starts at 8 p.m. and is open until 4 a.m. this year on Oct. 31. There are more than $2,000 in cash and prizes. Tickets start at $15 with VIP experiences available. 

KSSK Perry & The Posse Bring Morning Live Show to Limelight (Ala Moana). 

The popular Saturday morning show will be live at Limelight Hawaiʻi from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Oct. 31. The entertainment lineup includes Lyric Medeiros, who was recently part of Season 28 of the television show “Big Brother,” the Mākaha Sons,

. There will also be a costume contest. Tickets are $60 for adults and $36 for keiki. 

. This family friendly event features trick-or-treating at more than 100 stores and restaurants, plus a dance party, prize giveaways and complimentary balloon creations and photo opportunities on Saturday, Oct. 31, at Ala Moana Center. Throughout the month, there will also be a 

, seasonal merchandise and themed dining experiences. 

“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (Near Downtown). 

Catch “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at the Honolulu Museum of Art. Dress in your Rocky Horror best and check the website for 

. In collaboration with Hawaiʻi Opera Theater, the screening on Oct. 31 will be accompanied by a full cast of actors acting out the scenes playing on screen. Recommended for ages 18 years old or older. Tickets are $25. 

Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience (Chinatown). 

This high-energy, live tribute concert, “Who’s Bad: Thriller Nights,” is a celebration of Michael Jackson and starts at 7 p.m. on Oct. 31 at Hawaiʻi Theatre Center. It features a live band and dynamic dancers. Tickets start at $54.50. 

Surf, Style & Spooky Season (North Shore). 

The sixth annual Turtle Bay Halloween Surf Off returns to the lineup at The Ritz-Carlton Oʻahu, Turtle Bay. Presented by Jamie O’Brien Surf Experience, this contest brings together surfers of all ages and abilities in their best Halloween costumes. A panel of celebrity judges will give awards for division champions, best costume, and best surfing performance. The event starts at 2 p.m. on Oct. 31. Entry fees are $20 per participant, which is donated to the Kahuku High School Surf Team. 

Catch this tour from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 31 at the 

. Creepy tales and chills are part of the program and visitors will get to meet the animals who call the sanctuary home. There will be lots of opportunities for photos. Long pants and closed-toed shoes are recommended. So is water, sunscreen and bug spray. Attendees who wear costumes get prizes. 

Know of something that didn’t make the guide this year? Email katie@alohastatedaily.com to be considered in next year’s guide.

Ritz

<title>31 things to do for Halloween on Oʻahu</title>

Ready to get in the mood for Spooky Season? Here are 31 events happening between now and Halloween, which is Saturday, Oct. 31.

31 things to do for Halloween on Oʻahu

Ready to make plans for the weekend? Aloha State Daily compiled a list of 10 ways to spend the weekend on Oʻahu. From the final days of the 

 to a convention focused on a cappella and barbershop music, there are lots of ways to spend this Friday, Oct. 9, through Sunday, Oct. 11.

, a children’s hula competition, will take place on Friday, Oct. 9, and Saturday, Oct. 10, at Kamehameha Schools Maui. Or head to Hawaiʻi Island and catch the 

No plans to travel? ASD has you covered with these events happening across Oʻahu. 

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Honolulu Orchid Society Show and Plant Sale. 

Looking to adopt an orchid? Or just want to see the variety of plants that exist? Go to the Washington Middle School Cafeteria, and catch the Honolulu Orchid Society Show and Plant Sale. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, and Saturday, Oct. 10. Free. 

Feast the Flavors of Waikīkī Restaurant Week. 

More than a dozen Waikīkī restaurants are featuring specials and prix fixe menus as part of this new, 11-day Flavors of Waikīkī Restaurant Week, which runs Oct. 1 through Oct. 11. Monkeypod Kitchen Waikīkī offers drink and breakfast specials, while Ruth’s Chris Steak House lists a four-course meal from $75+ and Roy’s Waikīkī offers a three-course meal for $72. 

Chorus and quartet singers from New Zealand, Australia, Japan and the West Coast will gather on Oʻahu for the Pan Pacific Harmony Convention, which focuses on a cappella and barbershop music and will convene at Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall, Hilton Hawaiian Village, Waikīkī Beach Resort, and more this week. Events run Tuesday, Oct. 6, through Sunday, Oct. 11. Tickets are $80 for adults, $40 for youth, and $30 for keiki. 

Brian Culbertson’s Hawaiʻi Jazz Getaway. 

Join the award-winning jazz fusion artist Brian Culbertson for two nights of music at Hawaiʻi Theatre. The getaway starts with a VIP Welcome Reception with Brian Culbertson and special guests on Thursday, Oct. 8. The following night, on Friday, Oct. 9, catch Brian Culbertson & Band, featuring David Benoit and Paul Taylor, at Hawaiʻi Theatre. On Saturday, Oct. 10, catch Brian Culbertson & Band along with Candy Dulfer and Keiko Matsui

 at the same location. There is an additional VIP luncheon on Sunday, Oct. 11. 

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Bring a book that made an impact on you and trade it for another thoughtfully chosen read at Fort Street Mall. The curated book exchange, which runs from noon until 6 p.m., also includes ambient beats from local musicians and a chance to shop a market of local vendors. Free. There will be single-origin coffee and ceremonial grade matcha available for purchase. 

. Celebrate Hawaiʻi’s 34th annual Hispanic Heritage Festival, which falls during Hispanic Heritage Month. There will be live entertainment, food trucks, pop-up booths, crafts, cultural and art displays, and a classic and vintage car show, plus activities for keiki. The festival also has a beer garden for attendees who are at least 21 years old. The event runs from noon until 10 p.m. at AMVETS West Oʻahu. Tickets are $10, if purchased in advance. 

Halloween is on the way and locations across Oʻahu are hosting themed events for Spooky Season.

 with prizes, while the Children’s Discovery Center is hosting a 

, where keiki can explore hands-on experiments with Halloween magic on Saturday, Oct. 10. 

 with opportunities to get food and drinks, plus visit a pumpkin patch.

Sample local beers from Hana Koa Brewing Co., Honolulu Beerworks, Kona Brewing Co., Lanikai Brewing Co., Maui Brewing Co. and more inside a historic hanger at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum. There will be live music and food. The event runs from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Tickets start at $50, plus fees. There are also $20 tickets for designated drivers, which include food, soft drinks and activities. 

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More than Pink by Susan G. Komen Hawaiʻi. 

Join about 3,000 walkers and runners in this fundraiser sponsored by the Susan G. Komen Foundation, which provides resources to those dealing with breast cancer and supports research for more effective cures. So far, about $143,000 has been raised for the event’s $200,000 goal. The walk starts and ends at the finish line for the Honolulu Marathon, near the bandstand at Kapiʻolani Regional Park. The opening ceremony starts at 8 a.m. 

 ʻIolani Palace will host a kōnane tournament at the upcoming Kamaʻāina Sunday. Check-in for the tournament starts at 9 a.m. and the competition is open to players who are at least 12 years old. While the tournament is limited to 16 competitors, others can play kōnane casually in Hale Koa, which is also known as ʻIolani Barracks. Kawika Lum-Nelmida will also lead cultural workshops, including one for a hulu hairpin and another for a hulu brooch at 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., respectively. Complimentary self-led audio tours are available to the first 500 visitors. Free. 

Kamaʻāina Sunday workshops

<title>Spooky season, jazz and more: what to do on Oʻahu this weekend</title>

Aloha State Daily rounded up 10 ways you can spend the weekend. From a pumpkin patch visit at Waimānalo Country Farms to a craft beer event inside a hanger at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, there are lots of events happening on Oʻahu this weekend. ʻIolani Palace will also host its Kamaʻāina Sunday this weekend, which includes a kōnane tournament.

Spooky season, jazz and more: what to do on Oʻahu this weekend

Lopaka and Tanya Kapanui

Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya Kapanui

Hawai‘i History

We met a young woman on our downtown walking tour a few years ago. She looked to be in her mid-twenties and had a no-nonsense air about her. Toward the end of our tour, as we walked along Richards Street, she caught up to me and asked about the history of the Aloha Tower area, where she worked, and, more specifically, Pier 11.

I answered her with a question of my own, “Did something happen there that you’re concerned about?”

She explained that she’d thought ghosts and spirits only came out at night, but something strange happened during a shift in the middle of the day. The woman said that part of her job was to walk through each building to ensure everything was in order. It was all pretty routine for her, something she did every day. 

After entering the building a little after 1:00 p.m., she noticed a few people walking about. People were speaking softly, going about their day. No one seemed to be loitering unnecessarily. No problems or issues were waiting for her, which was just how she liked it. 

Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain on the side of her head. It felt like someone yanked the short hairs near her ear. Hard. Before she could make sense of what happened, she felt the sensation again, and yet again within seconds. She let out a loud scream and ran.

“Where was I running to? I don’t know,” she said quietly, “I just had to get out of there.”

The woman’s experience wasn’t the first time someone claimed to have felt an invisible presence at Pier 11 and the attached Harbors Division building. Some people have shared that they heard voices when the building was empty, and others have said they saw moving shadows at night. But this young woman is the only one we’ve known to have had such a physical encounter with something unseen there. As strange as her experience may be, it seems more unsettling when we consider what stood upon that parcel of land more than a hundred years ago. 

A short walk from Pier 11 is the heart of Downtown Honolulu, a city layered with centuries of royal history, sacred sites, and long-forgotten memories. Before the cruise ships and concrete buildings, this stretch of shoreline was home to Pakaka Heiau, a sacred place that once observed secret rituals and royal power.

In Kamehameha’s day, Pakaka was already ancient, built before the time of the great warrior ali‘i, Kakuhihewa. For centuries, this heiau was a gathering place for kāhuna to learn and train in their respective arts. In one particular description, it is said that the walls of the heiau were adorned all around with the heads of men offered in sacrifice.

Having already secured the islands of Hawai‘i and Maui and then conquering O‘ahu, Kamehameha I made the seat of his kingdom in Honolulu and his personal home at Pakaka. In 1810, he met with King Kaumuali‘i of Kaua‘i at Pakaka to finalize negotiations for unifying the Hawaiian Islands under a single rule. In exchange for his loyalty, Kamehameha promised Kaumuali‘i that he would never invade Kaua‘i or Ni‘ihau and would do all in his power to help maintain the two islands. From this meeting, a unified Hawai‘i was born.

Progress dramatically reshaped Honolulu’s original shoreline around the turn of the 20th century. The natural coastline was gradually filled in with crushed coral and dredged materials from the harbor floor, extending the land outward into the harbor and creating space to accommodate Honolulu’s growing needs. 

In 1926, construction of the iconic Aloha Tower began on this newly formed land, and by 1927, Piers 10 and 11 were completed just alongside it. During the construction of Nimitz Highway in the 1950s, part of Pier 11 was torn down and the Harbors Division building, now known as the Hale Awa Ku Moku building was then erected perpendicular to Pier 11 and along the shoreline.

As we know, the changing landscape doesn’t always erase history. Sometimes, remnants of the past appear as shadows and whispers, and apparently, even hair pulls.

The woman never told me whether she quit her job as a security guard or whether she remained employed. After my brief explanation of the history of Pier 11 and Pakaka heiau, she let out a heavy sigh.

The woman smiled and said with a bit of sarcasm and a quiet laugh, “Thanks, I really needed to know that.”

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