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Kallin Spiller

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A. Kam Napier

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Kady Pascual

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Katie Helland

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Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

, is now open to the public. The Pinehopple Room is located on the second floor, directly above the Kaka

The space was previously home to the HI Brau Room, Aloha Beer Co.’s speakeasy that the biz operated primarily as a private event space.

“We always loved the room and felt like it had so much character,” says Candice Ishikawa, Aloha Beer Co.’s head of marketing and brand. “People who discovered it seemed to immediately fall in love with it, and we saw an opportunity to reimagine the space as something more distinctly connected to Aloha Beer and to Hawaiʻi, while opening it back up for more people to enjoy.”

Ishikawa explains that The Pinehopple Room concept came from the idea of taking the creativity and craft that goes into brewing beer and applying that same spirit to cocktails and hospitality.

“We wanted to create an intimate, upscale lounge that still felt unmistakably part of Aloha Beer, while offering a different side of Aloha Beer from the casual beer garden downstairs,” she says. “The name ‘Pinehopple’ comes from our logo icon and is a play on pineapple and hops, bringing together something immediately evocative of Hawaiʻi, with our roots as a brewery.”

[{"type":"text","text":"The venue’s name impacted its décor and ultimate vibe."}]

“We didn’t want to lose the darker, intimate character that made the original space special, so we built it with a vintage Hawaiʻi-inspired aesthetic, adding tropical botanicals, greenery, warm lighting and other details that make the room feel lush and inviting,” Ishikawa says.

She says The Pinehopple Room’s beverage program is where “the concept comes to life.” The drinks were inspired by the golden age of Hawaii cocktail culture, but the team wanted to bring its own unique twist to the beverages.

“We kept coming back to the idea that classic Hawaiʻi cocktails deserve to be remembered, not simply replicated,” Ishikawa says. “We’re taking those flavors and traditions, and reinterpreting them through fresh ingredients, thoughtful technique and our perspective as a craft brewery.”

So far, popular cocktails include the tropical itch ($18), Molokai fogcutter ($16) and paradise of the Pacific ($21). The tropical itch is made with 

bourbon, rum, orange curaçao, lilikoʻi, pineapple and a dark rum float; the Molokai fogcutter features aged and white rums, pineapple, lilikoʻi, lemon and orgeat; and paradise of the Pacific includes aged rum, tamarind, pineapple and hibiscus grenadine, according to Ishikawa.

Customers can also enjoy a scorpion bowl for two ($38), which is served in a vintage-inspired fish bowl. The drink is designed to be shared and also doubles as a fun centerpiece for the table, according to Ishikawa.

She also explains that The Pinehopple Room team is excited to offer a series of guided spirit flights.

“Guests can explore bourbon, Scotch, international whiskies, agave spirits, and Caribbean rum or Hawaiʻi-made rum, with a guided tasting sheet that provides some background and context for each pour without making the experience feel overly formal,” she says.

Customers can also enjoy light bites that pair naturally with the cocktails. Highlights include Pinehopple sashimi trio (market price) — served with a lilikoʻi-wasabi glaze — Pinehopple shrimp cocktail ($12), spinach dip salmon belly bites ($18), Cuban sliders ($13), paprika chicken pops ($18) and a salami caprese flatbread ($15).

“On the food side, we wanted dishes that were easy to share and felt at home alongside the cocktail program,” Ishikawa says.

The Cuban sliders feature brioche buns stuffed with mayo-mustard, ham, kalua pork, Swiss cheese, pickled cucumbers and cilantro-orange sauce. The paprika chicken pops comprises chicken drummettes in paprika batter, served with blue cheese honey-Red Zeppelin buffalo sauce and celery curls. So far, the chicken pops, spinach dip salmon belly bites and sliders have been customer favorites.

Ishikawa explains that The Pinehopple Room team has been excited to welcome guests and have them experience “the way different kinds of craft come together in one space.”

“Pinehopple is also about the experience around what’s in the glass,” she says. “There’s a sense of nostalgia and vintage Hawaiʻi hospitality without trying to recreate a specific era. We want it to feel special, but never overly formal — a place where people can slow down, connect and stay awhile.”

The Pinehopple Room is currently open from 5 to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The lounge does not have a formal reservation system set up and is primarily open for walk-ins, but if a customer calls ahead, the venue can hold a table for them, according to Ishikawa.

“Aloha Beer has always been about creating places for people to gather, and Pinehopple gives us a new way to do that,” Ishikawa says. “Someone can have a beer in the beer garden downstairs, then head upstairs for a cocktail or whiskey flight and feel like they’ve stepped into an entirely different experience without ever leaving Aloha Beer. We’ve loved this room for a long time, and we’re excited to finally open the doors and share it with more people.”

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<title>The Pinehopple Room is a new upstairs lounge in Kakaʻako</title>

Located upstairs from Aloha Beer Co. on Queen Street, The Pinehopple Room — previously home to the HI Brau Room speakeasy — recently opened to the public. The upscale lounge features a vintage Hawaiʻi-inspired aesthetic, along with classic Hawaiʻi cocktails with a modern twist.

The Pinehopple Room is a new upstairs lounge in Kakaʻako

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Michael Brestovansky

Crime & Courts

The Hawai‘i Supreme Court has concluded that the attorneys involved in the $4 billion Lahaina fire settlement aren’t entitled to a bigger slice of the pie.

Earlier this year, attorneys involved in the years-long Maui settlement case 

 Maui Judge Peter Cahill’s June ruling that determined how much money attorneys could receive for their part in the case.

Cahill’s verdict was that attorneys could only claim up to 8% of the settlement funds. At the same time, he established out of the $4 billion a $222 million common benefit fund that Hawai‘i-based lawyers could tap into to receive compensation proportional to the amount of work they did on the case. Out-of-state attorneys could not qualify for that fund, leaving them only with the 8%.

But although three attorneys from the Hawai‘i law firms Ranken & Shnider, the PACLAW Group and the San Diego-based Montegna & Thickstun appealed that decision — arguing that Cahill didn’t have the authority to establish the common benefit fund — the state Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that Cahill’s arrangement will stand, for the most part.

Associate Justice Todd Eddins, writing for the opinion of the court, rejected the attorneys’ arguments. If the court is unable to “coordinate thousands of related claims and to supervise the settlement that resolved them,” Eddins wrote, “it would be powerless over the very proceeding it opened. The one that produced $4.037 billion for the victims.”

However, Eddins did agree with the appellants that Cahill’s order was flawed in some ways. For example, Cahill’s order declared that the decisions of the Common Fee Review Board — the body that determines who gets how much from the common benefit fund — could not be challenged and that attempting to appeal those decisions would void any award from the fund.

These provisions, Eddins said, are unconstitutional. As the state constitution protects the right to judicial review, Cahill’s anti-appeal provisions would inherently penalize people for attempting to exercise their constitutional rights.

Similarly, a provision requiring the claims administrator to withhold all future fee payments to an attorney who files an appeal also impinges on people’s rights.

However, these faults don’t destroy the entire $222 million common benefit fund. Eddins’ verdict simply removes those problematic clauses and keeps the remainder of Cahill’s order intact.

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<title>State Supreme Court ends dispute over Maui fire settlement lawyer fees</title>

Supreme Court upholds $222 million common benefit fund, despite arguments from attorneys that it was unauthorized.

State Supreme Court ends dispute over Maui fire settlement lawyer fees

De Soto 2025

DeSoto Brown

Hawai‘i History

Columnists

Do you remember Ward Warehouse? It was something of a landmark in Kaka‘ako once, but after being demolished nearly 10 years ago it’s now on its way to being forgotten.

The Ward family is foundational to the history of Kaka‘ako. Back in the 19th century, the clan came to own a large tract of land stretching from their private home that was just across King Street from Thomas Square, all the way down to what is now Kewalo Basin. This ownership, of course, is the origin of the name Ward Avenue for the street that formed most of the boundary of the property on its ‘Ewa side.

By the middle of the 20th century, the Ward land contained a mix of private homes and a variety of business tenants. The family-owned corporation that managed the property, Victoria Ward Ltd., started taking small steps towards more lucrative tenants in the 1950s but ramped up its redevelopment goals in the early 1960s by constructing a series of modern, low-rise structures.

A major new commitment came in early 1974 with the start of construction of Ward Warehouse on a 4.1 acre site between Ala Moana Boulevard, Ward Avenue and Auahi Street. The location had some special considerations in that it was covered by two very different types of zoning: one was for retail while the other was strictly for wholesale and industrial uses. The latter category was slightly problematic for what was intended as, essentially, a shopping center open to the public, and initially required a careful selection of tenants.

Designed by architect Steve Au, Ward Warehouse had a notably 1970s appearance. The hippie movement in the USA by this time had popularized more earthy, natural materials, so the complex’s exteriors were dark-stained wood, inspired in particular by a trend-setting development called Sea Ranch in California from the late 1960s. The only outside decorations were sections of bold painted “supergraphics” in geometric patterns. Industrial elements were not covered up but were openly displayed; on the outside, pipes and fittings were painted in bright colors to show them off, along with some oversized machine parts that were installed purely as decor. Inside the rental spaces, high ceilings showed undisguised conduits, light fixtures and air-conditioning ducts. Floors were concrete and walls were mostly unpainted wood. The effect was “honesty” in materials vs shiny synthetic surfaces.

Ward Warehouse opened with 87 tenant spaces; some interiors had the potential for the construction of mezzanines. Parking on the ground level accommodated 250 vehicles while the four-level concrete garage had 400 more spots. A soft opening for some businesses took place in time for Christmas 1974. By April 1975 the complex was placing large display ads in the Honolulu newspapers.

Those who are old enough to have patronized Ward Warehouse will undoubtedly remember particular stores or restaurants they regularly visited. For many people, the Old Spaghetti Factory at the far ‘Ewa end, with its two-story interior spaces, was surely a favorite (it has since moved to Aloha Tower). Embellished by numerous antique light fixtures and other old-time props which the company had been able to accumulate when such items were mostly inexpensive salvage goods from the demolition of 80- or 90-year-old structures in the USA, the low-cost restaurant had a unique feeling in its diverse seating areas.

Of course many other businesses came and went through Ward Warehouse over the years. There was the Liquor Collection which was filled with limited-edition figural ceramic specialty bottles, stores just for outdoor furniture, kitchenware, and flags, and the Nohea Gallery for local artwork of all kinds.

Ward Warehouse was never intended to last throughout the ages. A 1969 newspaper article quoted a statement from Victoria Ward Ltd that said offices and high-rise structures were eventually planned along Ala Moana Boulevard. Closure of the shopping center came on July 31, 2017 followed by demolition that began in November.

Howard Hughes Corporation, by then the owner of the site, first announced that two “ultraluxury” towers would soon rise here, the Ward Village Gateway. One of these was to be the 

 with units offered for prices ranging from $1.3 million to $23 million; these were first put on sale in 2015. But in 2018 the entire project was dropped, even after Howard Hughes had spent $29 million on it, and 28 of the 125 apartments in the Cylinder had been sold. In 2019 Victoria Place was approved for construction on the Waikīkī end of the property. Next to it was the start of the new Victoria Ward Park which would eventually occupy what had been the center part of Ward Warehouse.

However, it wouldn’t be until 2025 that one of the familiar construction cranes would finally be erected on the rest of the former Ward Warehouse, signaling yet another of the Kaka‘ako condominiums to come: Kalae.

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<title>Changing Kaka‘ako: Remembering Ward Warehouse</title>

Ward Warehouse was never meant to last — even the previous owners who built it, Victoria Ward Ltd, always intended for offices and high-rises to take its place. But it had a four-decade run from its 1975 opening to its 2017 demolition, featuring such businesses as Old Spaghetti Factory, Orson's, The Liquor Collection, Nohea Gallery and more. Here's a look back at the shopping center, including a glimpse of the neighborhood before Ward Warehouse came along and fishing, rather than shopping, was the area's industry.

Changing Kaka‘ako: Remembering Ward Warehouse

Letters to the Editor

We respect the history of Kakaʻako and the cultural significance of the ʻāina, and we recognize the importance of treating this place, its history, and the people connected to it with care and respect.

That said, we were disappointed to see Waterfront Plaza in "

" portrayed in a manner that, in our view, does not fairly reflect the property, the people who work here, or the experience of the many tenants, visitors, and staff who have been part of this community over the years.

The article blends historical information with personal recollections, folklore, and a number of second- and third-hand accounts. We understand that stories about unusual experiences across Kaka'ako have circulated over the years, and we respect that individuals may have their own experiences and beliefs. However, there is an important distinction between documented history and personal accounts, hearsay, or folklore that has been passed from one person to another. Presenting those accounts together can leave readers with the impression that stories and personal recollections are established facts.

Waterfront Plaza is a place where people work, conduct business, visit, gather, and build community every day. Our tenants and their employees work hard to serve the public, and our staff work diligently to maintain a safe, welcoming, and professionally managed property. That part of the story deserves to be recognized as well.

We also believe that discussions about Kakaʻako should be approached with cultural awareness and respect for Hawaiian history and values. The history of the ʻāina, including the presence of iwi kūpuna and the traditional places associated with this area, deserves thoughtful and respectful treatment. That history carries a significance that goes far beyond the stories of the unexplained.

We are not interested in dismissing anyone’s personal experience, nor are we seeking to tell people what they should or should not believe. We simply believe readers deserve clarity about what is documented history, what is personal recollection, and what is folklore passed from one person to another.

Most importantly, we remain focused on our kuleana to the people who use and care for Waterfront Plaza every day — our tenants, their employees, our visitors, and our staff. We are proud of the work they do and of the community they have built here. 

I have personally had the privilege of working at Waterfront Plaza for 18 years. In that time, I witnessed firsthand the care, pride, aloha, and genuine commitment our staff bring to this place every day. I have seen the countless ways our team works to make sure our tenants, visitors, and guests feel welcomed, supported, and taken care of. There is another story here — one of people who care deeply about this property and the community that calls it home.

We hope that future coverage of Waterfront Plaza will reflect that same level of care, accuracy, balance, and respect.

It is unfortunate that, despite the meaningful work this property and our team do in the community, we find ourselves responding every few years to reporting that does not reflect the full story of who we are and what we contribute.

For example, our team has proudly participated in the Special Olympics for 17 years. More importantly than simply raising funds, we have helped build awareness, provide support, and champion an incredible organization and the athletes it serves. We have also hosted the Foodbank’s Fight for Hunger for more than 11 years, raising funds and awareness to help address hunger in our community.

Countless members of our management team have also served on various nonprofit boards and supported organizations throughout our community. We have worked with Voyager Public Schools in a number of ways, including fundraising and other initiatives that support its students and educational mission.

We also host an annual community cleanup and now partner with SALT to continue that effort each year, along with many other events and initiatives that bring people together and give back to our community.

These are the stories we believe are also part of Waterfront Plaza — stories of service, partnership, generosity, and people who genuinely care about making a positive difference in our community. 

Steven Sullivan, Asset Manager at The Shidler Group for Waterfront Plaza

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<title>Waterfront Plaza responds to "What Haunts Waterfront Plaza"</title>

Waterfront Plaza responds to "What Haunts Waterfront Plaza"

The woman charged with murder after allegedly fatally shooting a man in Kailua last weekend was turned in by her father the day of the event, according to a Honolulu police report.

Hilinaikailimakualopali Keeno, 24, was charged on Sept. 30 with second-degree murder, carrying a firearm in the commission of a felony and improperly keeping a pistol or revolver. She is being held pending a $1 million bail.

An HPD document — which was submitted on Tuesday, Sept. 29, to the Honolulu Circuit Court to establish probable cause to detain Keeno without a warrant — states that Keeno’s father brought her to the Kailua Police Station less than an hour after 

was declared dead of a gunshot wound to the neck in the Kailua Target parking lot.

The report states that HPD special duty officers, who were working security at the Kailua Fall Festival that day, were called to assist with a group of festivalgoers involved in an argument at about 8:26 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26.

Officers escorted the group out of the festival and watched them head toward the Target parking lot, only to hear another altercation begin among the group minutes later.

During this new altercation, a pop resembling a gunshot was heard, and officers saw two men — one of whom was Keeno’s brother — assaulting a third. Both assailants were placed under arrest for disorderly conduct, while officers discovered Malone on the ground, covered in blood.

[{"type":"text","text":"Malone was declared dead at the scene by 8:43 p.m."}]

At 9:39 p.m., Keeno was brought to the Kailua Police Station by her father, who told police she was involved in the incident and wanted to provide a statement in the presence of her attorney.

According to the HPD report, no interview was conducted with Keeno that night. Subsequently, HPD sought photographs and videos from the public to help piece together the event and identify the shooter.

On Sept. 28, another witness identified Keeno as the shooter, and HPD confirmed that Keeno has one firearm registered in her name, a Sig Sauer P365 handgun.

[{"type":"text","text":"Following this, Keeno was placed under arrest."}]

Keeno’s preliminary hearing, when she will plead guilty or not guilty to the charges, will take place Monday, Oct. 5. She remains in custody.

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<title>Woman charged in Kailua shooting turned in by father</title>

Hilinakailimakualopali Keeno faces a $1 million bail for a second-degree murder charge.

Woman charged in Kailua shooting turned in by father

Government & Politics

Aloha Spirit

State and U.S. flags will be flown at half-staff this weekend in commemoration of former U.S. Rep. Patricia “Pat” Saiki, who died Wednesday at the age of 96.

Saiki was the second woman in Hawai‘i elected to represent the state in Congress — the first being Patsy Mink — as well as the first Republican Hawai‘i Congress member. She reportedly died peacefully in her home in Kāhala, according to the 

, a successor organization to the state’s first teachers’ union, which she founded.

Before her career in politics, the Hilo-born Saiki was a public school teacher at Kaimukī Intermediate School. When her daughter fell ill at school and was taken to the hospital, she was told she could not use school phones for personal business such as checking on her daughter, which led her to form the Teacher’s Chapter of the Hawai‘i Government Employees Association.

Saiki ran for the state House of Representatives in 1968 and won — becoming the first woman to hold the seat — and served through 1974. Following that, she ran for the state Senate, where she served until 1982, when she unsuccessfully ran for Lieutenant Governor.

In 1986, she was elected to her U.S. House seat, where she served until 1990 before an unsuccessful U.S. Senate run. That year, then-President George H. W. Bush appointed her to be the administrator of the U.S. Small Business Association, where she served until 1993.

Among her legislative achievements were the establishment of the Kapi‘olani Medical Center’s Sex Abuse Treatment Center, passing reparations for Japanese immigrants and Japanese-Americans detained in internment camps during World War II, and successfully urging President Bush to halt the use of Kaho‘olawe as a bombing range in 1990.

Later in life, Saiki was chair of the Hawai‘i Republican Party from 2014 to 2015 — during which time the party saw membership rolls triple, according to Gov. Josh Green’s office.

“Pat Saiki’s six decades of public service and her pioneering example for young women and Asian Americans in Hawai

i and across the U.S., combine to form both a lasting, inspiring legacy and a high bar for all of us who serve the public,” Green said Wednesday.

From Friday through Monday morning, U.S. and state flags will be flown at half-staff at all state offices and agencies, as well as Hawai‘i National Guard facilities.

Saiki is survived by four children, Stuart Saiki, Sandra Saiki, Margaret Saiki and Laurie Saiki, as well as numerous grandchildren. Services are pending.

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<title>Former Congresswoman Pat Saiki dead at 96</title>

Flags to fly at half-staff this weekend to honor the state's first Republican delegate

Former Congresswoman Pat Saiki dead at 96

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ASD Staff

Daily Smile

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Daily Smile: Monday, February 23, 2026

Dog reunited with its owner after being lost in the wilderness for five months...

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Daily Smile: Sunday, February 22, 2026

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Daily Smile: Saturday, February 21, 2026

Little girl has her dogs say grace before dinner...

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Daily Smile: Friday, February 20, 2026

Hawai'i Skies

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Maia Rosen at Kāhala Beach.

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Hawai‘i Skies: A perfect frame

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Daily Smile: Thursday, February 19, 2026

Since my friend came over with her dog I haven't seen my cat anywhere, then I noticed this...

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Daily Smile: Wednesday, February 18, 2026

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Daily Smile: Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Alexis Seto at Sherwood Beach.

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Hawai‘i Skies: Dawn Patrol in Waimānalo

Your grandma looked after your dog this summer...

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Daily Smile: Monday, February 16, 2026

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Daily Smile: Sunday, February 15, 2026

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Daily Smile: Saturday, February 14, 2026

“How my dogs act when my husband gets home after 12 hours vs when I get back from the store after 10 minutes..."

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Daily Smile: Friday, February 13, 2026

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by A. Kam Napier while Hiking Kaua‘i’s Sleeping Giant formation.

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Hawai‘i Skies: Sleeping Giant

When your dogs really don't want you to leave...

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Daily Smile: Thursday, February 12, 2026

Shark attacks were recorded in eight states last year.

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Where Hawai‘i ranked for shark attacks in 2025

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Daily Smile: Wednesday, February 11, 2026

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Daily Smile: Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Today's Hawai‘i Skies was captured by Carol Sears in Mililani Mauka.

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Hawai‘i Skies: Stunning rainbows

Now let's all enjoy a little boy and his dog...

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Daily Smile: Monday, February 9, 2026

This is Foster. A massive rainstorm hits, but he's out there gleefully swimming laps in the pool like it's the best day ever...