Hawaii History
News
Bringing Pork Over the Pali
Kama‘āina know itʻs bad luck. Even visitors have heard itʻs bad luck. But do you know why?
Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya KapanuiApril 02, 2025
The cave of an ancient shark god
On the Wai‘anae Coast near Mākua is Kāneana Cave. In distant ages, the cave was underwater and the home of the shark god, Kāmohoali‘i. His romance with a mortal woman produced a son with a terrifying nature.
Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya KapanuiMarch 26, 2025
Eerie Impressions in Iwilei
The land beneath the Iwilei Salvation Army building has a dark history.
Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya KapanuiMarch 19, 2025
Haunted Hānaiakamalama
This storied house in Nu‘uanu Valley was well known more than a century ago for its many frightening experiences, from the sound of footsteps to visions of a disembodied head.
Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya KapanuiMarch 12, 2025
The eerie history of Chinatown's Hocking Hale
This week, ASD launches a weekly column by Robert and Tanya Kapanui, historians and co-owners of the popular ghost tour, Mysteries of Hawai‘i. Together, they'll take readers on a journey into the historic, spiritual and supernatural dimensions of Hawai‘i places.
Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya KapanuiMarch 05, 2025
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson to star in possible Martin Scorsese movie about a Hawaiʻi mob boss?
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Director Martin Scorsese are pitching a possible new movie set in Hawaiʻi with a host of other stars, according to several Mainland media outlets.
A. Kam Napier & Katie HellandFebruary 20, 2025
Hawai‘i education then and now: A 50-year view on soaring costs and declining enrollment
Using the Hawai‘i State Data Book archives, we find that the biggest changes from 1972 to 2022 — the most recent stats available — concern the costs of education. Those are up substantially, even though enrollment and teacher pay both dropped.
A. Kam NapierFebruary 14, 2025
Historic Honolulu: a look at some of Downtown's notable buildings
Aloha State Daily recently spoke to architect Willa Trimble to find out more about some of Downtownʻs notable and historic buildings.
Stephanie SalmonsFebruary 08, 2025
Kahu Anela Rosa prepares to welcome ʻohana back to Lahaina’s Waiola Church
This congregation will gather in-person for the first time since its historic structure was destroyed by the 2023 Lahaina fire. As church leadership looks to rebuild, local families and visitors can plan to reconnect at a casual, outdoor service on Sunday, March 2.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosFebruary 07, 2025
Mary Kawena Pukui featured on new $1 coin
The coin features an image of Pukui wearing a hibiscus flower, a kukui nut lei and a mu‘umu‘u with an aloha print, and “stylized depictions of water” in the background.
Stephanie SalmonsFebruary 06, 2025
UH-Hilo professor helps perpetuate the Hawaiian language
Growing up, Larry Kimura heard Hawaiian spoken at home but didn't have a chance to really learn the language until boarding as a student at Kamehameha Schools. In the decades since, he has worked to save the language, doing everything from recording then-rare native speakers in the ‘70s to now naming astronomical discoveries made by Hawaii's telescopes.
Stephanie SalmonsJanuary 20, 2025