Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros Headshot

Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros

Business & Tourism

Aloha Spirit

For Viper Heart, meeting Stephen Nii, then-owner of family grocery business Nii Superette Inc. in Waipahu, changed the trajectory of her life as an alcohol and drug addict. Nii, who was a caregiver and worked 12-hour days at the store, died suddenly at age 51 last February, she said.

“Stephen was a guru to everybody even though he wasn't an addict himself. He was one of my best friends,” Heart told Aloha State Daily. “About three years ago, he started the first sober living store on island. He got rid of the alcohol and cigarettes he was selling and replaced them with healthy alternatives.”

An herbalist and psychic from Mililani, Heart said she was clean for years, but was in relapse when she met Nii during the summer of 2023. With his help over the next few months, she got sober again and was hired as an employee by fall. “He wanted somebody in recovery, so I made Instagram videos, talked with people and got trained on how to run the shop.”

Heart, who was a manager at spiritual shop Gaia Hawaiʻi before it closed, kept Nii's business operating after he passed, under its new name Viper’s SanctuarNII. 

In February, the business took over the 700 square foot space that was Drip Studio HNL, which moved to a larger location at Fort Street Mall. Currently, Viper employs five staff members.

“Our clientele is in town; most of our events were in town and rent was getting higher, so it just felt like town was calling me,” she said about the decision to move. “We'll be open 24/7 with the intention of helping people sober up before they drive home."

Viper’s SanctuarNII will celebrate its grand opening on April 1. It is open now amid renovations with two events planned for March – a paint and sip and mocktail-making class. More information can be found on Instagram @vipers_sanctuarnii.

On the retail side, building inventory is also a priority before the grand opening, Heart said, adding that she’s working to stock alcohol-free and low sugar beverages, jewelry, clothing, candles, potions, crystals and chicken feet protection charms. 

The store offers spiritual services and community events complete with a sober living bar that will serve hand-crafted mocktails, herbal teas and mushroom coffee. The bar will have a to-go window and mocktails can be made to choice.

“Personally, it helps me and others with recovery. Everyone is welcome no matter what your definition of recovery is,” she said. "How we prescribe is through intentional conversations, or talking story, in a safe space that leads to healing. I want the space to feel like home and be a sanctuary.”

Including Nii, Heart said she is grateful to Jackie, Naiʻa, Maria, Dani and Kekoa for their support, along with her pet bunny Chubby. 

By next year, she aims to open a boozeless burlesque club. “I love to dance and have fun,” Heart said.

As a business owners, sheʻs been learning to slow down and take care of herself. “I’m filling my cup, so I can help fill others.”

Honolulu Fort Street Viper Heart

<title>​​From Waipahu to Fort Street Mall, this new sober living store and… | Aloha State Daily</title>

Viper Heart, owner of Viper’s SanctuarNII, took over Waipahu-based Nii Superette last year after her friend and store owner Stephen Nii died suddenly. Heart, who is in recovery from alcohol and drug addiction, hopes to promote healing in the new space, which officially opens April 1. Its offerings include spiritual services and community events complete with hand-crafted mocktails, herbal teas and mushroom coffee, crystals, chicken feet and more.

​​From Waipahu to Fort Street Mall, this new sober living store and bar prepares to open in Downtown Honolulu

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

, I thought I was at the wrong restaurant. The newly opened omakase was so new that there was no restaurant sign yet. The dim lighting and ambiance made me feel as if I stepped into a speakeasy. But once I saw the chef’s counter, I figured it had to be the right place.

Chef Atsuhiro Kajita, who goes by Hiro, is known for his private sushi dinners; he’s been doing them since 2020. His customers will be happy to know the chef now has his own omakase spot (in the former space of Hanale by Islander Sake Brewery).

The restaurant’s name translates to “Hiro’s House" in Japanese. It’s open daily — two seatings are available at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. — and the omakase costs $150 per person. The counter can seat around 12 people.

The omakase features about 13 courses. It starts with an appetizer platter; ours included a quail egg, oyster with tomato ponzu sauce and yuzu kosho and Kauai shrimp topped with Hokkaido uni, yuzu juice and yuzu kosho.

Yuzu and yuzu kosho — a citrus-chili paste — is definitely a theme throughout the evening.

“I use a lot of yuzu in my stuff,” says chef Atsuhiro Kajita. “I also use Koshihikari, which is a short-grain rice, and two different types of red vinegar.”

Highlights in the early courses included zuke maguro; Hokkaido scallops that were seared, blanched and topped with black truffles and shiso leaf; and king salmon.

“The ora king salmon is from New Zealand,” Kajita says. “It’s the belly part, so it’s extra fatty. It’s topped with sweet onion ponzu and sea grapes to give it that extra crunch at the end.”

The otoro with gold leaf had to be one of my favorites of the evening. Almost too pretty to eat, the fish was ultra smooth and buttery, thanks to the uni. Of course, the 24-karat gold leaf made it even more luxe.

If you’ve gone to one of Kajita’s private sushi dinners, chances are, you’ve seen — and enjoyed — his signature matcha tamagoyaki. It’s fluffy and slightly sweet — just like the ones you’ll find in Japan — with a subtle matcha flavor (and accompanying green hue).

The Hamachi belly with a seared cherry tomato on top boasts a nice combo of flavors — it’s sweet, garlicky and smoky all at the same time. Uni lovers will swoon over the donburi, which features Hokkaido uni and ikura with kizami (pickled) wasabi.

The dessert selection will rotate. The featured treat at the end of our meal — following a savory red miso soup — was a matcha white chocolate tiramisu. It was light and boasted the perfect amount of sweetness without being overly indulgent.

[{"text":"The eatery is currently BYOB. Call for reservations.","type":"text"}]

Open daily; two seatings at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Hiro No Uchi uni 031325

<title>There’s a new, hidden omakase in Honolulu’s Chinatown | Aloha State Daily</title>

Hiro no Uchi is open daily for dinner on North King Street.

There’s a new, hidden omakase in Honolulu’s Chinatown

A new acai bowl spot just opened in Windward Oʻahu — and it’s the business’ only location on the east side.

 opened a storefront in Kāneʻohe (45-950 Kamehameha Hwy.).  This business is known for its unique acai blend and fresh fruits. HI Cravings has a trailer in Honolulu, along with several mobile trucks that roam across Oʻahu; this is the business’s only storefront.

Choose from base flavors like coconut sorbet, acai, strawberry guava sorbet and mango sorbet. All bases are non-dairy and vegan. All acai bowls come with granola, raw honey, strawberries, bananas, pineapple, watermelon and grapes.

The bowls come in three sizes: ‘ekahi (10-ounce snack size; $6.75 cash, $6.95 card), ‘elua (16-ounce regular size, $12.75 cash, $13.14 card) and ‘ekolu (32-ounce large size, $15.75 cash, $16.22 card). Extra toppings like condensed milk, peanut butter, mochi, cookie dough and Nutella are available for an additional charge.

This weekend only, you can get two free toppings at the Kāneʻohe location (mention the promo at checkout; you must be following @hicravingswindward on social media).

The business is currently open at various hours Thursdays to Sundays. The hours will extend once the store is more established.

Open 3:30-6:30 p.m. Thursdays, 3:30-7:30 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturdays, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sundays  

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<title>There’s a new acai bowl spot in Windward Oʻahu | Aloha State Daily</title>

HI Cravings has a new storefront in Kāneʻohe.

There’s a new acai bowl spot in Windward Oʻahu

Lopaka and Tanya Kapanui

Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya Kapanui

Hawaii History

Columnists

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.

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Haunted Hānaiakamalama

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.

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The eerie history of Chinatown's Hocking Hale

Kam Napier Headshot

A. Kam Napier

Katie Helland Headshot

Katie Helland

Entertainment

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.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson to star in possible Martin Scorsese movie about a Hawaiʻi mob boss?

Government & Politics

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.

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Hawai‘i education then and now: A 50-year view on soaring costs and declining enrollment

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Real Estate

Aloha State Daily recently spoke to architect Willa Trimble to find out more about some of Downtownʻs notable and historic buildings.

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Historic Honolulu: a look at some of Downtown's notable buildings

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.

Lahaina Waiola Church full lot

Kahu Anela Rosa prepares to welcome ʻohana back to Lahaina’s Waiola Church

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.

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Mary Kawena Pukui featured on new $1 coin

Arts & Culture

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.

News

Government & Politics

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Business & Tourism

Real Estate

Food & Dining

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Arts & Culture

Aloha Spirit

Hawaii History

Opinion

News

Government & Politics

Sports

Business & Tourism

Real Estate

Food & Dining

Entertainment

Arts & Culture

Aloha Spirit

Hawaii History

Opinion

Haunted Hānaiakamalama

The eerie history of Chinatown's Hocking Hale

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson to star in possible Martin Scorsese movie about a Hawaiʻi mob boss?

Hawai‘i education then and now: A 50-year view on soaring costs and declining enrollment

Historic Honolulu: a look at some of Downtown's notable buildings

Kahu Anela Rosa prepares to welcome ʻohana back to Lahaina’s Waiola Church

Mary Kawena Pukui featured on new $1 coin

UH-Hilo professor helps perpetuate the Hawaiian language