Hawaii History
The History of Hawaii: From Kingdom to Statehood, and beyond
The present makes more sense when you understand the past. As this department grows, expect ASD to explore pre-contact Hawai‘i, Hawaiian Kingdom history, U.S. Annexation, Territorial days, Pearl Harbor, Statehood, the Hawaiian Renaissance and on into the modern era. We will celebrate the cultures, the people and landmarks that have made us who we are today.
News
The Haunting Legacy of Ali‘iōlani Hale
The Massie Case may still haunt this building — literally!
Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya KapanuiMay 14, 2025
Sand Island to be Mauliola once again?
Honolulu City Council to discuss resolution to restore Sand Island's traditional Hawaiian name
Michael BrestovanskyMay 13, 2025
Bud Pikrone to retire as GM of the Wailea Community Association after 25 years
Since 1987, the nonprofit corporation has stewarded the 1,500-acre master-planned Wailea Resort community on Maui, which today, has over 2,400 members and a budget of more than $3.5 million. A search for Pikrone’s successor is underway led by the board of director’s hiring committee and Inkinen Executive Search.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosMay 10, 2025
Mysterious Whispers at Kawaiaha‘o
Spectral experiences at Kawaiaha‘o Church and its neighboring cemetery, which sit on lands in use by Hawaiians since before Westerners arrived.
Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya KapanuiMay 07, 2025
Lei Day marked release of Māhealani Uchiyama’s new song
A growth spurt helped this artist discover her calling as a singer, songwriter and kumu hula. Māhealani Uchiyama released her newest song on Lei Day. It is part of the album, “Pōpoloheno: Songs of Resilience and Joy,” which launches June 13 and celebrates a compilation of stories of people of African descent in Hawaiian history.
Katie HellandMay 06, 2025
Lost Time at Topa Tower
Weird experiences at the site of the former Honolulu Fort suggest that the boundaries between past, present and future might be porous.
Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya KapanuiApril 30, 2025
A Hair Pulling Ghost at the Pier
Honolulu's waterfront changed dramatically 100 years ago, but the presence of an even older past did not.
Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya KapanuiApril 23, 2025
Pipikaula Corner: Downtown Honolulu 100 years ago (Updated!)
Do you recognize anything in this aerial view of Honolulu taken in April 1925?
A. Kam NapierApril 19, 2025
Hawai‘i Scene on Social: "Local braddahz every time they go thru the H3 tunnel"
Today's social media find was posted by jesstoomuch, and we have never seen anyone so excited about oxygen deprivation.
ASD StaffApril 17, 2025
A Haunting at a Princely Hotel
Hospitals, and the places where they once stood, can be a source of strange experiences. Here, our columnists share a firsthand account.
Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya KapanuiApril 16, 2025
Readers share their eerie stories about "The cave of an ancient shark god"
People have had a lot to say about their own strange encounters at what many call Mākua Cave since we published the legend of the place two weeks ago.
A. Kam NapierApril 15, 2025
Hawaiian History Meets Feng Shui
Looking into the eerie energies surrounding the Mānoa Chinese Cemetery.
Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya KapanuiApril 09, 2025
Readers respond to "Bringing Pork Over the Pali"
On Instagram, we asked readers to share their own stories in response to Lopaka and Tanya Kapanuiʻs history of why itʻs considered unlucky to bring pork over the Pali. Here are some of the replies so far, from funny to eerie.
A. Kam NapierApril 06, 2025
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