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Business & Tourism

Food & Dining

Three restaurants in Hawai‘i are vying for a place on the list of Best New Restaurants in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. The awards aim to rank the 10 best in several areas of travel and lifestyle.

Among the field of 20 restaurants opened in the past 18 months 

— chosen by a panel of food and travel experts — are:

 once a day until noon eastern (that’s 7 a.m. in the Islands) Monday, Dec. 22. Winners are set to be announced on Friday, Jan. 2.

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up 

Coco Deck sign 031325

<title>Three Hawai‘i eateries among those nominated for Best New Restaurant</title>

You can vote for your favorite in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Awards until Dec. 22.

Three Hawai‘i eateries among those nominated for Best New Restaurant

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

“Cows eat free on opening day,” states a sign within 

, explains more about the festivities at the new location’s opening day, which is tomorrow, Aug. 28.

“If you’re dressed as a cow, you get a free entrée,” he says. “We’re going to be very loose with our interpretation, so if you have a white T-shirt with some spots, then you get a free entrée. We’re so excited to give back to the community.”

The “cows eat free on opening day” offer is limited to one per person, while supplies last. Breakfast offer options include Chick-fil-A chicken biscuits, egg white grill or 4-count Chick-fil-A Chick-n-Minis. Lunch and dinner options include the Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich, spicy chicken sandwich, 8-count grilled nuggets and more. Customizations are not available for this offer, and no purchase is necessary.

(The “why” behind the cows: Cows have been part of Chick-fil-A’s branding since 1995, encouraging guests to “eat more chikin” instead of burgers.)

The new store, which is approximately 5,600 square feet, will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. (10 p.m. for drive-thru) Mondays to Saturdays (it’s closed on Sundays). This is the fifth Chick-fil-A location in Hawai

So, what can you expect at this second Kapolei location? (Chick-fil-A’s first Kapolei store opened in 2023, across Ka Makana Ali

The store offers both indoor and outdoor seating. The drive-thru has three lanes, which eventually consolidate to two.

The menu at this location is the same as those at other Chick-fil-A Hawai

i stores. Popular options include the Chick-fil-A sandwich ($6.79 entrée, $12.09 meal); waffle potato fries ($3.59 medium, $3.99 large); and Chick-fil-A nuggets (8-count $6.79, 12-count $9.25).

“I love the Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich, but with the zesty buffalo sauce drizzled on top, and maybe some extra pickles,” Lovan says. “The waffle fries are always a staple.”

The Spicy Southwest ($11.59) salad is newer to Hawaiʻi menus — it was just added about a month ago — and comprises mixed greens topped with grilled spicy chicken, Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses, grape tomatoes, peppers, corn and black beans.

Of course, Chick-fil-A is also known for its variety of sauces, including Chick-fil-A, zesty buffalo, Polynesian, barbecue, honey mustard and sweet and spicy Sriracha.

The biz also offers limited-time options like pretzel cheddar club sandwiches and Cherry Berry beverages (available with Sprite, Sunjoy or lemonade). These seasonal items started last week at Chick-fil-A locations.

This Kamokila store also features the first indoor Chick-fil-A playground in Hawai

i. The kids’ play area, complete with interactive displays and a puzzle, is designed for children ages 2 to 10 years old.

“I’m super excited to have keiki running around the playground; I think it’ll be an amazing experience,” Lovan says.

Opening this Chick-fil-A location is like a homecoming for Lovan, who moved back to O'ahu with his family in 2020. Born in Honolulu and raised in ‘Ewa Beach, Lovan — who graduated from Moanalua High School and is a veteran of both the Hawai

i Air National Guard and U.S. Marine Corps — recalls going to a Chick-fil-A for the first time while stationed in Virginia.

“My wife was pregnant while we were in Virginia; that was the first time we tried Chick-fil-A,” he says. “We fell in love with the waffle fries and the milkshakes. As I was getting close to retirement from the Marine Corps after 20 years, it was one of my buddy’s ideas for me to apply to be one of Chick-fil-A’s owner-operators.”

Lovan remembers checking out a webinar and learning more about the Chick-fil-A owner-operator relationship and applied from there.

“I never thought, in a million years, that I would have gotten selected,” he says. “I’m truly thankful and blessed to be able to pour into the community and team members.

“I remember Kapolei used to be a Kmart, the racetrack and Outback Steakhouse,” he adds. “Now, seeing how so much has changed and it has grown so much, it feels so surreal. I

 most excited about the 120 team members that we have here — we’ve got young men and women, as young as 14 years old to seniors in high school. I’m excited to help them grow and get to where they want to be in life.”

The city’s growth is the main reason behind choosing this location, according to Lovan: “To provide to the city of Kapolei.” He’s also excited for this location to participate in the Chick-fil-A Shared Table program, which repurposes the restaurant’s surplus food. Chick-fil-A Kamokila will donate its surplus food to local nonprofit organization Aloha Harvest, which helps deliver quality meals to help feed individuals in need.

“We repurpose our excess food so we can feed our hungry neighbors,” Lovan says. “Chick-fil-A recently donated $25,000 to Hawai’i Foodbank; this goes to show Chick-fil-A’s heart and what we’re trying to do at Chick-fil-A Kamokila.”

Open 6:30 a.m.-9 p.m. (10 p.m. drive-thru) Mondays-Saturdays

Chick fil A Kamokila sign 082625

<title>Chick-fil-A Kamokila opens</title>

Chick-fil-A’s second Kapolei-based store is opening Thursday, Aug. 28. If you’re dressed like a cow, you can get a free entrée. This location is also the first one on Oʻahu to have an indoor kids’ playground.

Chick-fil-A Kamokila opens

Lopaka and Tanya Kapanui

Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya Kapanui

Hawaii History

Behind an ornate iron gate, adorned with gilded crowns and seals, lies Mauna ʻAla, the Royal Mausoleum of Hawaiʻi. It is the final resting place of kings, queens, princes, and princesses who once shaped the destiny of the Hawaiian Kingdom.

Today, a weathered, old kamani tree stands as a guard just behind the gates, branches reaching low across the driveway, seeming to hold back unwanted visitors. The manicured lawns roll gently across the grounds, tended with care to preserve both their beauty and gravity. The sound of birdsong and the scent of flowers invoke a sense of calm and dignity.

But beneath the tranquility, the ‘āina, the land, whispers stories upon the breeze. These are tales of sacred duty, moonlit processions, and a people’s most profound respect for their ali‘i.

In the Hawaiian tradition, the iwi, the bones, of aliʻi were not merely human remains; they were vessels of mana, carrying one’s spiritual essence and power. To ensure that one’s enemies could not dishonor or desecrate one’s bones, or use the iwi for their own power, the highest priority lay in safeguarding them once the ali‘i has passed. Only a few people were chosen to carefully conceal the bones of an ali‘i, an action that was veiled in secrecy and strict protocol. This tradition continued even up to the death of King Kamehameha I.

After his death in 1819, his iwi were hidden in a secret location to protect his immense mana from falling into the wrong hands. According to oral tradition, the two brothers entrusted with this sacred responsibility were Ho‘olulu and Ulumaheihei, also known as Hoapili. Both were among Kamehameha’s closest advisors and companions, chosen because of their loyalty and courage. They carried out the secret ritual of concealing his bones, and the location of his final resting place remains one of the most closely guarded mysteries in Hawaiian history.

After Kamehameha’s death, the remains of Hawaii’s subsequent ali‘i rested at Pohukaina, a sacred royal burial site, off-limits to most people, on the grounds of ʻIolani Palace. By the mid-1800s, however, Pohukaina was becoming overcrowded. Western-style coffins took up more space than the traditional burials of earlier times. King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma envisioned a new resting place that would be both secure and fitting for the dignity of their ali‘i status. They chose a site in lush Nuʻuanu Valley, where cool mountain breezes and the sound of flowing water created a serene sanctuary. This place would be named Mauna ‘Ala.

In October 1865, the remains of 21 Ali‘i were transferred in a midnight ceremony from Pohukaina to Mauna ‘Ala. The quiet procession, lit by flickering kukui torches that cast long shadows, was flanked by the Royal Guard and led by kahu who knew the proper chants and prayers. Thousands of people accompanied the movement of their ali‘i as the silent march wound its way through the streets of Honolulu up into Nuʻuanu Valley. At the front walked King Kamehameha V himself, accompanied by his father, Governor Mataio Kekūanāoʻa, guiding the solemn parade on foot through the darkened streets.

When they reached Mauna ʻAla, the new mausoleum stood ready to accept its dignified occupants. As the caskets were placed inside, the torches were extinguished one by one until the valley was once again wrapped in darkness.

Mauna ‘Ala has a reverence about it. Whether you’re there day or night, there’s a constant haunting presence that is palpable.

Former Kahu of Mauna ‘Ala, William Kaihe‘ekai Maioho, affectionately called “Uncle Bill,” once told me that the kūpuna come out at night, and there were things he had to do to malama them. He never explained what he had to do. He never really said much more than that, but his smile shared volumes.

There’s a heaviness there that, if you’re open to it, will leave you in tears. But we don’t tell ghost stories here. There is no need because the place and the chicken skin you feel will tell you all you need to know. Here, we share the mo‘olelo of the ‘āina, of each of the ali‘i who lie in eternal repose here, of the kuleana shouldered by the one chosen to be kahu, the keeper of Mauna ‘Ala.

The kuleana of guarding ali‘i iwi did not end with the brothers Ho‘olulu and Hoapili. There have been keepers of Mauna ‘Ala since its inception. Up until 2024, the Kaihe‘ekai ‘ohana, lineal descendants of High Chief Ho‘olulu, have continued this sacred duty, serving as caretakers of Hawaii’s ali‘i. For seven generations, the Ho‘olulu family has preserved this tradition, ensuring that the resting places of Hawaii’s ali‘i remain protected, dignified, and treated with the reverence their mana deserves.

The stories of our ali‘i are never told with fear, but with reverence. For Hawaiians, the presence of the aliʻi is not something of which to be frightened. It is a reminder of the responsibility they carried, the sacrifices they made, and the enduring connection between the land, the people, and their leaders.

Mauna ʻAla is not just a cemetery. It is a place where history lives in stone and shadow, in lei placed gently at the tombs, in the quiet conversations between visitors and the spirits they honor. Descendants of the aliʻi still come to pay respects. Cultural practitioners visit to chant and offer hoʻokupu, gifts of lei, mele, or hula.

[{"type":"text","text":"The air here is different, thick with the weight of memory."}]

The name Mauna ʻAla means “Fragrant Hill,” and perhaps that is fitting. For though time and politics have changed the islands, the fragrance of respect, tradition, and aloha for our aliʻi still lingers here. If you come in the daytime, you’ll realize that chicken skin, those goosebumps that run up your back, are not caused by the wind.

And perhaps, if you find yourself walking past its gates on a moonlit night, you’ll remember that torchlit procession of long ago—the one that carried Hawaii’s rulers to their final home. The flames may be gone, but their light has never truly gone out.

Mauna ‘Ala is now managed by the State of Hawai‘i as a state monument. For information on visiting, click 

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<title>Ali‘i are ever-present at Mauna ‘Ala</title>

In October 1865, a solemn procession of ali‘i moved 21 sets of royal remains from the grounds of ‘Iolani Palace to a then-new final resting place in Nu‘uanu Valley, Mauna ‘Ala, the Royal Mausoleum.

Ali‘i are ever-present at Mauna ‘Ala

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Crime & Courts

A U.S. Marine stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i in Kāne‘ohe Bay was arrested last weekend for allegedly sexually assaulting an 11-year-old in Kailua.

Carlos David Becerraluis, 19, was arrested Saturday, April 19, on four charges of first-degree sexual assault, three of third-degree sexual assault, five of first-degree child abuse, two of promoting pornography to a minor and one of child enticement.

According to a Honolulu Police Department report, a Kailua mother informed the police earlier this month that she had found sexually explicit messages between her daughter and an unknown male on her daughter’s phone. Those messages crossed multiple messaging platforms, but began on the France-based app Wizz.

The daughter told police the male’s name was Carlos and that he was 15 years old. However, subsequent investigation of the male’s phone number identified him as Becerraluis, who Naval Criminal Investigative Service identified as a 19-year-old Marine.

According to the report, the victim told police that Becerraluis had first contacted her through Wizz, a messaging app aimed at youth between the ages of 13 and 24. Wizz touts on its website a userbase of between 4 million and 5 million users and claims that “25% of U.S. teens have downloaded Wizz.” 

According to Wizz’s website, users are organized into specific age groups — 14-year-old users can only interact with users of similar ages, for example — and new users must provide a clear photo of their faces so an AI can estimate their age for official verification.

The victim told police that she had claimed to be 14 on Wizz, but used a photograph of herself at 11 years old. Becerraluis, meanwhile, was identified on the app as being 15.

Becerraluis allegedly told the victim to download Snapchat to continue their conversation — pictures and videos sent via Snapchat automatically delete after being viewed. Following this, their conversations migrated to text messages, which were eventually obtained by Honolulu police officers.

In those messages, Becerraluis allegedly repeatedly asked the victim to meet in person, to which she eventually agreed. During their meeting in Kailua, she said, Becerraluis sexually assaulted her in his car multiple times.

Following that incident, police say, Becerraluis sent sexually explicit photographs to the victim, and encouraged her to do the same. After several exchanges, the victim stopped responding to his messages, which were eventually discovered by the victim’s mother.

First-degree sexual assault and first-degree child abuse are both Class A felonies, carrying a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. As the charges include child sex crimes, they also carry a mandatory minimum sentence of six years and eight months.

Becerraluis appeared in court Monday for an arraignment with bail set at $1 million. He will appear next in court for a preliminary hearing on April 23.

Aloha State Daily has reached out to the Marine Corps and Wizz for comment.

BECERRALUI Scarlos 16x9

<title>Messaging apps implicated in alleged assault of 11-year old</title>

A U.S. Marine charged with sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl had first contacted the child on an app called Wizz.

Messaging apps implicated in alleged assault of 11-year old

Fumiko Chun

<title>Fumiko Chun</title>

Aloha Spirit

A Civil Beat article a few months ago looked at Hawai‘i Pacific University research suggesting that Genki Balls are ineffective. Since then, volunteers for Genki Ball days have dropped by 70%. Here, Gengki Ala Wai Project leaders discuss the shortcomings of the HPU study and call for scientists and community members working together as the way forward.

Fumiko Chun

Latest from Fumiko Chun

Community Voices: Collaboration, not controversy — the real story of genki balls and the Ala Wai

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