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Kaipu Keala

Columnist: Lisa Eller

Lisa Eller

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Corey Idleburg

Hina Keala

Kuu Hiraishi

Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi 

Adam manalo camp

Adam Keawe Manalo-Camp

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Davianna Pōmaikaʻi McGregor

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

, known for its Japanese-style negitoro bowls, is opening its third O

ahu location this Sunday, Feb. 15. The business’s new location is on the second level of 

Aiea Shopping Center, next to Ice Garden and Koa Pancake House.

Aiea location is in the former space of a sandwich shop. Construction on the space started after the business’s sister restaurant, Marujuu Hawai

i will be open from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch and from 5 to 8:30 p.m. for dinner Thursdays to Mondays (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays). The business will be open for walk-ins only; no reservations will be accepted.

The menu at this location is the same as the ones at the business’s Kaimukī and 

Totoya’s original negitoro — which is made fresh daily with local fresh ‘ahi — is the base for the majority of its bowls. Its tokujo bowl ($38.90) — a premium option with original negitoro, salmon roe, sea urchin (Hokkaido uni) and snow crab — is the most popular order.

The eatery’s Fukuju bowl ($39.50) is the second most-popular dish. It features original negitoro with tuna and salmon, red shrimp, scallops, sea urchin, snow crab, tobiko and two pieces of nori.

The salmon bowl with salmon roe ($19.50) is a local favorite. All bowls come with your choice of miso soup — Aosa seaweed miso soup, or upgrade to shrimp head ($3.90) or crab ($4.90) miso soup — or half-size udon noodles ($4.90).

Other dishes on the menu include fresh shrimp combination bowl ($27.90); rainbow trio bowl ($25.90); matsu bowl ($26.90) with Hokkaido uni and salmon roe; and more.

Customers now have the option to add an “ikura shower” when they order Take, Matsu and Tokujo bowls. The “shower” includes a tripleamount of ikura for an additional $9.80.

Open from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch and from 5 to 8:30 p.m. for dinner Thursdays to Mondays

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Totoya Aiea kaisen don 021326

<title>Viral seafood rice bowl spot is opening in ʻAiea</title>

Totoya Hawaiʻi, known for its negitoro bowls, is opening in ʻAiea Shopping Center on Sunday, Feb. 15. The menu here is the same as the business’s other two locations in the Ala Moana and Kaimukī neighborhoods. Customers can now add “ikura showers” when ordering specific seafood bowls.

Viral seafood rice bowl spot is opening in ʻAiea

[{"type":"text","text":"There’s a new lounge experience in Honolulu."}]

, Casamigos House of Friends opened at the end of December. The new lounge is open daily for walk-ins from 4 to 9 p.m. to both, local patrons and hotel guests.

The lounge showcases golden sunsets and skyline views, along with curated Casamigos tequila cocktails and shareable bites.

“Casamigos House of Friends is about effortless hospitality, great drinks, thoughtful flavors, and a setting that encourages guests to slow down and enjoy the moment,” states director of culinary experience Eric Hanano. “It’s social, scenic and unmistakably Waikīkī.”

Specialty Casamigos tequila cocktails include Pele’s Paloma ($24) — Casamigos Reposado, Fever Tree grapefruit, guava puree and lime — Waikīkī Sunset ($18), made with vodka, melon liqueur, pineapple juice and grenadine; and Margarita Made Your Way ($22). The latter features your choice of Casamigos Blanco, Casamigos Jalapeno or Casamigos Mezcal.

Bestsellers include the charcuterie platter ($28) and ‘ahi poke nachos ($22). The charcuterie platter — designed to serve two people — includes prosciutto, Genoa salami, soppressata, Asiago, sharp cheddar and Boursin cheeses served with crostini, lavosh, mixed nuts and grapes.

Meanwhile, the ‘ahi poke nachos ($22) comprise crispy wonton chips topped with fresh ‘ahi, sweet onions, ogo, green onions, avocado, a shoyu-sesame oil drizzle, spicy aioli, kabayaki sauce and a sprinkle of furikake.

Other menu options include ‘ahi poke ($18), teriyaki chicken skewers ($18), ‘ahi sashimi ($26) and caprese skewers ($17).

Happy hour is offered daily from 4 to 5 p.m. Customers can take advantage of discounts on select cocktails and pūpū. The dishes feature smaller portions to match the price points; enjoy ‘ahi sashimi ($15 instead of $26), ‘ahi poke ($12 instead of $18) and skewers ($4 each; two pieces minimum). Customers are able to mix and match skewers from the available choices.

Guests can also enjoy live music daily from 5 to 7 p.m., along with validated parking ($3).

Besides its nightly service, Casamigos House of Friends is also available to rent out for private functions and special events.

Casamigos Lounge spread 021026

<title>New Casamigos lounge experience in Honolulu</title>

Located on the 37th floor of the Hilton Waikīkī Beach Resort & Spa, Casamigos House of Friends is a new lounge that’s open to both, local patrons and hotel guests. Enjoy curated Casamigos tequila cocktails, along with shareable appetizers.

New Casamigos lounge experience in Honolulu

Stephanie Salmons Headshot

Stephanie Salmons

Business & Tourism

Government & Politics

 and with it a stop at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.

Travelers flying out of Honolulu should take note — the state Department of Transportation 

 modifications to the airport's ground transportation operations in coordination with the Oct. 16 launch of the new rail section.

[{"type":"text","text":"Here's what you should know:"}]

— Catching an Uber, Lyft or other rideshare? Beginning Oct. 16, the DOT says that all three rideshare pickup locations at the airport will relocate from the second floor to the first.

At Terminal 1, you'll find the rideshare pickup area curbside, mauka of baggage claim 6, a Tuesday announcement from the DOT notes. At Terminal 2, two pickup areas will move to the ground-level median across from baggage claims 19/20 and 31.

— Also on Oct. 16, city bus stops along HNL's second level roadway will be replaced with a temporary bus stop on the ground level across from the lei stands, according to the DOT. A new, permanent bus stop on the ground level in front of the Skyline station is under construction.

Read more about changes to city bus routes to coincide with the 

— And for those taking pre-arranged ground transportation services such as passenger shuttles, tours and courtesy car services, the Terminal 1 pick-up and drop-off spots will move from the mauka end of the terminal to the makai end on the ground level.

The pre-arranged transportation services location across from the lei stands will close temporarily to accommodate the temporary city bus stop, the DOT notes. Meanwhile, three other existing locations for pre-arranged ground transport services — on the median across from baggage claim 16, on the east end outside of baggage claim 31 and at the consolidated rental car facility — will remain the same.

Skyline's Lelepaua airport station is located on the mauka side of Terminal 2 and connects the fourth floor of the Terminal 2 parking garage and the fourth floor by way of a pedestrian walkway on the makai side of the station, the DOT says.

Riders can also enter or exit the station from the ground level on Ala Onaona and Ala ʻAuana Streets.

You can find wayfinding maps and information about the new Skyline service and ground transportation modifications on the 

Passenger service for the new Skyline segment begins at 4 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 16. 

5.2-mile stretch of new guideway runs from Aloha Stadium to the Middle Street Transit Center and has four new stations: Makalapa (Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam), Lelepaua (Daniel K. Inouye International Airport), Āhua (Lagoon Drive) and Kahauiki (Middle Street Transit Center).

 and spans just under 11 miles from East Kapolei to Aloha Stadium. This section includes the rail's first nine stations: Kaualakaʻi (East Kapolei), Keoneʻae (University of Hawai‘i-West Oʻahu), Honouliuli (Hoʻopili), Hōʻaeʻae (West Loch), Pouhala (Waipahu Transit Center), Hālaulani (Leeward Community College), Waiawa (Pearl Highlands), Kalauao (Pearlridge), and Hālawa (Aloha Stadium).

Daniel k inouye international airport hnl 100925

<title>Changes coming to airport ground transport operations as Skyline expands</title>

The relocation of the airport's rideshare pick-up spots are among the changes coming with the launch of the new rail segment this week.

Changes coming to airport ground transport operations as Skyline expands

Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton

Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton is an award-winning reporter on 

‘ business desk. She previously covered immigration at 

 after forging the newspaper’s Denver neighborhoods beat and covering social inequities in business. Earlier in her career, Megan chased after lawmakers on Capitol Hill as 

 agriculture and trade policy reporter. Megan has covered the Venezuelan refugee crisis in Peru, immigration in Colombia, socioeconomic issues in Guatemala, parliamentary affairs in England, and White House press briefings in Washington, D.C. She also serves as an adjunct professor at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism. Megan is proud of her Kanaka ʻŌiwi ancestry.

<title>Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton</title>

As an alakaʻi of Kumu Kawika Keikialiʻi Alfiche, Kaila Chung has led Hui Kaululehua in Louisville since 2022.

Kaila Chung 16x9

Community Voices: Bringing hula to Kentucky

Sarah Sissum serves as the repatriation fellow at the Field Museum’s Center for Repatriation, Tribal Relations, and Provenance Research in Chicago. There, she helps facilitate the return of human remains and sacred objects to their respective Indigenous communities.

Sarah Sissum 16x9

Community Voices: Finding her niche in repatriation

Kēhaulani Vaughn, a professor based in California, was taught about Native Hawaiian values and her roots from her mom growing up. Today, she continues to perpetuate her culture and pursue academics, while taking care of her own ʻohana and helping to support the lāhui in the diaspora.

KWO Vaughn Sepulveda family

Community Voices: Uplifting Indigeneity on Turtle Island

Follow the path of human geneticist, Keolu Fox, a Native Hawaiian who aims to advance the lāhui in his field while on the Mainland, with hopes of returning home in the near future.

960px Dr Keolu Fox

Community Voices: Bringing ‘ike kūpuna to genome sciences

Aloha Spirit

“No matter how long you’ve been away from home, it’s still home,” says Leialoha Kaula.

Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton

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