This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Mandie TaketaActor BiographyMandie Taketa is a creative force that operates under the guiding principles of inclusivity and visibility Her artistic endeavors are dedicated to uplifting audiences and fostering a safe space through the power of storytelling Taketa moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of acting and dancing she began producing to open doors in the entertainment industry Discovering that her first Hollywood job would leave her as an uncredited producer she vowed to advocate for her value in the industry This led to Taketa championing those who may not have the same opportunities due to race sexual identity or socioeconomic status and is also the ethos of her production company Taketa is the co-founder of A Wayne & Mandie Creative a joint production company with her ex-husband and best friend author and television personality Wayne Brady She is the co-creator and executive producer of the upcoming docuseries "Wayne Brady: The Family Remix," premiering on Freeform and streaming on Hulu The show will follow Brady and their blended family including their 21-year-old daughter Maile and Jason Mandie is also a co-creator of an original scripted series currently in development with Jerry Bruckheimer Television Taketa played a pivotal role in the production of the "Wayne Brady Makin' It Up Australian Tour" DVD special and the Las Vegas Residency at The Venetian titled "Wayne Brady Makin' Shit Up." Additionally Taketa co-created and served as the executive producer for "Comedy IQ" on BYU TV Taketa is also a director and producer of music videos working on various projects for Interscope Record artists Taketa co-produced and served as the artistic director for the opening number at the BET Honors in 2017 she directed and co-produced the tribute to Little Richard at the BET Awards she co-produced specialty material for Wayne Brady's opening number and comedic segments at the American Music Awards Multiple Emmy® Award-winning and GRAMMY® Award-nominated Wayne Brady has made his mark on stage and screen as an actor Brady's career path and personal life journey have helped him see the world in a unique way His aspirations have always gone beyond solely starring in various entertainment projects Under his A Wayne & Mandie Creative banner he set out to create new content across different platforms that showcase innovation and inclusivity in fun and powerful ways A five-time Emmy winner (the first to win Daytime and Primetime awards in two consecutive years) including \"Whose Line Is It Anyway?,\" \"The Masked Singer,\" \"Dancing with the Stars,\" \"Black Lightning,\" \"The Good Fight\" and Showtime's \"American Gigolo\" — each spotlighting different aspects of his immense talent \"Wayne Brady: The Family Remix,\" premiering this summer on Freeform and streaming the next day on Hulu The show follows his blended family: his ex-wife best friend and business partner Mandie Taketa; their 21-year-old daughter Maile; and Mandie's partner Jason The series is produced by Wayne and Mandie's joint production company In addition to being a force in front of the camera wearing the hats of host and executive producer for \"Let's Make A Deal,\" \"Game of Talents\" and \"Comedy IQ,\" which he also co-created through his production company All of this follows on the heels of the success of his award-winning daytime talk show Brady's musical acumen has always been a personal passion and he used that as fuel to help win the second season of \"The Masked Singer.\" Off his victory Brady dropped a brand-new original single entitled \"Flirtin' w/ Forever,\" which quickly climbed the streaming charts This follows the success of his debut album headlined by a version of Sam Cooke's \"A Change is Gonna Come,\" which earned him a GRAMMY Award nomination in the Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance category Brady returns to Broadway in the all-new production of \"The Wiz,\" leading the cast as the titular character The highly anticipated musical features award-winning creatives and producers Brady made his Broadway debut starring as legal showman Billy Flynn in the long-running hit musical \"Chicago.\" Soon after Brady starred as the groundbreaking character Lola in Kinky Boots Broadway's Tony Award®-winning Best Musical with music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper and a book by Harvey Fierstein Brady would later headline as Aaron Burr in the Chicago production of Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony Award-winning juggernaut \"Hamilton.\" Brady again joined forces with Lin-Manuel Miranda along with Thomas Kail and Anthony Veneziale created \"Freestyle Love Supreme.\" The unique show combined the fusion of hip-hop which won a special Tony Award for its innovation and contributions to the theater world \"The Freestyle Love Supreme\" team partnered with San Francisco improv company Speechless an educational training platform committed to making improv globally accessible A devotee of Afrofuturism and the sci fi genres Brady has been working on several stories with his writing partner The pair will contribute an original short story to \"The End of the World as We Know It: Tales of Stephen King's The Stand,\" an anthology based on characters from the bestselling novel and featuring a foreword from King Brady and Broaddus have also penned a dynamic adventure for \"Joe Ledger: Unbreakable.\" He champions the need for more resources and better understanding of mental health issues Brady's public announcement about his pansexuality brings awareness to an underrepresented community and he continues to support and promote LGBTQIA+ causes and organizations such as GLAAD Broadway Backwards and Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles Brady is a longtime supporter of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Alzheimer's Foundation of America and SAY The Stuttering Association for the Young Mandie Taketa is a creative force that operates under the guiding principles of inclusivity and visibility of the upcoming docuseries \"Wayne Brady: The Family Remix,\" premiering on Freeform and streaming on Hulu Taketa played a pivotal role in the production of the \"Wayne Brady Makin' It Up Australian Tour\" DVD special and the Las Vegas Residency at The Venetian titled \"Wayne Brady Makin' Shit Up.\" Additionally Taketa co-created and served as the executive producer for \"Comedy IQ\" on BYU TV Maile (pronounced Mai Lei) Masako Brady is a singer/songwriter and she has plans to release her full debut EP later this year As a student at Loyola Marymount University she recently headlined the LMU's production of \"Cabaret\" in the role of Sally Bowles As a classically and street-trained dancer Brady is adept at a variety of dance styles Brady will star in the upcoming docuseries \"Wayne Brady: The Family Remix,\" premiering on Freeform and streaming on Hulu The show will follow her unique blended family the Emmy® Award-winning and GRAMMY®-nominated Wayne Brady the pair are business partners and remain best friends Brady's acting credits include a guest appearance on the classic improv series \"Whose Line is It Anyway\" and a recurring role on \"The Bold and the Beautiful\" from 2018 to 2019 lending her time to movements like Stop Asian Hate and The Trevor Project as well as organizations that support Black social justice and racial equality She has always celebrated her multiracial background and is passionate about promoting diversity and representation in the entertainment industry Jason Michael Fordham is a versatile actor and multimedia artist whose journey through the performing arts has shaped his dynamic and multifaceted career Fordham's early life was marked by a transcontinental upbringing splitting his time between Germany and Denver until the age of 18 Fordham's passion for the arts began with street dancing transitioning to classical training in modern and ballet He attended the esteemed Alvin Ailey School in partnership with Fordham University Fordham became a principal dancer at Gallim Dance a prominent modern dance company based in New York He also shared his expertise as a dance instructor at the Broadway Dance Center Fordham joined \"Wayne Brady's Variety Show,\" produced by Mandie Taketa commencing an era of collaborative work in which Brady and Taketa produce and create in front of the camera while Fordham handles the creative side behind the camera Fordham has contributed to national commercial shoots for brands like Walmart and Planters Peanuts as well as collaborated on various music video projects directed by Taketa Fordham and Taketa produced The BET Honors for Little Richard where Brady delivered a stellar performance Fordham will star in an upcoming docuseries \"Wayne Brady: The Family Remix,\" premiering on Freeform and streaming the next day on Hulu The show will follow Brady and his blended family Brady and Taketa's 21-year-old daughter; Fordham who has been in a relationship with Taketa since 2009; and 3-year-old Sundance-Isamu The series is produced by Brady and Taketa's joint production company It may be an unconventional union for Mandie Taketa and her ex but their connection in Hulu’s newest reality show “Wayne Brady: The Family Remix,” is rooted in nothing but love “Eat!” Mandie Taketa exclaims when asked about her favorite homecoming ritual “I feel like anyone who doesn’t say ‘eat’ isn’t from Hawai‘i,” she jokes “We order Zippy’s as soon as we get off the plane because that’s the fastest way to get food into our mouths.” Taketa grew up in Kāne‘ohe but has lived in Los Angeles since the mid-’90s when she moved there with her then-boyfriend and later husband You might know him from Whose Line Is It Anyway? genuinely healthy post-divorce relationships) a visit to Hawai‘i isn’t about aloha shirts and Waikīkī resorts It’s about crashing at her parents’ (Ronald and Hazel) place And when they finally emerge from their food comas they schlep their way to a Windward beach for some much-needed vitamin “sea.” The group affectionately call themselves the “Core Four” (a nickname coined before little Sundance joined the mix) they’re stepping into the spotlight as the stars of Hulu’s latest reality show this show peels back the curtain on Brady’s real life beyond the dazzling stage lights and scripts Viewers will follow the Emmy Award-winning multihyphenate on deeply personal journeys: his coming out as pansexual coping with the heart-wrenching loss of his grandmother Val (who raised him) struggling to raise a kid in the heart of Tinseltown and glimpses into his Broadway career the show celebrates ‘ohana in all its beautiful “This concept of a blended family that everyone calls weird or modern up here in the larger part of the United States isn’t anything new to me or you,” Taketa says “As soon as you walk through the front door in Hawai‘i you open someone else’s fridge like it’s your family — that’s my cousin I just recreated a hānai family here in Los Angeles because it’s all I know Who knew people would find it so entertaining?” “We are very much believers in chosen family and I think a lot of that is innate in how Mandie was raised I ended up with so many nieces and nephews and uncles and cousins that I never had by birth That’s what really got me familiar with the concept of ‘These people can be your family “This is the village that we chose to build,” he adds A Castle High School graduate and former member of 24-7 Danceforce Taketa auditioned for a show at Aloha Tower that starred Brady he was “just a singer from Vegas,” she says with a hint of amusement Taketa was attending University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa on a dance scholarship when she fell in love with the singer and made the bold decision to move to LA with him to pursue her passion for dancing “We moved into a studio apartment that was $450 a month without knowing a single person,” she remembers “I had 1,000 bucks in my pocket; he had 500 that their creative partnership truly began to take shape “I mopped floors in exchange for dance classes,” she says and I hip-hop danced when they cleaned up the slime She reflects on their early years with candor We needed the other one to pay the other half of the rent he and Taketa co-founded production company A Wayne & Mandie Creative they collaborated on Brady’s comedy specials and Taketa has since co-produced and served as artistic director for the BET Awards and the American Music Awards It was never about stardom for Wayne either I can honestly say that that man has never networked or gone to a party to meet people that could move him forward in his career,” Taketa says We’re happy if we could take care of our parents We’re happy if we can afford a plane ticket to fly home.” but it was hardly dramatic like the movies make divorce seem “He had these high-powered agents and managers and lawyers that ‘could protect him from me,’ and he’s just like She’s the one person who has my back even though we’re divorced.’ “The titles of our relationship have changed,” she adds Taketa met Fordham in 2009 when he auditioned for a Brady show she was producing (Auditions and falling in love seem to be a pattern for Taketa.) Their connection added a new dimension to the family’s dynamic “I think the one thing that I always did and that I recommend is that you do have to recognize that there is an existing family structure there so you’re not there to alter that in any way When the foursome started to take on the world together the world looked back at them like they were crazy sees their story as an opportunity to redefine family “The fact that we’re able to finally create a show where … some people are kind of like ‘That’s really cool that you can love each other like that That’s the found family.’ That’s accessible for everyone to find people that love and accept you,” she says with pride “The show’s message is find the people that love you,” she continues “They exist and you shouldn’t go through things alone What’s important is that you find people that love you for you and that might not be your ex-husband or boyfriend or girlfriend or partner “Your family can look however it makes you feel safe and that should be accepted by people,” she says It sounds generic but if you don’t possess it when you’re on the ‘āina — I’m tearing up talking about it — it’s like a hug from people you don’t know I don’t even know most of my neighbors’ names here in LA My dad gives Christmas gifts to everyone within Everything in LA just buzzes so high to me that when I step off here Wayne Brady: “When I first went to Hawai‘i I was struck by how racially diverse and non-judgmental the culture was It wasn’t until I got to know a lot of my friends there and spent a lot of time there that I realized it’s all about love but not just one type of person — and everybody’s mixed — it’s really crazy that there aren’t more places like that here on the mainland I think I love the acceptance most in Hawai‘i.” Maile Masako Brady: “My favorite thing about Hawai‘i is the people … they’re some of the most resilient people and bloodlines you can encounter in such a small space turn off the melody and like everyone has been through so much and gone through so much generationally in the food and in the music and in how you treat people and the concept of aloha and ‘ohana I think it’s one of the most beautiful places and one of the places with the most kind and artistic people you’ll ever meet.” The “Wayne Brady: The Family Remix” stars tell TheWrap how the Freeform show documents his coming out journey and more who are still very much present in each others’ lives as close friends know their family is unique — that’s why they’re now on reality television “There’s a reason why our show is on TV because we’re one of the only ones like us,” Brady told TheWrap of his new Freeform show “The family that inspired me is us and and the hard work that it took to get here.” “Wayne Brady: The Family Remix,” premiering Wednesday gives viewers an inside peek into Brady and Taketa’s unusual dynamic alongside their 21-year-old daughter the family unit calls themselves the “core four.” Brady and Taketa were approached for a scripted series “a couple times,” but they ultimately decided an unscripted format would be the “best option” to authentically represent their family “It was … hard to to get it on the page and have it be really real,” Brady recalled “You can’t make up what’s actually happening in our lives It can’t be more exciting than the real thing,” Taketa told TheWrap adding that “it’s very difficult for writers to write for voices like ours being Asian and Black households let’s take a chance at doing it this way.’ We feel like we can help more people anyway and hopefully inspire more people by just being ourselves.” While Brady admits he is used to “a certain level of scrutiny” — which Taketa has also encountered by virtue of their marriage — the parents’ next step was considering if moving forward with a reality show would be the right thing for their daughter who is currently a student at Loyola Marymount University and pursuing her dream of becoming a musician and actress I’m nervous — I want to protect her and keep her safe,” Taketa said and she’s a pretty healthy individual to be honest — the way that she processes information and her emotional intellect I hope Wayne and I equipped her with the tools that she needs to … process in a healthy way.” With the former couple also serving as executive producers for the series via their A Wayne & Mandie Creative production company alonside Fremantle including Maile in the series was essential from a producing standpoint “The things we’ve done as parents it’s reflected in this young lady and she has her own point of view on this entire upbringing and situation,” Brady explained “If she didn’t have a voice in the show then it would have been incredibly skewed and dishonest.” The Freeform series also documents Brady’s coming out journey after he shared his pansexuality in August of last year While the actor knows there might be “expectations and tropes” of drama stirred up in an unscripted format he made it clear he prioritized moving at a pace that felt comfortable to him “The way that I navigated [it] was not letting anyone tell me how to navigate it and that meant not … dating just for the sake of dating,” Brady said “That would have been the easy way to navigate it The hard way to navigate it is being by yourself and spending time with yourself until you’re really ready to make those changes and say but first I got to be with myself’ — and I spent a lot of years not being with myself.” Brady says the queer community has been “incredibly welcoming,” noting “I’ve always had a relationship with the queer community and now it’s just basically going from next door neighbor to cousin.” we’ve got to do it.” Within even the first episode Brady and Fordham discuss their history and the painful memories when Brady first learned Taketa and Fordham were dating — a conversation Brady says might not have been had if it weren’t for “The Family Remix.” Getting through those tough conversations — especially on screen — became a way for the family to realize how strong they are (the former spouses were married from 1999 to 2007) “Every time we go through challenging times as a family and we come out the other end and we’re still like I love you and I still want to be around you,’ that’s pretty cool,” Taketa said While “Wayne Brady: The Family Remix” follows the core four’s various pursuits and challenges at this particular moment of their lives Brady and Taketa said they’re open to continuing the series with another season should that be the right choice for their family “We want it to go as long as A) everyone is having fun and C) as long as life makes sense for us to show it,” Brady said “The good thing about something like this is as long as life is ‘life-ing,’ which we hope it goes for a long time and we have something to share “We need to stay healthy as a family,” Taketa added “I think that’s the most important thing Can we do this again in a healthy way?” “Wayne Brady: The Family Remix” premieres Wednesday New episodes will then air Wednesdays before streaming the next day on Hulu The actor shares daughter Maīle with his ex-wife Mandie Taketa I would have never considered disappearing into the countryside for four days by myself Growing up in a city where danger is perceived to be lurking around every corner having backup was always essential for when it inevitably hits the fan and while I still lock my doors and check them at least once before bedtime being alone doesn’t really make me jump any more I decided to do something I’ve never done: road trip solo One consequence of having spent the last seven years living in small towns no longer have the tolerance for large crowds of people The result of a merge of several towns and villages it sprawls between the Kuju Mountain Range It couldn’t be more small-town country if it tried and only an hour away from the famed Beppu it certainly seemed worth making a trip out of I mentally high-fived myself for going ahead and booking a two-night stay on a whim – the countryside of Oita is possibly even more beautiful than dear old Miyazaki My first stop was Kuju Flower Park about a 20-minute drive from the original castle town area of Taketa where I would be staying The park sits atop the Kuju Plateau and covers 49 acres of land boasting 3 million individual flowers of 500 different varieties But nothing in my flower travels has come close to topping Hitachi Seaside Park thus far seasonal gardens are never going to be in peak at the same time I wasn’t all that impressed with what was in bloom is worth the drive (located 30 minutes away from the closest station it’s pretty much impossible to reach the park via public transportation the park has more shops and restaurants than it does actual attractions but said shops and restaurants are pretty classy from what I saw and there are several gift and perfume shops offering aromatic and therapeutic goods a gelato shop and a buffet restaurant that serves wild grasses and fresh vegetables from the region There’s also a ton of tables and benches for people watching which has always been a guilty pleasure of mine If you hang around for long enough you might even catch the couple who run the little hippy shop in the center of the park perform some of their music I decided to head back into Taketa proper and check out some ancient castle ruins I had survived the morning of my first day without any hiccups and I was excited to see what the rest of it had in store As I walked up the giant steps to the site of the old Oka Castle was composed by one of Japan’s most renowned pianists Rentaro Taki spent many of his childhood years in Taketa and the castle is said to have inspired his famed composition where a statue of Rentaro looks down onto the valley I understood how the ruins could have made such an impression on a young man With the Numberize River on its south side and the Inaba River on its north Perched 100 m (328 ft) above its valley floor it offers an unrivaled view of Taketa’s towns and villages and the surrounding countryside its ruins steeped in a deep history that can still be felt emanating from the stone walls The general Ogata Koreyoshi is believed to have built the castle in 1185 it was taken over and enlarged by the Shiga household who were retainers to the Otomo family the castle became a battleground in the war between the Otomo and Shimazu families The head of the Shiga clan managed to defend the castle but in 1593 the Otomo were forced to surrender their territories due to their Christian faith the castle was taken over by the Nakagawa clan who ruled it and the surrounding area for 14 generations leaving only the stone walls that remain today Although the grounds are maintained by gardeners the walls are barely visible in the expansive summer undergrowth and at almost 10 times its height in length the site seems overwhelming at first to navigate I was glad for having put on walking shoes that morning The 300 yen entrance fee includes a beautiful full-colour scroll that opens to reveal a map and diagram of the castle site you can match it with what’s on the different signs at points of interest along the way It took me about 2 hours to see all of the ruins and it was a sweltering hike in the afternoon heat The closest vending machine was in the parking lot all the way at the bottom and I cursed at myself for not bringing something to drink with me a shopkeeper from one of two souvenir stalls hurried towards me with a cup of miso soup It was not the ice-cold drink I had dreamed about on the walk down and then I bought my first road trip souvenir: a bottle of kabosu juice the citrus fruit is a rarity in Japan and is grown almost exclusively in Oita and after chugging down an entire bottle of apple iced tea I hopped in the car and played hot potatoes with the steering wheel off in search of my hotel Afternoons would be my favourite time of day I thought as I weaved in and out of the streets of Taketa town The roads had been painted gold by the last of the day’s sun and the afterglow was just enough to lose my mind in – the sound of drumming yanked me sharply out of my daydream What on earth could be causing such a commotion this late in the day where a crowd of people had gathered to watch the kagura dance being performed It was a lovely little surprise that took me back to a moment when I was just a photography intern at one of Johannesburg’s newspapers My mentor had been leading a more sheltered me around the back streets of the city center “Aren’t you worried you’ll get mugged?” I asked His SLR was a cannon next to the small compact I was shooting with people don’t care about it as much as you would think,” he replied He led me down a dark alleyway that opened out into the courtyard of an apartment building had been used to add entire rooms to the original building It looked like something off the set of a theater production There’s all kinds of stuff like this hiding in the city you’ll never know.” I understood then what a handicap fear can be for a photographer and still stumbling across secret courtyards The dance performance was the end to an afternoon stroll that had taken me around to the many sights in and around the old castle town Taketa was a waypoint for missionaries travelling from their primordial post in Nagasaki to the ancient capital Kyoto Christianity was flourishing in Japan at the time and the town But during the Tokugawa Shogunate’s campaign to eradicate Christianity from Japan in the 17th century followers had to renounce their faith or face persecution Many people took to the surrounding forests to worship in secret eight catacombs have been found in Taketa’s forests and one of them was just a three-minute walk from my hotel While cave chapels have existed since the beginning of the church is particularly special because it was hand-carved out of the volcanic rock of the mountain side which would have been used for the sacraments There wasn’t much else to see around the hillside The Shinto shrine is dedicated to the ‘military god’ and Taketa native is remembered for his heroism during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904 He was posthumously promoted to commander and became a deified war hero I had read about 16 Buddha statues that guard the entrance to Kannonji temple But when I arrived I was disappointed to find a giant communications tower looming over them I wandered through the grounds anyway and found another row of Buddha statues and a cave in a small hillside I followed a path into the forest that led me down the other side of the hill and onto the road across from the Inaba River And that’s when I heard the drumming that led me to the dance Nature in Japan seems to manifest itself completely at odds with the order and structure of its society; vegetation swallows everything that stands still for too long bugs and insects grow into caricatures of themselves and the earth erupts and quakes at its will it is the forests that fascinate me the most It is where the Gods are believed to have lived where priests sought refuge from persecution where people stillgo for spiritual guidance (and they keep one more: the Inazumi Underwater Cave Getting there takes a car and some patience I found myself squinting into safety mirrors and swerving away from gaijin traps only a few other people had braved the drive The limestone cave formed over 200 million years ago and was later submerged during the eruption of Mt Exploration began in 1976 and its believed that the system contains about 1,000 m (3,280 ft) of water channels with a new cavern having been discovered just last year Many of its stalactites and helictites can be seen through the cave’s crystal-clear water Visitors are allowed access to two passageways that extend out from the cave’s opening as far as 300 m (984 ft) each At the end of one of these is a 40 m-deep (131 ft) abyss that glows emerald green and the negative ions are said to relax visitors and send them on their way feeling fresh and renewed.Perhaps it was all that calming energy that prevented me from freaking out at the snake shrine one of the many arbitrary add-on attractions at the caves Visitors can admire the albino from a glass box an onsen and a giant Buddha statue that towers 30 m (98 ft) over the grounds Sign up for our weekly newsletter of articles from Japan Mandie Taketa noted that Brady learned the news shortly after attending his grandmother's funeral Emlyn Travis is a news writer at Entertainment Weekly with over five years of experience covering the latest in entertainment and awards for multiple outlets including MTV News The 'Let's Make a Deal' host is also dad to daughter Maile whom he shares with ex-wife and best friend Mandie Taketa JP Mangalindan is a Senior Writer for TV at PEOPLE JP's work has previously appeared in publications like Fortune Army colonel’s great-grandson returned a “good luck” flag Wednesday to the nephew of a Japanese soldier who carried it into battle during World War II an Army veteran and great-grandson of the late Col returned the flag — or yosegaki hinomaru — to the family of Fumio Kudo The ceremony took place at a community center in Taketa city the southernmost of Japan’s four main islands veterans and their families return old war trophies such as flags and swords along with the Japan Bereaved Families Association Japanese troops often carried small national flags signed in ink by their friends and family as tokens of good luck “The yosegaki hinomaru stayed with the soldier until the very end president of the Oita Prefecture Bereaved Families Association “It can truly be said to symbolize the soul of the fallen soldier returning home.” from the Miyakono district of Kuju town in Taketa died at age 24 during the intense battles in the closing days of World War II on the Philippine island of Luzon is unsure exactly how the flag came into his great-grandfather’s possession made it all the way to master sergeant and then was commissioned a lieutenant and made it all the way to full-bird colonel,” he said Dorsey received his great-grandfather’s military belongings six years ago after his grandfather passed away he found the folded and carefully preserved flag I practice the ways of my Native American ancestors,” he said during the ceremony a lost and confused spirit came to one of our tribal elders and myself We soon learned it was a spirit of a Japanese soldier.” Dorsey said a Lakota elder in his community suggested he contact a Shinto priest who explained the significance and meaning behind the Japanese flag he explained to me that their belief is that the spirit of that soldier is with that flag and will roam the Earth lost and confused until he returns home,” Dorsey said The priest recommended he contact the Obon Society to help find the soldier’s family my uncle Fumio Kudo’s legacy has returned to Miyakono after 80 years,” Ken Kudo said at the ceremony “My family and I are filled with both astonishment and deep gratitude.” Dorsey said members of the bereaved families association plan to visit Arlington National Cemetery in September “They want to pay their respects to American soldiers that are fallen and then we’re going to go to my great-grandfather’s grave,” he said I’m 52,” said Brady about possibly undergoing the procedure The 'Let's Make a Deal' host and his family are showing viewers how they make their blended family work in a new reality series Jason Michael FordhamActor BiographyJason Michael Fordham is a versatile actor and multimedia artist whose journey through the performing arts has shaped his dynamic and multifaceted career Fordham joined "Wayne Brady's Variety Show," produced by Mandie Taketa "Wayne Brady: The Family Remix," premiering on Freeform and streaming the next day on Hulu The entertainer explains to PEOPLE why he was initially reluctant to film ‘Wayne Brady: The Family Remix’ his 21-year-old daughter and the rest of his 'Core Four' share with PEOPLE how they handled the revelation that Brady's ex-girlfriend was expecting his child Please view the main text area of the page by skipping the main menu. The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your browser Japanese version and TV host is ready to be transparent about it all with his new Freeform reality show Jessica is a staff writer at Entertainment Weekly shared that the news of him becoming a father again came at a particularly challenging time In an interview with People Magazine on Thursday who shares a 21-year-old daughter named Maile with Brady expressed her concerns about Brady's mental health at the time of his former girlfriends’ pregnancy news "I was more concerned for Wayne's mental health because that was not a good time," she said referring to the period when the comedian learned he was going to be a father again at the age of 51 "We had just come back from mom's funeral together and then this news was dropped and so that's my first concern was just weighing his health," Taketa elaborated on the timing of the news found out about his ex-girlfriend's pregnancy several weeks after returning from his grandmother Valerie's funeral in the Virgin Islands In a recent episode of his new reality series Brady revealed he has become a father again to six-month-old Val Jackie shared a carousel of cheerful snaps from the festivities Nicola Peltz pens heartfelt note amid family celebration drama The youngest son of the Prince and Princess of Wales stole hearts with his antics at the VE Day processions Kelsey Grammer visits the site of his sister’s tragic death The 11-year-old young royal took part in the special tea festivity Jenna Ortega's 'Wednesday' season 2 has been teased by the makers Copyright © 2025. The News International, All Rights Reserved | Contact Us | Authors Wayne Brady is used to making people smile and always being “on” as an entertainer. However, behind those pearly whites, the Let’s Make A Deal host has been through mental health struggles and his fair share of life changes and singer wants to let people in beyond what they see on stage This Hollywood multihyphenate will do that like never before with Wayne Brady: The Family Remix cameras followed him and the rest of his squad This included his ex-wife and business partner Mandie Taketa She looks to make her own mark in the industry He handles the family’s cinematography and post-production Together they prove a family in 2024 can have more than one iteration we caught up with “Core Four” on what audiences can expect from the Freeform show Wayne & Maile Brady in their new reality show (Disney/John Fleenor) Was there anyone who was particularly trepidatious about participating in the show We’re proud of the message of oneness we have We’re a little scared….We knew we were going to share The script was never as good as in real life Maile Brady: The crew we were working with was super awesome It does take getting used to when they are watching you do everyday things with your family being that my parents are producers on the show as well helped but we were also having a lot of these conversations in real-time Getting to connect with each other very authentically and in front of the camera How would you describe this family dynamic Wayne: I’m excited for viewers to see that even though I make my living entertaining and being funny I’m the least funny person in the household Jason Fordham: Thinking about reality television though the initial thought is where is the drama and all these things But then feeling confident that our own lives are enough the conversations we have is something valuable and worth sharing If I had any thought before where it was like “How do we make this a drama-filled show?” Then concluding that it didn’t need to be that Jason Fordham and Mandie Taketa (Disney/Kevin Estrada) What can you tease about what viewers will see You also see us working as a family together We also have a couple of challenges that arrive and arise in the house that you’re definitely going to have to tune in to see They are really relatable things that pop up Maile: I think there are some eye-opening things that viewers will see that are maybe exciting and maybe meet their desire for drama There may be some things that are surprising What type of reality show are we talking about here but nobody is throwing a stool or yelling or cursing We want to normalize the fact a family can be normal yet entertaining as we are in the entertainment business The stuff you may think is reality out there isn’t real We don’t fall into the tropes because I think everyone is so used to that now That’s the part this happens.” We didn’t want that Maile: The Kardashians are great at what they do Being able to show someone at home that this could be your family too What does it mean for you to have that out there We want people to see a family that looks like theirs or where they go It’s possible to have a blended family.” Boom Mandie Taketa: Representation is a big thing because it is harder for us I grew up not having a family like us to model after And for a network to greenlight the series is a big deal in itself What did you walk away with from this experience Jason: We’ve always been passionate about each other I think we don’t take it lightly that we are on this platform I think it makes us double down on ourselves and how we are accountable to each other there were times during the shoot when I was like as much therapy we’ve done together and on our own I’m not sure if this is going to work out.” We actually documented some pretty difficult times It was difficult sometimes to just show up What do you want to say to people before they watch this Wayne: I hope we’re an example of loving the people that love Sign Up The Freeform show centers on the TV personality’s nontraditional family alongside his ex-wife and producing partner Mandie Taketa Wayne Brady is peeling back the layers on his nontraditional family in Freeform’s new reality series “Wayne Brady: The Family Remix” follows the actor dancer and TV personality as well as his ex-wife and business partner the crew calls themselves the “core four.” The show comes on the heels of Brady coming out as pansexual last year with “The Family Remix” sees Brady navigating his newfound sexuality alongside his family For details on when “Wayne Brady: The Family Remix” premieres New episodes of the show will stream on Hulu the day after their Freeform debut The reality show centers on Wayne Brady’s nontraditional family which includes his ex-wife and producing partner Mandie Taketa Brady and Taketa’s 21-year-old daughter Subscribe! Honolulu Magazine | Honolulu Family B aked goods at The Curb Kaimukī popped onto my radar because of a natto stroopwafel noteworthy because 1) There’s not much exciting about a stroopwafel I could die happy without eating another stinky bean Yet in my role as co-organizer of Honolulu’s annual Natto Day celebrations here came The Curb’s offering of two waffle wafers glued together by a layer of natto caramel salty caramel studded with bits of fermented beans trailing their slimy strings On subsequent visits I would find a similar profile in The Curb’s miso brown butter buckwheat cookies And the chocolate chip cookies (both cookies are $3.75) whose crisp exterior gives way to a chewy interior rippling with chunks of Valrhona dark chocolate In a city of coffee shops with plenty of scones and muffins inventiveness and an attention to detail that borders on quirk set The Curb’s baked goods apart the shop’s full-time pastry chef and one as under the radar as the natto in his stroopwaffel The Pig & the Lady and Tiffany Faison’s Tiger Mama in Boston The job he had before he came to The Curb was morning cook at Kapa Hale At all these places Kimbro cooked savory dishes even as he learned to bake bread at Breadshop and worked coffee counters as a barista It’s this near-obsessive exploration of whatever fascinates him that accounts for his resumé—and has positioned The Curb for an eclectic and growing food menu SEE ALSO: Koko Head Cafe Adds New Dishes in a New Location in Kaimukī Kimbro purées fresh local pandan leaves and cooks them gently with egg yolks Piped onto Breadshop brioche and sprinkled with Maldon salt the kaya is creamy and less sweet than other versions—and hides a finishing touch of chilled Plugra European-style butter Or his house-made yogurt with granola and fruit ($10) feature charred grapes with bubu arare and dried li hing strawberries from Sun Chong Grocery in Chinatown drizzled with agave infused with burnt cassia bark There’s a mascarpone toast with seasonal fruits (emerald plums now Maui’s Hashimoto Farm persimmons in a few weeks) the mascarpone seasoned with citrus and shio koji ($12.50); and another toast topped with black garlic and stone fruit jam ($11) with sudachi-infused salt and preserved calamansi butter I like to really look harder into things,” Kimbro says as he stirs kaya jam over a double boiler “There’s so much value in savory cooking but for me it’s a little more satisfying to make a loaf of bread or a macaron or something that takes a little bit more thought and effort.” SEE ALSO: 6 O‘ahu Cafés to Get Your Art and Coffee On Now that the Curb has an off-site commercial kitchen supplementing the core of coffee and tea drinks and retail selections of natural wine Plans are to introduce sandwiches filled variously with char siu (Kimbro says he has a really good recipe for the Chinese roast pork) when Jonny can let his imagination run wild that makes our shop unique and keeps people coming back,” says Ross Uehara-Tilton “It’s about building an experience that’s more than Starbucks.” Judging from his natto stroopwaffel Open Monday to Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. 3408 Wai‘alae Ave., thecurbkaimuki.com, @thecurbkaimuki Hawai‘i Police DepartmentArea II Juvenile Aid SectionLieutenant Bobbie-Jo SagonPhone: (808) 326-4646, ext. 230Report No.: 23-091710 Hawai‘i Island police arrested and charged a 50-year-old woman and a 39-year-old man, both of Kailua-Kona, with abuse, firearm, and drug offenses stemming from a domestic dispute incident that occurred in the early morning hours of Tuesday, September 26, 2023, in Kailua-Kona. Around 2:03 a.m. on Tuesday, Hawai‘i Police Department dispatch received a 911 call and could hear a female and male arguing. Kona patrol officers responded to the possible domestic dispute in the 75-5000 block of Kalawa Street. Later that same day, Delos Santos was released from the Kona Community Hospital and subsequently placed into police custody without incident. He was held at the Kealakehe Police Station while members of the Area II Juvenile Aid and Area II Vice Sections continued their investigation. Later Tuesday morning, 50-year-old Natalie Taketa turned herself in at the Kealakehe Police Station. Detectives learned that Taketa and Delos Santos were in a domestic dispute that turned physical, which resulted in Delos Santos receiving a laceration to his leg and Taketa receiving injuries to her upper torso. A search of the residential unit on Kalawa Street was conducted, resulting in the recovery of 244.5 grams of methamphetamine, 14.6 grams of marijuana, 56 rounds of ammunition and drug paraphernalia consistent with methamphetamine distribution. After conferring with the County Prosecutor’s Office, Delos Santos was charged on Wednesday, September 27, with the following offenses and his bail was set at $137,500: Taketa was charged with the following offenses and her bail was set at $137,000: Delos Santos and Taketa remains in police custody at the Kealakehe Police Station pending their arraignment at the Kona District Court on Thursday, September 28. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island-wide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.00. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers does not record calls or subscribe to any Caller ID service. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential. The Crime Stoppers TV Program is available on-demand from Nā Leo TV. This site is only for accessing historical media releases prior to November 12 Visit our new site for up to date information Editor’s Note: It’s now two years since an entire microcosm of small bars eateries and other businesses vacated a single block of Ke‘eaumoku Street This tribute was originally published in May 2022 Menchanko-Tei and a dozen or so assorted eateries and small businesses around the 800 block of Ke‘eaumoku Street were suddenly scheduled to close back in January aside from the occasional late-night rally for fried chicken and beer at Chicken Factory this area of “Koreamoku” wasn’t one I frequented cleaner-looking places in neighborhoods such as Kaka‘ako and Kaimukī Yet even if I had only gone to hot spots like Ireh or Imua Lounge a handful of times over the years it seemed impossible to imagine Ke‘eaumoku Street without this medley of low buildings where anyone could enjoy yakiniku score cheap drinks or sing karaoke at seemingly any hour of the day or night Thanks to the imminent construction of two new condo towers this was my last shot to explore a part of the city that would soon be gone forever SEE ALSO: Where Are They Now? Restaurants from Ke‘eaumoku Street I don’t know what we expected to find—maybe the so-called secret watering hole rumored to exist somewhere above Samstco Discount Store where various folks I’ve encountered over the years have alleged that it was possible to drink gamble and solicit other services from midnight until well past dawn Not that I was looking to get involved in any illegal activities I figured my friend and I could visit a few of Honolulu’s most storied haunts and possibly meet a few shady characters We started at Yakiniku Don-Day for yogurt soju and beef bulgogi then ambled to Chicken Factory for whiskey shots and spicy chicken wings The pool hall King’s Billiard and a husband-and-wife-owned sushi joint but we could sing and drink beers at the still-open New Seoul Karaoke we found hardworking bartenders and business owners who were unhappy at having to close but still willing to sell us a drink or one last meal and talk about the changing personality of the neighborhood We asked questions like: If the new residential tower being built at the corner of Ke‘eaumoku and Makaloa streets will be called “Midtown Ala Moana,” does that mean Ala Moana Center is now considered “Downtown Ala Moana” (And how does Downtown Honolulu feel about all this?) SEE ALSO: Find Menchanko-Tei Favorites and Goma Ichi’s Ramen at Tonkatsu Sangi I even poked my head into the wide open doors of Club Vegas Star just a lone Filipina named Maya who was serving Heinekens to a tired-looking man sitting at the neon-lit bar An old terrier named Kolohe ran around underfoot and slept in a wooden baby’s crib in the middle of the room Which would be weird to see in a strip club but this wasn’t really a club anymore It was just a place where people reminisced after two years of restrictions None of these places would be spared from the wrecking ball not even the makeshift memorial wall in the driveway connecting the two parking lots near 88 Pal Pal Supermarket where friends of Nehlia-Ann Scanlan wrote messages such as “Rest in Love” and “4eva Nene” in honor of the 19-year-old who was run over there last August Areas like this stretch of Ke‘eaumoku are tricky. Although some of these businesses have found homes elsewhere many of these longstanding haunts meant something to the regulars who worked and lived here A business can set up shop somewhere new; memories don’t always relocate as easily The high-rise going up on this block represents an opportunity for this area to gain some new neighbors Yet I can’t help but feel like Hawai‘i is losing something immeasurable even if some of these places—like Club Vegas Star—are literally going to the dogs At the end of my night on Ke‘eaumoku and she told me that the little dog isn’t hers But it doesn’t mean he doesn’t belong to someone Wayne Brady and ex-wife Mandie Taketa are also parents to 18-year-old daughter Maile Their hand-painted shells are made with cacao grown on O‘ahu’s North Shore; their centers hold fillings like Kona coffee They sit in a glass case with other shiny bonbons in flavors like macadamia praline and mango ginger caramel all gleaming like speckled galactic jewels at Hawaiian Host’s new Koho chocolate pop-up boutique at Ala Moana Center all I could think of was what a company old-timer told me when expensive artisan chocolates started appearing in Honolulu years ago “Chocolate is chocolate,” he shrugged “Macadamia nuts is macadamia nuts.” Not long before the pandemic my dad was buying half-pound boxes of Hawaiian Host chocolate-covered macadamia nuts on sale at Longs for $1.99 (he kept secret stashes) Hawaiian Host sent me a box when I couldn’t make the shop’s opening I think of Hawaiian Host mostly as packaged gift sets at ABC Stores—inexpensive omiyage for tourists But there’s always been another layer co-founder Aiko Takitani was a student of my grandmother’s so when my dad landed at Narita Airport on his first trip to Japan he was surprised to find waiting for him Aiko and her husband Mamoru Dad still talks about how they took him around and treated him to delicious sake So while Hawaiian Host conquered the omiyage market then struggled with debt and nearly went bankrupt when the pandemic wiped out Japanese tourism Now a new local and mainland hui owns the company and as part of Hawaiian Host’s rebranding The aim is “to be the artisanal chocolate brand of the Islands,” the website says “and to reshape the perception of luxury in Hawai‘i.” You might not think anything of it if you didn’t know the history if you just happened upon Koho’s boutique next to Longs at Ala Moana in the middle of displays of boxed bonbons and Hawai‘i-grown chocolate bars is the glass case holding a galaxy of bonbons in eight flavors I get caught up in my own excitement and buy more The smallest gift boxes contain six of one flavor ($15); a customized box with flavors you choose holds 12 bonbons and costs $30 The white and dark chocolate shells are thin the flavors inside faint (guava) to bright (liliko‘i) and very caramelly By the time I get to the macadamia praline I can’t tell if I like it for its creamy sweetness and aftertaste of macadamias Putting aside thoughts of entire half-pound boxes of chocolate-covered macadamia nuts on sale for $1.99 before the pandemic whose dividing line between then and now has never seemed sharper than with the old Hawaiian Host and the new I’m wondering if I would buy these again three or four at a time as a locally made indulgence a qualified yes—if I can customize a box of six and then especially if those who get them understand how far these chocolates have come 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., (808) 966-8119, hawaiianhost.com, @kohochocolate Two dishes appeared in the summer that I fell in love with Both were on the lunch menu at The Pig & the Lady I resigned myself to a Zen approach of letting go Dishes at Pig often disappear with each new seasonal menu—which chef-owner Andrew Le promised would happen again “It’s fall already,” he said which sounded incongruous in September’s 90-degree heat “I’ll have something even better.” When they were still there a couple of weeks ago It turns out the staff circulated a petition to keep two dishes noodle fans: golden fried catfish pieces tinged with turmeric and delivered sizzling on a cast-iron platter heaped with grilled green onions and fresh dill—to be eaten not as is but mixed with the accompanying vermicelli bun noodles and doused with pineapple-shrimp-chile-lime sauce Cha Ca Hanoi ($21) feeds two hungry or three moderate appetites (order an extra side of bun) And don’t forget to toss in some roasted peanuts The dish is an improbable riot that lives up to Le’s signature yin-yang balances of hot and cold It’s also a dish I’ve had before—with Le and his family in Hanoi at Cha Ca La Vong the most famous and oldest restaurant to feature this dish on a street where every restaurant features it—though La Vong’s version was more subdued and much oilier the deceptively plain-sounding Tofu Stuffed Tomato ($18) is also one I know from family lunch tables in Vietnam wood ear mushrooms and garlic and come with an even more drool-inducing sauce of tomato cores with black pepper and Maggi seasoning Traditional Vietnamese cooking is out of character for Le a James Beard Award semifinalist who uses Viet inspirations as starting points for unexpected forays into global I couldn’t recall him hewing this traditional since he started Pig as a farmers market stall 12 years ago tentative and still defining his own style SEE ALSO: Pig and the Lady: Not Just a Personal Addiction I wanted the lunch menu to be just as strong as our dinner menu,” Le texted when I asked why teams excited about each other’s menus Our dinner cooks want to come for lunch because they recognize the traditional flavors and our lunch cooks want to come to dinner for the creativity.” The other dish the staff petitioned to keep on the lunch menu is the Hainan Chicken And when I told Le I like the stuffed tomatoes even more than Cha Ca Hanoi So much for going Zen—although this is a way more satisfying result Open Tuesday to Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 9 p.m., 83 N. King St., (808) 585-8255, thepigandthelady.com, @pigandthelady A creative breeze weaves itself through the very fabric of this charming city in Oita Prefecture Oka Castle was decommissioned by the Meiji government, but the size of the castle grounds, the remaining stone walls and the view from the top are all an impressive sight. In addition, the castle has been rebuilt virtually. With the help of a smartphone, a multilingual app and free Wi-Fi, AR technology projects the castle gates and buildings where they once stood. Samurai characters pop in and out to give you information in 28 different spots around the Oka Castle Ruins. One of the 28 is a statue that doesn’t look like it’s from the Edo Period. It’s the pianist and composer Rentaro Taki who spent his childhood in Taketa in the 1890s. His former house is preserved as a museum today, but the Rentaro Tunnel leading to it steals the show. A picturesque yet quite ordinary structure at first glance, it starts playing Taki’s music only when you pass through. As soon as you go out, it stops as if it was all a daydream. Strolling around Taketa will reveal even more material history. The Bukeyashiki area is lined with preserved old samurai houses, the family descendants still living in some of them today. The one woman culinary magic at Kana’s is worth lining up and waiting for. The chef collaborates with local farmers to only cook with what’s best in the season, reinventing the menu every week. Pasta cooked in carbonated onsen water is usually the base for creative sauces that are the best of both Italian and Japanese cuisines. The meal is crowned with a delectable dessert and freshly brewed coffee. As you leave central Taketa and take to the Kuju Mountains, there is vast nature to explore on the way. Make a stop at Ameushi Falls, one of the most easily accessible and stunning waterfalls in Taketa. The Kuju mountain range is part of Aso-Kuju National Park and has the highest peak in Kyushu. It also has some great hiking and camping opportunities. At 850 meters above sea level, you can also visit one of the highest wineries in Japan and the first one to open inside a national park. Kuju Winery only started in 2002 but it’s already reaping awards. Its Chardonnay has many accolades and the original Kushifuru no Yume is a distinctive red made of wild grapes crossed with merlot. The winery’s restaurant offers stone oven-baked pizzas as the perfect wine accompaniment. Further gourmet wanderings will take you to Resonate Club Kuju for high-class Oita wagyu beef. The elegant restaurant is part of a bigger resort hotel in Aso-Kuju National Park. The Kingfisher Resort in Nagayu is an extremely stylish ryokan with some of the most creative and delicious kaiseki ryori (Japanese multi-course haute cuisine) in Japan. The local river trout sashimi hiding under a dome of ice is an exquisite highlight, while the Roninyaki pottery in which everything is served feels like it belongs in an art gallery. The Ronin Kama pottery studio and shop is just across Lamune Onsen and the artist himself is often there. Don’t leave Nagayu without seeing one of the oldest trees in Kyushu. The mossy Momiyama Shrine is about 800 years old and home to a zelkova tree said to be the same age. Taketa is located about one hour by train from Oita Station. Menu.page-86647577{--metaColor:#17256B;--navColor:#17256B}ParentingWayne Brady And Ex-Wife Mandie Taketa Are Literally Co-Parenting Goalsby Amy B 2021Scary Mommy and Allen Berezovsky/Getty knows that any perspective that helps you more effectively navigate those waters is invaluable it just takes a mutual commitment to work through the difficulties as a team and the ex-couple shared more about their journey together and apart Wayne and his family brought a whole new meaning to the word “work.” their TikToks and Instagram reels are pure fire One of the things that got me through COVID isolation especially when my kiddos were with their dad but the seemingly peaceful union they show as a clan is even more amazing no matter how much effort it took to get the routine right they were invested and willing to work to make it happen as a team Wayne then announced that the family wasn’t just hanging out to make reels They were living together amidst COVID to survive a questionable They leaned on and supported each other through Maile’s high school graduation and transition to college which happened to occur all amidst the last two years Wayne went on to share in a number of interviews that their joint struggles and shared experiences make them a family Mandie and Jason started sharing about their adoption journey and I was a puddle of pure co-parenting tears The couple shared a video that included a ‘thank you’ to little Sunny’s birth mother and the joy that both mother and father felt in it was clear and contagious He’s honestly just the sweetest/cutest baby ever (and I’ve got two of my own,) Wayne Brady posted a tribute to little Sunny In it he announced his title of ‘Duncle,’ an endearing combo of dad-uncle The title is meant to imply his plan to help raise Mandie and Jason’s son we all know it takes a village to raise children The moment they plop our little butterballs in to our arms in the hospital The right support can carry us through nearly any challenge from that first day on That’s the village everyone is always talking about who realize they can no longer be together romantically can still work together platonically to support their kids This article was originally published on Oct Investigative stories and local news updates Coverage of the Hawaiʻi State legislature in 2025 Award winning in-depth reports and featured on-going series Get the week’s news delivered straight to your inbox Mayor Kirk Caldwell won’t talk about why he’s not either replaced or reappointed the carpenters union leader Ron Taketa’s term on the Honolulu Police Commission expired nine months ago yet Mayor Kirk Caldwell has yet to reappoint or replace him The commission has been catapulted into the spotlight for its refusal to address an ongoing criminal probe of Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha over accusations of public corruption and abuse of power the police commission is supposed to provide oversight of the Honolulu Police Department including handling complaints of misconduct It’s the only entity that can hire or fire a chief Taketa, the commission chairman, has become the face of denial regarding the chief. He even refused to acknowledge that Kealoha was under federal investigation despite numerous media reports, including those that named the federal prosecutor in the case For years, the commission has been criticized for its inability to address what appears to be rampant misconduct within the Honolulu Police Department Numerous officers have been arrested recently in cases involving drugs, prostitution and extortion. Others have faced charges for beating up citizens and accidentally shooting a bartender in the belly There are concerns about the excessive use of force by police officers, and whether the commission is too lenient Still, Caldwell has not acted he doesn’t seem to want to talk about Taketa at all “It’s sort of inexcusable that the mayor is running for re-election and he’s refusing to engage in a major social problem in our community.” — UH professor Meda Chesney-Lind a criminologist and professor of women’s studies at the University of Hawaii says the mayor has a chance to influence positive change at HPD by appointing a new member to the police commission who has both the willingness and know-how to provide meaningful oversight Allowing Taketa to sit in limbo doesn’t accomplish that It indicates the mayor is unwilling to take part in discussions taking place both locally and nationally about police transparency and accountability If there were ever a time for Caldwell to step up “It’s sort of inexcusable that the mayor is running for re-election and he’s refusing to engage in a major social problem in our community,” Chesney-Lind said “The buck stops at his desk and he seems to be avoiding the opportunity to address what is a very serious problem in his administration.” who refused to be interviewed for this report has repeatedly dodged questions about Taketa He also doesn’t like to talk about the ongoing problems at HPD Some have speculated that Caldwell is being careful to not upset the politically influential police union There’s another union connection: Taketa is the head of the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters one of the largest labor unions in the state The carpenters union played an extraordinary role in the 2012 mayoral race through the Pacific Resource Partnership, a union-affiliated super PAC that spent millions of dollars on television ads and ground support in an effort to defeat former Hawaii Gov Cayetano opposed the city’s multi-billion-dollar rail project which PRP and the carpenters union wholeheartedly supported Their efforts — unprecedented in Hawaii politics — are largely credited with launching Caldwell into office On June 3, Caldwell was asked about his plans for Taketa’s seat during a press conference in which the mayor announced a new appointment and a reappointment to the police commission Caldwell incorrectly told the media that Taketa’s term wasn’t over until the end of 2016 and that he hadn’t decided what to do sent out a clarification email later that day saying that the mayor had asked Taketa to remain on the police commission “for the time being.” The press conference was focused on Caldwell’s appointment of Loretta Sheehan Caldwell’s announcement came shortly after Hamada had spoken out about her eroding confidence in Kealoha Up until that point no one else on the commission had wavered in their support The mayor also announced at the June press conference that he was reappointing Max Sword to the commission Sword is a high-ranking executive with Outrigger Hotels and Resorts a major player in Hawaii’s tourism industry who’s running against Caldwell in the November election said the mayor’s inaction on Taketa amounts to negligence a former congressman who has called for Kealoha to step aside while the federal grand jury conducts its investigation said there are too many problems within the ranks of HPD “The bottom line is the mayor is showing a lack of leadership,” Djou said “From my vantage point there’s a pattern emerging from the Caldwell administration that they simply can’t get their act together.” Djou said Sheehan appears to be a good appointment to the commission, considering her outspokenness But Djou didn’t want to discuss Taketa’s performance as a commissioner saying that he has yet to talk with the chairman about his duties “I definitely think we need to look at re-examining the leadership of HPD And I want commissioners who are going to aggressively look at reforming the leadership of the police department.” — Charles Djou Djou added that he has no evidence of any “direct political machinations” between Caldwell and the carpenters union “I don’t know exactly how much Ron Taketa has done,” Djou said And I want commissioners who are going to aggressively look at reforming the leadership of the police department.” Taketa did not respond to a request for an interview State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers President Tenari Maafala had kind words for Taketa and the rest of the commission Maafala added that it was up to the mayor to make a decision about Taketa’s future He also said he had faith in Caldwell — who he called “an upright person” — to make the right decision “I have no problems with any of the commissioners,” Maafala said “I do applaud each and every one of them for their commitment to want to step up and be a part of an important commission that oversees the department and Colin Moore is an associate professor of political science at the University of Hawaii Manoa and the director of the school’s Public Policy Center which conducts research and analyses of complex social problems He says Caldwell’s inaction on Taketa is curious “This strikes me as the sort of decision a politician makes when they’re trying to buy themselves some time before an election,” Moore said ‘I’m going to take this seriously and I’m going to be seen as a police reform mayor.’ I think he’s worried that whatever happens with Kealoha that he will be dragged into it.” Moore said voters might see it as a sign that the mayor won’t adequately address allegations of police corruption and misconduct Caldwell has sidestepped questions about whether he supports Kealoha as chief or believes he should step aside during the ongoing U.S The mayor’s go-to soundbite on the issue has been that Honolulu is one of safest cities in the U.S and that he supports HPD and its leadership for making it that way Moore said Caldwell also has to be careful about appointing another Loretta Sheehan-like commissioner Sheehan makes headlines nearly every time she speaks because she’s the only commissioner pressing the chief and his staff to explain how they’re addressing police misconduct She’s called on the commission to conduct its own investigation of the chief stemming from allegations that he framed his wife’s uncle for the theft of their mailbox So far none of her colleagues seems interested “The last thing Caldwell wants is for the police commission to raise questions in the way that Sheehan has,” Moore said “I think he wants to keep it as boring as he can.” Unfortunately, being named a finalist for a Pulitzer prize doesn’t make us immune to financial pressures. The fact is, our revenue hasn’t kept pace with our need to grow, and we need your help Civil Beat is a nonprofit, reader-supported newsroom based in Hawaiʻi. We’re looking to build a more resilient, diverse and deeply impactful media landscape, and we hope you’ll help by supporting our essential journalism Civil Beat has been named the best overall news site in Hawaii for the 14th year in a row by the Society of Professional Journalists Hawaii Chapter the fragmented roof appears to be detached from the library’s reinforced concrete walls which contributes to the creation of an airy interior atmosphere and allows natural light to enter the different spaces bookcases are arranged in a pattern that curves gently like the flow of water encouraging the visitors’ continuous movement all images by toshiyuki yano takao shiotsuka atelier has designed the library as part of a regeneration project to revive the castle town of taketa with very few of which walking around the city. translating traditional elements of the castle town surroundings the architects have crated a building whose roof and walls open to take the environment inside and promote the movement of people by inviting them in.  airy volume that contains most of the bookcases and curve gently to encourage the movement of visitors throughout the space the bookcases are arranged in areas with different features which are reminiscent of a silent forest; shelves on the second floor that resemble an enclosed cave; and shelves in the south that are similar to a lightweight plane architect: takao shiotsuka atelier client: taketa city AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style The 'Let's Make a Deal' host recently became a father again as his ex-girlfriend Tina welcomed a baby boy named Val Henry The former longtime Hawaii Supreme Court justice brings a respected legal resume and a reputation for bold thinking to the position When Ron Taketa’s term ran out on the Honolulu Police Commission last December there seemed to be precious few reasons to keep him around So we were among many who were pleasantly surprised Monday when we learned that Mayor Kirk Caldwell is finally replacing Taketa with former Hawaii Supreme Court Justice Steven Levinson who had been sharply criticized by Civil Beat and others in recent months for his lack of attention to the commission formally announced Levinson’s appointment Tuesday Levinson will serve a term running through Dec This is hardly trading one volunteer commission member for another. Taketa’s primary reason for serving always seemed political: He’s the leader of the state carpenters union one of Hawaii’s largest labor groups — a useful affiliation for any Democratic mayoral candidate which may explain why Taketa has served four non-consecutive terms dating back to 1989 Levinson brings valuable experience and perspective to this position from a legal career spanning 37 years That alone ought to encourage anyone who has been rightfully disappointed in the commission’s work Levinson not only earned respect for strong legal leadership and solid jurisprudence he showed a fearless ability to break new ground He famously became the first appellate judge in the nation to author an opinion that a state’s marriage law was unconstitutional for its discrimination against same-sex couples two decades before the Hawaii Legislature passed our state’s marriage equality law and a full 22 years before the U.S and history validated Levinson’s courage including 230 in which he wrote the court’s opinion Those decisions included cases involving police investigations legal limits of police authority to search and seize property and more matters that will directly inform his work on the commission Levinson will join a commission that has already been disrupted from its normal somnolence by Caldwell’s recent appointment of Commissioner Loretta Sheehan. In just a few months on the commission, she has earned a well-deserved reputation for raising issues that her colleagues have preferred to ignore We hope Levinson will join Sheehan in that frank and direct inquiry into matters where the commission’s oversight has been AWOL They won’t make up a majority of the seven-member group but through candid and public conversation over matters that ought to concern the commission the two might force their fellow commissioners to find their voices considering and investigating charges brought by the public against the conduct of the department or any of its members” — one of the Police Commission’s core mandates under the city charter If voters this fall improve that charter by approving Amendment 1 a newly emboldened policy commission would also have important new authority over the police chief’s service as well as new investigatory power in police misconduct matters empowered commission would hold major promise for the public that the Honolulu Police Department protects and serves Taketa deserves thanks for his service on the commission as does any citizen serving in such a high-profile important and often thankless volunteer government role deserved the licks he took for failing to name a new appointment for nearly a year past Taketa’s expiration date and simply re-nominating appointees from his predecessors rather than bringing much-needed new blood to the commission Levinson and Sheehan represent important new steps toward a brighter future We urge the City Council to confirm the former’s nomination and help usher in that new reality for Honolulu policing oversight The members of Civil Beat’s editorial board are Pierre Omidyar Opinions expressed by the editorial board reflect the group’s consensus view Civil Beat has been named the best overall news site in Hawaii for the 14th year in a row by the Society of Professional Journalists Hawaii Chapter.