Page 2 - Dining Out - July 18, 2021
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 Restaurant Insider with Anne Lee
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Dining Out is a weekly advertising supplement published by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
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Photos by
LAWRENCE TABUDLO
Whenyoulookforatradi- tional Japanese restau- rant, you usually have to choose between teppanyaki, izakaya or sushi, to name a few, but with over 30 different types of op- tions out there, Kabuki Restaurant & Delicatessen has got you covered.
The Waimalu location has been around for more than 56 years and stillbringsincustomersfromallover the island. When you first walk in, you are greeted by a one-of-a-kind indoor koi fish pond with a waterfall, which is so unique in Hawaii.
Owner John Afong and I shared some of his favorite dishes as he talked more about this restaurant, what makes it one of the area’s most-loved eateries and how it’s managed to stay in business all these years.
AL: How long have you been with Kabuki Restaurant?
JA: Believe it or not, only 16 months. I am an electrical contractor by trade but had a desire to own/oper-
SPECIAL SECTIONS MANAGER
Nicole Monton
Phone: 808-529-4857 diningout@staradvertiser.com
ateabar/restaurant.SinceIfrequent bars/restaurants all the time, and have many close friends that are in the restaurant industry, it was a natural progression and familiar in- dustry for me. I heard that the owner of Kabuki was ready to retire but couldn’t find anyone interested in taking it over. My business partner and I looked into the numbers, and itwasaworthwhileinvestment.We became the new owners in Octo- ber 2019.
AL: Tell me the history about Ka- buki Restaurant?
JA: Katsumi and Haruko Kazama were the original owners of the Waimalu location that opened in 1965, Kapiolani in 1984 (which closed this year due to the pandem- ic) and a location in Minnesota that opened in the early 1980s. Each of these then were operated by their children. Two of my waitresses — Setsuko and Hiroko — have been here since the restaurant opened. You look at them and they could
SALES MANAGER
Anne Lee
Phone: 808-347-1093 alee@staradvertiser.com
ANNE LEE
speaks with Kabuki Restaurant & Delicatessen owner and general manager
JOHN AFONG
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