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Kenichi Pacific, Kailua-Kona, HI
Kenichi Pacific, Kailua-Kona, HI
Kenichi Pacific, Kailua-Kona, HI
Kenichi Pacific, Kailua-Kona, HI
Kenichi Pacific, Kailua-Kona, HI

Kenichi Pacific

4.7
4.7
1294 Reviews
$31 to $50
Japanese
Top tags:
Kenichi Pacific will wow you with its highly praised Japanese Pan-Asian cuisine and sushi, and its contemporary ambiance. In a relaxed, elegant setting, Kenichi offers unforgettable original dishes, such as the Duck Confit, a Chinese five-spice cured duck leg served with russett potatoes and wild mushrooms in a delicious balsamic reduction sauce. The Ono tataki grilled rare, stands out as well, with mashed yams, green beans, Japanese mushrooms and a ponzu emulsion. Another must try is the Dynamite Shrimp, tempura shrimp baked with smelt aioli and teriyaki sauce.

The presentation and the flavors are equally superb. Of course, only the freshest fish and seafood are used, so the sushi is impeccable. The molten flourless chocolate cake is achieving legendary status, so save room for a delicious finish!

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 2 times today

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Cuisines
    Japanese, Seafood, Steak
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Wed–Sun 4:30 pm–9:00 pm Happy Hour Wed–Sun 4:30 pm–6:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (808) 322-6400
  • Website
    http://www.kenichipacific.com/
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress Code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Kenichi Kanada
  • Catering
    Offers:<br /><br />Full sushi station with your private Chef Kenichi Kanada<br />Bar station<br />Sushi, food/pupus & more<br /><br />At least a week notice for smaller groups.
  • Private party facilities
    Small Dining room hold up to 14 people.also we have Two out side patio (Covered) hold up to 20 and 30 people.
  • Private party contact
    Ken Kanada: (808) 322-6400
  • Location
    78-6831 Ali'i Drive, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
  • Neighbourhood
    Kailua-Kona
  • Cross Street
    Kamehameha III
  • Parking Details
    We are located in Keauhou Shopping Center. We do have plenty of parking space.
  • Public Transit
    Keauhou shuttle Open-Air 44 seat trolley type shuttle. Between Keauhou and Kailua town eight times a day.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 1,294 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.3Ambience
  • 4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Hawaii

    Japanese

  • Hawaii / Big Island

    Best Overall

  • Hawaii / Big Island

    Best Food

  • Hawaii / Big Island

    Best Service

  • Hawaii / Big Island

    Best Value

  • Hawaii / Big Island

    Innovative

  • Hawaii / Big Island

    Healthy

  • Hawaii / Big Island

    Neighbourhood gem

  • Hawaii / Big Island

    Lively

1,294 Reviews

  1. absolutepalate

    Philadelphia

    69 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    69 reviews

    Dined on September 17, 2023

    overall4food4service3ambience3
    The appetizers were very nice; salmon roll was excellent; great pork ribs (albeit messy to eat); dim sum very good. Entree salmon was outstanding; mochico fish special was very good. Chocolate lava dessert was superb (could use more raspberry coulis); bananas foster was terrible, virtually inedible. The wood seating was uncomfortable; terrible lighting (way to dim). Very busy, crowded Sat. night, so service was less efficient than usual.

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  2. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We love dining family style at Kenichi Pacific. The tenderloin carpaccio, fresh sashimi dishes, and the lamb entree are our favorites!

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  3. jewley

    Los Angeles

    49 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    49 reviews

    Dined on September 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Damien took excellent care of us. Had the carpaccio which was amazing. Their special role was really good and sashimi was incredibly fresh. Highly recommend.

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  4. konakate

    Hawaii

    37 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    37 reviews

    Dined on September 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience3
    As always, a wonderful meal! We love the avocado macnut salad. The best avos on island. The carpaccio is a delicacy. Our server, Virginia, was professional and friendly. Kenichis servers are always a step above those at most restaurants. Don’t hesitate to make reservations. A great place for happy hour and for a girls get together.

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  5. Cyndy

    Hawaii

    8 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on September 9, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Thanks to Open Table we got in on a Friday at Kenichi's ! The best place in Kona on Friday night but you have to reserve your table earlier in the week.

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  6. Reba

    Las Vegas

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on September 8, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The atmosphere was great. Food was excellent Staff excellent

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  7. ShariK

    Phoenix

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on September 7, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Kayla was the best server we’ve had in such a long time. Recommended dishes that were incredible. The duck leg was delicious and the sushi rolls also. I would definitely recommend.

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  8. LarryS

    Atlanta Metro

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on September 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The happy hour was amazing!! Great prices for sushi and sake. We made a dinner reservation as well and everything was so tasty and delicious. Would definitely recommend going if you're looking for some great sushi.

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  9. Tarrytowngeek

    New York Area

    19 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    19 reviews

    Dined on September 3, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience3
    I’ve been dining off and on at Kenichi since 2014. Our dinner Saturday night was the best I’ve had there. My ono tataji was cooked perfectly with a light sauce. The eggplant tempura with it was crispy and not at all greasy. Service was good, no wait for our table, and our food arrived on a timely basis. A couple of the apps were just average otherwise I’d give a 5 star.

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  10. OpenTable Diner

    Exclusive

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 1, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Searched and searched for a great sushi spot in Kailua Kona and struck out our first night. Luckily found Kenichi and was so very glad we did. First off, there was a large parking lot. Got there for happy hour…..the foodod, service, pieces & ambience were all excellent! Definitely a must to try when in Kailua Kona and I will be back.

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  11. pkemp

    Dallas

    8 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on August 26, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    They always have a wonderful experience at Kenichi Pacific. We especially love the barbecue ribs and diver scallops Currie.

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  12. OpenTable Diner

    Hawaii

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 20, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We were a party of 7. Seated quickly. Instant service. Waitstaff impressive. Food flavorful. Fresh Wasabi is the best!

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  13. ChristophA

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 14, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    The food was very nice and also the atmosphere was great

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  14. OpenTable Diner

    Los Angeles

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 14, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Such amazing food!!Great service!Love this place!!

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  15. OpenTable Diner

    Hawaii

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on August 12, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience4
    The food is always amazing here. There were definitely new waiters and bus help that were still in training. But service was pretty fast. The noise level behind the floating wall was way too loud being next to bar area, not sure why but hard to have conversation. Usually sit in a booth on dinner side and it is much better over there and not as crowded. People sitting next to us bumped us every time they got up. We have lived here for 7 years and the food never disappoints tho so we keep going back.

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  16. TracyC

    Los Angeles

    13 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on August 11, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had a very yummy meal and outstanding service. We started with appetizers..upside down dim sum and black cod. Outstanding. We had filet mignon and a large assortment of sushi and sashimi. Capped the evening off with the lava cake and Tahitian vanilla ice cream. Perfect evening.

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  17. KamakaC

    Washington DC

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 10, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    I would highly recommend Kenichi based on the flavorful food alone. We have been there several times and have had the pasta, duck confit, yuzu salmon and mac nut crusted lamb as well as several apps. EVERYTHING was cooked perfectly and delicious. The atmosphere inside is comfortable, quiet and conducive to conversation. The staff is friendly, attentive, knowledgeable and efficient. We look forward to our next visit.

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  18. OpenTable Diner

    Exclusive

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on August 6, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Our dinner was wonderful, service was great and time frame prior to driving to airport was quick & easy!

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  19. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago

    4 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on August 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Amazing food! Everything we had was delicious—macadamia crusted lamb, special tuna roll, duck, salmon, bananas foster. Highly recommend!

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  20. OpenTable Diner

    New Orleans

    7 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on August 3, 2023

    overall4food3service5ambience3
    The actual food underperformed the pictures. There's nothing really to remember.

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  21. AReyn

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 3, 2023

    overall4food5service5ambience4
    Food is very delicious, but a pricey and small portioned. Went for my birthday, (which was notated on reservation) but it was never acknowledged. We made reservations for 7:00pm, but they were running behind and we got seated after7:15pm. For fine dining, it was overall a good experience, but I do not think we will return.

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  22. Kate

    Palm Springs

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 28, 2023

    overall4food4service3ambience3
    Food was good and was nicely presented. Our server was new and was not able to make the dinner experience flow as it should have. His timing was off and this made the entire meal a less than stellar dining experience.

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  23. OpenTable Diner

    Denver

    4 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on July 27, 2023

    overall3food4service3ambience2
    Food and our waitress were good however when we arrived for our reservation at 7pm the hostess told us there was a confusion and they gave away our table to another party of 9 by mistake, and they would seat us in a moment. That moment turned into 45 minutes… In the meantime we were told by the manager now that the other party had a reservation too which wasn’t consistent with what the hostess said. And someone else told us it was manager’s choice to give away our table. We got three different accounts of what exactly happened within the course of 45 minutes. I expressed my disappointment about them not coming clean, asking understanding and making accommodations to seat us faster. Making stuff up and making us wait 45 minutes for a rez made several weeks in advance are not good business practice. Comping us for three miso soups was a bit underwhelming as a comp under the circumstances but the staff may not be empowered to make it right for the customers which may lead to not giving a hoot for carefully implementing the reservations they take and not make the diners wait a long time.

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  24. GeorgeA

    Hawaii

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on July 16, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Kenichi Pacific is in a class by itself here in Kona. If you are there at 4:30, you can join Happy Hour with a great bar menu and drinks. We chose to go for dinner last night. We were seated right at our reservation time, had excellent service and a delicious dinner. The specials are always a treat. We had both the special inside-out roll and the main. I highly recommend Kenichi Pacific at Keauhou for anyone who wants an excellent dining experience.

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  25. Laura

    Hawaii

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 14, 2023

    overall3food3service4ambience3
    This place is ok if you're not familiar with sushi or Japanese food. As an experienced sushi diner, I did not think this place lived up to the hype. The food was ok, not great and the server was not familiar with the items on the menu. Also, I made the reservation for my husband's birthday and noted that in the reservation. Yet the restaurant did not acknowledge this special occasion in any way, which was definitely a letdown. Would not eat here again.

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  26. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 2, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Food was fantastic. Drinks were very good. Service was excellent.

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  27. RoadWarrior

    Phoenix

    104 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    104 reviews

    Dined on June 29, 2023

    overall4food4service3ambience4
    sushi and carpaccio were great, lamb and duck were good. Desert was over the top. Service was a bit slow.

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  28. JimmyP

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 25, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience3
    Great specials and fantastic service! Best roll I have ever had -- chef special!

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  29. JoanieW

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 23, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Kenichi is the finest Japanese/Sushi restaurant on the island. It's the perfect spot for a special night out or a celebratory occasion. Our server, Maverick, was impeccable & knowledgable in his presentation of the night's specials and gave just the right combination of attention and space. They also offer a great happy hour in the bar with discounted sushi rolls if you arrive between 4 and 6pm. Overall, Kenichi is a top-notch restaurant that delivers a quality experience across the board.

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  30. SmittyR

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 22, 2023

    overall4food5service4ambience4
    Bluefin Tuna sushi specials were Awesome, pricey as usual, but awesome. Calamari was good. Seafood Trio entree was also Awesome! Sizzling platter smelled and tasted great. Nephew had the Filet Mignon, he said it was really good, didn’t taste it myself. Overall Good experience, be ready to spend some money if you’re going to enjoy the goods, I’d say about $100 per person, including a couple of beverages.

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  31. Kathers

    Seattle

    23 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    23 reviews

    Dined on June 22, 2023

    overall4food4service3ambience3
    The ambience is as good as it can be located in a shopping center. The food was absolutely excellent! Our server was lovely and helpful but there must have been a miscommunication between her and the kitchen. We were four adults and a 10 year old child dining. Our granddaughter’s meal arrived at least 10 minutes after the adults. We don’t begin until everyone is served. And to keep a young one waiting- not a good practice. Not a good practice to have anyone wait while the rest of the party is served. Not enjoyable, food gets cold, we were uncomfortable and disappointed in our experience.

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  32. OpenTable Diner

    Portland

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    We would especially like to commend our waiter, Kyle, for friendly and informative service. And thank him for working on father's day. We wanted to sample a lot of things so he guided us through the tasting menu. The ribs and pacific cod were especially good selections. And the cucumber/ seaweed salad helped balance the rich flavor of the meat and fish. The cod is delicate and comes with an excellent light sauce that doesn't overwhelm the flavor of the fish. An excellent rendition of bananas foster rounded out our evening.

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  33. Heatherr

    Hawaii

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on June 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Always impeccable service AND food. This is our "go to" for any date night or special event. We feel so welcome and never disappointed by the exquisite food and presentation.

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  34. JudithP

    Hawaii

    3 reviews

    1.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on June 11, 2023

    overall1food1service1ambience1
    When we got there, the restaurant was closed ! We were not notified by the restaurant that they would not be open& that our reservation could not be honored. This was a birthday celebration and extremely disappointing. Absolutely no consideration for their customers to do something like this & not notify ahead of time of the closure which was apparently due to a gas shortage of which they had previous knowledge . Just unacceptable!

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  35. Jennifer

    Denver

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on June 9, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Delicious dinner for our party of 3. I could have ordered the whole menu! Our Miso Cod appetizer came out quickly and was delicious. Our server mentioned that they were short staffed that evening but we didn’t experience any ill effects from their shortage. Service was prompt and courteous. All our meals were gorgeous as well as delicious. My husband had the duck, I had the scallop curry and my daughter had the sashimi dinner. The sashimi was fresh and absolutely wonderful. She was in Heaven. At first she didn’t want to order it because it was on the pricey side but it was our one big splurge meal on vacation and she went for it! No more grocery store sushi for her! My scallops were large and cooked perfectly. The duck was also tasty with a wonderful sauce. Highly recommended place for a fantastic meal.

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  36. JerryJ

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 5, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Maliah was our server and she was amazing. Helped us with food recommendations and she was spot on. Udon was great and the tempura shrimp roll very good. We will return. Thank you

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  37. HISeekerofdelicious

    Hawaii

    30 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    30 reviews

    Dined on June 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Fresh delicious New Style sashimi. I order that every time. It never disappoints…except that it always leaves us wishing there was more of it. Of course the cooked food including the Manapua was equally enjoyable. The daily special roll certainly lived up to our high expectations…as it usually does. We brought friends from WA that continued to comment about how delicious the dinner was as we were taking them to the airport the next day. This is a gem in Keauhou…if we are in Kona or south of Kona in Keauhou we make an effort to go out of our way to work dinner here into our plans.

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  38. PK88

    Hawaii

    42 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    42 reviews

    Dined on June 2, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience4
    Great food and great service! Good variety of sushi, sashimi, rolls, and entrees. Service was very friendly and attentive.

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  39. OpenTable Diner

    Portland

    8 reviews

    4.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on May 28, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience4
    One of our favorite places on the big island! Everything was delicious, from the beef carpaccio to the scallops and filet mignon. The food was amazing and the service was fast and friendly. I highly recommend Kenichi’s!

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  40. Brock

    Nashville

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on May 27, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We are a frequent customer @ Kenichi Pacific. The staff, food and hospitality are always outstanding! One of our favorite places!

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Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitising

    • Surfaces sanitised between seatings
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily

  • Physical distancing

    • Limited number of seated diners
    • Extra space between tables

  • Protective equipment

    • Waitstaff wear masks
    • Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking

  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Kenichi Pacific is rated 4.7 stars by 1294 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 2 times today
Google Map for Kenichi Pacific

78-6831 Ali'i Drive, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Kamehameha III
  • Neighbourhood
    Kailua-Kona
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Wed–Sun 4:30 pm–9:00 pm Happy Hour Wed–Sun 4:30 pm–6:00 pm
  • Cuisines
    Japanese, Seafood, Steak
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress Code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking Details
    We are located in Keauhou Shopping Center. We do have plenty of parking space.
  • Public Transit
    Keauhou shuttle Open-Air 44 seat trolley type shuttle. Between Keauhou and Kailua town eight times a day.
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Kenichi Kanada
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    http://www.kenichipacific.com/
  • Phone number
    (808) 322-6400
  • Catering
    Offers:<br /><br />Full sushi station with your private Chef Kenichi Kanada<br />Bar station<br />Sushi, food/pupus & more<br /><br />At least a week notice for smaller groups.
  • Private party facilities
    Small Dining room hold up to 14 people.also we have Two out side patio (Covered) hold up to 20 and 30 people.
  • Private party contact
    Ken Kanada: (808) 322-6400
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