Restaurant at Ala Wai Harbor fears its permit won't be renewed

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Pau Hana Place is a restaurant that opened more than a year ago as a gathering spot for visitors and locals alike at the entrance to Waikiki.

Management is very concerned, however, that they may lose their lease.

Pau Hana Place general manager Bonnie Flemon says her company saw this area next to the Ala Moana Boulevard bridge as as business opportunity.

“We’ll go in, invest and be able to do what we need to do make it a nice Hawaiian place. And that’s what we planned,” she said.

Flemon said her group spent $700,000 sprucing the place up, building a wooden deck and a stage area with tents. She said that it’s been gaining momentum in the past year, with local entertainers providing music while patrons enjoy dinner.

“I think it’s a great effort,” said longtime local entertainer Kimo Kahoano, who’s been a regular. “I mean, people don’t understand that we always need to be sharing what is aloha. Sharing Hawaii. Sharing the music.”

“That’s really what they like, is that they get to intermingle with local people,” said Loretta Kilby, a singer who also is a frequent customer. “We bring them in.”

Flemon said business has fallen more than 50% since the state took away their parking spaces in June.

“Unfortunately it got rented and it’s not something we could do,” she said.

“The parking lot originally was packed,” said Kahoano. “Originally it was packed with a lot of people who came to watch the shows and partake of the wonderful meals that they serve here.”

Flemon said the state granted the establishment a revocable permit, “which we were told that’s not a problem because there’s many people that’s been on revocable permits for 20 years.”

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. But the department’s Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation is set to make a presentation on the property’s future at the Friday Land Board meeting.

Flemon fears the board may not renew permit. Supporters are hoping for a compromise to help Pau Hana Placeregain its momentum.

“You know how Waikiki can be. There’s always other things to do,” said Kilbey. “But this is exceptionally wonderful.”

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