Former NFL player brings Sonic Drive-In to Hawaii
COURTESY BUSINESS WIRE
Sonic Drive-In will open restaurants in Hawaii.
COURTESY PHOTO
Sonic Drive-In serves a variety of burgers, fries, hot dogs and shakes.
Oklahoma-based Sonic Drive-In with its carhop-delivered quick service food, will open at least seven units in Hawaii through newly anounced franchisee Ma‘ake Kemoeatu, formerly of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens.
Kemoeatu’s North Shore Provisions LLC plans to open the first of its commitment of seven locations on Oahu in 2018.
“I was introduced to SONIC during my playing days and loved it. We’re excited to bring that taste of the mainland back home to share,” Kemoeatu said in a statement. “We are honored to have our group selected to franchise SONIC Drive-In in Hawaii.”
Kemoeatu retired from the NFL in 2014 and returned to his family home in Kahuku, after donating a kidney to his brother.
Sonic is known for its drive-in format, with carhops bringing orders to cars in the parking lot, but there are multiple formats that allow for conversions of existing restaurant buildings, and other layout designs.
Kemoeatu’s agreement will have him lead the expansion of Sonic into its 46th U.S. state and its first outside the mainland.
67 responses to “Former NFL player brings Sonic Drive-In to Hawaii”
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Another fast food drive-in serving fried, high cholesterol food. Please do not come to Hawaii Island.
Give me a break. How healthy do you think a plate of chicken katsu (fried), macaroni salad (high cholesterol), and rice is?
Eradication would prefer to eradicate people’ choice.
Diet food. Isn’t it?
High fat, salt and high fructose “foods” are addicting. Not psychologically, but physiologically (go watch “Hungry for Change” on Youtube). Don’t think for a second that those big food companies, now owned by some tobacco companies, don’t know that. Restaurant owners don’t care how bad their food is to your health so long as you love their food…and give them your money.
Horse burger is healthy. Hahahaha,nah just jokes. Loco da kine undastan.lol
Its ones own choice as to what they eat. Go live in NY where the democrats wont allow you to supersize your soda, put salt on the table at a restaurant. If you want to eat katsu and 2 scoop rice or loco moco, a sonic burger isnt going to be any worse.
You can check out Sonic’s nutritional information at the link below. Everything in moderation is ok, make the right choice.
Point to remember, the FDA set requirements for all food makers to continue reducing the sodium level in their products. It will get better.
http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-sonic-drive-in_b-YmlkPTkyOA.html#sandwiches-burgers
i agree, everything in moderation. Eaten at Sonic a couple of times on the mainland. To me no big deal, reminds me of DQ. Hope the enterprise is successful.
Once people figure it out, they will gravitate back to McDonald’s, Zippy’s and Jack in the Box.
Hey “Eradication” … nobody is putting a gun to your head and forcing you to go there … If you don’t like it, don’t go … BRING IN “IN N OUT” BURGERS TO HAWAII !!!!!
Agree. IN N OUT is much better.
Never cared for In n out. greasy and mushy. Five Guys is good.
No self discipline, eh?
Exactly
Really bad nutrition. It seems sort of out of place out here.
Seriously? Hawaii is the home of bad nutritional choices. That said, I hope Kahuku boy Kemoeatu brings one of these to our area (Laie). All things in moderation, allie.
If anything, it’s better than some of the offering we have.
Out of place? Spam, white rice, Mac salad (don’t let the word “salad” fool you), chicken katsu, lau lau, loco moco, etc. What do you eat Allie? Traditional Mandan food? I for one am looking forward to Sonic coming to Hawaii. I need more comfort food in my life.
I think Allie likes the traditional Indian diet of dried buffalo meat and corn on the cob.
2 scoop white rice, loco moco, anything from zippys…how is a burger joint out of place. Cant be any worse than what I just mentioned.
I miss those car hops places. Anyone remember the one on Ala Wai and McCully? KC Drive Inn? Can’t wait.
Sorry. Ala Wai and Kalakaua.
I miss KC Drive Inn the most of all the old time restaurants. Though I knew their food was beyond unhealthy I couldn’t resist their waffle hot dogs. Their shakes were even more delicious.
I remember all those old Japanese ladies serving us at 2 in the morning after shooting pool all night. The roast pork was onolicious. Yep, the good old days.
Chocolate ono ono shake (with peanut butter) and a waffle hot dog. Yes fond memories indeed.
you can still get the waffle hot dogs at that place next
to Rainbows. kinda expensive now.
I guess even before your time, the one in Waiau where Zippy’s is at. Across the power plant. No can remember the name, though. Senior moment…
Was that Scotty’s Drive-In?
And the Clock drive inn? Behind the Royal Sunset drive in theater? We’re going back to the 70’s now…
there was one on Kapahulu and Kaimuki ave. across Crane park called Alex Drive-In.
the food was so-so.
Now I can actually go to the places that shows commercials on TV (or at least when I remembered commercials, yay for cord cutting).
How about In-N-Out instead?
https://scoutingsantee.wordpress.com/2009/08/02/sonic-vs-in-n-out-the-results-are-in/
We have both “Sonic” and “In and Out” near our community. There is a long waiting line at “In and Out” during lunch time since it is located adjacent to a shopping mall. Do not anything about “Sonic” only that when we pass by it on our way to the Kaiser Clinic in Missiom Viejo, California, we pass by it at a not too busy intersection in the outskirts of town. In living on the mainland over 60 years have never been to a “Sonic”. Have no idea what kind of food or service???
I ate at sonic once. stale bun. crunchy (not crispy) fries. The shake was ono! Now I can say I ate at sonic once.
Not going to happen as their food process prohibits freezing and long term shipments on Matson’s barges. Plus all their outlets are company owned, no franchisee.
everything will be a couple of bucks more than mainland prices
Yep, don’t go expecting those deals you see on commercials to be the same here. I hope they do well, but with higher prices and their type of menu, I kind of expect them to have a hard time.
Always liked going to Sonic when I was on the mainland. Sonic will be a nice addition to the islands.
Way to go Ma‘ake Kemoeatu.
NO WONDER–“Hawaii Chefs” are snubbed by James Beard Awards! Quel Dommage!
PLEASE, PLEASE–SPARE EVERYONE; and, at the very least–don’t bring T.J. Jagodowski and Peter Grosz along too… Auwe!
When I was at a Sonic in Washington State I got out to go use their bathroom and wandered into the part where they make the food thinking that is where it would be located. My impression was that the food preparation area was in total disarray and filthy. I could only surmise that it looked like that since customers rarely visited that area, as the usually stayed in their vehicles due to the car hop service. Ditto for the bathroom which was in another part of the building. It looked like it had not been cleaned for some time as I had to step lightly so as to not splash the urine on the floor upon my shoes and me, yuck.
That all being said, the food quality was reasonable and the variety of choices is terrific compared to McDonalds and Burger King (will result in better competition from them here in a smaller geographic market). Given the usual lack of land space here, I think forgoing the car hop service would be okay as long as the menu is intact. Plus, having the food service area where the public sits to eat their meals and the bathroom adjacent will result in the staff being more diligent about the appearance and sanitation of their restaurant.
What about the dog ?
http://istilllovedogs.com/2015/08/nfls-kemoeatu-brothers-allegedly-dumped-their-dog-at-kennel/
alright!! finally!!
i’ve been waiting !! yay!!
can’t wait!!!
hopefully they will be in near UH !!
and for the nay sayers… just go work out or don’t go there… period.
woo hoo!!!
more crap food for Hawaii, how wonderful
Yes! Now bring In-N-Out and The Olive Garden!
olive garden was on their way to kapolei until their recent financial difficulties made them change their mind
Happy Days and American Graffiti. Will be great for mainland tourists, who will feel at home for having a bite at Sonic. I never tried Sonic though. Too many choices. I stayed with the tried and true: McDonald’s although I went to Carl’e Jr. a lot. It’s great that Zippy’s has limited itself to Hawaii, not like L & L, which I believe has stretched itself too thin by globetrotting.
I thought Sonic wasn’t interested in Hawaii. I guess you shouldn’t listen o rumors.
The Polynesian and Micronesian folks in Hawaii are happy. Now they can add another fast food joint to help them on the sure road to diabetes and obesity. Way to go. The kidney doctors in Hawaii are really busy these days.
so the plate lunches, mac salad… is all healthy yeah?!?
Wished someone would bring Red Robin.
Red Robbin is here…
Bring it! And someone Bring In & Out too.
R u going to visit the new Shirokiya Village Walk in Ala Moana Shopping Center?
I’d rather have In-N-Out
eh, Kemo sabe. Recreate the Flamingo Chuckwagon. I miss Prime Rib buffets. Life in Hawaii got worse after that closing.
All the old ones are going by he wayside: Flamingo’s, J C Penney’s, Kenny’s Burgerhouse, Star Market, Columbia Inn, Liberty House, Gibson’s, Wigwam, and Atlas Building Materials. Most retail will fail nowadays, unless u r called Wal Mart, Macy’s, Costco, Longs Drugs and Zippy’s.
“LIKE”
Better headline, as many including me was not familiar with the player’s name. We of course are familiar with Marcus Mariota and Manti Teo. I was introduced to McDonald’s in 1968 when my first sister told my Dad that she wanted a Big Mac, when we got our Ford Station Wagon that cost OMG only $4,500 brand new LOL. I only seen Sonic in commercials on TV and similar versions of it at Arnold’s on Happy Days. Bet these drive inns will be a hit with high schoolers.
This will be a flash in the pan and gone in less than 5 years……..mark my words!
These Sonic franchises are doomed to failure. Burgers are burgers are burgers. After the initial novelty wears off and people see that Sonic really doesn’t offer anything more than anyone else, they will die a slow death. I’ve had Sonic a time or two and, believe me, they are nothing to write home about. I think Mr. Kemoeatu has taken one hit too many.
If Sonic was great, they would have been out here already. McDonald’s, Jack in the Box, Burger King, Wendy’s, Denny’s, Subway, Arby’s, Dairy Queen, Orange Julius, Ruby Tuesdays, Panda Express and Carl’s Jr are all already here. Include your local favorites such as Zippy’s, L & L and Teddy’s Bigger Burgers. Where would Sonic fit in? One cannot use SNAP at any prepared restaurant venues.
If they get young, pretty, shapely girls with hot pants and bikini tops for carhops, they might last for a few years.
I’d much prefer hot tops and bikini bottoms.
There are so many stories of professional athletes who have lost their fortune to bad investments. I truly hope it doesn’t happen to Ma’ake. He’s much too good a person for it to happen. As Famous Amos once said, “you may make the best tasting cookie in the world, but if people don’t like you they won’t buy it”. That being said, before I go to other fast food places, Sonic will be my first choice……..even though at present, BK is on the front burner.
This will bring back the same concept as it was in 1949-1969 when KDI (Ala Moana and Ena Road) had carhops. It was a place where hot cars and teenagers gather after proms, movies, shopping and a place to hang out. It will create jobs and provide more choices for people to eat at.