Mahalo for supporting Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Enjoy this free story!
A Honolulu restaurant operator who gained national attention for saying it wouldn’t serve those who voted for President Donald Trump said he’s become a victim of a dirty trickster who created a Facebook page of his restaurant this week saying, “No Jews allowed.”
“That is not me. I just want to make that clear,” Robert Warner said. “I just feel so frustrated. I’m so upset.”
Warner, who runs the Italian restaurant Cafe 8 1/2 with his Taiwanese wife, said he called Temple
Emanu-El officials Friday to make sure they knew about the fake Facebook page.
“They were thankful I did call,” he said.
Warner, the chef of his restaurant, said he doesn’t know much about computers and had been talking with friends about how to eliminate the page, which he became aware of about a couple of days ago, when his restaurant began receiving telephone complaints.
He said he’s been operating the restaurant in the same location for 23 years, and people who frequent his restaurant know he serves everyone.
But he said he was frustrated with Trump’s policies and disliked the way Trump was treating the poor, so he put the sign up in December saying, “If you voted for Trump, you cannot eat here! No Nazis!”
He took down the sign Dec. 28 and told the news media he had made his point and the sign had run its course.
Warner said he received positive and negative reactions about his sign.
Warner said he posted the sign because he was upset about Trump’s “fascist” politics, but even when people said they voted for Trump, he still served them.
He’s put up another sign saying, “We have always served everyone. Action is more important than words.”
Apparently, some Trump supporters are continuing to criticize him and his restaurant on Facebook — many from the mainland.
Also came fake reviews — including one that complained about bad help from waiters, when his restaurant has no waiters, he said.
He said he’s investigating who made the fake Facebook page.
“I’m going to find out who it is for sure. … I’m going to sue them.”
74
