More memories to savor of folks, food at Kuhio Grill

Last week’s column on the Kuhio Grill, or KG as some of us called it, in Moiliili generated more than 50 comments and emails. This was my 150th column since I began about three years ago, and the number of comments may have been a record. I thought I’d share some of them.

Bill Souza said he played basketball for the Rainbows in the early 1960s. "Coach Red Rocha always had our home-game, pre-game dinners at KG." He speculates that some of their losses at Klum Gym were due to the players overeating before the game.

"As an aside, I remember the governor (Neil Abercrombie) and the pres’ papa (Barack Obama Sr.) quite well. They were like two peas in a pod. Wherever you saw one, there was the other. Viva Kuhio Grill!" Souza said.

John Moriyama said he started going to KG’s in the mid-1970s, mostly on Friday evenings. He remembers University of Hawaii football coach Larry Price having his own booth next to the window fronting King Street.

"After many visits to KG, two of my friends and I decided to try to get to know one of the waitresses. That way, we figured, we would receive special service. Because it seemed that one of the waitresses served us quite often, we decided to focus on Yoshiko. Each time she served us, we made it a point to leave her a big tip. Over time, she got to recognize us.

"As you know, during the evenings, available tables were at a premium, especially following a sporting event at the old Honolulu Stadium. One time, customers were standing outside the entrance, waiting to get in. We joined them.

"At the same time, we noticed that Yoshiko was working that evening. So, of course, we tried to make eye contact with her. Eventually, she did notice us. After a while, Yoshiko waved her hand, motioning us to come inside to be seated! We casually excused ourselves as we bypassed the other waiting customers and made our way to our table. Talk about moving to the front of the line! That was the ultimate moment for us. We had arrived! (Do you think we left Yoshiko a big tip that evening?)"

"Kuhio Grill was my primary dinner place while at UH-Manoa from 1962 to 1964," said Kimo Ahia. "I was struggling with a daily food budget of $1.25 while sharing a room at the University YMCA. The 25 cents bought bread, peanut butter and guava jelly for breakfast and lunch. The dollar got me two beers or a single beer with tip for the waitress who fed me.

"If I was lucky earning money at odd jobs on the weekend, my mamas’ got a very nice extra tip too. Those $2 to $5 extra each week kept me fed well. Needless to say, I returned several times after to revisit the kind staff and share memories and appreciation of their nurturing."

Ian Birnie said he used to eat at Kuhio Grill in the 1950s. "We’d body surf at Makapuu or Sandy’s all day, rinse off (sometimes in the fountain at the Diamond Head end of Kapiolani Park), then go to either Bingham Inn or Kuhio Grill for dinner, and then on to Charley’s Tavern (on Beretania Street where Kirin restaurant is now) for the rest of the evening.

"Bingham Inn was on the makai-Ewa corner of Beretania and Isenberg, and had teriyaki steak, toss salad, two scoops rice and a drink for 65 cents.

"Kuhio Grill was more expensive, with soup, salad, a small plate of ulua, followed by the entree. I think it was $1.25."

Emily Hawkins said she worked at Kuhio Grill around 1966. Ojisan Miyashiro was the father and boss; Kenji and Tatsu were both managers.

"I was one of three UH-connected waitresses. The other two were Mii from the Cook Islands and the other was Kamala from Ceylon (Sri Lanka now).

"If you wanted great pupu, you didn’t sit at our tables. We were on tight budgets and served the restaurant-provided pupu only: first, Portuguese sausage and later sashimi. The longtime waitresses had regular customers and brought in amazing amounts of food. In turn, these men (mostly) tipped very well. A Peyton Place’ novel could be written about their lives!

"The regulars included several sports-related people, including (legendary Iolani football) coach Eddie Hamada. When games would finish at Honolulu Stadium, we would get really busy. For me, the amazing thing about Kuhio Grill was the price of meals. There were three levels of meals which all included soup or salad, main course, drink and dessert. The prices were $1.25, $1.75 and $2.50 depending on the entree." She recalls steak, stew, spaghetti, veal and pork cutlet and great tempura as the favorites.

"Although I only worked there for one year, it changed my life. Working with Mii led to greater interest in Hawaiian and Polynesian languages, which became central to my graduate study and career.

"When work was pau, I would take my tips and go to Coco’s with my fiance. We now have a 44-year-old daughter named Mii."

It’s interesting to me that a small restaurant in Moiliili that’s been gone for more than 35 years is still remembered so fondly. It says a lot about the quality of their food, service and atmosphere.

Bob Sigall, author of the “Companies We Keep” books, looks through his collection of old photos to tell stories each Friday of Hawaii people, places and companies. Email him at Sigall@yahoo.com.