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Nobu Waikiki restaurant relocating to Kakaako

Andrew Gomes

Nobu Waikiki in the Waikiki Park Hotel. (Star-Advertiser file / June 2010)

Nobu restaurant will leave the Waikiki Parc hotel into new space in the Waiea luxury condominium being built within Ward Village.

Ward Village owner Howard Hughes Corp. announced today that the move will take place late next year. Nobu, named for its globally renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa, will be on the ground floor and will serve as a “culinary anchor for our community,” said David R. Weinreb, CEO, in a statement.

“Nobu’s decision to move from Waikiki to Ward Village is significant as it moves us closer to our long term goal of becoming the new center of Honolulu,” he added.

Among Nobu’s white-tablecloth restaurant neighbors in Ward Village, will be Merriman’s, the fine-dining concept by Hawaii Regional Cuisine chef Peter Merriman. It is slated to open in the Anaha condominium in June of 2017.

Matsuhisa has 32 restaurants around the world. The Nobu location planned for Waiea will be roughly 10,000 square feet, including 2,000 square feet of outdoor space.

Waiea is the first of what could be up to 22 residential towers with 4,300 units and about 1 million square feet of retail space in a 60-acre urban village replacing largely retail and industrial space previously known as Ward Centers.

Matsuhisa said in a statement: “Ward Village is creating a new community in the heart of Honolulu that is unlike anything that exists in Hawaii. The combination of world-class architecture, a walkable neighborhood and an authentic district of high quality shops, restaurants and entertainment offerings makes Ward Village a unique destination and the place to be in Honolulu.”

Today’s announcement by Howard Hughes Corp. comes on the heels of stories making the rounds this week that the “Nobu Manila” hotel, developed by the chef, Hollywood actor Robert De Niro and other investors, has been rated the Worst Luxury Hotel of 2015 by Luxury Travel Intelligence, a members-only travel organization for individuals of high net-worth.

15 responses to “Nobu Waikiki restaurant relocating to Kakaako”

  1. allie says:

    we still cannot afford it

  2. mikethenovice says:

    Lack of parking space in Waikiki is always a concern for businesses.

  3. Larry01 says:

    “Nobu restaurant will leave the Waikiki Parc hotel into new space in the Waiea luxury condominium being built within Ward Village.”

    Isn’t this sentence missing something between “hotel” and “into?” Shouldn’t it read “and move into” or something like that?

  4. jeffhonolulu says:

    OK. Ward–Kakaako for the wealthy travelers and owners !! Then let’s make Waikiki for the middle class tourists and locals !!!

  5. lokela says:

    Kakaako is becoming high end territory. I probably won’t patronize Kakaako very much. Too expensive for me. Unless Santa delivers some sort of gift certificate for me.

  6. mikethenovice says:

    The delivery trucks should have an easier time with more room to maneuver the vehicle around.

  7. kekelaward says:

    The Waikiki sprawl continues west bound. Another “no go” zone for the middle class and locals.

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