Dunkin’ Donuts opens near airport

With 400 dozen doughnuts ready, Dunkin’ Donuts made its return to Hawaii on Wednesday with a lively store opening near Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu.

The 7 a.m. opening included the University of Hawaii marching band playing fight songs; a UH dance team; Honolulu Police Department traffic control; streams of pink and orange balloons; and the brand’s costumed character mascots, Sprinkles (a doughnut) and Cuppy (a cup of coffee).

About 250 customers lined up for the opening of the first new store for Dunkin’ since a previous Hawaii franchisee for the Massachusetts-based chain closed its last location more than a decade ago.

Walter Woods, a 63-year-old retired bus driver from Kahuku, assured himself the first place in line by arriving Tuesday at 10 a.m.

“I got a lot of time on my hands,” he said. “Pau. Retired already.”

Woods, who slept by the store’s front door overnight, was drawn by Dunkin’s offer of a $100 gift card for its first customer. He also likes the doughnuts, and ordered three dozen. “Tastes good, the doughnuts,” he said. “It’s been a long time since they been here.”

Nathan Corpuz, second in line, arrived at about 7:45 p.m. Tuesday and was impressed by Woods’ effort: “I said, ‘Wow, that’s dedication.’”

Yet Corpuz’s cousin, Isaiah Montero, was first to line up in the drive-thru and also received a $100 gift card. Montero, a 16-year-old student at Moanalua High School who drove Corpuz to the store, said Dunkin’ left town when he was little and he wanted to taste the company’s doughnuts again. “I’m getting a lot of doughnuts,” he said. “Dozens and Munchkins (doughnut hole balls) and all that.”

The first 50 customers in the store and 50 in the drive-thru received $25 gift cards and Dunkin’-branded doodads including a keychain and water bottle.

Jean Grossman, a regional vice president at Dunkin’, said she was really excited that Hawaii gas station and convenience store operator Aloha Petroleum Ltd. made the deal to open 15 Dunkin’ stores statewide within eight years under a franchise agreement.

“Hawaii will again run on Dunkin’,” she said moments before the store opened.

Eighty-two employees were hired for the new store, which is at 3270 Ualena St. near a Best Western hotel and a McDonald’s that will soon be joined by a neighboring convenience store and IHOP restaurant.

Richard Parry, Aloha Petroleum president and CEO, said the first Hawaii Dunkin’ store will be followed by one at the University of Hawaii at Manoa that’s slated to open in September or October before a previously announced location at Kapolei Commons.

Butch Galdeira, franchise manager for Dunkin’ in Hawaii, said Aloha Petroleum worked with Dunkin’ to create a guava-filled doughnut along with two croissant egg-and-cheese sandwiches using Portuguese sausage and Spam to cater to local tastes that seemed pleased during the initial rush Wednesday.

“It just proves that Dunkin’ is a loved brand, and Hawaii embraces the brand,” he said. “We’re excited to be a part of that.”