Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 12, Number 2, 1 February 1995 — Kaʻū "Drive-Inn" offers food and drink for Big Island travelers [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kaʻū "Drive-Inn" offers food and drink for Big Island travelers

by Patrick Johnston Anyone who travels the long distances between Hilo and Kailua on the southern section of the Hawai'i Belt Road needs plaee, somewhere along the way, to stop, have some good food, and drink some coffee. Now they have one. 'Ohana Drive-Inn is a loeal diner/coffee shop just off Highway 1 1 about 40 miles south of Kailua. Owned and operated by George AuHoy, the restaurant offers a large variety of tasty loeal dishes - there are 50 items on the regular menu - and is a popular eating spot for loeal residents and workers.

'Ohana Drive-Inn opened up in 1991 with a loan from OHA's Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund. "I felt there was a need for a food service outlet like this around here," AuHoy explains. "Before most people would go to Hilo or Kona." AuHoy was well qualified to start one. From small beginnings as a fry eook 30 years ago, he has worked at major hotels across the state, introduced Vietnamese food to Vietnambound U.H. volunteers in the mid-six-ties, and was onee chef instructor at Kapi'olani Community College. His work at KCC won him an excel-lence-in-teaching award and he was

voted teacher of the year by the faculty there. After a 10-year stint growing Kona coffee and a brief try at raising anthuriums, AuHoy returned to the restau-

rant business in the late 1980s four years later he was ready to go into business for himself. With help from OHA loan i officers and Alu Like business I consu!tant Dave Brown, i AuHoy prepared a business p plan and started his restaurant. "When I first started I was I told it would be a real bugger. I It was scary u n t i I I met the OHA loan officers. After that it was a lot easier."

'Ohana Drive-Inn is open 362 days a year from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. ™ AuHoy runs the diner with his wife Yvonne, son Mike, and four part-time employees, serving everything from Portuguese pickled pork (AuHoy's mother-in-law was Portuguese) to teriyaki ehieken. "I start at 5:30 in the morning and do

the prepping," AuHoy says. "One of the reasons our food costs

are low is because I do a lot of the work myself. Hiring *§ more people would cost M

me." Most of his patrons are from the area but this might change if he isj allowed to put up a signl visible from the highway 1 to advertise his business.ffl Right now there is noth- ■ ing to indicate to high-j||

way travelers that there's any plaee to eat behind the green wall that faces the road. "AuHoy explains, "Laws on signs are quite stringent. You can't put them up

aext to the highway." AuHoy has been trying to eonvince government officiaIs of his | need for a sign but so far his 1 request has lallen on deaf ears. ■ "It hurts. We're losing a lot of U business." it Even without the signs, p 'Ohana Drive-Inn brings in a steady stream of customers throughout the day and serves the community well. Regulations ean keep out the signs, but thev

can't keep out the people looking ^ for a good plaee to eat. 'Ohana Drive-Inn is located on Highway 11 in the Pōhue Plaza, six miles past Manukā State Wayside going south and approximately 40 miles from Kailua. lt ean be reached at 929-7679. For information about the Revolving Loan Fund eall 594-1888.

Ohana Drive-lnn proprietor George AuHoy (left), his wife Yvonne, and son Miehael. Photo by Patrick Johnston