Local Chef Alan Wong Set to Open Restaurant at The Kāhala Hotel & Resort

The James Beard Award-winning chef and Hawaiʻi Regional Cuisine pioneer will open Alan Wong’s at the Honolulu hotel, replacing its signature restaurant, Hōkū’s, in early 2026.

4 hours ago

Catherine Toth Fox,

Alanwongkahahahotelresort — Local chef Alan Wong is opening his restaurant at The Kāhala Hotel & Resort. Photo: Courtesy of The Kāhala Hotel & Resort/Tracy Wright-Corvo

Five years after closing his award-winning restaurant—which had been a HAWAIʻI Magazine reader favorite—local chef Alan Wong is moving to Kāhala.

The Kāhala Hotel & Resort, to be exact.

The James Beard Award-winning chef and pioneer of the Hawaiʻi Regional Cuisine movement will open Alan Wong’s at the luxe hotel in early 2026. The restaurant will replace Hōkū’s, the hotel’s longtime signature fine-dining restaurant. Hōkū’s will conclude service in the first quarter of 2026.

“What I look forward to most is welcoming back guests who have made cherished memories at our King Street restaurant and inspiring new moments of connection and celebration in this new era at The Kāhala,” said chef Alan Wong in a news release. “It’s an honor—and in many ways, a full circle moment—to call The Kāhala our new home.”

Wong will serve as consultant to guide the restaurant’s opening and menu development. The new concept will showcase a curated selection of signature dishes from his popular King Street restaurant—which opened in 1995 and closed permanently during the pandemic—with ingredients sourced locally.

Chef Joe Almoguera, the resort’s current executive sous chef, will be promoted to executive chef of the resort. Mark Shishido, general manager of the Pineapple Room by Alan Wong and beverage director at Alan Wong’s King Street location, will be the general manager of the new restaurant.

“For more than six decades, The Kāhala has been defined by timeless luxury, gracious service, unforgettable experiences and a legacy of aloha,” said Joe Ibarra, general manager of The Kāhala Hotel & Resort and vice president of Resort trust Hawai‘i. “This transition is not an ending—it’s an evolution. After nearly 30 years of exceptional culinary experiences at Hoku’s, welcoming Alan Wong’s represents both a return to our roots and a bold step forward in celebrating Hawai‘i’s extraordinary culinary heritage.”

Catherine Toth Fox is the former editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine and continues to contribute to the website and print publication.