08/18/2026
Restaurants are not for the faint of heart.
We’ve weathered COVID shutdowns, hurricanes, and more than a few things we never saw coming. The struggles are daily — they don’t stop, even when things look good from the outside. It can seem glamorous. We can assure you, it’s not. We have our moments, and we’re grateful for every one of them, but they’re fleeting.
What has carried us through it all is the people. The relationships we’ve forged with our staff, our guests, our fellow business owners, our community. It really does take a village, and we’ve had one of the best. To everyone who has stepped up and helped us along the way — with a kind word, a full table, a shift covered, a hand when we needed one — thank you. We see you, and we appreciate you.
This month is a big one for us: Temple Hilo is celebrating 7 years, and Temple Kona is celebrating 2. Seven and two years of showing up for each other, and we’re not slowing down.
Mahalo nui loa to our village. Here’s to many more.
— Ian & Lei
