Alan Wong is coming back to Honolulu: the chef behind the landmark Alan Wong’s is lending his name to a new restaurant at The Kāhala Hotel & Resort, and it will replace the hotel's long‑running Hōkū’s. The resort is targeting an early‑2026 opening for the rebranded dining room and is already lining up kitchen leadership. For locals and visitors who remember the King Street flagship, the move promises a return of several signature dishes.
Announcement and menu hints
The announcement came in a news release, as reported by HONOLULU Magazine, which says Wong will consult on menus and that classic Alan Wong’s dishes — ginger‑crusted onaga, da bag’s steamed clams, kālua pig and the chocolate‑shell coconut dessert — are expected to return. The outlet also notes the operation is recruiting for a chef de cuisine, sous chef and pastry chef as it prepares the space for the relaunch. That hiring push and the promise of menu favorites are being positioned to bridge Wong’s King Street legacy with the resort’s fine‑dining room.
Staff moves inside the kitchen
Per HAWAIʻI Magazine, Joe Almoguera — the Kāhala’s current executive sous chef — will be promoted to executive chef and will work with Wong, and Mark Shishido, longtime beverage director for Alan Wong’s, will serve as general manager of the new restaurant. Joe Ibarra, general manager of The Kāhala Hotel & Resort, called the move “not an ending —it’s an evolution” as the property looks to marry the hotel’s longtime hospitality with Wong’s signature dishes.
A return to roots
Wong first opened Alan Wong’s on King Street in 1995 and went on to become a founding figure of the Hawai‘i Regional Cuisine movement; he won a James Beard Award in 1996 and closed that King Street flagship permanently during the pandemic, the Honolulu Star‑Advertiser reported. For many diners, the Kāhala move will be a chance to see menu classics reimagined for a resort audience while preserving local sourcing and island flavors.
Hōkū’s timeline and what’s next
Hōkū’s, the Kāhala’s signature dining room for about three decades, will make way for the new concept; reporting on the exact wind‑down varies — HONOLULU Magazine reported the space will close at the end of this year, while HAWAIʻI Magazine notes the hotel set a first‑quarter 2026 timeline in its release. The Kāhala’s contact page lists the resort’s address and dining contacts for reservations and events as management prepares details for the transition; see The Kāhala Hotel & Resort for reservations and info.
What diners should expect
Prospective applicants and diners can expect the hotel to post openings and reservation details as the project progresses; local outlets will carry updates as menus and service plans are finalized. Until then, fans of Wong’s classics can watch for announcements and reservation windows as the resort preps for an early‑2026 debut.
