July 2023

Monthly News & Updates

Hawaii Restaurant Association Honors and Celebrates

the 15th Annual Hall of Fame Inductees

and "Chefs of Aloha" Dine Around

Join us for a Night Among the Stars as we celebrate the 2023 inductees to the Hawaii Restaurant Association Hall of Fame featuring the Chefs of Aloha dine-around as we honor and celebrate our special guests.

Sheraton Waikiki Ballroom

Monday, September 18, 2023

5:00 PM: Registration and Cocktails

6:00 PM: Dine-Around featuring the "Chefs of Aloha"

6:45 PM: Hall of Fame Program

2023 Class of Inductees

Russell Hata

Y. Hata & Co., Limited and ChefZone

Pioneer / Friend of Industry

Alan Ho

Jade Dynasty Seafood Restaurant / Kirin Restaurant

Active Restaurateur

Ave Kwok

Jade Dynasty Seafood Restaurant / Dada Spa, Salon and Cafe

Pioneer / Active Restaurateur

Jason Peel

Nami Kaze Hawaiʻi

Local Champion / Active Restaurateur

Linda Rosario

McDonald's

Pioneer / Active Restaurateur

Did you catch HRA's recent Think Tech Show featuring the ERC Tax Credit expert and HRA member ERC Today discussing the success of the ERC Credit experienced by many HRA members. There is still time to take advance of this tax credit. Learn more at https://erctoday.com/wantERC

"Restaurants of Hawaii" features HRA members and guests discussing trending topics in the food service industry.

Check out our full playlist of past shows HERE.

Please Like, Share, Comment & Subscribe to our Channel!

Heartland's Point of Sale Solutions

Heartland has many resources to help your restaurant thrive. Discover how you can streamline your restaurant even more with Heartland’s Restaurant Point of Sale (POS) and payment solutions.

Chef's Dream Opportunity:

Maui Restaurant For Sale

Don't miss the opportunity to own the Hungry Coyote Restaurant & Catering - a turn-key, profitable, and highly desired location on Maui. With its chef's dream kitchen, attached apartment, work truck, and prime location, this exceptional venture offers everything you need to establish yourself as a culinary master on one of the most beautiful islands in the world. Seize this opportunity and let your culinary dreams flourish at the Hungry Coyote. Contact Miranda Watson at mirandawatson@kw.com

HRA's Executive Director on "Inspire You & Me" Show

Watch our own Sheryl Matsuoka's interview on the K5 Show "Inspire You & Me" and hear insights to what makes this dynamo tick.

Sheryl's passion and commitment to the industry is apparent in her daily work and in this interview she shares what inspires her.

Member Benefit:

Dental Insurance for HRA Member Restaurants

Did you know the Hawaii Restaurant Association partners with Hawaii Dental Service offering an exclusive Dental Plan for our members? The HRA + HDS plan offers exclusive group pricing for HRA members. Learn more about coverage options today.

Contact Anne Jelea Dang for more information 808-529-9287, ajdang@hawaiidentalservice.com

HRA Educational Foundation News

Pictured left to right: James Idemoto, HMAA; Andy Huang, HRA Incoming Chairman; Sheryl Matsuoka; and Nathan Okinaka, HRAEF Chairman.

The Hawaii Restaurant Association presented the HRA Educational Foundation with a $4,145 donation from proceeds of HRA's 2023 golf tournament in support of thirteen Hawaii public high schools currently offering the ProStart educational curriculum in their classrooms. The nationally recognized ProStart curriculum is the industry standard for training future culinary and food service workers. HRAEF brought the curriculum to Hawaii in 2016. The mission of the EF is to support, inspire and train our future food service workforce.

How to Elevate Guest Experience With Dynamic Menu Changes

In the competitive restaurant industry, understanding menu design psychology can greatly impact a guest's experience and help you manage your restaurant better. One interesting aspect is how the name of a dish affects how much customers are willing to pay. Surprisingly, research shows that customers are willing to pay up to 15% more for the same food item if it has a fancier name.

Ryan Tanaka, HRA's past chairman and Managing Partner & CEO of Giovanni Pastrami, CJ’s, and Round Table Pizza at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, created Braddahhood Grindz in the summer of 2022 to support University of Hawai‘i (UH) Football Head Coach Timmy Chang in an effort to feed his players during the offseason. In its inaugural year, the program fed 150 players and staff supported by four restaurants – Giovanni Pastrami, Gyotaku Hawaii, Kuhio Food Hall, and Ruby Tuesday Hawaii – who took turns providing one meal per week over eight weeks during the summer 2022.

Learn more about this community initiative at www.braddahhoodgrindz.com

Optimizing Restaurant Costs & Margins in 2023

Food prices in 2023 surged by 6.7%, handily outpacing total inflation at 4%. Meanwhile, minimum wages are rising in 23 states. With unprecedented inflationary pressures continuing to bear down on the restaurant industry, leaders need clear, concise strategies, tactics, and technology tools to ensure sustainable profitability.  

Register for this free webinar on July 25th at 1:00PM CT designed to help you master and control prime costs like a boss. Learn the strategies, tactics, and tools you need to get a bird's eye view of your costs down to a granular level as well as how to manage them.