The popular Pounders Restaurant is back open, and it seems that everyone is feeling the excitement!!!! Last Saturday was their first service since the end of March and they have been busy preparing.

The first person I saw as I entered the door was Dede Alo, Pounder’s enthusiastic manager. I mentioned that it looked like the guests were coming in steadily, and they all seemed so excited to come back to one of their favorite restaurants on the island. I then asked her how she felt about reopening.

“It is so excellent. I’ve really missed our guests. I love being around people, both our staff and the people coming to relax and enjoy a good meal. We put a lot of work into getting Pounders ready – both firing back up the stoves and stocking the shelves and in making sure that we are a safe, relaxing place for everyone to come enjoy amazing food.”

When it comes to safety, Pounders is leading the way in modifications and policies. As a matter of fact, Greg Maples, the Director of Food Services at the Polynesian Cultural Center is actually the incoming Chairman of the Hawaii Restaurant Association. Greg’s upcoming role made the state health requirements even more important to him. “We have been meeting in-depth with state officials to not only identify and address the needs of the situation, but to go beyond expectations.” (Click here to read the Center’s promise regarding safety)

“We are proud to say that our new model is being used as the model for the state. We poured through all of the state level requirements, identifying how we can best address them. We have reduced our seating capacity by 50%, added partitions between seating areas, stickers on the floor, instituted a constant cleaning of all surfaces, installed antibacterial hand soap dispensers between all tables and trained all staff in safe food handling. We have an electronic menu and payment system, and as a step forward, we have drafted a “Promise” that includes both those steps we are instituting to protect both our guests and our staff; plus some ways our guests can help to protect those around them, including wearing a mask everywhere but at their tables, using the antibacterial hand soap when they arrive and maintaining physical distance of 6 feet or more throughout the Marketplace.”

Executive Chef Prez Galeai is certainly doing his part too! All of the favorites are still there, including their popular kalbi rib roast with ulu mashed potatoes, the freshest of fish, handmade Napalese pizza, and unique appetizers and desserts made by hand on property!

But there’s more! Chef has added a number of Polynesian focused dishes, including fresh pork lau lau, an expanded vegan menu, an incredible garlic shrimp corn chowder in a taro bread bowl, and a main dish version of a local favorite, loco moco.

“I just love to make people happy just as much as I love to cook great food. To me, everyone who walks in the door is Ohana, and I want them to feel that too!”

Pounders Restaurant is excited to welcome you, and wants you to remember that they are just a part of the reopening of the Hukilau Marketplace. If you want to see all the great activities, stores, food, and entertainment available (including FREE weekly drive-in movie nights), click here to be taken to the Hukilau Marketplace website.

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We are pleased to share this offer from Pounders Restaurant. It is good through Saturday, July 20th, 2020.