Celebrated chef Alan Wong is returning to the Hawaii culinary scene with the opening of a new signature restaurant, Alan Wong's, at Honolulu's The Kahala Hotel & Resort in early 2026.
Wong is known as one of the founders of Hawaii regional cuisine and is a James Beard Award-winning chef. For over 25 years, he had a well-known restaurant in Honolulu until he made the decision to close it in 2020 during the pandemic. Now, five years later, he is taking over the space of the fine dining restaurant Hoku's at the hotel.
"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 Kahala," Wong said in a news release. "It's an honor — and in many ways, a full-circle moment — to call The Kahala our new home."
Joe Ibarra, general manager of The Kahala and vice president of Resorttrust Hawaii, added, "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 Hawaii's extraordinary culinary heritage."