Page 6 - MidWeek West - Oct 5, 2022

6 OCTOBER 5, 2022
Iconic Waipahu Restaurant Highway Inn Marks 75 Years
Founded in 1947 by Seiichi and Nancy Toguchi, High- way Inn celebrated its 75th anniversary last month with a lū‘au for nearly 400 guests, including family members from Japan, employees, ven- dors and longtime customers.
ed the restaurant after being released from an internment camp. Cooking was the only thing he knew. After learning how to make Hawaiian food from his friends and, adding local-style American comfort food dishes to the menu, the eatery became a Waipahu hot spot.
and ‘ulu lū‘au dip, a unique spin on spinach artichoke dip that’s launching later this month.
Its original Waipahu loca- tion has moved three times, and the company has expand- ed to three locations and is now helmed by the third gen- eration of Toguchis.
Seiichi’s son, Bobby, took the lead for the second gener- ation and oversaw Highway Inn’s move to Leokū Street from Depot Road. He also added a poke counter and ca- tering.
“Sunday dinner was always a big thing for my family,” states Toguchi Ryan. “We would gather at my grandpar- ents’ house. It was an expres- sion of their love, making all this food and bringing us to- gether. That’s what we strive to do at Highway Inn every day — except for Sunday dinner, when we close so our employees can have that time with their families, like I did growing up.
“When you think about all the challenges that a fami- ly-owned local business fac- es, it’s really amazing that we have achieved this 75- year milestone,” states CEO Monica Toguchi Ryan. “I think there are not too many businesses out there that have stayed in the same family for so long. Our longevity and our success is all due to our dedicated staff and the cus- tomers who have supported us, especially our Waipahu and Kaka‘ako communities.”
Now that Toguchi Ryan, one of Bobby’s daughters, runs the family biz, she over- sees 110 employees at three locations — SALT at Our Ka- ka‘ako, Bishop Museum and Waipahu, which recently relo- cated to Moloalo Street.
“Having this Sunday lū‘au to celebrate our Diamond Jubilee feels like the biggest possible version of my grand- pa’s dinners. I hope that he and my grandma would be proud of what my generation and my dad’s generation have done with what he started.”
Highway Inn owner and CEO Monica Toguchi Ryan (with lei) greets guests at the restaurant’s 75th anniversary celebration. PHOTOS COURTESY JAMY STUDIOS
Toguchi Ryan shares that her grandfather, Seiichi, start-
The menu remains largely unchanged, serving Seiichi’s original recipes for lau lau, and beef and tripe stews, with a few nods to modern cuisine, such as vegan-friendly ‘ulu burger patties for loco mocos
Highway Inn Waipahu is located at 94-830 Moloalo St. No. 101. For more infor- mation, call 808-677-4345 or visit myhighwayinn.com.
Cooking Hawaiian Style host and MidWeek columnist Lanai Tabura was the event’s emcee. Musical performers Kawa’a Seranaders are pictured behind him.
UPCOMING EVENTS
10/9 Koko Head Sunday Market @ Koko Head Elementary School 10/15-10/16 Made with Aloha Gift Fair @ Pearlridge Center 10/21-10/22 Tricks & Treats Gift Fair @ Windward Mall