20 Years of Aloha Salads: How a Kailua Restaurant Became an Oahu Favorite

Twenty years ago, Aloha Salads opened its first restaurant in Kailua with a simple idea: make fresh, satisfying food part of everyday life in Hawaii.

It was May 2006. Our journey began with one restaurant and a mission centered on fresh ingredients, supporting local farmers and fishermen, and giving customers a place to enjoy salads, sandwiches, and more.

Today, Aloha Salads has six restaurants across Oahu, from Kailua and Kaneohe to Kapolei, Mililani, Aiea, and Honolulu.

As we celebrate our 20th anniversary in 2026, we're looking back at where we started, how we've grown, and the food and relationships that continue to shape Aloha Salads Hawaii.

It All Started in Kailua in May 2006

Every local business has a starting point. For Aloha Salads, that place was Kailua.

Our first restaurant opened in May 2006, establishing the foundation for a business that would continue serving Oahu for the next two decades.

From the beginning, the company's mission was about more than putting together a good salad. It included a commitment to locally grown food and supporting Hawaii's agricultural and fishing communities.

That original mission still appears in our company story today:

"To serve healthy, fresh, locally grown food of the highest quality at affordable prices."

Twenty years later, that founding commitment remains an important part of how we describe Aloha Salads.

Our menu has grown, and customers can now visit us in several Oahu communities. But the original Kailua restaurant remains an important part of our history.

Then and now: Aloha Salads in Kailua

For the final publication, use an authentic archival photograph of the original Kailua restaurant beside a current Aloha Salads restaurant photograph. This comparison should use verified dates rather than assuming an undated image shows the 2006 opening.

From One Kailua Restaurant to Six Locations Across Oahu

One of the clearest ways to see how Aloha Salads has grown is to look at where customers can find us today.

What began as one Kailua restaurant has become a familiar lunch and dinner option in multiple Oahu communities.

Where you can find Aloha Salads today

Each restaurant gives customers another place to explore the Aloha Salads menu, whether they're stopping by during a workday, taking a break from shopping, or picking up a meal for the family.

Although our restaurants are spread across Oahu, we're still an Oahu-based business. We don't currently operate restaurant locations on Hawaii's neighboring islands.

Find addresses, individual store hours, and ordering information on our locations page.

A Mission Rooted in Fresh Food and Local Connections

Supporting local agriculture has been part of the Aloha Salads mission since the beginning.

For us, that commitment is reflected in specific purchasing relationships rather than a claim that everything on the menu is grown in Hawaii.

For example, we maintain a standing weekly order for vine-ripe tomatoes from a farm in Hauula. We also source cucumbers and another tomato variety from a separate Oahu farm.

Our seafood sourcing includes fresh, local ahi supplied by a Honolulu company. The fish is never frozen, and delivery records identify the catch vessel and lot information.

These are concrete examples of how local ingredients connect to our restaurants.

Not every vegetable, salad green, or menu ingredient is locally sourced. Availability and supplier arrangements can vary, and we believe it's important to make that distinction.

For more about where selected ingredients come from, explore our ingredients and local sourcing information.

The Food That Has Become Part of the Aloha Salads Experience

Over the years, Aloha Salads has offered customers more than traditional green salads.

Today, our menu includes salads, wraps, sandwiches, soups, and beverages, giving customers different ways to enjoy lunch or dinner.

Some people want a hearty salad with chicken and avocado. Others prefer a warm sandwich or a wrap they can take back to work.

That variety is part of what makes the menu useful for individuals, families, and groups with different preferences.

A few menu favorites to explore

Kamuela Cobb

For a hearty salad

The Kamuela Cobb combines mixed greens, avocado, grape tomatoes, egg, bacon, blue cheese, chicken, and herb ranch dressing. It's a good choice when you want a salad with a variety of toppings and textures.

Chicken Pesto Sandwich

For sandwich lovers

Grilled chicken, pesto, basil, mixed greens, tomatoes, and mayo come together in the Chicken Pesto Sandwich. It's one example of how our menu extends beyond salads.

Ono Island Ahi

For ahi fans

The Ono Island Ahi is a way to explore one of the seafood ingredients that connects our menu to Hawaii's fishing community.

Customers can also choose the Design Your Own Salad, selecting their lettuce, four regular toppings, one cheese, and one dressing. Additional toppings are available for an extra charge.

The menu may vary by restaurant, so check the selections at your preferred location before ordering.

A 2024 People's Choice Recognition

First Place — Hawaii's Best 2024

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Honolulu Star-Advertiser People's Choice Awards

One milestone we're proud to share is Aloha Salads' First Place recognition in the 2024 Hawaii's Best People's Choice Awards, presented by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

The recognition is featured on our About page and is part of our documented company history.

For a restaurant that started with one Kailua location, it's a meaningful acknowledgment to include in our 20-year story.

The award doesn't change what customers come to us for: familiar menu choices, fresh ingredients, and convenient places to pick up a meal. But it does give new customers another reason to get to know the business.

Twenty Years Later, Still Serving Oahu

A lot can change in 20 years.

Neighborhoods grow, shopping centers change, and customers develop new routines. A restaurant that begins in one community may eventually become part of everyday life in several others.

For Aloha Salads, the journey from Kailua in 2006 to six Oahu restaurants in 2026 represents two decades of continuing to serve local customers.

Some customers have known Aloha Salads for years. Others may be discovering us for the first time after moving to Oahu, visiting the islands, or looking for a place to eat near work.

Wherever you're joining the story, we're glad you're here.

Frequently Asked Questions About Aloha Salads Hawaii

When did Aloha Salads first open?

Aloha Salads opened its first restaurant in Kailua, Oahu, in May 2006. The company celebrated its 20th anniversary in May 2026.

How many Aloha Salads locations are there?

Aloha Salads currently operates six restaurants, all on Oahu: Kailua, Kahala, Kaneohe, Kapolei, Mililani, and Aiea.

Is Aloha Salads a Hawaii-owned business?

Aloha Salads is a family-owned business founded in Kailua, Hawaii. It continues to operate its restaurants on Oahu.

Does Aloha Salads serve anything besides salads?

Yes. In addition to salads, the menu includes wraps, sandwiches, soups, and drinks. Menu selections can vary by location.

Does Aloha Salads use locally grown ingredients?

Yes, selected ingredients are locally sourced. Examples include weekly vine-ripe tomato orders from Hauula and fresh, local ahi from a Honolulu supplier. Not every menu ingredient is locally grown.

Celebrate 20 Years With Us

From our first restaurant in Kailua to six locations serving communities across Oahu, we're grateful to everyone who has made Aloha Salads part of their day.

Whether you've been visiting for years or you're deciding what to order for the first time, there's always something to explore on the menu.

Here's to 20 years of fresh food, local connections, and sharing a little aloha over lunch.

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