Columbia Inn

"The Gem in the Slums to the Top of the Boulevard”

Columbia Inn (1941-2007) was located at 116 N Beretania St and Kamanuwai Lane with not to far off was Follies Theatre and Tin Can Alley (Kamanuwai Lane). Columbia Inn was started by the Kaneshiro Brothers of the Kaneshiro Ohana (Okinawan Descent) “Fred Toshi Kaneshiro” (1921-1981) and his older brother “Frank Gentaro Kaneshiro “ who were pretty into coffee where they would get the name “Columbia” from the words on the coffee bags as they believed good coffee, good people, make a good restaurant. The family got much of their social experience as members of “Oroku Azajin Club Hawaii” (Okinawa Ryukyu Islands Village groups and club) where they made the batter and cooked much of the Hawaii Andagi for Festivals. It was a based on American food, Local Breakfast, Local Lunch, and Local Dinner and had limited hours and worked closely with the Uyehara Family, particularly Kamado Uyehara (Frankie’s Cafe) who was his partner who handled much of the hosting, cleaning, and socializing to make people feel like family with: Beatrice Kaneshiro, Mitsu, Mitsu’s Sister, and her Cousin.

Tin Can Alley, it was by the Follies that were right next to Columbia Inn with both areas being a bit of a poor persons area or the “Slums of Hawaii” where the paint was weathered, the metal was rusted, and the feeling of dampness would be from the wood and the smell of funky water. Fred Toshi Kaneshiro had then dubbed Columbia Inn “The Gem in the Slums”. Those who lived in the area remember seeing Tempest Storm “The Queen Of Exotic Dancers” would practice dance in the back alley of Isle Paradise as music would be playing in the background as well as noise from people playing basket ball. Mun Lun School was held after the Isle Paradise classes and passer byers could sometimes hear the Chinese band in the apartments up above, the place would end up moving eventually to Kaiulani Elementary. To the left of Columbia Inn was a Pool Hall, Kiraku Restaurant, Roberto’s Bookstore (books, magazines, comics), Taxi Stand, and the Watch Maker. Because of all these places nearby and a prostitution house had girls come in for breakfast and then head upstairs and entertainment was “Burlesque Shows” and theatre.

In the beginning, 1941-1964, the Sign, a big neon sign that was upward with three circles that blinked up would be how people found Columbia Inn when things went dark. This is how it was when the restaurant opened on Monday December 8th of 1941 where they would clean up, get ready, and start serving up the crowds that would come in even back then during a time of War (world war II) where things didn’t feel real with the sounds of bombing, talk in the restaurant were about being in service to the military, there were also talks about bomb shelters and what was on the radio. The family would have to learn how to stop speaking in native language and start speaking english as service men asked politely and tip well when english was spoken. Servicemen favorites, most of the military who came more then once or twice would be from Fort Shafter or Schofield Barracks where they would order hamburger, hamburger steak, cutlets, stews, and spaghetti. Those who came from the Naval vessels would be easy to spot as these servicemen would be ordering Six Fresh Eggs instead of powdered Eggs, Gallon Whole Milk instead of powdered Milk, and Four Fried Hash Browns or Extra plenty French Fries, all because there wasn’t anything like it on the Naval Ship they were living on. They wanted soda so a fountain was built and then alcohol so a bar was added too. Most of the standard American menu had come from the first establishment to serve people the food of America during the war. Tosh Kaneshiro was also selling soup at the time to save up with US Sailors lining up for Portuguese Bean soup.

After the War, Columbia Inn was a popular restaurant and had a full bar that drew in the military families and government workers as it was not only recognizable from films and news outlets at the time. There were also lots of girls would bring in servicemen and make pretend they liked them as they would treat them to anything they wanted to eat and at Columbia Inn there was always the complete mea called “Soup to Nuts”l: the soup, the rolls, the entree, the starches, the veggies, and of course drinks. People would flock to have it be their “Meet Up Spot” and were a bit territorial about their tables. Another business venture that sprung up would be “College Inn” by the Kaneshiro brothers on the corner of Dole and University from around 1956-1961, until the Lum Ohana would end up taking over the business in the 1970s… The Restaurant and bar popped up in the Teruya Ohana (Times Super Market) “Times Cafe” location on the side of the parking lot of the Honolulu Advertiser Newspaper and KGU A.M. Radio station building with wire looking tall twin towers on the roof. The Movie “Hell’s Half Acre”, the producer John H. Auer had scouted out the area and sent Columbia Inn a contract to feed the cast and crew at the restaurant after 8:00pm for the duration of the filming. Tosh Kaneshiro accepted the offer and would go on to feed: Leonard Strong, Wendel Corey, Jesse White, and Evelyn Keyes. 

Top of Da Boulevard Columbia Inn (1964-2001), was located at 645 Kapiolani and was a move that was necessary because of the 1964 Chinatown Redevelopment that was happening. People enjoyed the location as it had a Jukebox with American and Japanese songs on it, there was a counter with twelve stools and a phone that would always be ringing for orders, and meeting rooms. At this time the menu was sourced from C.Q Yee Hop & Co and they had cheap meat with Chicken, Pork, and Beef. The menu had all sorts of things like: Thin-sliced Pork Chops Teriyaki Pork Chops, Full Pork chops, Steak, Teriyaki Steak, Fried Chicken, Cutlets, and Local Food on Special (Shoyu Pork Tofu, Roast Pork Tofu, Rib Steak Tofu, Chicken Shiitake Tofu) as the main clientele was still servicemen. The atmosphere really started to change as there was more energy in the room as the place started to be known as a Sports Restaurant and more locals who would provide good word of mouth were well known like: sumos (Jesse), wrestlers, boxers, news casters, journalists, and some shady people as well. While other places did chicken cutlets good like on the west side the town side really had it made with the breaded Beef Cutlet or Veal Cutlet as the alternative. They were really good at using all the pieces of the cow with: Calf Liver Onions, Ground Beef for Hamburger Steak, tenderized Steaks for the Beef Cutlets, Sliced Steak for the Teri Steak (Teri Steak and Shrimp Tempura, Teriyaki Beef Burger).

In 1960's the menu was said to be Shrimp, King Crab, Oysters, Beef Tenderloin Steak (grilled or cutlet), Sirloin Steak, New York Steak, Ribeye Steak, Teriyaki Steak, Roast Turkey, Fried Spring Chicken, Teriyaki Porkchop, Jumbo Shrimp Tempura, Fried Deep Sea Scallops, Mahi Mahi, Lamb Chops, Ham Steak, King Crab Legs, Lemon Wedges, Fried Pineapple, Mint Jelly, Mushroom Sauce, Meuniere Sauce, Ginger Shoyu Sauce, Tartar Sauce, Ranch Sauce, Sole Fillet, Hamburger Steak, Beef Curry, Insiand Curry, Beef Liver, Chicken Liver, Vienna Sausage Omelette, Ice Cream, Sherbet, Jello, Pudding, and Pies.

The Kapiolani location was known as a Sports Restaurant in its later days with a display case of Jim Brown’s Football Helmet in the front and having LA Dodgers memorabilia all over the place and photos of notable patrons like: Jim Leahy, Joe Moore, and Tom Selleck. It was a scatch made kitchen with everything made from the ground up. It was a Kaneshiro Tradition to make whatever a customer wanted as long as the ingredients were available and the staff is able. Another notable group that would frequent the venue was the Kamakahi Family for set ups and gigs. The Inouye family of U.S. Senator Dan Inouye who would order beef stew with no meat inside. The news staff from the newspaper Star Bulletin, Honolulu Advertiser, Perry and Price, even Kimo McVeigh, Russ Lynch, Tiny Jordon, Ben Cayatano, and Neil Ambercrombie all went to this delicious spot! There are too many names to recall them all from the patrons who went there for years. It definitely is a place that was a community stronghold.

Chef George Uehara, had a hard life growing up with a really strict father and was taken care of by Frank who could see that he was a really nice guy and a spectacular chef with lots of good local food. With the menu items that George was making it started gaining a strong reputation for groups to meet at who were for the community and locals would call it their “Kau Kau Spot” like the Hawaii Jaycees (JCI Hawaii) and the Hawaii Lions Foundation members. That is when there were more American, Okinawan, Japanese, Chinese, Town-side food that isn’t really any one thing, but it would be best described as local eats as everything else was under Local food and not just the initial ethnic menu items. George is the originator of “Honolulu Beef Stew” better known by its award-winning title of “Broke-da-Mouth Stew” as is written on many recipe cards in homes in the nearby Kalihi, Kapalama, and Waikiki area.

Mahi Mahi was the winner for many at the time with things like the “Mahi Mahi Plate” with the winning sauce, KGU Radios George Mansfield would go for the “Mahi Mahi Tempura” or a “Mahi Mahi Tempura Sandwich”, and some would get “Pan-seared Mahi Mahi”. Late night customers who came back from bowling or coming back from the UH Baseball games would order Saimin and “Mahi Mahi Sandwich”. When there were sports games or boxing matches there would be a lot of reporters eating there with notepads and exchanges of what they saw and heard from the events. You would see them often times order a side of Shrimp Tempura that came with grated-daikon (Daikon Oroshi) and Tempura Sauce.

The Waimalu Columbia Inn was opened in July 1981, the same day Toshi passed away and later sold during the Japanese economic boom when many Local businesses were being purchased by the Japanese corporation, Kyotaru USA until its closure.

“Columbia Inn Restaurant has closed its doors for the last time March 11, 2007. We deeply regret any inconvenience this may cause you our loyal customers- many of whom have become like family and we have grown to care about. We will miss you all and bid you a fond aloha kakou. We have been unable to negotiate a remedy with the landlord and they have forced us to close. We obtained a signed offer from a recognized chain restaurant to take over Columbia Inn and keep most of our 50+ employees working and that was refused, too. To our loyal, hard working employees, many who have worked for Columbia Inn for over 10 years we are very sorry.”

Staff: Kim Yoshimura (Waitress), Marthy Lake (waitress), ???? “Frenchy” ???? (manager), Alan Casupang, Salmy Sperling, Keith Masagatani, Barbara Jean Eberly, Tom Jones, Julie Viernes, Clara Rozal, George Uehara (Chef), Tom Manuel (Cook), Susan Brown,