$40 Pau Hana for 2: Crunch and Savory-Sweet at Kapa Hale

More upscale deals: Happy hour at Kāhala’s Kapa Hale is not to be missed.

July 23, 2024

Lynne Tsutsuki,

With inflation pushing up the cost of dining out, we’re on the lookout for great deals and good food. Frolic’s $40 Pau Hana for 2 series scopes out the best happy hour deals where two average eaters can indulge and leave comfortably full.

Photo: Lynne Tsutsuki

I am a frequent visitor to Kāhala Mall, but I never knew this place was on the same block. Kapa Hale, voted Best New Restaurant at the 2021 Hale ‘Aina awards, is hidden in a small corner right next to Olive Tree. Dishes by chef Keaka Lee feature local ingredients and are inspired by Hawaiian, Asian, American and European flavors, reflecting his training at Michelin-starred restaurants in San Francisco and New York.

While Kapa Hale serves lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, it’s the recently started happy hour that catches my eye. There are eight dishes to choose from, ranging from $12 to $15. If that sounds a little pricey for happy hour, they include choices like the KH Burger ($15 happy hour, $20 at lunch) and seasonal vegetables ($12 happy hour, $15 to $18 at lunch and dinner). Poke-Doki with a local fresh catch and won ton chips is $12 and Double Dippin’, with grilled bread and kalo chips to dip into kalo hummus and smoked marlin dip, is also $12. Wines by the glass and beers are $2 off, and there are two cocktail specials.

All of the dishes sound ‘ono, making it hard to decide which ones to order. The most filling combination in our budget would be the burger, garlic noodles (below) and either the poke, double dip or vegetables, which would total $40. Our three choices end up at $38. Here’s what we ate:

Roasted Garlic Noodle, $13

plate of fried Noodles with colorful toppings

Photo: Lynne Tsutsuki

I really like the bold flavors of these yakisoba noodles with roasted garlic, enoki mushrooms, miso, butter, cabbage, pickled peppers and sesame seeds. With every bite, all of the flavors explode at once. The dish is a little oily, and there are so many veggies that I actually wish for more noodles, but I enjoy the intensity of this dish.

KFC (Keaka’s Fried Chicken), $13

Fried Chicken appetizer at kapa hale pau hana

Photo: Lynne Tsutsuki

Four large pieces of tender chicken are packed with the flavors of honey soy, chile and garlic. In dishes like this, the sauce can make or break the dish. This is an absolute winner. It’s on the sweeter side, and even though the chicken is coated in it, the skin remains crisp. I would definitely order this again.

V Is for Vegetable, $12

Photo: Lynne Tsutsuki

V Is for Vegetable features a different vegetable dish each week. Our week’s offering is rangoons filled with mushrooms, greens and cream cheese and drizzled with pesto sauce. The cream cheese comes through, the mushrooms don’t, and there’s a slight hint of lime, which I like. The wonton wrappers are deep-fried to golden perfection. The combination of these ingredients is an 11/10. I wish this were on the regular menu!

From these, I cannot pick a favorite. Actually, I lie! I am a super fan of anything won ton and crunchy. Kapa Hale offers plenty of seating, both inside and outside. Reservations can be made online. Be sure to check it out!

Happy hour Monday to Friday 5 to 6 p.m., open other days and times for weekend brunch, lunch, and dinner. 4614 Kīlauea Ave. #102, (808) 888-2060, kapahale.com, @4614kapahale