NADINE KAM / STAR-ADVERTISER
George Kawamoto was the first customer of the Kakaako Highway Inn. He ordered an old-fashioned combo of tripe and naau stews.
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A little bit of the “country” has come to town with the arrival of a branch of Waipahu institution Highway Inn in Kakaako.
The Hawaiian-food specialists quietly opened last week, and while owners are still awaiting furniture held up in shipping due to recent storms, you can still pick up Hawaiian plates and sandwiches to go, or to enjoy at picnic tables inside the restaurant.
Among a la carte selections are butterfish collar and stew gravy ($6.30); pork or chicken laulau ($5.30); hee luau ($4.25); and small-, regular- and ohana-size beef or naau stew, at $4.60, $5.85 and $11.15, respectively. Or pick up a kalua pork ($12.80), laulau ($13.40) or stew ($11.90) combo plate that includes rice or poi, pipikaula or grilled sweet potato, and haupia.
Early risers can greet the day with baked goods from blueberry cream cheese scones to cornbread made with kiawe flour and Hawaiian sea salt. Also packed in to-go containers are lomi salmon, Waipio Valley poi and spicy coconut.
Find Highway Inn at 680 Ala Moana Blvd., across the parking lot from Hank’s Haute Dogs. Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays.
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