Golden Pork Ton-Kotsu Ramen Bar will open to the public March 29 at 1279 S. King St. and represent the Japa­nese parent company’s first foray outside its homeland.

"We are excited to establish our first restaurant in Hawaii," said Taro Take­naga, 37, president of IKKA Dining Project, in a statement.

In addition to Hawaii being "a very attractive place," IKKA executives saw room in the market for their own concept, Executive Vice President Shunta Fukui told TheBuzz through store manager Masa­hiro Isoda, who served as interpreter.

Officials believe Golden Pork will differentiate itself not just with its steaming bowls of Japa­nese comfort food, but by offering an array of adult beverages including wine and shochu in addition to the usual beer and sake.

Also, the new Honolulu restaurant likely won’t be IKKA’s last in the islands.

The company "absolutely" wants to expand within Hawaii and possibly to the mainland, Fukui said.

The new restaurant by IKKA Dining Project, the Hawaii unit of Japa­nese-based IKKA Dining International, also will be the company’s first original ramen concept, though the parent company operates two franchised ramen restaurants in Japan.

Also in Japan, IKKA owns and operates 21 izakaya-style restaurants, two Italian restaurants and a sushi restaurant, as well as a full-service wedding business adjacent to Tokyo Tower.

Under the helmsmanship of grand chef Masa­hiro Endo, Golden Pork will serve variations of the popular tonkotsu ramen and tsukemen, or dipping-style noodles, as well as typical ramen accompaniments, izakaya-style dishes and rice-based dishes.

The noodles served in the restaurant will be made to Golden Pork specifications by Hono­lulu-based Sun Noodle, which is viewed in the global restaurant business as a sort of rock star of Asian noodle making.

The restaurant, in the former Mediterraneo space, is slightly more than 1,000 square feet and will be able to seat 32 customers at six tables and a counter.

Eleven employees will work in the restaurant, including seven local people, once the hiring process is complete.

Golden Pork Ton-Kotsu Ramen Bar joins a growing list of highly popular, sort-of-upscale-yet-affordable restaurants in Hono­lulu that specialize in ramen, taking hours and hours to make the broth that is the foundation for everything else that gets layered on their specially crafted noodles.

The mainland-based food press regularly raves about ramen at some place or another being the best, or "hottest," completely ignoring Hono­lulu’s long-established expertise — and, dare we say, superiority — in the realm.

Take that, upper 49.

‘Big Teeze’ succeeds

The morning show at KCCN-FM 100.3 is now hosted by Terrence "Big Teeze" Hallums from 5 to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday.

He succeeds Lina Girl Langi and Pipi Rezentes, who co-hosted their last morning show after almost a decade Friday, after which they were told the show would be "going in a different direction," Rezentes said last week.

"We want to thank them for their service during that time and wish them the best in their new endeavors," said T.J. Mali­ev­sky, Summit Media Hawaii president, via email.

Morning shows co-hosted by Langi and Rezentes, and by "Mento" Mele Apana and Bill "Billy V" Van Osdol, have left the air at KCCN and KINE-FM 105.1, respectively, since November.

"We believe that Hawaii’s favorite music is the star of our stations, and we will be playing more of it as a result of these moves," Mali­ev­sky wrote. "Our constant goal is to find ways to strengthen our service and presentation to the listeners who are passionate about the stations and their music."

With the involuntary departure of Bruddah Wade within recent weeks, "replacements in the afternoon drive slots … (are) a work in progress that will feature more music going forward," he said.

No additional on-air changes are anticipated, Mali­ev­sky said, adding that we "are excited by the restructuring to date."

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Reach Erika Engle at 529-4303, erika@staradvertiser.com or on Twitter as @erikaengle.