Whatever Happened...

An update on past news

Wednesday, January 8, 1997


Singing chef using time off to learn

Q: What ever happened to chef and songstress On Jin Kim at the now-closed Hanatei Bistro in Hawaii Kai? Is she working somewhere else? And what's there now?

Since Hanatei closed last May, On Jin Kim has been taking advantage of time off to travel and experience different countries and cuisines, said spokeswoman Donna Jung.

She has been to Italy, France, Switzerland, England, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and her native Korea, which she left at an early age, never learning to cook Korean style.

But she took classes in Korean palace cooking on her latest visit. Her previous training had been in French cuisine.

Kim is considering various possibilities, and more will be heard from her on the Hawaii food scene, Jung said.

No new tenant has taken over the former site of Hanatei Bistro at 6650 Kalanianaole Highway.

"It's still vacant," said Scott Hayashi, property manager of Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, the arm of Bishop Estate that looks after it. "We're looking for possible tenants, but at this point it's still vacant."

Hanatei Bistro opened in 1992.

Kim, a trained opera singer, sometimes filled the premises with lilting, melodic song, adding a unique musical dimension to the fare.



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