CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Hungry bargain-hunter Rod Nakamatsu said he lined up at 5:30 a.m. yesterday for the L&L Hawaiian Barbecue at the Keaumoku Street Wal-Mart to open. Being the first in line for L&L's anniversary 76-cent plate lunch sale, Nakamatsu scored the cheap plate lunch, a free L&L T-shirt, and a free month's supply of Pepsi. The proceeds from L&L's sale, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. yesterday, went to Goodwill Industries. Behind him was Eddie Flores Jr., president and CEO of the restaurant chain.
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Bargain BBQ
Plate lunch: L&L boosts Goodwill Industries
Rod Nakamatsu loves freebies so much he has come early to L&L Hawaiian Barbecue at the Keeaumoku Street Wal-Mart the past three years for cheap eats and a chance at some gifts.
Nakamatsu scored yesterday, getting a free L&L T-shirt, a free month's supply of Pepsi and a Hawaiian-style plate lunch for only 76 cents.
Nakamatsu was the first in line out of thousands as he waited for almost six hours yesterday outside L&L -- all for the chance to eat a 76-cent plate lunch available only from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The first 10 people in line also received a month's supply of Pepsi, and the first 100 received free L&L T-shirts.
"I was going to come in about 7 to 7:30 a.m., but then I couldn't sleep from the excitement so I came down earlier." Nakamatsu said he arrived at 5:30 a.m. and read MidWeek while waiting in line to pass the time.
L&L's anniversary 76-cent lunch sale is now in its third year and is quickly becoming a local tradition, according to Nakamatsu. "Last year I was seventh in line, and I came the previous year also," he added.
To cope with the demand, only 10 people at a time were allowed into the store, while the remaining hundreds waited their turn outside. Local resident Keith Wong waited two hours before finally being able to get his much anticipated cheap plate lunch. "It's a good deal, and it's a good charity," he said.
The proceeds from the 76-cent plate lunch sale are being donated to Goodwill Industries. "If you do good things, it'll come back to you," said Eddie Flores Jr., president and chief executive officer of L&L, which now has 180 locations worldwide after starting with just one restaurant on Liliha Street in 1976.
Goodwill Industries will use the proceeds to help people with barriers to employment overcome welfare dependence and find jobs, explained Liz Camat, development manager with Goodwill.