Kailua to get second
Kalapawai spot,
with cafe and deli

Kalapawai Market owner Don Dymond and Kailua landowner Kaneohe Ranch Co. have struck a deal to, as Dymond said, "build a new old building" on the site that will house the new Kalapawai Cafe & Deli, bringing a new version of the popular stop from the edge of the beach to the edge of Kailua town.

The 8,759-square-foot site formerly housed the Hunter, an eclectic second-hand shop, and an L&L Drive-Inn.

The new building will look much like Dymond's Kalapawai Market on South Kalaheo Avenue, which will continue to operate.

Kaneohe Ranch Chief Executive Officer Mitch D'Olier also had envisioned a replica of the country store for the small parcel of land.

"The interesting thing is, that's what Don wanted to do and that's what I wanted to do, so it really came together," D'Olier said.

The cafe and deli will be 1,600 square feet, smaller than the cross-town market, and will allow for outdoor seating and parking.

"It will basically be very similar to what we have now, with a lot less retail. Mostly a deli and a coffee shop," Dymond said.

The coffee shop will no doubt do brisk morning business, as the building will be the last right-side-of-the-road stop before commuters head over the hill into town.

"We will have a pretty substantial deli counter with cut meats and seafood and cheeses," Dymond said. The cafe and deli will offer service over the counter at breakfast and lunch, as does the market.

"The new area we're venturing into is dinner," said Dymond.

Dinner service will reflect the hottest trend in the restaurant business -- small plates.

"We may do some small gourmet pizzas and panini sandwiches, a little bit upscale," he said. Cheese plates and wine service will also be available at dinner.

"I don't think we want to be a wine bar, but I think with a small-plate concept, a different approach to wine is necessary," Dymond said.

Dymond is not a newcomer to the restaurant business. He co-founded Zia's Caffe in Kailua in 1998 with partner Tressa Owens and operates Zia's second location in Kaneohe.

Construction on the cafe and deli is to begin in January and Dymond hopes to fling open the doors for 6 a.m.-to-9 p.m. operations seven days a week starting June 1.

"A great Kailua institution has decided to come to the center of town. I think it's great for Kailua town and I think it gives us an opportunity to do something very special," D'Olier said. "I'm so excited I can hardly stand myself."