TheBuzz Erika Engle

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Denny's chain will open new restaurant in Kunia on Monday

HAWAII'S latest hotbed for restaurant competition is Kunia. Kunia? Well, national chain Denny's will open Monday on Kunia Road, hot on the heels of Auntie Pasto's, a popular local restaurant.

The Kunia Denny's features the company's new contemporary design, as opposed to the more traditional diner design of its more established locations.

Denny's is "proud to be part of the Waipahu community," said Christian Olivo, Denny's area manager.

"We feel the citizens here are a great fit with Denny's brand of food and service."

General Manager Douglas Whitehurst and restaurant managers Ayalmo Ayala, Josephine Elvenia and Ralph Watson round out the management team overseeing more than 100 employees.

The 5,042-square-foot restaurant can seat 152 customers.

Denny's operates 543 company-owned locations and 1,035 franchised and licensed stores including two on Maui, two in Waikiki and one in Aiea.

New controller for KHON

KHON lost its controller, Carrie Castle, earlier this month as part of an executive exodus, but the station already has a new controller who will be on board early next month.

Alexander Rogers will assume the job March 7, joining the station from Aloha Airlines, where he served as manager of corporate accounting.

"I look forward to working with everyone at KHON2 and being a part of local culture and tradition of the success of the station," he said.

Rogers, known as "Alika," lives in Kaneohe and is a Damien grad who also grad from Seattle University.

"We're very excited to be hiring Alika, not only for his qualifications, but that the is also a lifelong resident of Hawaii," said Joe MacNamara, KHON president and general manager, in a statement.