[ALOHA] King's Hawaiian saying goodbye to Hello Hilo restaurant in georgia. After a little more than three years in business, King's Hawaiian is pulling the plug on their Hello Hilo restaurant in Gainesville. The family-owned beadmaker announced Monday that they will be closing the one and only location of their fast- casual Hawaiian eatery November 13. King's Hawaiian, which is based in California but operates a huge production facility in Oakwood near Gainesville, opened their colorful concept Hello Hilo at 1881 Jesse Jewell Parkway on July 23, 2023. The 4,000 square foot restaurant features a large inside dining area, expansive outdoor dining area complete with swings and other creative seating, and a drive-thru. The restaurant features traditional Hawaiian classics like SPAM Musubi, Loco Moco breakfast bowl, Mochi donuts and their "Hula Whip" soft serve pineapple desert. Despite the menu's unique offerings and large space, it seems not to have caught on as the Taira family had hoped. "We weren't able to the build the consistent level of business needed to sustain the restaurant long term," Courtney [Taira] and the Taira family said in a prepared statement announcing the closure. The restaurant - with so many unique features and architectural elements - was no doubt expensive to build and operate. Hobbie Dubose, a veteran of Chick-fil-A restaurants, was Hello Hilo's general manager at opening but was gone before the end of 2023, according to his LinkedIn profile. In its three visits to the restaurant Weinstock Realty & Development, LLC found the food decent but a bit overpriced what it was and at the same time found the service poor and the dining area dirty, a trifecta that if a regular occurrence for others, likely contributed to the low sales the restaurant seemingly saw. Despite its observations, many Atlanta area influencers would have had you believe that Hello Hilo was the greatest thing since sliced bread. As of November 2, the restaurant has an overall Google rating of 4.3 stars with 1,796 reviews, a good but not great result for a corporately run "showcase" restaurant. A second Atlanta area Hello Hilo was proposed along Gordy Parkway in East Cobb, but after a 4-1 vote by the Cobb Board of Commissioners seemed to pave the way for things to move forward, King's Hawaiian leadership ultimately decided that the conditions in the approval were too burdensome and they said they "didn't feel like they were welcome," so they abandoned the plans. The property, in front of the former Park 12 Cinemas, was eventually developed into a Fifth Third Bank. Did you ever make it to Hello Hilo? Are you surprised to see Hello Hilo close? What would you like to see open in place of Hello Hilo in Gainesville?

KING'S HAWAIIAN launches new Maple Brown Sugar Rolls and A cozy seasonal merch collection. Sep 30, 2026, 06:00 ET King's Hawaiian Celebrates the Flavors of Fall with New Seasonal Rolls, Cozy Merch and an Exclusive Compartés Chocolate Bar Collaboration LOS ANGELES, Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - King's Hawaiian, the family-owned brand behind America's #1 selling rolls, is celebrating the flavors of fall with its newest creation: Maple Brown Sugar Rolls, hitting retailers nationwide beginning October 1. The limited-edition rolls pair these two beloved flavors with King's Hawaiian's signature soft, fluffy texture and touch of sweetness for a seasonal treat worth savoring. Embracing everything there is to love about this cozy season, King's Hawaiian is extending the new flavor into a limited-edition merch collection and exclusive chocolate collaboration with chocolatier, Compartés. After teasing fans with a "mystery fall flavor" roll across social media and a limited quantity sold through e-commerce in early September, King's Hawaiian officially revealed Maple Brown Sugar Rolls to celebrate the first day of fall on September 22, offering a craveable new flavor experience to look forward to. By baking real maple brown sugar crumbles into every roll, King's Hawaiian adds its own twist to a classic blend, delivering bursts of flavor to enhance every bite. Whether warmed up for breakfast, served alongside weekend brunch, incorporated into a creative fall recipe or simply enjoyed straight from the package, the limited-edition rolls make it easy to savor the season, and share with the people who make it special. "At King's Hawaiian, we're always trying to find new reasons for people to come together and share a meal - whether we're introducing a new occasion, a fun flavor or an innovative product offering. But the one thing that never changes is the irresistible taste and softness of our rolls that consumers know and love," said Raouf Moussa, Chief Marketing Officer at King's Hawaiian. "These Maple Brown Sugar Rolls deliver on this commitment to quality, while bringing a feeling of warm nostalgia as the temperature begins to drop outside." Offering fans even more ways to fall for the flavors of the season, King's Hawaiian is also launching a limited-edition cozy merch collection featuring a Maple Brown Sugar Roll-themed sweatsuit, blanket and scented candle, alongside an exclusive chocolate bar made in collaboration with the gourmet chocolate brand, Compartés. The bar blends real pieces of pillowy King's Hawaiian Maple Brown Sugar Rolls with creamy milk chocolate infused with maple and topped with brown sugar, bringing all the comfort of a warm bakery to every bite. King's Hawaiian Maple Brown Sugar Rolls begin hitting retailers nationwide on October 1 and will be available for a limited time. About KING'S HAWAIIAN(R) Founded 75 years ago in Hilo, Hawaii, by Robert R. Taira, King's Hawaiian is a family-owned business that has been dedicated to providing Hawaii-inspired foods made with original recipes and Aloha Spirit for three generations. KING'S HAWAIIAN makes the #1 branded roll in the United States, along with other irresistible products that inspire joyous food experiences people can't resist being a part of, including slider buns, hamburger buns, pretzel bites, and more. The soft and fluffy texture and perfect touch of sweetness of King's Hawaiian bread add even more fun and excitement to occasions big and small, including everyday meals and snacking, bringing loved ones together. About Compartés For 75 years, Compartés has been redefining gourmet chocolate, shaped, dipped, and finished by hand in its Los Angeles kitchen from original family recipes and the freshest seasonal ingredients. Founded in 1950 as a small family shop, the award-winning brand was reimagined two decades ago by Creative Director and Head Chocolatier Jonathan Grahm, who blends art, fashion, and artisanal craft into a brand built for the modern connoisseur, and has since sold over 50 million chocolate bars. Known as much for its craftsmanship as its pop culture-focused collaborations, Compartés has partnered with some of the biggest names in entertainment and culture, including The White Lotus, Panda Express, 818 Tequila, and As Ever, alongside custom creations for some of the world's largest fashion houses. The brand has also built a devoted celebrity following that includes Oprah, Zoe Saldaña, Billie Eilish, and Lady Gaga. Compartés chocolates are available at retailers globally and online at compartes.com. SOURCE King's Hawaiian