Luquin’s Mexican Restaurant will have a new permanent home in the coming months. ADVERTISING Luquin’s Mexican Restaurant will have a new permanent home in the coming months. The popular Pahoa staple is set to move into space on Kahakai Boulevard
Luquin’s Mexican Restaurant will have a new permanent home in the coming months.
The popular Pahoa staple is set to move into space on Kahakai Boulevard that was formerly occupied by Aloha Lehua Cafe.
Restaurant owner Salvador Luquin confirmed the move Saturday, but said he did not have an exact opening date.
“Everybody’s excited,” he said.
The original Luquin’s was destroyed in a January fire that also gutted the Akebono Theatre and a neighboring building. The buildings were later demolished by Hawaii County for public safety reasons.
The cause of the fire is still unknown, but one theory is that it was started by an overturned gas lantern. Police said there was no evidence of foul play.
Luquin owned both the restaurant building and the Akebono Theatre. He opened his restaurant in 1984.
Following the fire, Luquin opened a lunch wagon at the site of the old restaurant. The lunch wagon has been up and running since March.
Luquin said he will be leasing the space at the new location.
“It’ll probably take a couple months or more to move over there,” he said. “We need to do some remodeling.”
According to its Facebook page, Aloha Lehua Cafe closed on May 1, and had plans to sell food in open markets.
Email Ivy Ashe at iashe@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
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