What began in a modest, 900-square-foot Waipahu storefront nearly five decades ago has grown into one of Hawaiʻi’s most beloved family-owned food businesses.
Mel and Lynn Tanioka opened Tanioka’s Seafoods & Catering in 1978 with a simple philosophy: “Quality Foods with a Friendly Smile.” Today, their son Justin Tanioka, the company’s chief operating officer, is helping carry that commitment into the next generation.
“My parents were looking for someplace central, somewhere with easy access on and off the freeway,” Justin said. “One of their friends found this spot, and they decided to open here.”
Lynn was from Waipahu and working at Bank of Hawaii at the time. Mel grew up fishing with his father and developed a deep appreciation for the ocean and fresh seafood. After experimenting with his own poke recipes, he began bringing his creations to the bank on Fridays.
“The bank employees would tell him, ‘You should sell this,’” Justin recalled.
Their encouragement helped inspire the couple to open a business. In the beginning, Tanioka’s primarily sold fresh ahi poke and a few other items. Mel handled nearly every aspect of the operation himself, from buying fish at the Honolulu Fish Auction to transporting, cutting and preparing it.
“They didn’t know how big it was going to become,” Justin said.
Over the years, the small seafood shop evolved into a local institution known for poke, okazuya favorites, musubi, sushi, plate lunches and catering. Its multicultural menu brings together Japanese, Korean, Filipino, Hawaiian and American flavors.
Customer favorites include Tanioka’s famous limu poke, spicy ahi, crispy fried chicken, Grandma Tanioka’s ahi patties, Grandma Sakuma’s maki sushi, Aunty Betty’s inari sushi and Spam musubi. Made-to-order specials such as Hawaiian barbecue pork belly and the spicy ahi tempura bowl attract customers from Hawaiʻi and around the world.
Although poke shops can now be found in nearly every community, Justin believes Tanioka’s stands apart because the family has never compromised on quality.
Nearly five decades later, a small family seafood shop has become part of the traditions and milestones of generations of Hawaiʻi families. Photo: courtesy
“We’ve always had great recipes, but I think what sets us apart is the quality of the fish we use and continue to use,” he said. “Everything is based on quality.”
A trusted buyer visits the Honolulu Fish Auction six days a week to select fish for the restaurant. The buyer, Baron, once worked for the Tanioka family and understands exactly what they expect.
“We treated him well in the past, and now he takes care of us,” Justin said. “He knows what kind of fish we use, so our fish is always fresh and always great quality.”
That standard extends across the entire menu. “From our chicken, pork and beef to our fish and tako, we try to serve the best quality we can,” Justin said. “If it doesn’t meet that standard, we don’t serve it.”
Growing Up at Tanioka’s
Justin was born just one month before the business opened, making Tanioka’s part of his life from the beginning.
“When I was old enough, my mom would bring me here and leave me in the back while they were working,” he recalled.
Justin and his sister were free to choose their own paths. His sister pursued extensive schooling, including studies abroad, while Justin felt most at home in the family business.
“I just grew up here,” he said. “It’s been based around Tanioka’s our whole lives. We love it here, and I wouldn’t want to do anything else at this point.”
Although Mel and Lynn have largely retired, Mel continues to share ideas with the family.
“We love to hear his ideas because, no matter what happens, this will always be his,” Justin said.
Justin and his sister now work alongside a dedicated management team and nearly 80 employees, many of whom are from Waipahu.
“Our employees are our family, too,” Justin said. “Waipahu has been very loyal to us, and we love it here.”
For Justin Tanioka, carrying on the family business means protecting what his parents built while staying rooted in the Waipahu community that helped it grow. Photo: courtesy
Feeding Generations of Hawaiʻi Families
Catering became an important part of Tanioka’s growth, allowing the family to serve customers during some of the most meaningful moments of their lives.
Tanioka’s caters weddings, graduations, first-birthday celebrations, corporate functions, funerals and other gatherings. Over the years, its team has served multiple generations of the same families.
“You might cater someone’s first birthday party and then, 18 years later, cater their graduation,” Justin said. “We’ve done the wedding and then the first-birthday party. It’s so cool to see people keep coming back.”
The catering program has repeatedly been recognized among Hawaiʻi’s best. Tanioka’s has also received honors from the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Honolulu Magazine, KITV, the Hawaiʻi Restaurant Association, the Retail Merchants of Hawaiʻi, Yelp and the U.S. Small Business Administration.
For Justin, however, the family’s greatest accomplishment is remaining in Waipahu and serving the community for nearly 50 years.
“Just being here for 48 years has been a big accomplishment for our family and our employees,” Justin said. “Our faith and trust in the Lord has always guided us in the right direction!”
Giving Back
The family established the nonprofit Tanioka’s Charity Foundation to support local hospitals, schools, churches, emergency medical personnel, frontline workers and other community organizations.
Its fundraising has benefited Hawaiʻi Pacific Health facilities, including Kapiʻolani Medical Center for Women & Children and Pali Momi Medical Center’s cancer program, as well as charities throughout Waipahu. The family is exploring new ways to continue this tradition of giving.
Tanioka’s has grown without losing sight of the relationships, standards and local roots that started it all. Photo: courtesy
Persevering Through Change
Remaining in business for nearly five decades has required resilience. Tanioka’s has endured economic changes, the COVID-19 pandemic and years of disruptive rail construction.
One proposed rail design would have eliminated the left turn customers use to enter the business. Justin said losing that access could have forced Tanioka’s to relocate. The family, employees and community supporters attended public meetings to explain how the change would affect Tanioka’s and other Waipahu businesses. Their advocacy helped preserve the turn.
“We had to be heard,” Justin said. “That left turn was so important, especially for this business district.”
Through every challenge, Waipahu has continued to support the family.
“The community has always been strong,” Justin said. “It has been great to us.”
As Tanioka’s approaches its 50th anniversary in 2028, the Tanioka family remains grateful for its journey and committed to serving the community that helped build the business.
“We’re just blessed to be here,” Justin said. “We’re super fortunate, and we plan to be here for as long as we can.”
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