The heartbeat of this special neighborhood is felt within the unique collection of people and places who call Midtown Ala Moana home. Here, old, new, and now are interwoven into a colorful and vibrant urban tapestry. A C O M M U N I T Y YOU CAN CALL HOME MW Restaurant Chefs Michelle Karr Ueoka and Wade Ueoka put the M and W in MW Restaurant. Hailing from the kitchens of award-winning Chef Alan Wong and Chef Thomas Keller’s French Laundry, the couple struck out on their own in 2013. A 2014 James Beard Foundation award nominee, here guests can savor Michelle and Wade’s unique interpretation on Hawaii regional cuisine—such as their shave ice made with fresh fruit, tapioca, sorbet, mochi ice cream, and kanten. Sushi ii Before he broke out on his own with Sushi ii, owner Garrett Wong worked as a sushi chef just a few miles away at Natsunoya Tea House. At the small 12-seat bar, he dreamed of opening his own space where he could serve the types of fish and seafood you rarely saw on menus. He got his wish with Sushi ii, a tiny gem tucked away in the Samsung Plaza building. With seating for just a few dozen, it’s the kind of intimate spot where everyone immediately becomes friends, talking story and sharing pours of sake. Like Like Drive Inn Serving up popular dishes from a bygone era, Like Like Drive Inn has been a mainstay in the island’s dining scene for over half a century. Opened in 1953, local couple James and Alice Nako chose the location along Keeaumoku Street to take advantage of traffic to Ala Moana Center which opened a few years later. While it was remodeled in 1994, some things—like the historic neon sign outside the restaurant—haven’t changed in more than 60 years. Foodland Farms A locally-owned company, Foodland Farms brings a modern spin to the seemingly mundane chore of grocery shopping. The 47,000 square-foot store at Ala Moana Center has devoted more than half its space to prepared foods, including an in-store pastry chef and standalone poke bar with unique creations (think truffle ahi poke) and sit-down bar with wines by the glass. Or take advantage of their full-time concierge who will hold your groceries while you shop at Ala Moana Center—for free. Hawaii Public Radio Before moving to its current location in Midtown Ala Moana, Hawaii Public Radio (HPR) originally broadcasted from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The network’s original station, KHPR, first went on air in 1981 with the flip of a switch and the first wild notes of Gustav Mahler’s classic “Das Lied von der Erde.” Today, HPR offers two distinct stations—HPR-1 for news, world music, and entertainment, and HPR-2 for classical music 24/7—as well as live concerts at its intimate Atherton Studio on Kaheka Street, showcasing both world-class and emerging artists. PHOTO CREDIT: CHARLEY MYERS