Encinitas loses longtime restaurants

October 26 was a sad day for customers of two longtime Encinitas restaurants: Kealani’s Hawaiian food and next-door neighbor Manhattan Giant Pizza both announced it would be their last day in business. On September 30 — after each having spent over 20 years at their locales — both received 30-day eviction notices.

The two businesses in the 100 block of West D Street, just off Coast Highway 101, along with their neighbor, Reality Place, were advised that their 1920s-era building had been sold.

Manhattan Giant Pizza had a reputation for serving big individual slices, and also their large, 28-inch party pizza. On their last night, their small dining area was packed, as was the sidewalk area. There was a two-hour wait for a pizza. They ran out of pizzas at around 6:30 p.m.

Restaurant owners Eddie and Sharla Hamama said they had been renting on a month-to-month basis for the past seven years. “The owners, the Lunds, were local residents. They were so nice and supportive of us. They did a lot for us. We never thought we needed to renew [the lease],” said Sharla.

Unfortunately, the Lunds both passed away this year. Reportedly, their adult children sold the property quickly, with only a 30-day escrow, according to a local real estate agent and longtime customer of Kealani’s.

Naomi Keliinoi, affectionately known as Kealani, said she had another eight years on her lease. "I gave Mr. Lund the copy of the lease with his signature on it. My copy doesn’t have his signature.”

“Of course Mr. Lund’s children said they never found it in all his paperwork,” said Kealani. When Kealani hired a lawyer, she believes that’s when her trouble started and she was forced to close.

At Kealani’s, the mode was a little more festive. A Hawaiian music duo played as customers gave hugs, flowers, and cards to Kealani.

As I interviewed Kealani, folks would come up and tell me how she helped them over the years. Dyana said 15 years ago she was living with three small kids in a one-room place. “Kealani gave me money and food to survive."

Another woman, Romana, said she was given money by Kealani, and when she tried to pay it back, Kealani said to tithe it to her church instead.

“I’ve fed the homeless, provided sleeping bags, and this year alone, helped eight people get off the streets and found them jobs. That’s the aloha spirit I tried to bring to Encinitas, ” Kealani said.

She said she doesn’t know what she will do next or how she will make a living, other than catering her food. “I’ve looked all over Encinitas. There are no places to move to.”

“Normally you’d get three to six months to move,” said Eddie. “It would give you time to find another location. Thirty days? That’s ridiculous.” The Hamamas plan to take it easy for a few months before deciding if they will try and reopen somewhere in Encinitas.

Historical footnote: From the 1950s, the building at 137–149 West D Street was the San Diego County Sheriff’s sub-station and jailhouse, until the current facility was built on El Camino Real in the late 1970s.