Oahu’s first Sonic Drive-In officially opens in Kapolei

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Oahu’s first Sonic Drive-In restaurant opened Saturday in Kapolei.

The grand opening began at 10 a.m. at 5001 Kapolei Parkway, featuring a blessing, opening remarks, and the untying of a maile lei.

“This is an exciting moment for us as we officially open our doors and welcome all of Oahu to Sonic,” said Takeo Prather, head of Growth and Development for Sonic Hawaii.

The first 10 and 50 customers in both drive-thru and patio/walk-up lines received Sonic Hawaii gear. The opening also featured giveaways, prizes and live music.

Service was limited to drive-thru and patio/walk-up only to help with traffic flow. Customer parking was not available during the opening weekend. Limited parking was available at Hookele Elementary School.

The drive-in will operate daily from 10 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Ahead of Saturday’s opening, Sonic donated $10,000 to Hookele Elementary and Kapolei High School through its Limeades for Learning initiative, where a portion of all drink sales is donated back to local schools.

Restaurant features

The locally owned and operated restaurant features five drive-in stalls with roller-skating carhops delivering food to guests’ vehicles. It also includes a double drive-thru lane and patio seating.

The restaurant showcases exclusive “Only in Hawaii” menu offerings, including the Teriyaki Smasher featuring two Angus beef patties layered with cheese, Aloha Shoyu Da Yaki sauce, Teriyaki mayo, lettuce, tomato and onion.

Expansion and employment

The brand first introduced its dining experience to the islands in 2023, opening Sonic Kahului on Maui. Construction on the Kapolei location began following a groundbreaking and blessing ceremony held in April 2025.

“We’ve felt so much excitement from the Hawaii community since opening on Maui, and we’re honored to continue growing on Oahu with the new Kapolei location,” Prather said. “The opening of this location has been a long time coming.”

The new SONIC is expected to create more than 100 jobs in the local community. Those interested in joining the team can apply for positions by clicking here.

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