Chick‑fil‑A is bringing a new restaurant to Waikīkī, and this time the chain is doing something it usually avoids on Oʻahu: skipping the drive‑thru. The planned location will focus on regular dine‑in service and feature a flexible indoor space big enough to host dozens of people for private gatherings. The move follows months of community complaints about congestion and blocked streets tied to other Chick‑fil‑A drive‑thru locations on the island.
According to Pacific Business News, the restaurant is set for the former Honolulu Coffee Co. site at the corner of Kalākaua Avenue and Kapiʻolani Boulevard. It will be the chain’s first stand‑alone Hawaii location built without a drive‑thru window. The PBN report says the design includes an on‑site gathering area plus standard dining rooms, both intended to accommodate dozens of guests for special events and private bookings.
Local planners and residents began sounding the alarm about drive‑thru impacts after long lines and blocked access at Chick‑fil‑A’s Makiki location, neighborhood leaders told Civil Beat. Department of Planning and Permitting spokesman Davis Pitner told Civil Beat that the department reviewed the Waikīkī building permit specifically to “help reduce traffic impacts,” and noted that projects that meet zoning rules can sometimes avoid a formal traffic study, a gap that has frustrated nearby residents.
Chick‑fil‑A’s local expansion and traffic tradeoffs
Chick‑fil‑A has been steadily expanding across the islands, adding both stand‑alone outlets and mall locations. One recent Kapolei opening even included Hawaii’s first indoor Chick‑fil‑A playground. At the same time, industry coverage notes that the chain often leans into drive‑thru and digital‑first formats that are great for off‑premises sales but can increase local vehicle trips if they are not tightly managed, according to Nation’s Restaurant News.
What neighbors and planners will be watching
Neighborhood boards and condo residents say they plan to watch closely to see whether the no‑drive‑thru design actually eases street congestion during peak tourist and convention periods, Civil Beat reports. The Makiki experience showed that a project can fully comply with zoning rules and still create traffic headaches, and residents have urged the city to strengthen enforcement of traffic management plans if problems return…