HONOLULU (KHON2) — As of Sunday, Feb. 18, all Outback Steakhouse locations will be closing their doors in Hawaii permanently.
In 2023, Outback Steakhouse parent company Bloomin’ Brands Inc. announced it would be closing it’s Hawaii Kai and Kihei locations. As of February 2024, the three remaining locations were Kapolei, Kona, and Waipio.
The chain seems to be pulling out of Hawaii with little notice to the staff.
KHON2 received a tip from an employee that the staff was only alerted about the closure Saturday morning, and some employees may just be finding out as the doors open Saturday afternoon.
A manager at a different location confirmed Sunday, February 18 would be the restaurants last day and that ‘higher ups said it was because of the higher prices and utilities.’
Dozens of Waipio employees met outside the restaurant before their shift on Saturday.
“Basically we found out this morning we were closing in two days,” said Wanda Wernar, who worked at the Waipio location. “Tomorrow is the last day of business, we’re opening tonight for dinner, we’re opening tomorrow and that’s it that’s the last day.”