Business Profile: Kizuna Japanese Restaurant
Tucked into the Windward Kaneohe Shopping Center along Kamehameha Highway, Kizuna Japanese Restaurant has quietly become one of the Windward side's most talked-about sushi spots since opening its doors in September 2020. Known to regulars by a mix of names — Kizuna Japanese Restaurant, Kizuna Sushi Bar & Grill, and Kizuna Japanese Sushi and Grill — the restaurant has built its reputation on a full sushi bar menu paired with a traditional Japanese kitchen, serving everything from nigiri and sashimi to teppanyaki entrees and bento combinations.
The restaurant is part-owned by Kajo Chen, who has been involved with Kizuna since it opened in 2020. The menu leans into variety: more than 25 chef's special sushi rolls are on offer alongside sushi bar entrees, kitchen teppanyaki dishes, and lunch specials, with the restaurant describing its food as "organic and naturally grown, cooked in Japanese traditional recipe". Fan favorites that show up again and again with regulars include the Ruby Roll, Waikiki Roll, Osaka Roll, Golden Lobster Roll, and Kizuna's own sushi boat platters, along with cooked-kitchen standouts like gyoza, agedashi tofu, and chicken karaage.
Regulars consistently point to fresh fish, generous plating, and a clean, comfortable dining room as reasons Kizuna has become a go-to for Windward Oʻahu sushi lovers, with the restaurant's own team accommodating custom roll requests for guests. Reservations are not accepted Friday through Sunday, so waits during peak dinner hours are common.
The restaurant's popularity has fueled expansion beyond Kaneohe. In March 2025, the team behind Kizuna opened a sister restaurant, Kizuna Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi, at the ʻAikahi Park Shopping Center in Kailua — a second Windward location offering a menu largely mirroring the original Kaneohe spot.
Kizuna Japanese Restaurant continues to operate seven days a week out of its original Kaneohe location, offering dine-in, takeout, delivery, and online ordering for Windward residents craving fresh nigiri, chef's special rolls, or a teppanyaki dinner close to home.
At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Business name | Kizuna Japanese Restaurant (also known as Kizuna Sushi Bar & Grill) |
| Cuisine | Japanese — sushi bar, teppanyaki, and full kitchen menu |
| Address | 45-934 Kamehameha Highway, Kaneohe, HI 96744 |
| Phone | 808-234-1688 / 808-234-1888 |
| Opened | September 2020 |
| Ownership | Part-owned by Kajo Chen |
| Hours | Mon–Thu: 11 a.m.–3 p.m., 5–10 p.m.; Fri–Sat: 11 a.m.–3 p.m., 4:30–10 p.m.; Sun: 12–3:30 p.m., 4:30–9:30 p.m. |
| Reservations | Not accepted Friday through Sunday |
| Signature items | Ruby Roll, Waikiki Roll, Osaka Roll, Golden Lobster Roll, sushi boats, bento combinations |
| Sister location | Kizuna Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi, ʻAikahi Park Shopping Center, Kailua (opened March 2025) |
| Ordering | Dine-in, takeout, delivery, and online ordering available |
| Source | kizuna808.com |
Publisher's Note: I recommend trying the stuffed avocado appetizer and the Chef's Choice sushi and sashimi platter.
