Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 28, Number 5, 1 May 2011 — Solimene's Nō Ka ʻOi [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Solimene's Nō Ka ʻOi

n Waimea when it comes to a school for our children, a doctor to eheek our innards, a Church to feed our souls, a lawyer to keep us out of "harm's way" and

a rlace to Lat, we have a menu of options. It's Dinner Hour and on a crisp Waimea night we have several choices depending on the mood of our palates. Burger King, Don's Pake Kitchen, Charley's Thai Cuisine, Foodland Deli, Huli Sue's, Jade Palaee Chinese Restaurant, Kamuela Deli, Kentucky Fried

Chicken, KTA Deli, L&L's, McDonald's, Merriman's, Panini Grill, Paniolo Country Inn, Paolucci's Pizza, Subway, Thiebaut's, Village Burger andYong's Kalbi. There is only one Plaee to Eat for Kathy (my wife) and me; like heatseeking missiles we "loek on the target," head straight for Solimene's Italian Restaurant at Waimea Center (3.1-mile drive from where we live on the evergreen side of town). Solimene's nō ka 'oi (Solimene's indeed is the best). The meals are 'ono-'ono-'onolicious, ho'okipa (hospitality) truly special and pricing absolutely reasonable. Solimene's fills up quickly. It's best to arrive early. They open at 5 p.m. If the restaurant is full, have a wann jacket or thick sweater handy because you will freeze your da kine sitting on a bench waiting for a table outside their front door especially if the wind is blowing (Waimea is famous for the "Klpu'upu'u," the "slicing rain" and ka makani, the "wind"). The wait is worth it, well worth it. The cheerful service, beautiful Italian music, sweet wine and great food will wann you instantly onee you are in the inner sanctum. Kathy and I have a bias for Solimene's because it's owned and operated by Max and Robin Aiona (blessed with three sons); he's Hawaiian, born and raised in Hilo and she's Italian, born and raised in Long Island,

New York. (Plus we know many in their enterprising family.) Accountants in a prior life, they make their living now as Restaurateurs (Solimene's Italian Restaurant &

Espresso Bar). Solimene's is a family operation with Max and Robin at the hehn, middle son Phillip and his significant other Genna in major support roles (both went to Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School in San Francisco), Max's sister Maxine works the dining room and backing them up

is a ioyai cadre ot extended family (12 others) working passionately to serve and please patrons who walk through their doors, offering the Best Italian Cuisine & Espresso one will find between San Francisco, Anchorage, Tokyo, Christchurch and Cape Froward Spiced with Plenty of Hawai'i and Italy, Prepared by Hawaiian Hands. Robin says: "I love to see folks coming into our restaurant, having a good time and enjoying the food we put in front of them. If they're happy, I'm happy." For Max, it's the same: "We do our best to please. We do our best to provide good food and good service. We want everyone who comes to our Restaurant to eome in happy and leave even happier. . . . We want them to keep coming back and to tell their friends and family about us." For Kathy and I (borrowing a line from the Green Acres jingle), "Solimene's Italian Restaurant is the plaee to be." We don't really have to look at the menu these days. We know what we want. For her, it's "Salmon cooked in lemon, butter, capers &fresh herbs served over Pasta or with a side of garlic mash potatoes." For me, it's "New York Steak, served with a side of spaghetti marinara or garlic mashed potatoes & Vegetable di Giorno."M Next month: La Dolce vita, "The Sweet Life "

Rūbert K. Lindsey, Jr. Trustee, Hawai'i