Kākou Chicago

Making friends as an adult is really hard, often harder than finding a date for Friday night. In a city as large and vibrant as Chicago, there is something fun going on every night of the week for people to enjoy. But, what if you don't have any friends to go out with?
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That's where kākou comes in to help. Unlike other friend-finder services, we personally match you with potential friends and curate an exclusive dinner party that fits your personal preferences. All you have to do is fill out an application and attend your event! No matter if you're a Chicago transplant or just ready for a change in life, our goal is to help you form meaningful, long-lasting friendships.

"Kākou" (one of the Hawaiian values of the practice of Aloha) comes from the language of the 'Ohana (family) and is the value and importance of inclusiveness. It means "all of us" and implies the sense of how "we are all in this together." Together, we are better and stronger, in our personal and professional lives. No matter how big the task or how difficult the issue, we can conquer anything when we are in kākou. Regardless of where you're from, what you believe, and what you value in life, we all struggle to find friends.

Why Hawaiian? One of the founder's families has a close connection with the islands, spending their holidays and family vacation there each year. During their first visit to Hawaii about 12 years ago, they learned about the spirit of aloha and how to practice this in daily life, even back on the mainland. Practicing aloha means doing everything with the intention of being mindful and aware of yourself and others - to be accepting, forgiving, and cooperative with those around you. With each visit to the islands, the spirit of aloha has grown larger and created a desire to bring this practice into daily life here in Chicago.

Practicing and spreading the spirit of aloha is the most critical element of our mission to create meaningful friendships because we seek to include everyone and have all people feel welcome around the dinner table. ​

So, who are the minds behind kākou?

Kendall is 30 and currently living in the Lakeview East neighborhood of the city. She moved to Chicago almost 8 years ago to complete her undergrad degree at DePaul University and to pursue a potential romance. After graduation and a failed attempt at love, she decided to stay and make a life for herself among the excitement of the city and the unlimited career opportunities Chicago has to offer. Over time, many friends came and left her life, but it took years to form the meaningful friendships she was hoping to find. Never wanting other people to struggle the way she did, the idea of providing a friendship match-making service was born.

Kendall has a background in social psychology and interpersonal relationships. She is currently earning her Master's degree from DePaul in Relational Communications.

Amy is 30 and lives in the Lakeview East neighborhood of the city. Moving from the northern suburb of Northbrook over 6 years ago, Amy thought she would make new friends in the city in no time. What she discovered, however, was how hard it is to go out alone to meet new people. Even though she attended DePaul for undergrad and had many unique jobs all over the city, she struggled to find friends she actually connected with and who had similar interests. After all this time, she feels like she finally has a few genuine close friends and a fun social life here in Chicago.

Amy has a background in marketing and entrepreneurship, and is currently working in the city as an independent nail technician and pastry chef.