Umekes

Nakoa Pabre owner Umekes Kona and Hawaii Cuisine

Nakoa Pabre owner Umekes Kona a Kailua-Kona resident has been able to take a traditional Hawaii preparation in food and transform it into a type of haute cuisine. This local-style and new poke lunch eatery, Pabre, is constantly creating and playing around with new mixtures. He never compromises on the actual integrity of the dishes.

Pabre aged 35, was a plumber for over 11 years. He then decided to leave the comforts of his trade and focus all his energy into poke. He states that the reaction he gets from satisfied customers is what makes the whole journey worthwhile.

While he was growing up, Nakoa Pabre owner Umekes Kona was always helping in the preparations of food for parties, always learning and watching. Even his two sons Kanoa and Kamalu are already learning knife-handling skills.

In 1999, Pabre assisted in the opening of the “Da Poke Shack” a local and well known restaurant near the Banyans. Recently, he was named the overall winner of the contest known as “Sam Choy’s Keauhou Poke” for 2013. He was able to impress the crowds with his “Poke Bombs”, which are sushi in the shape of a cone topped with various poke.

Pabre opened Umekes to express his passion and roots in food. He has stated that poke is much more than just seasoned cubes of raw and fresh fish. It even extends beyond traditional reef and briny fish, salt, limu, inamona, shoyu and the chili peppers.

Umeke in Hawaiian means bowl, and a number of these bowls are on offer including pulehu which means to be broiled over the fire. Teriyaki beef, laulau pork or kalua, char siu (chicken) and poke or grilled fish. Along with these bowls all the guests have the choice of side dishes including: quinoa, rice, poi, kimchee salad, lomi salmon, hoio salad, broccoli and crab salad and seaweed salad. The prices for these dishes range from $7.50 up to $18.

The octopus or better known as ahi tako and the shrimp pokes come in a multitude of flavors. These pokes start at around $11.99. Dessert poppers with haupia, lilikoi, and chocolate and banana cream sell for around $3 each.
Over the last few years, Nakoa Pabre owner Umekes Kona has become more adventurous and claims that his diners have become more willing and open minded about eating raw fish. For any seafood or fish lover Umekes only requires a very large appetite. Poke has been a very large staple in the areas of Hawaii and has become a popular main dish.

Umekes Kona is open from Mondays to Saturdays during the trading hours of 10am in the mornings onto 5pm in the evenings. The restaurant caters for different and diverse daily specials, and diners can choose from the stunning setting of the outdoor dining areas. The new tastes and daily specials keep the diners coming back for more to experience the fun and exciting mixtures and dishes that Pabre has to offer.
If you require Poke past 5pm go ahead and visit our sister restaurant at Umekes Fishmarket Bar And Grill which is opened until 9pm. Call 1.808.329.3050 to get more information or visit our website at http://www.umekesfishmarketbarandgrill.com to order online and just stop by for fast pickup. Mahalo Plenty for your continued business and support.