Hawaiian Bros Island Grill: Bringing Aloha to the Heartland

Founded in 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri, Hawaiian Bros Island Grill is a fast-casual restaurant chain offering island-inspired plate lunches. The company is headquartered in Kansas City and began franchising in September 2022.

Its menu features traditional Hawaiian dishes such as Huli Huli Chicken, Luau Pig, and Spam Musubi, served with white rice and macaroni salad.

Hawaiian Bros differentiates itself by focusing on fresh, high-quality ingredients without the use of freezers, fryers, or microwaves.

This commitment to "real food" has contributed to its rapid growth, with over 60 locations across the United States as of 2025. The brand emphasizes the Aloha Spirit, treating every guest like 'ohana'—family—and fostering a welcoming atmosphere.

Training

Hawaiian Bros provides a comprehensive training program to ensure franchisees and their staff are fully prepared to operate their restaurants. The training structure includes several key components tailored to various roles and stages of franchise development.

1. Initial Training Program: Hawaiian Bros offers an initial training program at their headquarters or designated locations. It is mandatory for the franchisee's Designated Principal, General Manager, and Executive Management to complete this program at least 30 days before the restaurant opens. There is no tuition fee for the training itself, but franchisees must cover travel, lodging, meals, and other related expenses.
2. Supplemental and Refresher Training: The franchisor may require supplemental or refresher training or recertification exams for the franchisee and their managers. These are typically conducted at the franchisee's expense and are necessary to maintain operational standards or update on new procedures.
3. On-site and Opening Support: Upon request and subject to trainer availability, Hawaiian Bros provides additional on-site training at the franchise location. This includes pre-opening support for new restaurant openings, typically involving a team that assists before and after the launch. Franchisees must reimburse the company for associated costs, including travel and per diem expenses.

Territory Protection

Hawaiian Bros does not grant exclusive territories to its franchisees. Instead, it provides limited territorial protection within a defined area, typically a three-mile radius around the restaurant.

This protection may be entirely revoked if the location is in a densely populated metropolitan area, as determined by the franchisor. Even when a territory is assigned, Hawaiian Bros retains the right to open or license other outlets, non-traditional venues, or special outlets nearby.

Franchisees are not protected from competition generated by these other units, even if they operate under the same brand or draw customers from the assigned territory. This structure allows for brand expansion and flexibility while providing minimal territorial exclusivity to individual franchisees.