Chick-fil-A Kamokila opens

“Cows eat free on opening day,” states a sign within Chick-fil-A Kamokila.

Nick Lovan, owner-operator of Chick-fil-A Kamokila, explains more about the festivities at the new location’s opening day, which is tomorrow, Aug. 28.

“If you’re dressed as a cow, you get a free entrée,” he says. “We’re going to be very loose with our interpretation, so if you have a white T-shirt with some spots, then you get a free entrée. We’re so excited to give back to the community.”

The “cows eat free on opening day” offer is limited to one per person, while supplies last. Breakfast offer options include Chick-fil-A chicken biscuits, egg white grill or 4-count Chick-fil-A Chick-n-Minis. Lunch and dinner options include the Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich, spicy chicken sandwich, 8-count grilled nuggets and more. Customizations are not available for this offer, and no purchase is necessary.

(The “why” behind the cows: Cows have been part of Chick-fil-A’s branding since 1995, encouraging guests to “eat more chikin” instead of burgers.)

The new store, which is approximately 5,600 square feet, will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. (10 p.m. for drive-thru) Mondays to Saturdays (it’s closed on Sundays). This is the fifth Chick-fil-A location in Hawaiʻi, there are four on Oʻahu and one on Maui.

So, what can you expect at this second Kapolei location? (Chick-fil-A’s first Kapolei store opened in 2023, across Ka Makana Aliʻi).

The store offers both indoor and outdoor seating. The drive-thru has three lanes, which eventually consolidate to two.

The menu at this location is the same as those at other Chick-fil-A Hawaiʻi stores. Popular options include the Chick-fil-A sandwich ($6.79 entrée, $12.09 meal); waffle potato fries ($3.59 medium, $3.99 large); and Chick-fil-A nuggets (8-count $6.79, 12-count $9.25).

“I love the Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich, but with the zesty buffalo sauce drizzled on top, and maybe some extra pickles,” Lovan says. “The waffle fries are always a staple.”

The Spicy Southwest ($11.59) salad is newer to Hawaiʻi menus — it was just added about a month ago — and comprises mixed greens topped with grilled spicy chicken, Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses, grape tomatoes, peppers, corn and black beans.

Of course, Chick-fil-A is also known for its variety of sauces, including Chick-fil-A, zesty buffalo, Polynesian, barbecue, honey mustard and sweet and spicy Sriracha.

The biz also offers limited-time options like pretzel cheddar club sandwiches and Cherry Berry beverages (available with Sprite, Sunjoy or lemonade). These seasonal items started last week at Chick-fil-A locations.

This Kamokila store also features the first indoor Chick-fil-A playground in Hawaiʻi. The kids’ play area, complete with interactive displays and a puzzle, is designed for children ages 2 to 10 years old.

“I’m super excited to have keiki running around the playground; I think it’ll be an amazing experience,” Lovan says.

Opening this Chick-fil-A location is like a homecoming for Lovan, who moved back to O'ahu with his family in 2020. Born in Honolulu and raised in ‘Ewa Beach, Lovan — who graduated from Moanalua High School and is a veteran of both the Hawaiʻi Air National Guard and U.S. Marine Corps — recalls going to a Chick-fil-A for the first time while stationed in Virginia.

“My wife was pregnant while we were in Virginia; that was the first time we tried Chick-fil-A,” he says. “We fell in love with the waffle fries and the milkshakes. As I was getting close to retirement from the Marine Corps after 20 years, it was one of my buddy’s ideas for me to apply to be one of Chick-fil-A’s owner-operators.”

Lovan remembers checking out a webinar and learning more about the Chick-fil-A owner-operator relationship and applied from there.

“I never thought, in a million years, that I would have gotten selected,” he says. “I’m truly thankful and blessed to be able to pour into the community and team members.

“I remember Kapolei used to be a Kmart, the racetrack and Outback Steakhouse,” he adds. “Now, seeing how so much has changed and it has grown so much, it feels so surreal. I’m most excited about the 120 team members that we have here — we’ve got young men and women, as young as 14 years old to seniors in high school. I’m excited to help them grow and get to where they want to be in life.”

The city’s growth is the main reason behind choosing this location, according to Lovan: “To provide to the city of Kapolei.” He’s also excited for this location to participate in the Chick-fil-A Shared Table program, which repurposes the restaurant’s surplus food. Chick-fil-A Kamokila will donate its surplus food to local nonprofit organization Aloha Harvest, which helps deliver quality meals to help feed individuals in need.

“We repurpose our excess food so we can feed our hungry neighbors,” Lovan says. “Chick-fil-A recently donated $25,000 to Hawai’i Foodbank; this goes to show Chick-fil-A’s heart and what we’re trying to do at Chick-fil-A Kamokila.”

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CONTACT
Chick-fil-A Kamokila
890 Kamokila Blvd., Kapolei
Instagram: @chickfila_kamokila
Open 6:30 a.m.-9 p.m. (10 p.m. drive-thru) Mondays-Saturdays
Closed Sundays

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.