Construction starts on Hawaii's second Sonic restaurant
Sonic Drive-In Hawaii opened Hawaii’s first Sonic location on Maui in 2023.
ground.newsHere’s the latest on Sonic Kapolei:
-
The Kapolei Sonic Drive-In on Oahu was opening in May 2026, marking the chain’s second location in Hawaii and its first on Oahu. Reports from mid-May 2026 indicate the opening schedule and site details, with a grand opening occurring on May 16, 2026. [Sources note opening plans and timeline around May 2026]
-
Pre-opening updates in April 2026 indicated the restaurant was entering final inspections as part of the permitting process, signaling imminent public debut if inspections proceeded on schedule.
-
Local media coverage around opening day described Sonic Kapolei’s features including carhop-style service, island-specific offerings, and a drive-in experience designed for vehicles and walk-up patrons.
-
A variety of sources around the period also highlighted community and employment impacts, noting hundreds of jobs and the project’s footprint in West Oahu.
-
For quick context, Kapolei’s location is listed at 5001 Kapolei Parkway, and the opening weekend reportedly involved drive-thru and patio walk-up service before full dine-in or carhop operations.
Would you like a concise timeline with key dates, a map snippet of the Kapolei location, or a quick review of menu highlights and unique local items? I can assemble a brief, cited summary.