Eastern Idahoans don’t need to travel across the Pacific Ocean for a Hawaiian experience. After moving to Rexburg in 2017, Jeremy and Rochelle Claridge opened Kainoa’s Hawaiian Grill, which offers a wide variety of traditional Hawaiian or Hawaiian inspired dishes, including salads, wraps, tacos and much more.
Jeremy and Rochelle Claridge grew up in a small town in southern Arizona. Together they raised a family of four and never dreamed of living anywhere else.
“In 2017, we just kind of started having this push that we need to do something different,” Jeremy Claridge said. “And why Idaho? I don't know.”
Kainoa’s Hawaiian Grill has its roots in Arizona and was a restaurant the Claridge family went to often.
“When we came into Rexburg, my wife's first comments were, ‘What are we going to do without Kainoa’s?’” Jeremy Claridge said. “It was our go to place. It was a place we went to all the time. But as soon as she said that, almost immediately I just had the impression of this is what we're going to do, you know? And we had no idea if Eric, the founder of Kainoa’s, wanted to franchise or not.”
The Claridge’s got in contact with Eric Blair, the owner of the first Kainoa’s Hawaiian Grill in Arizona and pitched the idea of opening a new restaurant location in Rexburg.
“He said, ‘It just feels right, there's something about you guys and the timing and the place that just feels right, and I think we should do it,’” Jeremy Claridge said. “And so it happened really fast after that, and things just fell into place and doors opened that probably shouldn't have, and everything just worked out really well.”
After its opening in December of 2018, Kainoa’s Hawaiian Grill has seen much success, and Rochelle Claridge gives credit to the Lord for making it all happen.
“We've been very blessed along the way, but I feel like I've learned to listen and trust more than I ever have,” Rochelle Claridge said. “There's been many things in our lives that have led us to where we are, and so I don't doubt at all that we're doing what the Lord wants us to do right now.”
The restaurant’s success has inspired the Claridge’s to explore the idea of expansion.
“We've got some pretty big plans in the works,” Jeremy Claridge said. “We're currently working a deal in Idaho Falls on a development there, as well as one in Caldwell. I don't know, in five years I'd like to have four or five more of these open in five years. Maybe more. Who knows? We'll see.”
Kainoa’s Hawaiian Grill is located at 115 South 2nd West in Rexburg. For updates and a look at their menu, you can find them on Instagram and Facebook.