About Us

Tokyo Tei was first opened in Kahului, Maui, in 1935 by Kyutaro Kitagawa, a former sumo wrestler in Japan.  It was an old plantation-style storefront with no veranda.

In no time at all, Tokyo Tei became part of Maui's history.  Eventually it had Maui's first sushi bar and was a nightclub-restaurant where Hawaii's top talents performed, not to mention entertainers who stayed with the Kitagawa family for the duration of their Maui gig.

During World War II, Tokyo Tei changed its name to the Rainbow Grill but reverted to its original name as soon as the war ended.  Local trade-everyone from stevedores to servicemen-supported the restaurant during the war and remained loyal thereafter.  The family weathered changes with resilience and grace, moving the business two more times until they finally ended up in their present Wailuku location in the Pu'uone Plaza where they've been since 1979.