Tears, hugs and memories filled Wailana Coffee House Sunday morning.

After 48 years, the popular restaurant will close its doors Sunday at 10 p.m., but Wailana wasn’t always popular.

In the late 1940’s it started as Kapiolani Drive-Inn, and there wasn’t much traffic on the outskirts of Waikiki.

“My mother cried because after they built the drive-in, they only saw four cars drive by here in a whole day,” said Kenton Tom, co-owner of Wailana Coffee House. “Can you imagine Waikiki with only four cars?”

As the area started to develop it brought in customers, especially late night customers.

“We were always 24 hours—even when it was a drive-in, that was the thing coming here after the shows and discos,” Tom added.

As drive-in popularity declined, the Tom family had bigger plans. In 1969, they built Wailana Condo and Wailana Coffee House at the bottom where it remained until Sunday.

“I used to work [at the clubs] in Waikiki back in 1976 to 1979, we’d get off at 4 a.m. and this is where we would come for breakfast,” said Barbra Armentrout, a longtime Wailana customer. “You’d see Don Ho in here and other entertainers.”

Rene and Peter Factora have been coming to Wailana since the 1970’s, bringing three generations with them.

“We’re hoping a fourth generation would make it, but unfortunately they’re closing today,” said Peter Factora.

Even local celebrities stopped in to say farewell.

“I got my usual Portuguese sausage, rice and eggs,” said recently retired MLB outfielder Shane Victorino. “I was telling one of the aunties this morning, to be able to come in here and feel like I’m sitting in my own living room and talking to the aunties and uncles—this is what it’s about.”

Some employees have been working at Wailana for decades, like Rosalinda who’s been here for 20 years.

“I love this place, a lot of memories for me, I have my own regular customer,” said Sylvia Noneza, who has worked at Wailana since 1982.

The oxtail soup was sold out within 30 minutes Sunday afternoon, and customers took home menus as souvenirs. Tom tells me the staff will have first dibs on other souvenirs at the restaurant.

“Aloha Wailana, we’re going to miss you!” the Factora family said.

