Dickey’s Barbecue Pit will open five locations in Hawaii, the Dallas-based chain announced today.

“Dickey’s has grown rapidly nationwide, and we are proud to add our 44th state,” says Roland Dickey, Jr., CEO of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants Inc., in a statement. “The new stores in Hawaii are our first venture as a company beyond the continental United States, and we look forward to further expansion overseas in the future.”

The chain slow-smokes meats on-site at each restaurant and has more than 530 locations in 43 states.

Two-market franchisee Jack Chubb, who owns and operates locations in Sarasota and Wesley Chapel, Florida, will open five new stores in Florida in addition to the five Hawaii locations.

Chubb is a former hospital administrator who, after a 34-year career, became a Dickey’s franchisee.

Details of the locations for the Hawaii stores have not yet been released.