Aloha KBAT FANS and Followers

I wanted to write to let you know things are well and the future has arrived at KBAT!

We are beginning a new chapter in our saga here in Kawaihae. Look for our NEW EXPRESS MENU and we encourage you to begin using ON-LINE ordering! We have invested significant time and money to bring to you one of the Big Island's first independent business ON-LINE ordering systems. Please give it a chance and just try it, I know you have a smart phone!

Many of you who live here or manage businesses know how difficult it can be to properly staff your business with motivated and well trained employees. I have been lucky to be blessed with an experienced and awesome "Core" staff. However as our business has grown over the past few years we have been faced with ongoing staffing issues...and we just can't seem to hire enough folks to keep doing the business the same old way! We currently have 4 positions open and have been seriously understaffed since October of 2017. When I say "seriously" i mean it, we have had to drastically reduce operating hours, close down one side of our restaurant up to 3 days per week, and turn away enormous amounts of catering and other outside business.

Despite offering the Big Island's best QSR Pay, Guaranteed Current Salary Beat, Paid Vacations, Flexible Schedules, Free Food, Company Match Retirement IRA, Insurance, TIP Share, No Late Nights or Early Mornings, Major Holidays off, Safe and Sober work environment, Gasoline Reimbursement and Structured Training...we just don't seem to be able to get ahead! The reality is that this is a very hard job to do well and very few folks are cut out for this type of work. We would be happy to meet you if you are interested in becoming part of our Ohana. We do immediate on the spot interviews from 8:30am - 10:00am, Tues - Friday, no resume, no appointment needed, we are ready to meet you!

So here are the changes we are making:

1. We have sold our Food Truck...no one to run it or drive it except "ME" so it's gone!

2. Beginning Monday March 19, 2018 We will be modifying our "original restaurant" space and "smaller side" to an "EXPRESS" Concept. Plan is to be have it open daily from 11am-3:30pm. We will be offering a streamlined menu concept with packaged "meals" all prepared to "dine-in" or "to-go". Everything is offered at a value "meal" price...but with NO CHANGES or SUBSTITUTIONS. This makes for much easier cashier training or simple for one of our cooks to quickly grab your "Express Order". As we move towards the future I imagine a time when this side of the restaurant will be completely self serve (which is better than having it closed), where we may not have a cashier on duty at all. With that being said we are encouraging you to learn how to ORDER ON-LINE. Save time and money by simply downloading our app and then you can order in a snap. Almost every menu item is available ON-LINE and is priced below our regular menu prices. YOU select your pick up time and method of "pre-payment" then all you do is "march to the front of the line" and grab your food!

3. The NEW "EXPANDED" side of our restaurant and GOODY SHOP will be open regular operating hours for business as usual. You can still get our ALOHA cashier service. We will continue to offer our full regular menu for "dine-in" and "carry-out" guests. We will also be there for those of you who need a little extra menu or ordering help and for those of you who need us to "pull the pickles off" for you.

We look forward to serving you and I truly appreciate your business.

Mahalo

Chef Cary