He made a “great deal” with the folks at Kapalua and opened Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar in March 1996. With his sushi-making skills and years of management experience, he quickly found a niche on Maui. When he wasn’t traveling, he learned the art of making sushi and expanded his culinary skills still further by working for an upscale caterer. And to introduce his palate to a world of new flavors and culinary styles.

Off-seasons at the ski resort provided Kodama with time to travel throughout the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. He spent three years in Seattle and a decade in Aspen. In 1979 he became the first of his clan to venture off to the Mainland…and the glamorous restaurant business. Kodama was following in his father’s footsteps as a civil engineering major at the University of Hawai‘i when the bug bit. (Some of us think that smiling face may also have something to do with the DOZENS of awards his restaurants have won and the THOUSANDS of happy patrons the restaurants have served over the years!)ĭave Kodama was born and raised in a family pretty typical of second-generation Japanese in Hawai’i – hard-working parents and six kids happily living the simple Island life. Ask him about that “Home of The Other Red Meat” slogan thing and he’ll reply, “Ahi, of course!” Ask him about that original phone number – 669-OCTO – and he’ll tell you “OCTO as in OCTOpus.” He says he’s always smiling because he works at something he truly loves. The guy works pretty much non-stop and always has a smile on his face. In February 2008, Hawai‘i Islanders got the Sansei they’d been craving at Queen’s MarketPlace in beautiful Waikoloa. In July 2004 he teamed with Master Sommelier Chuck Furuya to open VINO Italian Tapas & Wine Bar at Restaurant Row. took another giant leap when he moved the Restaurant Row Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar from Restaurant Row to the beautiful Waikīkī Beach Marriott Resort & Spa and added d.k Steak House at the same location. In May 2000, Kodama opened his second Sansei at Honolulu’s Restaurant Row and in April 2002, the third location of the wildly popular concept was opened in Kīhei, Maui. The original Sansei Kapalua moved to brand new digs just in time for its tenth anniversary in September 2006.

Dave Kodama – known to all as simply “D.K.” (which he says stands for “don’t know”) – now owns and operates six restaurants on three islands. Saying he’s “come a long way, baby,” would be the ultimate understatement. It’s been over 20 years since this “local boy” from ‘Aiea, O’ahu, opened his first Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar in Kapalua, Maui.

Sensei sushi