Honolulu’s First Dedicated Poke Market Opens in Kaimuki With 15 Daily Varieties

A new concept dedicated entirely to poke has opened on Waialae Avenue in Kaimuki, offering 15 rotating varieties of the Hawaiian staple made exclusively with fish sourced from local boats at the Honolulu Fish Auction.

Kai Poke Market, which opened last Saturday, is the vision of chef-owner Brandon Lau, a Kaimuki native who spent eight years working in high-end kitchens on the mainland before returning home. The 900-square-foot shop operates as a walk-up counter with a display case showcasing the day’s selections.

“Poke has been commoditized and mainlandified,” Lau said. “I wanted to get back to what poke actually is in Hawaii — the freshest fish, simply prepared, bought by the pound, eaten that day.”

Standard offerings include classic ahi shoyu, spicy tako, and limu salmon, while rotating specials might feature opah with yuzu kosho, kajiki with Maui onion and sesame oil, or a seasonal akule preparation. All fish arrives within hours of being caught, and Lau posts each morning’s auction selections on Instagram by 8:00 a.m.

Prices range from $18 to $28 per pound depending on the fish — competitive with supermarket poke counters but using sashimi-grade fish that Lau hand-selects at the auction each morning at 5:30 a.m.

The response has been immediate. By the third day, Lau said he was selling out by 2:00 p.m. He plans to increase his daily fish order but is committed to closing whenever supplies run out rather than compromising on freshness. The shop is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. until sold out.