Job Description

Responsive recruiter
You never get a second chance to make a first impression, and our hosts play the crucial role of ensuring that our guests are greeted warmly, treated with aloha, and are made to feel welcome. Hosts are responsible for greeting and seating guests, as well as explaining specials and helping to familiarize malihini (visitors) and first-time diners with our dishes. The ideal candidate is not only pleasant but a tactful problem solver and excellent at handling sometimes impatient or frustrated guests. If hospitality is your passion and you love to share the aloha spirit, you’re perfect for our team!

Duties include:

• Greeting and seating guests, informing them of specials and explaining our dishes to guests who are unfamiliar with Hawaiian or local-style foods
• Managing wait times to ensure prompt seating and service, including anticipating and planning how to handle potential service bottlenecks due to large parties or reservations
• Reviewing and monitoring reservations calendar to ensure prompt service for guests with reservations; alerting servers of any special notations in reservations details
• Answering questions about menu items if guests’ server is unavailable
• Identifying guests who need help and assisting or obtaining help for them
• Quickly and accurately report all complaints and/or service exceptions to the manager on duty so that action can be taken before customer(s) leave the restaurant
• Secondary duties include serving as back-up for counter service, take-out orders and/or incoming phone calls
• General stocking, cleaning, and daily maintenance of front-of-house areas
• Assisting co-workers to ensure prompt, high-quality guest service
• May be called upon to assist with serving duties

Highway Inn is an award-winning 75-year-old, third-generation-owned Hawaiian and local food restaurant. We are proud of the food we serve and the exceptional service we extend to every guest. ‘Ohana and aloha are our core values—many of our employees have been with us for more than 20 years and generations of families have been dining with us since we first opened in 1947.

Qualifications

• 1 to 2 years of customer service experience; preferred experience with restaurant service, especially host duties, as well as familiarity with Hawaiian food and “Hawai‘i local” dishes
• Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills
• Conversational level or fluency in non-English languages a plus
• Strong attendance record
• Positive attitude
• Team player who is able to multitask efficiently
• Proactive in identifying and anticipating the needs and concerns of customers, co-workers, and managers
• Able to stand and/or walk continuously for long periods of time, read the POS screen, and hear customers in an often-noisy environment
• Must be able to lift 20-25 pounds with or without assistance
• Required to follow both oral and written instruction
• Expected to communicate clearly and efficiently with co-workers and managers

Benefits/Perks

• Closed on all major holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s
• Based on hours worked, employees are eligible for:
  • Employee discounts
  • Comprehensive health insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Temporary disability insurance
  • 401K/Profit sharing

Compensation: $14.00 - $17.00 per hour

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive
consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex,
national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other
characteristic protected by law.

Since 1947. Family-owned and operated. Highway Inn has been serving authentic Hawaiian family recipes to the people of Oahu since the end of the plantation era. Our Waipahu location is just a few blocks from the original Highway Inn location, founded almost 75 years ago. Our Kaka’ako location is in Urban Honolulu and is popular with locals for business lunches and tourists staying in nearby Waikiki. Serving Hawaiian Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, beer, wine and cocktails, open seven days a week. In September 2025, we launched Tutu's Place at the Bishop Museum, and 1950's themed plantation house / retro diner setting, serving coffee and shaved ice along with our traditional Hawaiian fare and some items unique to the cafe.

Featured on the US and Canadian Food Network Channels. We are women-owned and use ocean-friendly packaging.