Aug. 11, 2026

Maui Roots, San Diego Hustle: The Kalei’s Kitchenette Story

Maui Roots, San Diego Hustle: The Kalei’s Kitchenette Story

Kalei’s Kitchenette grew from a farmers market table into a San Diego Hawaiian food and catering brand rooted in Maui flavors, Filipino hospitality, and family-owned grit. Co-founder Khara Mangiduyos shares how she and Chef Andy built Kalei’s around Huli Huli chicken, Spam musubi, Kalua pork, catering, community, and the aloha spirit, while using technology to help a small restaurant operate like a bigger brand.

Kalei’s Kitchenette started at a farmers market table and grew into one of San Diego’s beloved Hawaiian-inspired restaurant and catering brands.

On this episode of Hospitality Hangout, Khara Mangiduyos, co-founder of Kalei’s Kitchenette, joins the show live from SpotOn Studios at the National Restaurant Association Show to share the story behind the family-owned concept she built with her husband, Chef Andy Mangiduyos.

From Huli Huli chicken and Kalua pork to Spam musubi, Hawaiian-style mac salad, Filipino hospitality, San Diego community events, and the power of solving real customer problems, this episode is a hometown hero story about food, family, technology, and aloha.

Episode Credits:

  • Produced by: Branded Hospitality Media
  • Hosted by: Michael Schatzberg, Jimmy Frischling
  • Producer: Julie Zucker
  • Creative Director: Adam Levine
  • Show Runner: Drewe Raimi
  • Post Production: Three Cheers Creative

www.thehospitalityhangout.com


Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.