>Ka La staff writer
“This is usually when it’s most busy,” said Cora Stevens as the clock struck noon.
The lunch rush of students exiting their classrooms to find the nearest bite to eat drift toward\ the food trucks located on campus, including Simply Ono, the pride and joy of owners Cora Stevens and Harris Sukita.
Cora and Harris began their adventure together 20 years ago, when their prior employment at the Kahala Hilton came to an end.
When the Kahala Hilton was heavily renovated and renamed the Kahala Mandarin in ’95, it resulted in layoffs, including the kitchen staff of the illustrious hotel. Cora and Harris were suddenly out of work.
With 10 years of cooking experience at the hotel that every sitting president since Lyndon B. Johnson has stayed at, Cora could have probably gone to work at any kitchen on the island. Instead, she decided to join her friend Harris on his journey toward his dream of owning a food truck.
The current food truck, converted from a Hawaiian Electric utility truck, is stocked with food prepared at their central kitchen located at the John A. Burns School of Medicine Café Waiola.
Their menu changes daily.
“Tuesdays are the popular days,” said Cora. “That’s the day we usually serve local food.”
Cora is happy to have the Simply Ono truck on campus.
“I like it here!” said Cora. “All the kids are real down to earth, and very respectful too!”
The campus seems happy to have the truck on campus, as well.
With no on-site cafeteria since October, students have had their options limited to food trucks allowed on campus by administration. School officials hope to have a new vendor signed up and working in the cafeteria some time in the coming year.
Until then, the food trucks are thriving.
By the end of our interview, Cora’s shoyu chicken had completely sold out.
