60th Anniversary Stories

Francis (black suit, left ) and brother
Charlie (black suit and sunglasses,
right) at the groundbreaking cere-
mony of the first Zippy’s locatio

Photos, memories, and moments through the years.

Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi: Celebrating the Language of Hawaiʻi

Honoring a Living Language Hawaiʻi is unique in many ways, including being the only state in the nation with two official languages: English and Hawaiian, or ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. Every February, communities across the islands come together to celebrate Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, also known as Hawaiian Language Month. This annual observance encourages the use of the Hawaiian language in everyday life while helping preserve and perpetuate Hawaiian culture for future generations. At Zippy's, celebrating the cultures that make Hawaiʻi such a special place has always been important. Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi provides an opportunity to recognize the significance of the Hawaiian language and inspire more people to learn, practice, and appreciate it. Bringing ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi to the Table As part of its Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi celebration, Zippy's invited guests to experience something unique: a version of the Zippy's menu translated into ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. This initiative helps make the language more visible and accessible while demonstrating how Hawaiian can be naturally incorporated into everyday experiences, including ordering favorite local dishes. More than a translation project, the menu serves as a reminder that language lives through everyday use. By seeing familiar menu items in Hawaiian, guests can gain a greater appreciation for the beauty, history, and relevance of the language in modern Hawaiʻi. A Community Effort Creating a Hawaiian-language version of the Zippy's menu was truly a collaborative effort. Zippy's partnered with educators and students from Kamehameha Schools Kapālama to help bring the project to life. Their knowledge, dedication, and passion for language education played a vital role in making the translated menu possible. Translating a restaurant menu is no small task. The project required thoughtful consideration to ensure that menu items and descriptions were represented accurately while remaining faithful to the spirit and cultural significance of the Hawaiian language. The result is both an educational resource and a celebration of cultural stewardship. Learning Through Food Food has a unique way of bringing people together, making it a natural gateway for language learning. To help guests engage more deeply with ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, educational resources were created to introduce Hawaiian vocabulary, everyday phrases, and common food-related terminology. By connecting language learning to familiar foods and experiences, these lessons make ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi approachable for beginners while encouraging continued exploration. Whether someone is learning their first Hawaiian words or expanding their existing knowledge, food provides a fun and meaningful way to connect with the language. Taking the Next Step For those interested in continuing their language journey, additional learning resources offer opportunities to go beyond the basics. These tools help support the broader effort to increase awareness and everyday use of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi throughout Hawaiʻi and beyond. Learning a language is a lifelong journey. Every new word learned, phrase spoken, or conversation shared contributes to keeping that language vibrant and alive. Programs like Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi encourage people of all backgrounds to participate in preserving and celebrating an important part of Hawaiʻi's cultural heritage. Preserving Culture Through Language Language is more than just a way to communicate. It carries stories, values, traditions, and a unique worldview that connects people to their history and identity. Supporting the growth and visibility of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi helps ensure that these cultural connections continue to thrive for generations to come. By embracing opportunities to learn and use Hawaiian, individuals help strengthen a living language that remains an essential part of Hawaiʻi's past, present, and future. Celebrating Hawaiʻi's Legacy Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi serves as a reminder that language and culture are deeply intertwined. Through community partnerships, educational initiatives, and everyday moments of learning, organizations like Zippy's can help foster a greater appreciation for Hawaiʻi's rich cultural heritage. Whether it's learning a new phrase, discovering the Hawaiian name for a favorite menu item, or simply gaining a deeper understanding of the language, every step helps keep ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi visible, valued, and alive. By celebrating and embracing the language, we honor Hawaiʻi's legacy while helping shape a stronger future for generations to come.

Hawaii’s Favorite Flaky Pastry: The Beloved Napple®

If you've lived in Hawaii for any length of time, chances are you've had a Napple® from Zippy's — or at least heard someone rave about one. This humble, hand-sized pastry has quietly become one of the most beloved items on the Zippy's menu, and for good reason. Whether you're a longtime local or just discovering Zippy's for the first time, here's everything you need to know about the Napple®. History of the Napple® In 1983, Zippy’s founders Francis and Charlie Higa hired Jan Tsukazaki, a Hawaii-born baker who trained in Switzerland and helped bring European-style baking to the Hawaiian islands. Tsukazaki wanted to create an alternative to custard pies and dobash cakes that were common at the time. She adapted a traditional apple turnover by swapping heavy pie crust for a light, puff pastry — thus, the Apple Napple® was born! What is a Napple®? The Napple® is a signature Zippy's pastry made from layers of buttery, flaky puff pastry, filled with your choice of sweet apple or coconut filling. (Other flavors may visit as part of monthly bakery specials!) It's baked fresh and available daily, making it a go-to grab-and-go item for breakfast, an afternoon snack, or a sweet ending to a Zippy's meal. Why Locals Love the Napple® Part of what makes the Napple® so popular is its simplicity. It's not trying to be a fancy dessert — it's a comforting, familiar pastry that pairs perfectly with a cup of Zippy's coffee or as a side to any of Zippy's plate lunches. The flaky, layered texture combined with the warm fruit or coconut filling hits that nostalgic, homestyle sweet spot that keeps people coming back. It's also incredibly convenient. Since the Napple® is available daily (in Apple and Coconut), you don't have to time your visit around a limited-time menu item or seasonal offering — it's always ready when the craving strikes.

History of the Zip Pac®: Hawaii’s Most Iconic Plate Lunch

When discussing iconic island-style comfort foods, few dishes are as recognizable as the Zip Pac®. Sold at Zippy's Restaurants for decades, this hearty bento-style meal has become one of Hawaii's most beloved comfort foods and a best-selling menu item. What started as a convenient takeout meal has evolved into an icon that represents the “mixed plate” of diverse cultures of the Hawaiian Islands. What Is a Zip Pac®? The Zip Pac® is Zippy's signature bento-style plate lunch that combines several local favorites in one convenient meal. A traditional Zip Pac includes: • Fried Chicken • Hoki (Breaded white fish) • SPAM® • Teriyaki Beef • Takuan (Pickled Daikon) • Rice • Furikake (Seaweed seasoning) The combination may seem unusual to first-time visitors, but to locals it perfectly represents Hawaii’s multicultural food culture. Japanese, American, and local island influences come together in one plate. The Origins of the Zip Pac® To understand the Zip Pac®, it helps to understand Zippy's itself. Brothers Francis and Charles Higa founded Zippy's Restaurants in Honolulu in 1966. Their vision was to create a restaurant serving the variety of local foods Hawaii residents wanted but couldn't easily find at traditional fast-food restaurants. Over time, Zippy's became Hawaii's favorite diner, known for island-style comfort food, chili, plate lunches, and family dining. As Hawaii's active lifestyle grew around beaches, parks, sporting events, and outdoor gatherings, customers wanted meals that were portable and filling. The Zip Pac® answered that need by bringing together a little bit of everything in one plate. Why the Zip Pac® Became So Popular Unlike traditional plate lunches that focus on a single protein, the Zip Pac® gives customers several local favorites in one meal. Its popularity can be attributed to three key factors: 1. Variety Customers don't have to choose a single protein - the Zip Pac® offers Fried Chicken, Hoki (breaded white fish), SPAM®, and Teriyaki beef! 2. Convenience The bento-style packaging makes the meal easy to transport to wherever life takes you — the beach, work, school, sports games, fishing trips, picnics, or even on an airplane! 3. Local Flavor The ingredients in a Zip Pac® reflect Hawaii's mixed plate of cultures, blending Japanese, American, and island culinary traditions into one meal. More than 50 years after its introduction, the Zip Pac® remains Zippy's best-selling menu item. Its enduring popularity demonstrates the timeless appeal of comfort food that is both convenient and familiar. While the Zippy's menu has expanded to include more island-style favorites such as Korean Fried Chicken, Chili, and bakery items, the Zip Pac® continues to be a signature offering.

Rooted in Tradition: Dobash Cake

Ask anyone who grew up in Hawaii about their favorite local cakes, and Dobash Cake is almost guaranteed to come up. This rich, chocolatey dessert has been a staple of island bakeries for generations, and Zippy's version is one that locals continue to seek out. If you've never tried it — or if you're simply curious what makes it so special — here's a closer look at Zippy's Dobash Cake. What Is Dobash Cake? Dobash Cake is a Hawaii bakery favorite built around moist chocolate chiffon Cake. Like other chiffon-style cakes, it gets its light, airy texture from whipped egg whites folded into the batter, resulting in a cake that's rich in chocolate flavor without feeling dense or heavy. The defining feature of Dobash Cake, though, is its frosting. Zippy's tops its chocolate chiffon layers with a rich, creamy Dobash frosting — a chocolate buttercream-style icing that's smooth, sweet, and deeply chocolatey. It's the frosting that gives Dobash Cake its name and its signature taste, setting it apart from other chocolate cakes. The finishing touch is simple but iconic: a single cherry on top of each slice or cake, adding a small pop of color and a hint of fruity sweetness to balance out the richness of the chocolate. Rooted in Hawaii's Bakery Traditions Dobash Cake has long been a fixture of Hawaii's local bakery scene, and it holds a special place in island food culture. The name "Dobash" is believed to be a local adaptation of "Doberge," a multi-layer Cake style with roots in New Orleans, reimagined over the decades into the chocolate-forward, cherry-topped version Hawaii residents know and love today. Zippy's has helped keep this tradition alive, offering a version of Dobash Cake that stays true to its rich chocolate flavor and creamy frosting while remaining a familiar, comforting treat for both longtime fans and newcomers.

Since the Beginning: Zippy’s Teriyaki Beef

When it comes to iconic local food in Hawaii, few dishes are as beloved as Zippy's Teriyaki Beef. This favorite has earned a loyal following among both residents and visitors since it’s been on the menu when Zippy’s first opened in 1966. At Zippy's, teriyaki beef represents the perfect combination of Japanese-inspired flavors and Hawaii's unique comfort food culture. Hawaii's cuisine reflects generations of multicultural influences, including strong Japanese culinary traditions. Teriyaki became a local favorite because of its delicious balance of sweet and savory flavors. Zippy's Teriyaki Beef features savory, marinated beef infused with the sweet and salty flavors that have made teriyaki one of Hawaii's most popular culinary influences. Teriyaki sauce and flavor has long been a staple in Hawaii's food scene, and Zippy's has helped keep this local favorite at the forefront of island dining. Whether served as part of a satisfying plate lunch (Teriyaki Beef Plate, Zip Pac®, Zip Pac® Deluxe) or a sandwich (Teriyaki Beef Bun), teriyaki beef continues to be one of our signature offerings.