A K LEO T H E
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6 to SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2013 VOLUME 109 ISSUE 37
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Kūlia Grill closes on campus L ACY DENIZ Contributing Writer The Kū lia Grill at the John A. Burns School of Medicine campus will close its doors on Dec. 13, and the school hopes to have a new vendor aboard by January. Kapi‘olani Community College, which runs the Kū lia Grill under its Culinary Arts program, has announced it will no longer operate the grill and will consolidate its food service operations to its Diamond Head campus. KCC started Kūlia Grill, which serves both students and the general public, in 2005 with the expectation that the program would grow along with the development of the Kaka‘ako area. However, there have been unforeseen factors that greatly affected their progress. “Parking is restricted, food trucks are very popular and has taken away some customers, and Kaka‘ako hasn’t developed fast enough in that area,” said Frank Haas, dean of the culinary and hospitality program at KCC. The funds from Kū lia Grill supported KCC’s culinary program, as well as fi xtures and furnishings for the Grill itself. Haas explained that culinary programs are expensive, which
caused a decrease in revenues in the past two years. “We didn’t see consistency in the future,” Haas said. “In fact, some years there have even been times when the college had to pay the grill’s costs.” KCC has decided to focus on its core operations in lieu of the grill.
spot,” Yuen said. “I’ve been used to the way the grill operates, and you hope that the next one will be as accommodating.” “It just depends on what’s going to replace it here,” said Jeffrey Savage, who works in the area. “The food’s fi ne. Everybody likes the people. ... Selection’s good.”
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As the primary venue for students to eat and study, some worry about the consequences of change. “It will be harder to get coffee. ... I feel the price here (for coffee) is reasonable,” sophomore Li-Hsieh Chen said. “There’s a pretty good deal after 1:30. There’s $3.50 deal (on a smaller portion meal).” Another student sees the venue as an open study area. “They’re very open to people coming in even if they’re not buying food, so you can use the microwave to heat up food and study,” sophomore Jessica Yuen said. “They open at 6:30 (a.m.).” The main question is what will be replacing the grill. Some students are worried the new vendor won’t be as welcoming as K ū lia Grill. “Kind of uncertain about what’s going to come take its
To help guide the school’s decisions on choosing the next vendor, the dean’s office conducted a food survey as well as “tasting presentations” by several vendors in efforts to gain student insight. “The survey seeks to learn what is most important in our primary customers, students/ faculty, staff of the UH medical school,” said Tina Shelton, communications director for JABSOM. According to Shelton, pending new information, the school’s intent is to have the vendor aboard by January when school resumes. Still, the idea of change makes some students nervous. “If there’s gonna be a transition period, there’s gonna be fewer places to study and eat,” Chen said. “I hope they just leave this place open.” DAVID JORDAN / KA LEO O HAWAI‘I