HONOKAA — Sergio and Dena Ramirez had big plans to celebrate their restaurant’s 20th anniversary this year: a new prominent location in Honokaa that’s five times larger than the original.
Cafe il Mondo, an Italian-themed dining outlet, opened in a newly constructed building in late spring several blocks down the main street in Honokaa. Popular dishes remain on the menu with a spread of “grandma’s recipe” style pizzas, pastas, soups and calzones.
The dream was in the works for more than five years when the owners were finally given the required permit in late April to open the doors.
“We are humbled, honored and deeply grateful for the outpouring of love and support from our friends and family near and far who have made the opening of our new cafe possible,” Sergio said. “It truly takes a community to make a dream become a reality.”
The restaurant originally opened in 1996, when the couple and their two young sons moved to Honokaa with humble belongings.
“We only had money for a couple of bags of cheese, not even enough for pizza boxes,” Dena said. “Only in Honokaa can you say to people ‘Oh take the pan and just bring ‘em back!’ and they always did.”
Cafe il Mondo has been a popular spot in Honokaa for visitors and locals for two decades. Over that time, Dena says she has watched children in the community grow up who are now bringing children of their own to the new location.
Even more so, the owners delight in watching people from many walks of life sit next to each other and exchange cultures.
“Our signature are these long tables,” Dena said, pointing at the rich, wood communal tabletops. “It’s exciting to see people who may have never met get seated together here, and have a conversation that wouldn’t have happened without them.”
The restaurant is usually abuzz with people in the new 3,000-square-feet space. The design follows a classical European aesthetic, most of which is made up of recycled equipment, handmade furniture and donated materials.
“If you’ve got a little art in your heart, you can make pretty things,” Sergio said.
The couple hopes that the business’ expansion will ultimately contribute to the surrounding community.
“Having a new location like this gives a lot of new employment opportunities,” Dena said. “We have hired and trained so many teenagers in the hospitality business. And now, even the people who were trained previously no longer have to travel all the way to the hotels to use their skills.”
They also aim to be an inspiration to other small businesses and prospective entrepreneurs.
“They say all the time ‘If you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere.’ But I say if you can make it in Hawaii, then you can make it anywhere because Hawaii is much harder on small businesses,” Sergio said. “This little space is a pioneer in what can be done with little money, a big heart and a creative vision.”
He and Dena encourage others to follow their passions, despite difficulties.
“It started with a dream and family made it happen,” Dena said. “There have been hardships, struggle, sadness, illness and loss along the way, but somehow we have been able to persevere.”
Their two sons, Johann and Gabriel, grew up in Café il Mondo and the restaurant business. The two are so dedicated that Dena recalls many times when they gave up sports and school events to help make dough or work shifts. They even significantly helped in the construction of the new restaurant, and all the daily operations still to this day.
The owners hope that their doors welcome a variety of people in honor of its name, Cafe il Mondo, meaning “The World Café.”
“This place is nothing without the guest,” Dena said. “You never know who’s walking through that door and we’ll be able to shape somebody’s world just with quality product and unique encounters.”