Aloha, it’s Ry from Ry’s Poke Shack.
A lot of people come through our doors and ask us how we got started, or how we manage to run the business day in and day out. The truth is, this isn’t just a business—it’s our life, our family, and our story.
My wife Khannie and I are the ones behind everything you see at Ry’s Poke Shack. From prepping fish early in the morning to closing down and cleaning late at night—we do it all ourselves. And if you’ve stopped by on the weekend or during school breaks, chances are you’ve seen our kids helping out too.
A Shack Full of Lessons
Our daughter Rylah is 15 now, and our son Ryzen is 7. They’ve grown up around this place—literally. Ryzen spent most of his early years right inside the shack, long before he ever stepped foot in preschool. We tried the whole preschool thing for a bit, but eventually decided to raise him right here, in the middle of the hustle, the customers, the cutting boards, and the sound of orders being called out.
It might sound hectic, but it worked for us. We made it work around him.
Now, both of our kids help out at least once or twice a week—when they’re not in school. Rylah and Ryzen have helped with everything from pickling cucumbers, chopping green onions, stocking the fridge, organizing inventory, and even cleaning up the place when we’re wiped from a long day. Rylah also helps us out with events and even social media. She’s got a good eye and a better understanding of Instagram than we ever will.
What We’ve Gained From This
Running a business as a family isn’t always easy. There are long days, late nights, and times we’re stretched thin. But what we’ve gained from it—you can’t buy that.
Our kids are learning what it means to work hard, to take pride in what they do, and to show up even when it’s not easy. They’re learning responsibility, teamwork, and the value of good food and good people. But even more than that, we’ve built something together. This shack isn’t just ours—it’s theirs too. They’ve been a part of it from the start.
And as a family, this has brought us closer. We spend time together, we problem-solve together, we celebrate the small wins and ride out the hard days side by side. Not every family gets to experience that, and we’re really grateful we do.
Why It Matters
In Hawai‘i, small, local, family-run businesses are the heart of our communities. We all support each other, and we try our best to keep things rooted in real values—ohana, integrity, and aloha. When you come to our shack, you’re not just supporting a business. You’re supporting a family, a dream, and a legacy we’re building with our own hands—and now, with our kids’ hands too.
We didn’t start this to get rich. We started this to provide for our family and serve poke the way it’s meant to be served—fresh, local, and made with care. Every step of the way, our kids have been part of that story, and we hope one day they’ll look back and realize how much they helped shape it.
Mahalo for supporting us, for reading this, and for being part of our extended ohana. We’re just a local family doing our best—and we’re grateful every day we get to share it with you.
– Ry