| Hawaii Hispanic History In 1794, Francisco Marin -- a Spaniard -- became the first Hispanic resident of Hawaii. Francisco Marin planted the first pineapple in the kingdom of Hawaii on January 2, 1813. |
| Hawaii Hispanic History Fransisco Marin planted the first pineapple in the kingdom of Hawaii. |
| Hawaii Hispanic Community Statistics: |
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100% Latino -owned & -operated
Median Income
$67,000
Own home: 45%
Own 1 or more
vehicles: 92%
Commute to work:
82%
$67,000
Own home: 45%
Own 1 or more
vehicles: 92%
Commute to work:
82%
Local News
| Latino is partner in an upscale Chinese restaurant |
| By José Villa, Senior Editor HONOLULU, Hawaii. Ron Vazquez, general manager and operating partner of P.F.Chang’s China Bistro on Auahi St, is a first-generation Mexican-American. His parents are from the city of León in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. “Coffee Partners Hawaii – who had introduced Starbucks and Jamba Juice in Hawaii – partnered with the McNaughton Group to purchase the first P.F. Chang’s franchise location. They were fans of the chain and thought a nice American Chinese restaurant with good food would work in this high-rise, luxury condominium location. They were right.” Vazquez has been with P.F. Chang’s for eight years. How does he feel about working for them? “I worked for them as a manager for several years in Chicago and then Bob Crowley, my general manager, was offered an opportunity to become a regional manager for them. That created an opening for a new general manager at the restaurant I worked in. And, luckily, I was selected for that position. I love it. They’re a great company to work for.” How was he selected as the general manager of the Kakaako restaurant their first franchise location? “I managed the Chicago restaurant for a few years. And due to the great work Bob Crowley does, he was offered the position of P.F. Chang’s director of operations in Hawaii. He asked me if I wanted to come along. I asked my wife Flor, and daughters Ronnie, Brianna and Nairi - who were then 13, 7 and 5. I think they started packing as soon as I said ‘Ha-wa.’ I’m still not sure they heard the ‘ii” part. ” With two years under his belt in Hawaii now, Vazquez has over 100 employees working at the restaurant. He says the restaurant is doing very well because of the talented and dedicated staff members he has been fortunate enough to find. He said: “Some of our employees have been with us since we opened two years ago and have no plans to leave. I’ve been very impressed by the caliber of employees we’ve been able to attract and retain. I’m also impressed by the enthusiasm and professionalism they exhibit on the job every day. They make it a great place to work.” And from our observations, so does he. |
Vazquez was born in Chicago and attended elementary school there, but
spent several of his high school years in Mexico. Even though he
graduated from high school in Mexico, he was still required to complete 3
½ yrs of high school in Chicago to get an American diploma.
While still in high school, and through his attendance at college, he
worked at a restaurant in Chicago for 13 years. He started as a cook
and worked his way up. He then worked at an Italian restaurant for a
few years never giving up the hope of owning his own restaurant one
day.
He was, therefore, fairly experienced in American and Italian cooking in
Chicago, when he ran across an opportunity at P.F. Chang’s in 2000. The
idea of getting involved with a different cuisine appealed to him and he
joined the company as a manager.
ig Chinese chain of restaurants. P.F. Chang’s had been in business for
six years and had 20 locations in the U.S. Now they have 180 locations
and open about 20 restaurants a year. But our restaurant is the first
franchise location in the chain.”
spent several of his high school years in Mexico. Even though he
graduated from high school in Mexico, he was still required to complete 3
½ yrs of high school in Chicago to get an American diploma.
While still in high school, and through his attendance at college, he
worked at a restaurant in Chicago for 13 years. He started as a cook
and worked his way up. He then worked at an Italian restaurant for a
few years never giving up the hope of owning his own restaurant one
day.
He was, therefore, fairly experienced in American and Italian cooking in
Chicago, when he ran across an opportunity at P.F. Chang’s in 2000. The
idea of getting involved with a different cuisine appealed to him and he
joined the company as a manager.
ig Chinese chain of restaurants. P.F. Chang’s had been in business for
six years and had 20 locations in the U.S. Now they have 180 locations
and open about 20 restaurants a year. But our restaurant is the first
franchise location in the chain.”
