Earlier this month, Saks Global Enterprises announced it will close three more Neiman Marcus stores (along with 12 Saks Fifth Avenue locations) across the U.S. — including the Neiman Marcus store in Ala Moana Center.
This location, along with its iconic Mariposa restaurant, opened in 1998. Since then, the restaurant has become a popular option for business power lunches, gatherings with friends, and a spot to relax and watch the Friday night fireworks over Waikīkī.
The Neiman Marcus Ala Moana store and Mariposa restaurant’s closure date has not been announced.
Aloha State Daily talked with several customers and former staff members about some of their favorite memories at the restaurant, as they prepare to say “a hui hou” to Mariposa.
Lance Kosaka, former executive chef at Mariposa
Aloha State Daily (ASD): What was a highlight of your time at the restaurant as executive chef?
Lance Kosaka (LK): The best memories were (of) the people; the customers were really nice. We did so many events.
ASD: The eatery’s sunset lounge menu started while you were there, right?
LK: Yes; it was such a nice experience.
ASD: Do you have a favorite dish on the menu?
LK: We ran some special things. For the sunset lounge, we did lemon pepper shrimp and we used to do arancini, like ochazuke arancini. That was one of my favorite things.
ASD: Do you have anything else you wanted to add?
LK: It was a lovely space, one of the most beautiful dining rooms, just how it was set (up).
Maria Kawananakoa, longtime Mariposa customer
ASD: Can you remember the first time you dined at Mariposa?
Maria Kawananakoa (MK): Maybe when they first opened about 28 years ago. I can’t remember the first time, but I remember we had lots of great events there — birthday parties, sunsets and Friday night fireworks.
ASD: Do you have a go-to order or favorite dish?
MK: Their popovers are amazing. The dish I always order is the chopped salad with salmon. It’s healthy, clean and good.
ASD: What were some of your favorite memories there?
MK: There are so many — being at the bar with my husband, who has passed away; we had dinner there a lot. I had my girlfriend’s bridal shower there, lots of birthdays, lot of Friday evenings. Lots of lunches; I spend most lunches at Mariposa. It’s just a great place to connect with friends and enjoy that indoor/outdoor atmosphere. There’s always great service and beautiful smiles.
That’s the go-to place for many business lunches, and on Friday evenings, for live Hawaiian music and sunset. There’s nothing really like it — watching the sunsets and fireworks (on Fridays) shortly after, with good food and great company.
Lawrence Nakamoto, former executive chef at Neiman Marcus; current chef/owner of Tango Contemporary Café
ASD: How long were you the executive chef at Mariposa?
Lawrence Nakamoto (LN): About six years, but I was there previously as the sous chef and line cook. In total, I was there for 10 years.
ASD: What were some of your favorite memories during your time there?
LN: For us in the kitchen, we had a really good crew; it was a good place to work. It’s very hard to find that kind of job where you don’t mind going into work. We had a really fun time on the line working, even though it was busy.
As a sous chef, I had a lot of support from the former executive chef. That’s where I got my basis for what I’m doing now; getting feedback from customers and servers for what I’m doing now.
ASD: What were some of your responsibilities at executive chef?
LN: On top of Mariposa, I was responsible for making sure the events through the whole store were catered to. We would have some luncheons on different floors for the customers of that specific brand; we would have fashion shows and we would have to do passed appetizers. There were a lot of different events going on through that whole store.
ASD: What were some memorable ones for you?
LN: Always the Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival; we did the kick-off event at Mariposa. That was a fun one we used to do every year; all the chefs would come.
ASD: Did you have a favorite dish on the menu?
LN: The scallop with dashi butter and nori pesto; we served that with some risotto. That was one of my favorites we put on the menu.
ASD: Is there anything else you wanted to add?
LN: I owe a lot to my time there; that was really my first chef position. I owe my time there to the company for giving me that opportunity.
Lynn Lally, longtime Mariposa customer
ASD: Do you remember your first visit to Mariposa?
Lynn Lally (LL): So (executive chef) Marc was still there; probably 2002 or 2003, in the early 2000s. We were from the Big Island, so here we were, in the “big city” (Honolulu). It was suggested that we go and try the restaurant out. My husband and I went in there and we just sat and stared; it was so beautiful and so big. We sat at the table close to where the glass divider to the outside lanai is. It was so wonderful; I can’t even remember what we ordered, except that I loved the popovers. At that time, they had a lilikoʻi butter; it wasn’t like the other restaurants that had strawberry. I really liked it. We had the chicken broth, and we thought we had hit the jackpot.
I believe Yoon was our first server. We sat right there, right in front of Magic Island, and it was so nice. I remember, a few months later, being invited for a dinner that was given at Neiman Marcus for a pianist. It was such a treat to go there; we had never been there at night. It was unbelievable, it was so beautiful; I remember it was a full moon. Everybody was so gracious, and the food was spectacular.
ASD: Speaking of food, do you have a favorite dish at the restaurant?
LL: I would always get the ‘ahi salad, but I would say, “Don’t give me any greens.” Just give me a scoop of rice and the ‘ahi. That’s what I would have every single time I went; that was my favorite.
ASD: Any specific memories stand out from the times you went there?
LL: There’s a group of us that have done our birthdays at Mariposa for many years; we’re called “The Darling Dozen” — there’s 12 of us — and we always celebrate everybody’s birthdays throughout the year. Once a month, we all get together. (When the news came out about the store’s closure), we were all looking at each other, going, “Where are we going to go? Where are we going to celebrate our birthdays?” Every month we would all get together, and it means so much to us.
ASD: Do you have anything else you would like to share?
LL: It has the best view and the most wonderful people working there. One special lady is Yoon; she’s been there for a long time. She’s always been a wonderful lady. I’ve been there long enough to see her daughter grow. There are a lot of people that have worked there for years. All the chefs have been wonderful, the food has always been great, and the service has always been fabulous. It’s just the most wonderful place to meet and be with your friends.
We’re going to miss the oxtail soup special down at the café on Thursdays — the line was always long — and just every aspect of Neiman Marcus and the restaurants, the memories that it holds for all of us. It’s becoming a reality and it’s becoming very sad to think about not being able to come there. Neiman Marcus in and of itself was such a wonderful place; you would always know somebody when you were there walking around.
I’m very sad that it’s closing; it’s the closing of an era.
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Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
