Our Story
We’re Mike & Lei, the husband/wife co-founders of Nana Ai Katsu. Our daughter, Nanami, is the little boss and food critic for all our dishes. Her favorite and recommended menu item is the spam katsu musubi.
We opened up during the pandemic in August 2020 when we both found ourselves with a lot of free time. While we've always loved to eat, we are both from different industries. I've been in the technology and start-up space and Mike's been in retail and the wellness industry. It was the scariest and best time for us to start our family business together. A few years prior, Mike wanted to open up a food truck after practicing the layering technique but we put it on hold until 2020.
Even when times were hard the local community came out to support us and we will never forget your kindness and love. We hope to continue our family business and grow our team for Nanami to be a big part of when she is older.
On our days off we enjoy spending time with our 2 huskies, Motsu Nabe and Panko, eating out together, and traveling to Japan.
Thank you for supporting our local katsu shop, for including us in your communities, and for growing Nana Ai Katsu from a food stand in a marketplace to a restaurant in Kaimuki!
#communitymade
Local katsu shop with the purpose of bettering our community
2023 organizations we worked with: Civil Beat, Mai Movement, Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii, Animal Education Initiative of Hawaii, Shidler College of Business, Hongwanji Mission School, Noelani Elementary, Honolulu Theater for Youth, Blood Bank of Hawaii, Diamond Head Clubhouse, The Vill Dance Company, Iolani School, Hawaii Community Foundation - Maui Strong Fund, McKinley High School Bake For Friends Club, Bottles4College by Genshu, and Hanahauoli School
2024 Organizations we are working with:
Bottles4College by Genshu
Hanahauoli School
Aloha Animal Sanctuary
Hongwanji Mission School
Blood Bank of Hawaii with Aloha Pacific Federal Credit Union
Civil Beat
Noelani Elementary School
Honolulu Theatre for Youth
Hawaii Bombers Westside Baseball Team
Hawaii Foodbank via Hawaii National Bank Fundraiser
Support Paws of Hawaii - Animal Rescue
Japan-American Society of Hawaii
Kuakini Foundation
Susie’s Duck Sanctuary
Nana Ai Katsu is named after our daughter Nanami and means, “Nana loves Katsu”.
Nanami’s Free Kids Library
Come and visit our free library located inside the shop! Most book donations are for elementary keiki but we sometimes receive young adult books too. Kids are welcome to take a book home. You can also find coloring sheets designed by Tiny Hearts 808 and origami paper at the free library. Feel free to take a book or swap one out!