Business Monday: Longtime Kona sports bar rebrands under new name, Voyagers

A long-time oceanfront Kona eatery has been rebranded with a new name, a fresh look and an updated menu.

After two years on the market, the Kona Canoe Club along with the Kona Inn Restaurant, were purchased by the newly formed Island Restaurant Group in April 2026 that encompasses three other iconic Kona eateries: Jackie Rey’s, Harbor House and Umekes.

The Kona Canoe Club, once a sports bar owned by famed LA Dodgers pitcher Don Drysdale, now is a restaurant with a modern Pacific Rim dining concept called Voyagers. The eatery is inspired by the ancient navigators who crossed the Pacific guided only by the stars, winds and waves.

The restaurant, located in the Kona Shopping Village along Ali‘i Drive, will be hosting a grand opening under its new name on Oct. 30, where customers can explore the new menu and enjoy hula and Tahitian performances.

“The inspiration behind changing Kona Canoe Club to Voyagers really came from wanting to honor what this location has always been about — the ocean, canoe culture and bringing people together— while creating something fresh and welcoming to everyone,” said Nakoa Pabre, owner of Umekes and executive chairman of the new restaurant group.

Pabre, who is overseeing Voyagers, said the name came to him because “Canoe Club” can sometimes sound like a private club.

“We wanted locals and visitors alike to immediately feel like this was a place for them,” he said. “At the same time, I didn’t want to lose the connection to the canoe. Voyaging is such an important part of the story of Hawaiʻi and the Pacific.”

Voyagers launched a soft opening on Sept. 3 during the 52nd Annual Queen Liliʻuokalani Long Distance Outrigger Canoe Race, which was important to Pabre.

“These paddlers are voyagers themselves,” he said. “They’ve traveled here to compete on the ocean in canoes, so I couldn’t think of a better group of people or a better moment to introduce Voyagers.

“For generations, the ocean and canoes connected islands, cultures, food and people. That became the foundation for our new concept and our tagline, ‘Flavors of the Pacific.'”

Pabre said the menu also takes inspiration from different cultures and flavors throughout the Pacific, including Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Polynesia and Micronesia. But they have a local spin.

Some of the highlights include ahi poke parfait, lomi salmon bruschetta, pupu-style ribeye and hulihuli chicken wings.

The restaurant also has fish & chips, a wagyu loco moco burger, Hawaiian Cubano, ʻulu vegetable Japanese curry and chilled bibimbop salad.

Pupus range from $18 to $24 and entreés from $32 to $44.

Happy Hour is 2 to 5 p.m. daily with $10 mai tais.

Pabre said he wants Voyagers to become a gathering place where paddlers, families, locals and visitors can come together after being on the water to eat, drink, talk story and enjoy the view.

“It’s about creating a gathering place that celebrates the ocean that connects us, the cultures that shaped us and the flavors of the Pacific,” Pabre said.

Visit the Voyagers website for the full menu and pricing.