What happens when pandemic isolation meets a lifetime passion for cooking and a community built on genuine aloha? For Cory Vidinha, it sparked the birth of Whiskey Smoke 808, a barbecue restaurant that's become much more than a place to eat—it's a testament to family, faith, and the enduring spirit of old Hawaii.
Growing up in a family where men were exceptional cooks and processing their own meat was tradition, Vidinha always dreamed of owning a butcher shop. But life took him in countless directions—commercial diving, carpentry, truck driving—as he raised four sons with his wife, whom he met when they were just teenagers. When COVID shut down Hawaii, the enforced idleness sparked depression in a man who'd never known anything but hard work.
The turning point came when Cory and his sons built a massive stainless-steel smoker. What began as a way to keep busy evolved into making food for struggling friends, which then blossomed into a booming backyard business with cars lining his street. "I didn't even understand social media," Vidinha laughs, recalling how friends helped him create an Instagram account that would launch his business.
Whiskey Smoke's journey from backyard to brick-and-mortar showcases the best of Hawaii's community spirit. When Cory couldn't afford the deposit on his current location (the former Fresh Catch building), the local family who owned it gave him three months rent-free to renovate and start earning. At the grand opening, strangers helped carry in tables and joined the family's prayer circle—a chicken-skin moment that epitomizes why this restaurant feels different.
Beyond exceptional barbecue, Vidinha brings another passion to the table—his 15-year career as bassist for hardcore band 13th Legion, which has toured Japan and beyond. This artistic outlet complements his approach to food: "What you're tasting is our love—for the food, for people."
Come experience barbecue created with genuine aloha, where communal tables invite strangers to become friends and every bite reminds us that even in our darkest moments, community can help us create something beautiful.
