About Us
Our Story
When we created Island Rootz Cafe, we had a simple goal: to offer fresh, flavorful food that is quick, convenient, and rooted in the cultures and traditions that shaped who we are.
We’re Kai and Junko Tsukiyama, a husband-and-wife team born and raised right here in the Torrance and Gardena area. Alongside our incredible crew of hammahs, we’re also the owners of Aunty Maile’s Hawaiian Restaurant in Torrance and Aloha Platez & Shave Ice Co. in Gardena.
With Island Rootz Cafe, we wanted to create something a little different. A place where you can grab a musubi, poke bowl, fruit tea, dessert, or plate lunch without sacrificing quality, flavor, or authenticity. Food that is casual, craveable, nostalgic, and onolicious. Food made with convenience in mind, but never at the expense of heart.
Our Rootz
Although we were both born and raised here in California, our roots stretch across the Pacific.
Kai is Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) with deep family ties throughout Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island, and Kauaʻi. Hawaiian culture has always been a part of our lives through family, music, stories, language, and a deep respect for the people and traditions that came before us.
Kai’s late father, Keala Tsukiyama, helped bring Hawaiian culture to the mainland through KGIL 1260’s Sounds of Hawaiʻi, one of the first Hawaiian music radio programs in California. Through music, language, and storytelling, he created a connection to home for countless people living far from the islands.
Junko’s family roots trace back to Tokyo and Kanazawa, Japan. Raised bilingual and immersed in Japanese culture, she grew up surrounded by values of respect, honor, hospitality, and care for others. Her family always emphasized the importance of staying connected to nature and finding balance in everyday life.
Junko’s father left Tokyo as a young man and spent part of his life in Kailua, Oʻahu, before eventually settling in California. Because of that journey, Hawaiʻi has always been a part of our family’s story through friendships, community, culture, and food.
Junko’s mother, while running her own business and later serving as a vice principal, trained under professional cooks and bakers. She taught that great food does not need to be complicated. It should be balanced, thoughtful, and made with respect for the ingredients and the people sharing the meal.
Why Food?
Food has always been woven into both of our families.
From Kai’s family’s businesses, including Nishi Catering on Oʻahu and his parents’ restaurant, Classic Saimin in Gardena, to the homemade meals, recipes, and traditions passed down through Junko’s family, food has always been a way to connect, celebrate, and care for others.
For us, food is more than something to eat. It is culture. It is memory. It is family. It is one of the ways we show aloha.
So when people ask us about authenticity, it isn’t something we learned later.
It’s how we were raised.
Island Rootz Cafe is our way of sharing those roots with our community, one musubi, one poke bowl, one plate lunch, and one conversation at a time.
Rooted in aloha. Made with aloha.
Mahalo for being part of our story. 🌺
Our Hammahs
While Island Rootz Cafe may have started with our family story, it would not exist without the incredible team standing alongside us every day.
From our kitchen crew to our cashiers, baristas, dishwashers, prep cooks, and leads, every person plays an important role in creating the experience we hope you feel when you walk through our doors.
We often call them our “hammahs” because they truly are. They work hard, take pride in what they do, support one another, and help us bring aloha to life through food and hospitality.
Many of our team members have grown with us over the years across Aunty Maile’s Hawaiian Restaurant, Aloha Platez & Shave Ice Co., and now Island Rootz Cafe. Together, we’ve celebrated milestones, overcome challenges, and built something much bigger than a restaurant.
We’re grateful for every member of our team and proud to work right alongside them every day.
Because at the end of the day, Island Rootz Café isn’t just about Kai and Junko.
It’s about all of us.
It’s about ʻohana.
Meet Chef Yoji
If you’ve visited any of our restaurants, chances are you’ve enjoyed something Chef Yoji had a hand in creating.
As our Executive Chef, Yoji has been one of the key people helping us bring our vision to life. He shares our passion for quality food, consistency, and taking care of people through food.
From busy weekends and catering events to menu development and training our teams, Chef Yoji leads by example and is often the calm behind the chaos. His dedication, work ethic, and commitment to getting things right are a big part of what makes our restaurants what they are today.
We’re incredibly grateful to have him as part of our ʻohana