Skip to Navigation Skip to Content
Team photo on the water

Our Story

We Welcome the Aloha Spirit

The Founders

It all started with two best friends, Rob Thibaut and Sandy Saxten. They decided to design restaurants in locations where they wanted to live, work and play.

Family portrait

The Families

With over four decades of restaurant experience, the Thibaut and Saxten families are proud to carry on their family legacy.

Vibrant cocktail drinks

Our Recipe

Since 1977 we’ve created restaurants with a genuine “sense of place” and a unique passion for our guests, employees and communities that we serve every day. We set the bar for destination restaurants, delivering great food, a welcoming experience, and memories that last a lifetime.

The T S Journey

Every great story has its legends and unforgettable moments. Explore ours and get to know the people and memories that have made us who we are.

Street view of a restaurant

1977

Rob Thibaut and Sandy Saxten form T S Restaurants when they open Kimo’s on the last waterfront parcel in Old Lahaina Town. Kimo’s is where the T S tradition began and is the birthplace of the Hula Pie™.

Jake's Del Mar entrance

1981

T S Restaurants crosses the Pacific to open in sunny Southern California. Jake’s opens, and becomes a local favorite, right on the sand overlooking the surf in the picturesque town of Del Mar.

Family of three checking in with the front desk host

1982

Leilani’s on the Beach becomes the third oceanfront T S Restaurant on world famous Ka’anapali Beach, Maui.

Father and Daughter with large pineapple drink

1986

Keoki’s Paradise opens in Poipu Beach and becomes a favorite for visitors and locals alike. The T S philosophy of creating a family-friendly restaurant environment continues with this new location.

Friends eating on the lake

1987

T S Restaurants purchases and remodels Sunnyside Restaurant and Lodge in beautiful Lake Tahoe. T S ventures out into one of the most iconic buildings and marinas in Tahoe.

Dukes barefoot bar sign

1989

The Duke’s concept was born at ‘Da Original’ Duke’s on Kalapaki Bay, Kauai. Honoring Duke Kahanamoku, Duke’s Restaurant and Barefoot Bar drops into the hearts of Kauai locals and surf enthusiasts from around the world.

People cheers with drinks inside a bar

1992

Duke’s Waikiki opens on the sands of Waikiki beach, the site of the original Outrigger Canoe Club, where Hawaii’s premier waterman, Duke Kahanamoku, became a legend. The Waikiki Beach Boys graciously welcome T S with aloha.

Two men with a giant fish

1994

The Hula Grill concept is born with the opening of Hula Grill Ka’anapali just steps away from its sister restaurant, Leilani’s. Hula Grill embraces Hawaiian Regional Cuisine and farm-to-table practices well before they go mainstream.

four people at a bar cheers-ing

1996

The Duke’s concept paddles across the Pacific and lands on the legendary shores of Malibu, California. Duke’s Malibu continues to honor the life of Duke Kahanamoku and celebrates his influence on Hollywood and surf culture in California.

Interior view of a restaurant

1998

The Duke’s concept finds another appropriate home in Surf City, USA. Duke’s Huntington Beach becomes the fourth Duke’s Restaurant and Barefoot Bar right at the foot of surfing’s famous Huntington Beach pier.

Bartender gives drinks to guests at a restaurant

2004

Hula Grill Waikiki becomes the second Hula Grill location situated right above Duke’s Waikiki. Hula Grill continues to push a more chef-driven approach and quickly becomes a favorite for locals and visitors from around the globe.

Interior view of a restaurant near the beach

2009

Duke’s Beach House Maui opens on the shores of North Ka’anapali beach to celebrate the ambassador of aloha, Duke Kahanamoku. The open-air concept and sweeping ocean views take on the feel of an island home.

ocean views and a nice dinner with friends

2015

Duke’s hits the world famous La Jolla Cove and honors the Father of Modern-Day Surfing, Duke Kahanamoku. Panoramic views overlook the cove and up the coast towards one of San Diego’s best surf breaks, Black’s Beach.

Vibrant cocktail drinks

2017

T S celebrates 40 years of sunsets and aloha, where it all started, on Maui! T S ‘ohana from all around the world gather to celebrate the timeless memories and lifelong friendships made over four decades.

Family paddleboarding in the ocean

WHAT DRIVES US

Our People

At the heart of everything we do lies our ‘ohana, the extended family we create with every guest and member of our team.

Two women walking over a bridge

Friends

Our company was founded on a friendship and, over the years, has inspired countless more.

Mom and children stand in a restaurant and point to something in the distance

Family

The company is family owned and the Thibauts and Saxtens are still actively involved across two generations. From these two families a larger T S family has grown.

Man Paddle Boarding

Fun

Beautiful places, amazing food, your favorite drink in hand, with the people you love the most. Sounds pretty fun to us!