Founded by Helen Chock in 1946 and run since her death by her grandson, Helena's serves the Hawaiian dishes most visitors meet only at a luau buffet: kalua pig, lomi salmon, squid luau, poi, haupia and the house speciality, pipikaula short ribs dried on the premises then grilled. Orders are assembled a la carte rather than as set plates, so a table can be built from several small dishes. The dining room is plain and strip-lit, often full, with a queue at the door before opening; it holds a James Beard America's Classics award. Kalihi is an ordinary working district well off the tourist route, about fifteen minutes' drive from Waikiki. The restaurant closes at weekends, which catches out a good many visitors. Parking is in a small adjacent lot.