Operating a business that serves food is often a labor of love, an expression of philosophy and a reflection of heritage. The proprietors of Da Kindz Island Grill — Opal Joy and Junior John Ruddock — spoke about these themes in a recent interview with the Gazette, exhausted and cheerful after another long day of cooking and serving Hawaiian cuisine.
“We give out so much energy, but get so much energy back,” Junior John said.
“We have this endeavor together that brings so much of what I love about aloha,” Opal added.
“It’s like we’re serving our family,” Junior John explained. “Treating them like ohana [family]; I don’t feel like a chef, I’m an ambassador of aloha.”
Da Kindz, located at 261372 U.S. Highway 101 in Carlsborg, is open from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays (subject to change, check Facebook.com/DaKindz), but the Ruddocks are busy from morning until night. Daily they prepare Da Kindz’s offerings, and each week they travel to shops between Tacoma and Seattle for ingredients that are not sold on the Olympic Peninsula.
They said they do everything together, cooking, laughing, talking and more.
The pair said their view of the mountains from the food truck is beautiful, and the sun shines on them every day.
Hawaiian dishes, say the Ruddocks, reflect the diversity of the population of Hawaii, which in turn reflects its history.
They have big plans to continue sharing that gastronomic variety, with weekly specials that will range from native Hawaiian food to those of the immigrants who have made their home in the islands of the Aloha State.
: “Filipino, Portugeuese, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Puerto RIcan, Mexican, Samoan and Tongan influenced our food throughout the past 200 years,” said Junior John .
“There will always be something new for people to try, and something interesting for us [to make],” said Junior John.
The Ruddocks explained that Da Kindz refers to a pidgin word somewhat synonymous with “whachamacallit,” and is spelled by them to play on the word “grindz,” meaning working hard.
Kalua pork, chicken katsu, barbecue short ribs, macaroni salad, musubi, poi, garlic fries and lau lau stew are just some features on the regular menu.
A steady stream of customers — observed to be never less than 10 at one time — chose some of those items, including Poke bowls, that week’s special, with people waiting and expressing pleasantries with the staff and each other.
A solidly built pavilion with lights and overhead heaters hosts four large tables and benches, and a clean bathroom is nearby.
Customers said they had a variety of reasons for visiting Da Kindz, including curiosity transformed into a desire for more of the delicious food, proximity and happiness over finding genuine Hawaiian cuisine.
“It’s really good,” said Yuomi Hyde, eating with her young son Logan. “I lived in Hawaii for a few years so it hits the spot for sure. My son’s a picky eater. I got him a kalua pork and rice. He likes it.”
“I tried it the other day,” said Berta, who preferred to not share her last name. “A gal told me how good the was. So I ordered something and I loved it. My son loved it too. I could come here everyday.”
Da Kindz origins
Junior John is a musician and multinational citizen. His father Jock Ruddock was a professional wrestler from Scotland and his mother, Rhonda Syrena Bryers, was a famous performer from New Zealand known at one time as the Queen of the South Pacific.
Junior John lived in Hawaii from the time he was 4, until moving to Sequim after falling in love with Opal.
When buying the food truck, Opal originally intended to have it shipped to Hawaii for a business there, but the COVID pandemic shut that plan down, she said, and they decided to open up the business in Sequim.
During the lock-down the couple spent two years “together all the time” in Hawaii, dreaming up plans that they intend to evolve beyond the food truck. Those plans they mentioned include bringing more Hawaiian culture, shave ice in the summer, perhaps a juice bar and a reggae festival to the Olympic Peninsula.
Opal has owned Drake’s U-Bake Pizza and Subs for six years; she bought it from Wendy Drake. Opal said that she wanted to keep it open because it is a Port Angeles “staple” and “iconic,” operating since 1985.
“So many people come back to it because they went to it as kids,” she said. “And now they bring their kids.”
It was at Drake’s that the couple first tried selling a few Hawaiian dishes to the local population.
Opal said that the people who work at Drake’s are like a big family and everyone helps to make sure both places run smoothly.
“When they were serving Hawaiian food out of Drake’s we used to go there,” noted father and son Dan and Dathan Myers, at a recent stop at Da Kindz Island Grill.
It was the second time the duo traveled from Port Angeles specifically for the food; the first time, it was sold out. This time, they enjoyed a round of food with leftovers.
“It was really well done,” the Myers said. “They didn’t scrimp on anything.
“We’re really impressed — they beat the expectations. It was a dream and they made it into a reality.”
Da Kindz Island Grill
Hawaiian cuisine
Location: 261372 U.S. Highway 101, Carlsborg
Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays,
Contact: DaKindzGrill@gmail.com
On the web: facebook.com/DaKindz
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / Opal Joy Ruddock and her son Max Unruh, hand take out to customers from the window of the Da Kindz Island Grill food truck.
Submitted photo Junior John and Opal Ruddock, owners of the newly opened Da Kindz Island Grill, say, “We do it for the love of sharing food, sharing life, sharing aloha.”
