5 Palms was named for the original five partners, not trees. Many people count the many palm trees and wonder…
Owner Simon Vojdani has been the quiet, continuing force in tight management improvements and expansion since 1995. Before purchasing 5 Palms, he worked his way from a dishwasher to President of the Specialty Restaurant Corporation, based in Orange County, CA. During his reign (1969-1995), he operated 92 restaurants nationwide. Vojdani put himself through college as an ESL immigrant, achieving his Master’s in Engineering at UC Berkeley. Over his 45 years in the restaurant industry, he has worked in every single position in a fine dining restaurant. Simon and his wife Victoria met at the former Castaway Restaurant in Oakland, CA in 1977. He was the manager, she was the bartender… a restaurant family from the start.
Their early family history includes Stephanie, 14 years old when they first took over Five Palms Beach Grill. Zack was too young to be employed, he was only 10, but he had the noble duty of lighting the candles on all the tables, always complaining that he was never compensated for his strenuous job. Stephanie recalls her mother asking him what he wanted to be when he grew up. He replied sarcastically, “Paid!” Stephanie worked as a hostess while attending high school at Seabury Hall. Back then, they used to do their homework in the back office and usually have a family dinner together once the guests were gone.
Mother Victoria is the one getting updated restaurant information out to the community with personal visits to all the hotels and condos. She is part Hawaiian on her Grandmother’s side (who was born on Molokai). Her great, great uncle was Bishop Stephen Alencastre of Hawaii from 1924-1940 (last Vicar Apostolic of the Hawaiian Islands).
Daughter Stephanie is the Marketing Director and in charge of advertising, PR and media. She handles all of the restaurant’s email, website and online customer service. She is also one of the Managers of 5 Palms. She graduated from UH Manoa with a BA in Psychology before attending Gros Bonnet Culinary Academy where she became a Pastry Chef. While in Honolulu, Stephanie was stagiaire to Chef Cainan Sabey of Stage restaurant and managed large catering events.
The deli at the Mana Kai is Zack’s namesake. He is also the Front of House Supervisor for 5 Palms and is now happily being paid. He achieved a Bachelor’s in Film from UNLV before returning to Maui. He still partakes in screenwriting on the side where he receives yearly awards from various film festivals across the country. Zack and Stephanie both went off-island to attend college but ended up right back home where they started in this family business, the 5 Palms Restaurant.
A full time wedding planner is available on property. Contact Tracy Hicks at: events@5palmsrestaurant.com
Someone from the family is most always on property, please say hello. This is a family business that one day Zack and Stephanie hope to run with their own children, as their parents did with them.
