Kalihi: From The Boxing Ring To The Kitchen

On the wall at Ray’s Cafe (2033 N. King St.) in Kalihi hangs an autographed photo of Manny Pacquiao, the Philippines’ most celebrated boxers.

For owner Felix Pintor, the photo carries a special meaning — not only because Pacquiao has dined at Ray’s Cafe, but because Pintor is a former boxer himself.

Boxing brought Pintor to Hawaii from the Philippines in 1971. He was in his early 20s and had been a good boxer back home. He fondly remembers stepping into the ring at the Blaisdell.

But boxing, like many things in life, did not go exactly as planned.

“When I lose, that’s it. No boxing no more,” says Pintor.

Quitting boxing, however, would turn out to be very different from quitting on himself.

January marked 40 years since Pintor opened Ray’s Cafe, naming it after his son.

Pintor, who turned 77 in June, works seven days a week.

“I’m always early. Sometimes 3:30 in the morning, preparing my food,” says Pintor.

He started at the bottom, washing dishes at Wailana Coffee House and the Ilikai Hotel & Luxury Suites before being promoted to cook. He also worked at Zippy’s as a cook and supervisor.

Eventually, owning his own restaurant became his dream. Even while working two jobs at a time, Pintor found time to craft a business plan.

“When I go home, sometimes I get time, I will write something. I’m making my plan, but over one year my plan,” says Pintor.

He opened Ray’s Cafe in 1986 in Chinatown, at the corner of Smith Street and North Beretania Street. It only had room for four tables, but many customers ordered takeout. Back then, Pintor remembers selling breakfast for only $2.50 and prime rib for $7.

Eventually, an attorney who had become a customer told Pintor about a larger location in Kalihi that was available for less money. In 2000, Pintor moved Ray’s Cafe to its current spot, within walking distance of his home.

Today, a prime rib plate costs $30 and is usually one of the specials posted daily on Ray’s Cafe’s Facebook page. Breakfast, including steak and eggs for $18.95, is also popular, as are steaks for lunch and dinner. Pintor tries to keep his prices reasonable.

“I like my customers come back,” says Pintor. “Tell them I said mahalo — thank you.”

Ray’s Cafe is also a place where employees can spend decades of their lives.

One of his workers, Elaine, has been with him for about 36 years, dating back to the Chinatown days. He still has the same bookkeeper he started working with 40 years ago.

Pintor says his son, Ray, has a career of his own and doesn’t want to take over the business. He never expected his restaurant would be around this long.

“When I no can walk already, then I shut down the door, but right now, it’s still okay,” says Pintor. “For me, I don’t want to just retire.”

Despite working seven days a week, Pintor still carves out time to travel. He has visited Europe four times and regularly goes to Las Vegas. Earlier this year, he even closed Ray’s Cafe for an entire month so he could travel to Japan and Korea.

For a man who came to Hawaii more than 50 years ago to pursue boxing, Pintor may have found a different kind of win.

The Manny Pacquiao photo is a reminder of the boxer Pintor once was. Ray’s Cafe is proof of the fighter he never stopped being.