Don Ho, the famous Hawaiian singer, walked into Dave Kenney’s bar and said, “I like the way you operate.” I don’t know Don Ho, I don’t know that much about Don Ho, but I do know that Don Ho seems to have excellent judgment. I, too, like the way Dave Kenney operates.
Originally from England, Dave’s work in the hotel industry eventually landed him in Hawaii, and understandably, he didn’t want to leave. Since then, he’s owned and operated just about everything: a convenience store, a t-shirt business, a fishing boat, and nine or ten different Honolulu bars, restaurants, and nightclubs.
During the Covid-19 outbreak, Dave and his wife, Margie, bought a place in Henderson, Nevada, just outside Las Vegas. Now, they hop back and forth between the two. That journey is a common one: Las Vegas has been called “The Ninth Island” because of its sizeable Hawaiian population.
Dave retired at 55, but Margie’s real estate business is booming, and he lends his hoteling expertise whenever she needs it. Otherwise, he does Zumba four days a week, walks several miles daily, and enjoys his afternoon cocktail.
Dave finds a perfect day no matter where he is, and as much as he travels, that could be just about anywhere. For a guy who claims he’s never worked a day in his life, he sure has had a lot of jobs. Maybe that’s the beauty of the Aloha spirit.
When life handed Dave lemons, sometimes he made lemonade. Other times, he traded the lemons for limes and made a gin and tonic to enjoy by the pool. That sounds like a happy retirement to me.

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Chapter titles:
00:00-Start
02:24-From First Jobs to Hawaii
09:58-Taste of Honolulu
12:14-Transatlantics
17:19-Staying Fit
21:50-Booze Cruisin’
24:19-Earn a Little, Keep a Lot
30:50-I’m Happy Where I’m At
38:16-Core Pursuits & Identity
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