The Popeyes story began in New Orleans back in 1972, when Al Copeland opened
a quick-service restaurant called "Chicken on the Run," selling traditional mild
fried chicken to the downtown lunch crowd. But business was slow, and
Copeland realized that he'd have to develop a spicier alternative to his
standard chicken recipe if he wanted to impress flavor-seeking New Orleanians.

Experimenting with the flavorful Cajun recipes he'd been enjoying all his
life, Copeland developed a new menu, reopened his restaurant - now
called "Popeyes"- and soon had customers lining up around the block
for his spicy New Orleans-style fried chicken.

While visiting Louisiana, Kal Uezu got a chance to flavor Copeland's famous
chicken. One taste and he was hooked.  He felt that the people of Hawaii
would love the Cajun flavors that Popeyes' featured. On March 27, 1979 Kal opened the
first Popeyes in Hawaii on Keeaumoku Avenue. Unfortunately the entire area was cleared and
the store was closed. Fortunately you can still get that same great New Orleans flavor at
the Popeyes Restaurant in Kalihi, Waipahu, Waikiki, Pearl Harbor and Navy Exchange Mall.