Tip Top Motel, Café & Bakery

On November 1916, Denjiro Ota established Tip Top Cafe & Bakery in Lihue, Hawaii, initially prompted by the local store manager to provide breakfast and coffee to the community. Alongside the cafe, he started a bakery, delivering bread throughout Kauai. In 1925, Denjiro's son, Mitchell Ota, took over, enhancing the business with innovative baked goods like pastries and pies, including the iconic pancake recipe still used today and the first-ever macadamia nut cookie in Hawaii. In 1965, Mitchell relocated the business and expanded it to include a restaurant, bakery, 34-room motel, and bar, catering to the growing number of visitors to Kauai, making Tip Top Motel a popular choice for both business and vacation travelers.