Hawai'i's first Taco Del Mar restaurant is slated to open Nov. 17 at Kunia Shopping Center, with several more to follow on O'ahu.

Chad and Michelle Taniguchi of local construction firm Quality Island Builders are opening the Kunia store of the Seattle-based quick-casual Mexican restaurant chain being expanded in Hawai'i, Guam and Saipan by master franchisee Ken Nascimento.

Nascimento expects to have six Taco Del Mar restaurants open on O'ahu by spring 2007, including two slated to open next month in Kapolei near Home Depot and at Moanalua Shopping Center.

A Wai-pi'o Taco Del Mar at Laniakea Plaza is expected to open in January. Nascimento said he is negotiating leases in Hawai'i Kai and Windward O'ahu.

Nascimento in May announced he was bringing the chain to Hawai'i, Guam and Saipan with plans to open as many as 40 restaurants. There are about 215 locally owned and operated Taco Del Mar restaurants in North America.