With a menu that includes a Big Wave burger, a Kaanapali Cobb salad and a North Shore taco, Islands Restaurants is a natural to open its newest location in Hawai'i.

The Carlsbad, Calif.-based chain, which operates more than 50 theme restaurants in California, Nevada and Arizona, will launch its first Hawai'i restaurant on Feb. 28 at Ala Moana Center's new Ho'okipa Terrace.

The company also hopes to open its second restaurant by the end of the year in Waikiki and is scouting three additional sites in Kapolei, Waikele and Kahala, said Dan Roth, the company's regional manager.

"For years, customers have been coming from Hawai'i and have been wondering why there hasn't been an Islands in Hawai'i," Roth said.

"We just feel we're are a natural fit for the culture here."

Roth said the Ala Moana restaurant will be about 5,000 square feet and will employ about 200 full-time and part-time workers.

If the chain is successful in opening five locations, Roth said that the company's local operations could employ as many as 1,000 workers.

Roth said that his company was attracted to Hawai'i by the success enjoyed here by its competitors, which include The Cheesecake Factory, Outback Steakhouse and Cheeseburger in Paradise.

Founded in 1982, Islands offers a variety of burgers, tacos, shakes and other beverages.

The fast-growing company opened its 50th location during the summer in West Covina, Calif.

More recently, Islands expanded to Northern California with a new site in Sacramento.

The chain will import all of its meat products from the Mainland daily, but will buy all of its bread and vegetable products from local vendors, Roth said.

Tony DeGrazier, Island Restaurants' chief executive officer, wanted to re-create the dining experiences he had in the 1960s while stationed on O'ahu while in the Navy, according to the company's Web site.

Reach Rick Daysog at rdaysog@honoluluadvertiser.com.