Steve Aoki’s brother, Kevin Aoki, was transferring family heirlooms from Miami to Hawaii, many belonging to his father “Rocky Aoki.” However, on Saturday night, as everything was prepared to be shipped, thieves stole the shipping container with goods inside, taking some of the Aoki legacy with them.
According to the Miami New Times (MNT), Kevin Aoki, a second-generation restaurateur, was transferring heirlooms, along with furniture, to place them in a restaurant he’s opening in Oahu. After three days of packing, Kevin locked and stored the shipping container at the Aoki Group Restaurant Management headquarters to await transportation.
During the night, a trailer pulled up the container and drove away. Surveillance footage was caught of the incident, but there are no indicators as to who these thieves could be.
It is reported the shipping container was carrying over 40,000 pounds of restaurant equipment and assorted items. Kevin predicts over $200,000 of equipment was taken from the scene. These things are replaceable; however, nothing can replace the heirlooms valuable to the restauranter.
“My father was a big collector of Asian artifacts,” says Kevin. “If you go to Doraku on Lincoln Road or Aoki Teppanyaki in Dadeland, you’ll see many of my father’s items. It created a level of authenticity. I put all those things that my dad left me in the container.
“The main thing I lost in that container was my father,” added Kevin.
Rocky Aoki was the founder of Japanese chain restaurant Benihana. Kevin worked with his father at the establishment until his death in 2008. Following in his footsteps, he opened his own restaurants, including Doraku and Aoki Teppanyaki.
Kevin is offering $25,000 for the return of the container. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Miami Police Department or to message Kevin directly on Instagram.