Terms of Service

Agreement to Terms

By accessing or using NateEatsHawaii.com ("the Website") or the NateEats iPhone app ("the App"), both operated by NateEatsHawaii LLC, a Hawaii limited liability company, you accept and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, please do not use the Website or the App. These Terms apply to all visitors, readers, newsletter subscribers, app users, and anyone else who accesses or interacts with the Website or the App. This document is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Nothing in these Terms is intended to waive any non-waivable rights you may have under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 480 or other applicable consumer protection laws.

Use License

Permission is granted to temporarily view and download one copy of the materials on NateEatsHawaii for personal, non-commercial use only. This is the grant of a limited license, not a transfer of title, and under this license you may not:

• Modify, copy, republish, scrape, or redistribute any materials from the Website
• Use the materials, photographs, videos, or written content for any commercial purpose, public display, or AI training dataset
• Use any content from the Website for the development, training, or fine-tuning of any artificial intelligence or machine learning systems without express prior written consent from NateEatsHawaii LLC
• Attempt to reverse engineer, decompile, or extract source code from any software contained on the Website
• Remove any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notations from the materials
• Use automated systems, bots, scrapers, or AI crawlers (including but not limited to GPTBot, CCBot, Google-Extended, ClaudeBot, and similar) to collect data from the Website

Content, Reviews & Editorial Independence

All restaurant reviews, ratings, food recommendations, photographs, and editorial content on NateEatsHawaii represent personal opinions and subjective experiences based on actual visits by our team at specific points in time. Reviews, ratings, and critical commentary are protected expressions of opinion under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and the fair comment doctrine recognized under Hawaii law. As established in cases such as Mr. Chow of New York v. Ste. Jour Azur S.A. and Themed Restaurants v. Zagat Survey, restaurant reviews are recognized as a category of protected opinion, and numerical or star-based ratings are considered quintessential expressions of opinion. Statements such as descriptions of taste, atmosphere, service, value, or quality are subjective by nature and not actionable as defamation. Hawaii Revised Statutes § 663-1.95 provides a good faith presumption for opinion statements. Restaurants or individuals who believe content contains a verifiable factual error (as opposed to a difference of opinion) may submit a written correction request to hello@nateeatshawaii.com, and we will review and respond within a reasonable timeframe. We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to update, revise, remove, or republish any content at any time.

User Submissions

By submitting any content to the Website (including comments, reviews, photographs, tips, or messages), you grant NateEatsHawaii LLC a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, worldwide, irrevocable license to use, modify, reproduce, distribute, and display that content in any medium. You warrant that:

• You own the content or have full legal permission to submit it
• The content does not infringe on any copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity, or other third-party right
• The content is accurate, not misleading, and not defamatory
• The content complies with all applicable laws and our community standards
• You release NateEatsHawaii LLC from any claims arising from our use of your submission

Mobile App: User Content, Photos & Voice Reviews

The NateEats mobile app allows you to post written reviews, photographs, and voice recordings about restaurants and other listed businesses ("Content"). By posting Content, you confirm and agree that:

• The Content reflects your own honest experience at the listed business
• Any photos you submit were captured by you at the venue, using the camera inside the app — the app has no photo library upload
• You grant NateEatsHawaii LLC a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to host, display, watermark, resize, and distribute the Content within the NateEats app and related services
• If you use the microphone button, the audio recording itself — not only the transcribed text — is uploaded and published once approved. See "How voice reviews work" immediately below, and read it before you record
• All photos and voice recordings are reviewed by a person before publication and may be rejected or removed at our sole discretion
• You will not submit Content depicting identifiable people without their consent, or Content that is false, misleading, infringing, or unlawful
• You will not post fake, incentivized-without-disclosure, or deceptive reviews — doing so is prohibited and may violate the FTC Act and Hawaii's unfair and deceptive practices law (HRS § 480-2)

Mobile App: How Voice Reviews Work

The review composer in the NateEats app has a single microphone button labelled "Speak it". Tapping it does two things at the same time from one recording: it turns your speech into text and puts that text in the review box, and it saves the recording itself as an audio clip attached to your review. These are not separate features and there is no way to use one without the other.

The speech-to-text step runs on your iPhone wherever your device and chosen language support Apple's on-device speech model. Where they do not, iOS sends the audio to Apple's speech recognition service for transcription, subject to Apple's own privacy policy.

The audio clip is a separate matter from the transcription. Unless you tap "Redo" or remove the clip before posting, the recording is uploaded to our servers when you submit the review. It is then held for a person at NateEats to listen to, and — once approved — it appears on that restaurant's page as a "Voice review" that any user, signed in or not, can play back. Recordings are capped at three minutes.

Recordings are stored by our hosting provider at a long, randomly generated web address that we do not publish, list, or index. That address is not guessable in practice, but it is not password-protected either: anyone who obtains the exact address can open the file directly, including before it has been approved. Please do not record anything you would not want a stranger to hear.

You can replace a voice recording by recording a new one and posting your review again; the new clip goes back into moderation before it plays. The app does not currently offer a control to delete a voice recording you have already posted — to have one removed, email hello@nateeatshawaii.com, or delete your account, which removes your uploaded photos and recordings.

You can delete your account at any time from inside the app: tap the gear icon at the top of the screen to open Settings, tap "Delete account", then confirm with "Delete everything permanently". This removes your profile, your reviews, the photos and voice recordings attached to them, your saved spots, check-ins, stamps, points balance and redemption history. Content you created in a partner or administrative capacity is retained with your identifier removed. Deleting your app account does not remove ratings or comments you left on nateeatshawaii.com without signing in, because those are stored against a browser cookie rather than an account — email hello@nateeatshawaii.com to have those removed. Disputes arising from Content submitted through the NateEats app are governed by the Governing Law & Disputes section below.

Mobile App: Zero Tolerance for Objectionable Content & Abusive Users

There is zero tolerance for objectionable content or abusive behaviour in the NateEats app. Any review, photo, voice recording, hosted table, or profile that is threatening, harassing, hateful, sexually explicit, discriminatory, violent, deceptive, or otherwise objectionable will be removed, and the account responsible may be suspended or permanently terminated without notice or refund. In support of this policy:

• Written reviews are screened automatically before they are saved. The screen rejects links, email addresses and phone numbers, and rejects text matching a list of prohibited terms that we maintain and expand over time. Automated screening is a first line of defence, not a complete one, and we rely on reports from users to catch what it misses
• Photos and voice recordings are never published automatically. Each one is held and appears in the app only after a person at NateEats has reviewed and approved it
• Every review posted by another user carries a flag icon. Tapping it reports that review together with everything attached to it, including its photos and voice recording, and offers to block the author
• Blocking is immediate. A blocked user's reviews, photos, voice recordings and hosted tables disappear from your view of the app on every device you sign in to
• Reports go to a moderation queue that we review and act on within 24 hours. A moderator can remove the reported content outright and can suspend or terminate the account behind it
• Reporting and blocking require a signed-in account, so that reports are accountable and blocks can follow you between devices

To reach a person about content — to report something, to ask for your own content to be removed, or to appeal a moderation decision — tap "Contact" at the bottom of Settings in the app, or email hello@nateeatshawaii.com. We aim to respond within 24 hours.

Meetups ("Tables")

The NateEats app's Meet section lets signed-in users post and join short-notice meetup invitations at public restaurants ("Tables"). The following rules apply to that feature:

• NateEats Hawaii is not a dating service, and Tables may not be used for dating, sexual solicitation, or romantic matchmaking
• We do not organize, host, supervise, or endorse any meetup, and we do not verify the identity, background, or intentions of any user
• You must be at least 18 years old to host or join a Table
• Tables may only take place at public venues; meetups at private residences are prohibited
• You meet others entirely at your own risk and are solely responsible for your own safety, conduct, and belongings
• Harassment, discrimination, commercial promotion, and soliciting of any kind are prohibited
• Participating restaurants are independent venues and bear no responsibility for meetups

Every Table carries in-app report and block controls, and every report is reviewed by a person. We may remove any Table or suspend any account at our sole discretion. If you ever feel unsafe at a meetup, leave first and contact local authorities if needed, then report the user in the app.

Apple App Store

This agreement is between you and NateEatsHawaii LLC only, not with Apple, and NateEatsHawaii LLC alone is responsible for the NateEats app and its content. Apple has no obligation to provide maintenance or support for the app. If the app fails to conform to any applicable warranty, you may notify Apple and Apple will refund the purchase price (if any); to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Apple has no other warranty obligation whatsoever with respect to the app. NateEatsHawaii LLC is responsible for addressing any claims relating to the app or your possession and use of it, including but not limited to product liability claims, any claim that the app fails to conform to any applicable legal or regulatory requirement, claims arising under consumer protection or privacy legislation, and any third-party claim that the app or your possession and use of it infringes that third party's intellectual property rights. You represent that you are not located in a country subject to a U.S. Government embargo or designated as a "terrorist supporting" country, and that you are not listed on any U.S. Government list of prohibited or restricted parties. Apple and its subsidiaries are third-party beneficiaries of this agreement and, upon your acceptance of these Terms, will have the right to enforce this agreement against you as a third-party beneficiary.

Prohibited Uses

You may not use the Website or the App:

• For any unlawful purpose or to solicit others to perform unlawful acts
• To violate any international, federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance, including Hawaii state law
• To infringe upon or violate our intellectual property rights or the intellectual property rights of any third party
• To harass, abuse, insult, harm, defame, slander, disparage, intimidate, stalk, or discriminate against any person or business
• To submit false, misleading, fraudulent, or impersonating information
• To upload viruses, malware, or any other type of malicious code or executable
• To scrape, harvest, or collect data from the Website using automated tools without written permission
• To use the Website's content to train artificial intelligence models or machine learning systems without explicit written authorization

Disclaimer

The materials on NateEatsHawaii are provided strictly on an "as is" and "as available" basis. NateEatsHawaii LLC makes no warranties, expressed or implied, and hereby disclaims and negates all other warranties including, without limitation, implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy, reliability, non-infringement, or any warranty regarding the safety, quality, or condition of any restaurant, food item, or establishment featured on the Website. We do not warrant that the Website will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free. This disclaimer does not waive any non-waivable consumer protection rights you may have under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 480 or other applicable law.

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by Hawaii law, in no event shall NateEatsHawaii LLC, its owners, members, employees, contractors, contributors, or affiliates be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages — including but not limited to damages for personal injury, illness, allergic reaction, food poisoning, loss of data, lost profits, business interruption, wasted travel, missed reservations, or emotional distress — arising out of or related to your use of the Website, your reliance on any content published on the Website, or your visit to any restaurant or establishment featured on the Website, even if NateEatsHawaii LLC has been advised of the possibility of such damages. To the extent permitted by Hawaii law, our total aggregate liability to you for any and all claims arising from your use of the Website shall not exceed the amounts paid by you to NateEatsHawaii LLC in the twelve months preceding the claim. Nothing in this section is intended to limit any non-waivable rights or remedies available to consumers under Hawaii Revised Statutes § 480-13 or other applicable Hawaii consumer protection law, including the statutory minimum damages and attorney's fees recoverable thereunder.

Accuracy of Materials

The materials appearing on NateEatsHawaii could include technical, typographical, photographic, translation, or factual errors. We do not warrant that any of the materials on the Website are accurate, complete, current, or reliable. Restaurant information — including hours, prices, menus, locations, contact details, ownership, operating status, and availability — changes frequently and without notice. We may make changes to materials on the Website at any time without notice and are under no obligation to update any content. Readers must independently verify all restaurant details directly with the business before visiting or making any decision in reliance on the Website.

Food, Restaurant & Health Disclaimer

All reviews, ratings, and recommendations on NateEatsHawaii represent personal opinions and subjective experiences of our team based on individual dining visits at specific points in time. Other diners may have entirely different experiences. A favorable review is not a guarantee of quality, safety, or satisfaction, and an unfavorable review is not a statement of fact about a restaurant's overall operations.

Restaurant details — including menus, prices, ingredients, hours of operation, happy hour specials, promotional offers, dietary options, allergen information, and availability — are believed accurate at the time of publication but may change at any time without notice. Restaurants may modify their hours, discontinue menu items, change suppliers, alter recipes, adjust prices, end promotions, or change ownership between the time of our visit and yours. Always verify directly with the restaurant before visiting.

Restaurants featured on NateEatsHawaii may permanently close, relocate, rebrand, or change ownership at any time. While we make reasonable efforts to update closure notices when we become aware of them, we cannot guarantee that every closure is reflected on the Website in real time. NateEatsHawaii LLC is not liable for wasted travel, missed reservations, lost time, or any inconvenience or loss resulting from a reader visiting a restaurant that has closed, relocated, or changed its operations after publication.

NateEatsHawaii is editorial content published by NateEatsHawaii LLC, a Honolulu marketing agency. Unless a piece is clearly and conspicuously labeled as sponsored or paid placement content, our restaurant reviews reflect personal dining experiences and independent opinions and are not paid placements. We do not inspect restaurant kitchens or food preparation areas, and we are not a government health authority, food safety agency, certified nutritionist, allergist, or health inspector. Our reviews are not substitutes for official health inspection reports. For food safety information, please consult the Hawaii Department of Health. NateEatsHawaii LLC is not responsible for foodborne illness, food poisoning, allergic reactions, anaphylaxis, intolerances, contamination, injury, or any adverse health outcome arising from food consumed at any restaurant or establishment mentioned on the Website.

NateEatsHawaii does not guarantee the accuracy of any allergen information mentioned in our reviews. Menus, ingredients, preparation methods, and cross-contamination risks may change without notice. Readers with food allergies, intolerances, dietary restrictions, religious dietary requirements, or medical conditions must independently verify all ingredients, preparation methods, cooking surfaces, and cross-contamination risks directly with restaurant staff before ordering or consuming any food. Nutritional information, ingredient lists, and dietary labels mentioned on the Website are not guaranteed accurate and should not be relied upon for medical decisions. When in doubt, consult a qualified medical professional.

All restaurant names, logos, and trademarks belong to their respective owners. NateEatsHawaii is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any restaurant featured on the Website unless explicitly disclosed. The Website also contains affiliate links to third-party tours, activities, and experiences (for example, through Viator); if you book through one of these links, NateEatsHawaii LLC may earn a commission at no additional cost to you, and this does not influence our editorial food coverage. In compliance with the Federal Trade Commission's Endorsement Guides (16 CFR Part 255) and the FTC Rule on Fake Reviews and Testimonials (16 CFR Part 465), any material connection between NateEatsHawaii LLC and a featured restaurant or third-party partner — including comped or gifted meals, sponsored content, affiliate links or commissions on tours and activities, or paid marketing engagements through NateEatsHawaii LLC's agency services — will be clearly and conspicuously disclosed within the relevant content.

Newsletter

By subscribing to the NateEatsHawaii newsletter, you agree to receive periodic emails about restaurant recommendations, food guides, new content, and occasional updates. Newsletter delivery is handled by MailerLite, which acts as our data processor and stores your email address on our behalf. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link provided in every email. We will never sell your email address or share it with restaurants or third parties for marketing purposes.

Links to Third-Party Websites

NateEatsHawaii contains links to external websites, social media platforms, restaurant websites, Google Maps, and other third-party services. We have not reviewed all linked sites and are not responsible for the contents, accuracy, privacy practices, or operations of any linked site. The inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement, partnership, or affiliation. Use of any linked website is at your own risk and subject to the terms and privacy policies of those third parties.

Modifications to These Terms

We may revise these Terms of Service at any time without prior notice. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent version. By continuing to use the Website after changes are posted, you agree to be bound by the then-current version of these Terms.

Governing Law & Disputes

These Terms and Conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Hawaii, United States, without regard to conflict of law provisions. Any dispute arising out of or related to these Terms or your use of the Website shall be resolved exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Honolulu County, Hawaii, and you irrevocably submit to the personal jurisdiction of such courts. Nothing in this section limits any rights you may have under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 480 or other applicable consumer protection law, including the right to bring claims for unfair or deceptive trade practices.