HONOLULU (KHON2) — A new app is on a mission to make food more affordable and cut back on kitchen waste on Oʻahu.

Save A Bite is a platform that launched in June to provide local restaurants a place to give their leftover food a second life and connect them with the community.

“We saw firsthand that food waste is a real issue affecting many businesses. We combined the two ideas, the desire to give back and the opportunity to reduce waste, and that became the inspiration behind Save A Bite,” Cofounder Oak Gjonaj said.

Participating restaurants have the opportunity to make extra revenue from their surplus food in the form of mystery boxes.

“We’re a mom-and-pop shop, so dollars and cents tend to add up over time. Instead of just having copious amounts of staff meals, this is a way for us to save some of that cost. There’s still plenty of food for them to eat, don’t get me wrong, but at least as a business, it’s not a total write-off or total loss,” Managing Partner Pizza Mamo Jon Vasquez said.

The app is a way to support the local restaurant economy that won’t starve your wallet. Customers can order from three different-sized mystery boxes. For example, a small box is priced at $6.99 with a monetary value of up to $21.

“Our goal is to create something meaningful for Hawaiʻi by helping good food stay on the tables, keep businesses in business and keep Hawaiʻi local. We’ve seen a lot of businesses come into and go out of business this year,” Gjonaj said.

The app is cost-conscious for those “balling on a budget” but still want to get out and enjoy more than just good food.

A customer shared that the app helps them to “sustain myself now, as I have multiple meals for a small price and I also still feel like a human because I can go out.”

“It’s good to know that someone can try our slices at a more affordable rate,” Mad Pie Co-owner James Orlando said. “Then they’ll like it and come back and buy it at full price. It’s a nice running circle of community and neighborhood.”

“This is an easy way to come through our door: try a Save A Bite box,” Vasquez said. “There’s really no reason not to do it. It’s a good program. We’re happy to be a part of it.”

For businesses looking to get involved or foodies wanting to give it a try, download the app or visit the website.